Hidden Back Links - Let content thieves promote your site

[bjhuang]

Product: 1
Plugin: 2
Query: 0

What does it do

It inserts some hidden links (back to your forum) into the content of long posts. If someone steals your content, copy & paste a post to other places, there will be at least a link back to the original URL of your site. Good for SEO too.

Since you can't stop content thieves anyway, why not take some advantages?

Install

Step 1: import product-copyright.xml
Step 2: add this to the main css->additional css definition

.copyright {
display: none;
}



Advanced
* for SEO purpose, there is an option to choose links back to a thread or a post.
* the back links will become visiable after copy&paste. if you like them to stay hidden, just open and modify template "copyright"

Find
<span class="copyright">

Replace
<span class="copyright" style="display: none;">

i do not recommend to do this cause this may be bad for SEO.

Sounds stupid?

Yes, stupid enough. It is so easy to remove the back links. But from my experience, thieves are busy, blind, or more stupider. Most of them won't remove the links. You can't image how many back links i got this way.

You could modify the phrase "copyright_source" to some unique string. And google for it.


Will it hurt my SEO?

I can't promise that. but I think it does more good than evil. You could give your opinions here.




The most famous travel forum in chinese world - www.bbkz.com (http://www.bbkz.com/forum/)

[gwerzal]

hmm sounds good. what does everyone else think about it.

Thanks for sharing.

Think il be using this after i have seen what others have to say about it.

[7lanet]

Warning: Division by zero in [path]/includes/class_postbit.php(294) : eval()'d code on line 249

Warning: Division by zero in [path]/includes/class_postbit.php(294) : eval()'d code on line 249

in top forum

[bjhuang]

in top forum

sorry, wrong version uploaded. plz download again.

[Leo Brazil]

Sounds good, I'm gonna try it.

Thanks for sharing.

[ericgtr]

If the link is also embedded on your own forum as well then you have two links to that thread on your site and this could potentially hurt your SEO.

[SEOvB]

I'm not sure I'd take the risk from this, hiding links on your own site can dramatically hurt your search engine optimization.

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66353

Use with caution if you feel such a measure is neccassary

[bjhuang]

i've done a lot of suvery before implement this on my own site.

check your own source code, you will find that you already get a lot of hidden links with vbulletin by default. all the popup menu links are.

with this mod, you will get one more hidden link which pointing to the same url of that page. this is obviously without intention to deceive users and i think google is smart enough to tell that.

and if the links were copied to the other sites, they become non-hidden links. of course they do help your seo.

PS. if you were so afraid of hurting your SEO, you could make it visible even in the original post. just not add the css. the back links will be inserted too.

[Hornstar]

This has great potential but right now I think i will test this some before going live since i do not want to get penalized with google.

[tansu]

how will I understand that it is working properly

[bjhuang]

how will I understand that it is working properly

post a new message with length longer than the number you set in "Min Post Length" option. select and copy the content of the post. paste it into notepad or your editor or your blog. you will see a backlink there.

[tansu]

Well I copied an old thread and pasted in a test thread. But the links are not hidden.
There are those links visible, like: "source: name of the forum and link"
edit: Opps, that's how it works, right?

[bjhuang]

Well I copied an old thread and pasted in a test thread. But the links are not hidden.
There are those links visible, like: "source: name of the forum and link"

so it works. it meant to be visible anywhere except in the original post.

[tansu]

so it works. it meant to be visible anywhere except in the original post.

I see,
last question: where can I change the "source" word to my language? I searched in templates, phrases and xml file. But couldnt find

[bjhuang]

I see,
last question: where can I change the "source" word to my language? I searched in templates, phrases and xml file. But couldnt find

search for phrase variable named "copyright_source"

[tansu]

Ok, thanks...

[Rene Kriest]

I'm not sure I'd take the risk from this, hiding links on your own site can dramatically hurt your search engine optimization.

http://www.google.com/support/webmasters/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=66353

Use with caution if you feel such a measure is neccassary
Good point.

Here is an in-dept article that (http://www.seomoz.org/blog/guide-to-hidden-text) exculpates the addon from any black-hat or even grey-hat SEO techniques.

Enjoy! :)

[Alfa1]

I know this is not meant for vb 3.7.4 but I tried it anyway and got this error:
Warning: Division by zero in [path]/includes/class_postbit.php(293) : eval()'d code on line 61

[bjhuang]

I've read the articles before i created this mod. I think what Matt said support my idea. You can use hidden text, just not too much. that's why there are options for you to decide in which posts should the links inserted and how many of them.

