We all do it.

We recommend this web site or that software and we have a link that looks like: http://affiliate-site.com/your-user-name.html and by making recommendation we might earn a 25% commission if our referral decides to make a purchase.

Some folks earn several thousands of dollars each month as a result of affiliate links while others, perhaps norm, earn just a few dollars.

Whatever dollar amounts are involved, estimates are that most of us that post affiliate links are losing at least 20% because folks cut us out of loop by cutting URL.

For example, instead of: http://affiliate-site.com/your-user-name.html people will cut off affiliate ID and then visit site at: http://affiliate-site.com/. Some sites will ask you for ID of affiliate that referred you but if it is not entered, then you have just lost your commission.

Other web sites are telling visitors that they MUST enter via referral URL or they can not enter at all. But this is certainly exception, not rule.

Afterall, hosting site does want to have visitors and sales.

So affiliate can easily lose sales commissions just because someone cuts off his or her affiliate ID from URL.

Why do people cut off affiliate ID?

Obviously, intent is to deny someone his or her commissions. I must plead guilty to this practice. In my own defense, I can say that I only do that when I receive URL from someone that that sent me SPAM.

Sorry, but I do NOT think that SPAMMERS should be rewarded.

I can not speak for all others out there that cut off URL even when it is found on a web site or is delivered via a non spam source such as an ezine or newsletter.

For whatever reason, some people just refuse to allow people that turn them on to a great product or service to be rewarded by receiving a commission if they make a purchase.

So how can you protect your affiliate commissions?

There are two simple solutions that come to mind. The first involves using a FREE Re-Direct URL service and other you can use if you have your own web site.

Here is how you can protect your Affiliate Commissions:

1. Make Use of a FREE URL Re-Direct Service.

Here are two blurbs that I found posted on Web, along with my analysis and revision.

1. BEFORE:

Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff LLP has been very pleased with results of its website developed through Lawinfo.com. Because our firm is easily locatable through major search engines, we are finding that numerous people are contacting us who otherwise would not. Additionally, Lawinfo.com handles modifications of our website easily and otherwise provides good service. Sincerely, Alan Exelrod, Rudy, Exelrod & Zieff LLP, www.reztlaw.com

PROBLEMS:

"Numerous people" is vague. I would ask this attorney how many that would be - three a month, thirty a day or what? "Handles modifications of our website easily" is unclear - does it mean that Lawinfo.com makes changes soon after you e-mail them in, or that they have a procedure in place to enable site owners to do it themselves? While this question is undoubtedly answered elsewhere on site, it can usefully be clarified within a testimonial like this as well. Next, what is meant by "provides good service"? I don't think "Sincerely" is necessary. Finally, all testimonials should have quotation marks around them to make it explicit that these are customer's exact words.

AFTER: