Any issues with a simple php redirect?

[JasonBrown65]

Hi,

I have used a simple php redirect for one site that it used for an affiliate link. Always used it, cant remember the exact reason I did but most likely to make the url pretty

On the crawl stats of this domain it shows as a 302 redirect - does this have any issues?

What do people recommend for affiliate links? Cloaking? Tracking?

There are a number of wordpress plugins available that seem to be aimed at affiliate links, any recommendations? I assume that they will still be classed as 302's.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

Jason

[pivotpointsecurity]

I'm not an SEO pro but I've been doing redirects using my .htaccess. I'd like to know the answer as well.

[A_Q]

.htaccess is the way to go in my opinion.

Always use 301 redirects over 302 redirects.

Google passes on about 90% of link value through a 301 redirect and no link value through a 302.

I hope this answers your question.

[JasonBrown65]

Hi Elias

Thanks for answering.  We are not trying to pass any link value to the affiliate site.  We just want to make the links look 'pretty' rather than a url of random numbers and letters.

When SEO moz completes a crawl it shows these redirects as 302 redirects.  We don't want to pass link value to the affiliate site so we didn't use a 301 redirect.

So does the 302 redirect potential hurt rankings or look spammy?

Any suggestions or recommended plugins?

Thanks

Jason

[A_Q]

Hi Jason,

Although 302's are bad internally they shouldn't effect your rankings if you are 302ing externally.

I'm sorry I can't recommend any plugins, as I haven't used any.

[pivotpointsecurity]

WordPress SEO by Yoast has a redirect function