As i mentioned, this mod act the same way your vbulletin popup menus do. if you think this will do hurt to SEO, maybe you should disable your popup menus either? and i forgot to tell, the back links will not be inserted if the pages are requested by bots. Yes, this is some kind of cloacking, but the vbulletin system itself cloacking the popup menus too by default.

I have implement a lot of so called grey-hat SEO techniques on my own site, and they never hurt my ranking. My attitude toward these techniques is simple: do what is good to users.

[bjhuang]

I know this is not meant for vb 3.7.4 but I tried it anyway and got this error:

proably you have downloaded the previous uploaded file. plz try to download it again. it works for the version 3.6.8 afterward.

or open the plugin "Insert Copyright - Insert Text"

Replace All

$vbulletin->options


With

$this->registry->options

[mark370]

Not 100% sure abt this mod but going to give it a try anyways as i have hidden links in my sites footer to specific threads on my site and it hasent hurt our SEO yet :)

Some thoughts:
Add options to turn this on/off on a Catogary/ Room basis ?
Add options to turn this on/off on a user group basis ?

[Alfa1]

I have installed the new version and will let you know if this solves it.

[glennybee]

Will it add links to posts already in the database or only to new posts after installing the mod?

[bjhuang]

How long do the posts need to be before it will add a link?

Will it add links to posts already in the database or only to new posts after installing the mod?


you could decide that in the options.

it add the links on the fly for new and old posts, and will not modify anything into database.

[glennybee]

Is there a way to add just one link to the end of the post instead of after x amount of characters?

For example:
<a href="http://link of post">Source...</a>

So that the link looks genuine when it's copied and pasted somewhere else, instad of being stuck somewhere in the middle of the post and not looking right?

Or the anchor text could automatically become the title of the thread?

Maybe a possible option for future releases?

Thanks for the mod, useful but I think needs improved.

[bjhuang]

it reason why i don't put it at the end of posts is that the link is hidden in the original post, so there is a big probability it won't be selected for copying if it is the last few byte. and when it becomes visiable after pasted, the link is more likely be recognized and removed.

as for the second suggestion, the anchor text should be the link itself because most of the time the content will be copied as plain text intstead of html source code. if the anchor is the thread title, there will not be a back link after pasted.

but of course this is easy if you insist. open template "copyright" and find these two line

$vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?t=$thread[threadid]</a>
$vboptions[bburl]/showthread.php?p=$post[postid]</a>


replace each with

$thread[title]</a>


try to simulate the action of copy&paste. you will see the tricks here.

Is there a way to add just one link to the end of the post instead of after x amount of characters?

For example:
<a href="http://link of post">Source...</a>

So that the link looks genuine when it's copied and pasted somewhere else, instad of being stuck somewhere in the middle of the post and not looking right?

Or the anchor text could automatically become the title of the thread?

Maybe a possible option for future releases?

Thanks for the mod, useful but I think needs improved.

[kud0gfx]

uhm, interesting, but will wait to see what happens with this mod

[realmr]

any screenshots ?

[myown]

i will wait for some time from other users experience..............

[gtrts]

老黄，干得不错哦

[Fire112]

Demo?

[TheInsaneManiac]

When someone steals content, they usually read what they are stealing. So even if they don't see the link when they copy it, they will proof read it and see it when they paste it.

[TFEX]

EDIT: all better

* TFEX actually reads the first post....

[Zer0Fact0r]

I dont get how this works

[Da22Da]

Hey thanks for the GREAT MOD!!!
So for its working great on vb374 and vb381/380 vbseo installed as well!!!
indexing going normal no harm so far
backlinks WOW so far 3 by alexa 2 by google 7 by yahoo so let those theft as they like hehe
thanks again

[isatice]

WOOOOOW , super hack , super easy installation , easy to modify for vbseo and zoint seo and ... , MOTM , my choice

[Black Dove]

the link is not hidden in my own site
i inserted the code in the css but its still visible
i use vb 3.8.2

[Black Dove]

any help there ?

[RaceJunkie]

Is it possible to just remove the links all together and have it do Copyright © Local Race Chat instead?

Thanks

[GreasySpoon]

This hack will hurt your SEO because Google don't like hidden text/links. You have been warned ;)

[RaceJunkie]

This hack will hurt your SEO because Google don't like hidden text/links. You have been warned ;)

That's what I thought and wanted to see if there is a way to do just text.

[RaceJunkie]

Looks like this will work if you only want text which is all I am looking.

Replace the copyright template with

<br/><span class="copyright">$vbphrase[copyright_source]: $vboptions[bbtitle] <if condition="$vboptions[copyright_linkthread]"></if></span>

I have mine set to link thread in the options and I get the following text when I c/p

Copyright ? Local Race Chat.com: Local Race Chat

[GreasySpoon]

A good content thieve would filter all the unnecessary stuff out like the copyright. He would create a parser for every site that he scrape to get only the content, that he need.

