Administrative and Maintenance Tools - VigLink

Info:
VigLink is the easiest way to monetize your outbound links. You get paid when visitors click from your forum to a retailer and buy something. The VigLink analytics dashboard tells you which outbound links are clicked most, which are making you the most money, and more.

You've created something special. Your community is a place where people congregate to discuss their passion. It turns out they also make decisions about what to buy and where to buy it?and that's valuable. VigLink helps you capture this value, effortlessly.

In fact, VigLink is second only to AdSense as the most widely used monetization technology for vBulletin. Don't take our word for it, here's the breakdown.

This add-on will install the VigLink javascript on your forum, without the need to edit templates.

VigLink Convert
Your members are constantly posting links to retailers. If any go to over 35,000 retailers, VigLink will automatically convert them to monetized links that pay you a commission.
Learn More >>

VigLink Insert
Forum threads often reference products, brands, and retailers. VigLink can automatically link these references, making sure they always go to the most valuable destination.
Learn More >>

Controls
Version 2.0 now gives more control over how VigLink runs on your site. You can enable or disable VigLink Convert and VigLink Insert for specific user groups and forums.

Tested On:
4.2.0
3.8.7

Installation Instructions

1. Import the XML file
2. Go to your AdminCP and edit the VigLink options
3. Enter the API key from your VigLink account page. (If you don't already have a VigLink account you can sign up here)

[oldengine]

How do you KNOW if it works or not? I got 60 clicks reported today on my dashboard, but there is absolutely NO clue that the outgoing link is altered in any way. Is this simply a matter of trust? Their support kinda sucks!

EDIT: Firefox or Safari browsers not working! Internet Explorer and Opera work OK.

[aciurczak]

Right-click on an external link on your site that you'd expect to be linked (like to ebay, amazon, or any other web store), and hit copy. Then paste that link into a new browser address window.

If it's working, that link should start with api.viglink.com with a whole bunch of characters at the end of it. When you go to that link, it will immediately bounce you to the correct link at ebay, etc. That's how viglink works.

If it's not working, when you paste the link you'll just see the ebay link directly.

[oldengine]

Apparently NOT working. Checked Amazon and eBay.

I do see the viglink script at the bottom of the page source and my key number is included.

Thanks for the info!

[oldengine]

Links are rewritten on Internet Explorer and Opera, but NOT on Firefox or Safari.

[aciurczak]

I traded some messages with support, who wanted me to clear cookies, identify which extensions I'm running, etc. I'm hoping that they realize that it's unlikely to be a problem that only I'm seeing, and I'm somewhat pleased that it's been verified by someone else at this point.

[lapiervb]

Just added this mod I hope its functioning correctly..... I'll give it a few days and see.

[oldengine]

Apparently it takes more than a few days. 450 monetized clicks for $12 total doesn't cut the mustard. I sincerely hope that they add the final commission to those clicks or this program is going into the shitter. I do see a note on my control panel that, "Some merchants wait a week or more to report revenue, so these totals may not be final." Maybe there's hope yet.

I do not like the fact that they are sniffing my Google Adsense links.

[curriertech]

I've got opt-out disabled but the options still show in usercp. Also these option selections are displayed in everyone's user profile. I'm running vB 4.2.1. I don't do link insertion for members so I'd like them to not see these options at all. Is this a bug?

[Marv]

Originally Posted by curriertech

I've got opt-out disabled but the options still show in usercp. Also these option selections are displayed in everyone's user profile. I'm running vB 4.2.1. I don't do link insertion for members so I'd like them to not see these options at all. Is this a bug?

Can confirm that bug. Same here

[Marv]

Hi Rick,

I have this add-on installed and its working so far. My headaches are coming from another direction. VL is installed with convert/insert options turned on. What I have noticed is, that every converted/inserted link is referring to the merchenats us/en sites - even when there are sites in my forums language and coverage available. My website is a german site and the audience is coming from germany (96%), switzerland (2%) and austria (1%), USA (0,3%), GB (0,3%).

I registered my site with viglink as a german site so I was expecting rewritten german linktargets and landing sites with .de TLDs. What can I do to get matching insert/convert-links with .de instead of .com TLDs? It´s quiet obvious, that the german visitor will click the link, see the english page, deletes the url in the browser and types in the german TLD manually - which won´t be counted as a referal, afaik.

May be VigLink is programmed to serve ONLY us/en sites. But so far I couldn´t find something that would prove that. May be you can lend me a helping hand on that issue.

TIA.