First, many affiliate URLs are plain ugly, containing a string of unintelligible gobbledy-gook, and people are suspicious of web links that look, to the untrained eye, fishy. Moreover, there are quite a few people who, for whatever reason, don’t want other to benefit from their purchase, even though it doesn’t cost them any money at all. It’s a weird psychological realty. So they will go straight to the censor – in the example I’ve given – and make their purchase from there. Result? You lose your commission.

But suppose there was a legitimate way of concealing or masking that link? Wouldn’t that make a difference? Of course it would, especially if the link had a much more positive ring to it such as “james gladwin recommends this product”? There’s no way that the potential buyer can identify the vendor, and what’s more, the link appears professional and slick. That is what link cloaking software does. It allows you to mask the original affiliate link and substitute another that reads differently but still links to the affiliate host sales page.

The best way is to buy link cloaking software that you upload to your server. Now – don’t panic: it’s not complicated and these days, if you have access to cPanel, it is very straightforward and the software will come with detailed instructions which often include videos. comply Google “link cloaking software” and you will have plenty of choice, from free to paid versions. Personally, I believe it is worth paying a few dollars. Of course, there are also some membership sites that offer really good link cloaking software as part of the package.

Once set up, you will have access to an html page with a series of text boxes where you enter the web address you want visitors to be directed to, your own server address, and specific text that is relevant to the product that you are selling. Click enter, and the cloaked or masked web link is generated. This is what you paste into your sales page.

Genealogy used to be a very serious study, where academics researched past family trees and filed endless papers and scripts. Genealogy software can be a valuable and fun addition to your genealogy project. With the software, you can create magnificent displays of your family heritage and even create multi-media presentations. But, how do you select the genealogy software that is best for you and your needs?

There are nearly 50 different genealogy software programs available on the market, with many of them being quite similar in what they offer and in the price you will pay to purchase them. Therefore, the first step in narrowing down your search is to determine which ones are compatible with your operating system. Failure to purchase a genealogy software program that works with your computer system will only lead to disappointment, frustration, and wasted money.

Your personal needs should also be taken under consideration when selecting a genealogy software program. For example, you may need software that is available in your language if your primary language is not English. Or, you might need software that is compatible with a screen reader if you have vision problems. If you have a physical disability, on the other hand, you might need software that allows you to enter data with keystrokes rather than with a mouse. Consider your unique needs and narrow your choices down even further from there.

Of course, you also need to determine what you will be using the software for. If you are interested in creating a family web page or creating a family history book, you will need genealogy software that is capable of supporting these types of creations. Or, you might want to add audio, photos, or video to the information you are creating and saving. The software you select, therefore, must be compatible with the programs you will be using for your photographs or for your video or audio clips.

All the “bells and whistles” of a genealogy software program will mean nothing if you aren’t comfortable using them! So, before you go out and purchase a program that does all sorts of wonderful and exciting things, make sure you are prepared to learn how to do them. Decide how willing and capable you are to sit down and learn about all of the special features offered by your genealogy software. If you know you won’t be able to take full advantage of them, save yourself the time, frustration, and money by purchasing a more basic software program.