[RaceJunkie]

A good content thieve would filter all the unnecessary stuff out like the copyright. He would create a parser for every site that he scrape to get only the content, that he need.

I have some that are just too lazy :D

[morrow]

I just installed with no problems. I ran a test and it made me laugh (in a good way). I know there are some people out there who do this.

Here are a few issues that may or may not be good.

First, When you cut and paste into another thread, the entire code is right there in plain site. I'm sure people who are cutting and pasting will not miss this and edit it out immediately, unless they are just that stupid, blind, or cracked up.

Second, for some reason the copyright is being torn up. Example:

原帖地址: North Eastern Forums

Wuz up wit dat.

[bjhuang]

i've got 600+ stolen posts (which means 600+ backlinks) since i released this mod. and my traffic from google goes up 24%. but of course this can not be a 100% proof to tell if this mod help or hurt your SERP.

i set it only insert copyright into posts with 500+ words. god knows how many more shorter posts get stolen. but i am sure there are a lot of lazy content thieve who can not identify and filter out the copyright text although it's so obvious.

[alsultan88]

thnxxxxxx
very good
but the advanced edit is not work
i need to hide the copyright on the other site
thnx

[alsultan88]

how can i edit the Font size or color that the link and copyright appear in the other site (after copy & paste )
?????????
thnx

[Alfa1]

it would be much better to have a hyperlinked dot show up in the post.

[DieselMinded]

There is no rhyme or reason for when this decides to add the copyright line very aggravating !

[DieselMinded]

/me uninstalls cant not duplicate the way this works everytime

[Sycoloco1212]

Tested Mod

[Neutral Singh]

Amazing Hack!! this works!! i have gotten more than 100 backlinks owning to this beauty!!

[Harley D]

I just installed with no problems. I ran a test and it made me laugh (in a good way). I know there are some people out there who do this.

Here are a few issues that may or may not be good.

First, When you cut and paste into another thread, the entire code is right there in plain site. I'm sure people who are cutting and pasting will not miss this and edit it out immediately, unless they are just that stupid, blind, or cracked up.

Second, for some reason the copyright is being torn up. Example:

原帖地址: North Eastern Forums

Wuz up wit dat.

Same here!

原帖地址: LaserEnthusiast.com

?????

[Harley D]

To fix this,
Go to PHRASE MANAGER
SEARCH IN PHRASES

search for
?ŽŸ??–?œ???€

Change it to Copyright
or whatever you want it to read.

[The Smoking Gun]

If it works as intended....excellent...will mark as soon as installed...millions of things to do!

TSG!

[carmichael1973]

Excellent work my friend!!! INSTALLED

[Simon Lloyd]

looks ok on the face of it as its simply a phrase (link) thats added to the post, however it's easily defeated if its pasted in to microsoft word before pasting to anywhere else, the link doesn't appear.

[paul41598]

I dont get how this mod works... copying and pasting text from a post does nothign for me

[l_amhed]

Hi !

This mod is quite interesting but is there a way to restict it to work only in some forums/categories ?
For instance, I have a trade forum with very long items lists but it doesn't matter (more over some members will found this quite upsetting, having back links to the forum in their trading list) if there're no link back when the copy/paste their list.

Thanks.

[Bouncer222]

Ok I have an issue, i copied a post longer than 500 words which is what I have set it to. Yet when I paste it, the copyright doesn't show up..

Also how do you know if someone copied a post from ur site? where do you check?

Suggestion: Integrate this with custom pages too, not just forums.

[Bilinen]

Installation comes after signs ????: How can I lose?

[abdobasha2004]

Will it hurt my SEO?

I can't promise that. but I think it does more good than evil. You could give your opinions here.
I think it will
hidden links are penalized
so the linking site and my site will be penalized ! also linking fromna penalized site will have no benifit

[DieselMinded]

i use www.tynt.com

[elwachiman]

Ya Lo Instalo

[zombietom]

Testing

UPDATE: Works fine after you do the "search in phrase" thing...thanks..Installed

[darknusens]

i use www.tynt.com
Where do I install the tynt code in my vbulletin forum?

[hmedi]

Thank you , and watting for vb4

[alsafwh.net]

[SIZE="2"]Hello,
(darknusens) you can paste the Tynt Code in the Template (FORUMDISPLAY) before ((</body>)).

[alsafwh.net]

Un-installed.

After some days, I face a problem of losing some of the text from the threads.

I write, for example, 20 lines in the threads & if I post it shows only 3 lines.!!

and i stop this hack.

Note my forum is (3.8.4 Patch Level 1).

[YankForum]

any 4.x version would be appreciated

[DieselMinded]

use www.tynt.com , it has a full out control panel with tracking and stats

[Dr.RakeshGarg]

anyone please update it for vbulletin 4

[SanaLTutsaK]

Nice thanks

[jazzyname]

Little help please.... Works fine except I get this .>>> 原帖地址 <<<< befor the link.
using 3.8.4
any info to fix this

[alsafwh.net]

Little help please.... Works fine except I get this .>>> 原帖地址 <<<< befor the link.
using 3.8.4
any info to fix this

"jazzyname" hello it seems that you are using arabic interface forum!

If the coder allow me, as long i face this issue before:

you need to edit the Add-on file before you upload.

You will find some Chinese phrase in the XML file, translate them into english & that will solve your problem. As I do.

i hope this help you.

[Brandon Sheley]

i use www.tynt.com

thanks for the link sir, I'm trying this out right now :)

[LuisManson]

any updates for vb4 ?

[YankForum]

installed on 4.x after a little editing it works fine

[Dr.RakeshGarg]

installed on 4.x after a little editing it works fine
can you share??

[Markos]

any updates for vb4.0.8 ??

[BirdOPrey5]

FYI: Chrome won't copy the hidden links, Internet Explorer does... haven't tried any other browsers.

[firattetik]

nice thanks

[Suiram]

Amazing Hack!! this works!! i have gotten more than 100 backlinks owning to this beauty!!

can you (or anyone) explain how you'd know that you get a linkback? i mean i assume what you're saying is that some thieving site (blog/forum i assume) copy/pasted some of your content and now when it displays on their site it has a link to your site - which means people can come to your site from the thieve's site via that article, and/or that google gives you better listing. but how do you know? from server logs? if yes, what do they look like? (screenshot plz). do you for example have a way of being able to go to the thieving site and pinpoint the post that has your stolen data?

[Manoel J?nior]

any updates for vb4.x ??

[CiyaEzIM]

any updates for vb4.x ??

[sweetguy2004]

where r d vb coders?? this is the reason ppl started shifting to IPB

[BirdOPrey5]

where r d vb coders?? this is the reason ppl started shifting to IPB

Since it doesn't work in Chrome, and I'm assuming other browsers, I see no point wasting time to port this. Also there is a free service http://www.tynt.com/ that does basically the same thing.

[yahooooh]

still looking for fix
it is only related to this :
eval('$copyright_text .= "' . fetch_template('copyright') . '";');
it should be modified to work with vb4
any help

[Pardeep Bagga]

provide trhis mode for vb4

[Xexiu]

Doesnt work for me :(.

[YankForum]

Doesnt work for me :(.

your vb version and link to a sample thread ?

[ChiNa]

Not working on vBulletin 3.8.6, When I copy my own post or threads, it wont show any link from my website or forum! I did also set the 800 character to 10, and the 2000 to 20, STILL NOT WORKING! Can anyone suggest how to make it work for Higher vB versions,, Thank u

[Simon Lloyd]

It depends on which browser you copied it from, it works fine but only with certain browsers.

[isatice]

dont use display:none , use same color as background instead

[ChiNa]

Well I used firefox, oko guys, I am back I used the RED color, and then I could see it. For me it works on Internet Explorer 9 and Chrome...... Cant be seen in Firefox. But anyways amazing mod..

Thanks guys.

[Naijasite]

I installed but notice two errors:

1. 原帖地址: naijafinder | nigeria forum http://www.naijafinder.com/showthread.php?t=24112

2. Warning: fetch_template() calls should be replaced by the vB_Template class. Template name: copyright in [path]/includes/functions.php on line 4734


Please help. I installed on 4.2.0

[BirdOPrey5]

This is a mod for VB 3.8.x it will not work on VB 4.x.x.

See my earlier post: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2169516&postcount=88

[Naijasite]

Thanks for the feedback, i have tynt installed already.
But i notice some website are scrapper my content with Rss.
I just want to use this to enable my link to be on the thread that was scrape by RSS.

www.tynt.com works perfectly well, but when someone copies your content with RSS the tynt link dosen't appear on your content on the thieves website.

Any Idea?

This is a mod for VB 3.8.x it will not work on VB 4.x.x.

See my earlier post: https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost.php?p=2169516&postcount=88

[BirdOPrey5]

no. But I know this mod won't work at all on 4.x and even on 3.8 it doesn't work in Chrome and maybe Safari.

[tehPARADOX]

If anybody is remotely interested in traffic, they shouldn't be touching this mod at all.

Google Penguin will penalize your site for cloaking links.

[polathinyo]

Hi, I work in plug-in :o