Don’t know what and how to do so that VK does not block the link to the site from the affiliate program? Find out three proven methods and get confidence that your link will properly drive traffic to the advertised site.
This is an important point! If VK blocks a link, then even well-planned advertising in VKontakte communities can turn into a disaster. People will click on the link in the advertising post, wanting to get to the site, but VKontakte simply will not let them there.
The result of such a block is sad : a wasted budget, a false conclusion regarding the selected target audience and community, disappointment in traffic arbitrage and an attack of desire to return to the factory...
I wouldn't want that. What about you?.. So let’s read on.
Why do VKontakte block links?
By default, a link to any resource that contradicts the VKontakte security policy will be blocked. This includes sites with child porn, extremist materials, etc.
At the same time, moderators can manually check external addresses and block them if necessary. This category includes sites that provide goods for sale and the opportunity to earn money from affiliate commissions. Recently, the social network’s policy regarding affiliate programs has become stricter. And if you try to publish a link with a referral tail on VKontakte, it will probably be blocked.
Why else might the link not open?
If the link leads to a third-party site, it may appear that it is not working. Maybe it's temporary, maybe it's forever. After all, every site is located on some server, the site has some kind of owners. It may well be that something happened to them.
In addition, if a site is blocked in a country, this can manifest itself in different ways: not only as a message from the provider “Access is restricted,” but also as an error when opening a link - for example, ERR_CONNECTION_RESET “Connection reset.”
How to remove the restriction and bypass the security system
Unfortunately, it is not possible to solve this problem through the VKontakte support service. If a domain has been added to the banned list, it will probably not be possible to remove it from there.
Therefore, it is necessary to resort to various kinds of tricks. I want to tell you about one of these methods.
The idea is to use Google's link shortening service. Here's a link to it.
https://goo.gl/
Let's take for example a link to a site that is marked as suspicious. Go to the service and paste it into the appropriate field.
Now click on the “Shorten URL” button. A pop-up window will appear asking you to use a shortened version of your link. Copy it.
Now try posting it on your VKontakte wall (see how to write on a VKontakte wall). Paste the link into the field to create a new post, wait for the system to automatically determine the final address, and publish the post.
Firstly, the required page will automatically load. This means that the shortened version of the URL works correctly. And secondly, and most importantly, when you try to follow this link, the security system will not block it, and you will be taken to the desired site. You can check.
Please note that this method may not work
The VKontakte administration periodically blocks the operation of link shortening services. It is possible that a service from Google will also be blocked. And links shortened through it will also be blocked by the security system (see how to shorten a VKontakte link).
In this case, you will just need to find a similar service that still works. You can easily do this using search engines. Next, try shortening the addresses and publishing the url on VK. If the transition is carried out, then you have found a replacement.
The link inside VK, Odnoklassniki or other popular site does not open
If we are talking about one of the popular sites (for example, VK), then understand right away: this problem is only yours. After all, many other people click on the same link, but they are doing well. It's unlikely that the link doesn't work for anyone. Most likely, it’s only you that doesn’t open. That is, if you fix the problem yourself, then magically everything will start working. Therefore, there is no point in going anywhere; you need to immediately solve the problem on your device.
The fact is that between any site and you there are always many intermediate links - communication channels, equipment, protocols, programs, your phone or computer, programs on it, your connection to the network... This is how the Internet works. The closer to you, the more everything depends on you. Bad connection? Solve the problem with your provider. Is your phone glitching? Solve your phone problem. Browser buggy? Solve the problem with the browser.
So, if the link is not clickable, you need to fix the problem in your browser or mobile application, phone, computer, tablet. How? Read below.
Solving a problem on your phone
- If a problem with the link occurs in the mobile application, then go to the phone browser. This could be Chrome, Safari, or a standard browser, whatever you have. Open the link in it. No need to open the link from the application.
- If the problem is in the browser and you are using the standard browser that was on your phone, install another one from the application store (from the Play Store or App Store). Type “browser” in the search. All popular browsers are free - Chrome, Firefox, Opera. It happens that a standard browser (especially on older phones) incorrectly perceives long links in VK that are not fully displayed (they have an ellipsis at the end) - only replacing the browser with a normal one will help here. In any case, if it doesn’t work in one browser, it makes sense to try the same thing in another.
- You can also try clearing your browser's temporary files; this is done in its settings. But keep in mind that after deleting the cookies, you will have to log in to the sites again with your username and password.
- Finally, if the problem cannot be solved on your phone, use a computer, laptop, tablet - any device that has a normal browser. Attention: if you entered a password and entered the site on someone else's device, do not forget to log out when you have finished your business.
Solving a problem on your computer
- If the link does not open in your computer browser, first delete temporary files and cookies, and then try again. Attention: after deleting cookies, you will have to log in to the sites again with your username and password.
- If clearing temporary files does not help, install a different browser. Do you have Chrome? Try Firefox. Or vice versa, Firefox instead of Chrome. You can also completely delete your browser and install it again.
- Disable all browser extensions, especially ad blockers - they can interfere. Therefore, installing a new browser often helps, because it does not yet have any extensions.
- It could also be the consequences of viral activity. Often people do not notice that they have viruses on their computer. It wouldn't hurt to run an anti-virus scan. And if there are no viruses now, but there were, then traces of them may remain that interfere with opening links - for example, extra entries in the hosts file that need to be cleaned.
- Still doesn't work? Use another computer, tablet, phone, after all. Try to do the same. If it works, you will immediately understand what the problem is.
What to do if nothing works and the link still cannot be clicked?
Then an on-call computer technician can help you. It will fix the problem and save you time.
What should I do to solve the problem?
Install the old version
The Play Store always has the latest version of the application. You can't install the old version from there. But this can be done manually. Try version VK 3.6, it is posted in the official VKontakte for Android community - here (if you are not logged into VK in the browser, you will have to log in). Download not the latest version, namely 3.6. If the browser warns you that the file may be unsafe, you will have to agree and continue. Please note that music may not work in the old version.
Old version of the VK mobile application
Try other apps
You can also try some other applications for VK (third-party clients), which can be found in the Play Store (search for VK, VKontakte). Please note that you do this at your own peril and risk.
Why, if the application worked, but I deleted it, now it won’t install?
Because you had the old version running and running. And the Play Store always contains only the latest version. The version you had is no longer there! Well, the new version that exists does not work on the version of Android that you have. She needs a newer operating system (in other words, a newer phone). Therefore, install the old version of VK manually, as we described above, or use one of the other methods to solve the problem, which we also listed. And you can also access VK from your phone without an application, more on that below.
I post the link in the VKontakte group. He understands it, inserts text and photos. The domain is Russian-language. When you click on the link, it redirects to VKontakte news, everything works in the mobile version, and it also works in the application. I can't figure out what the problem is. Please tell me!
A few days ago everything worked, but now it doesn't. wrote to support
Previously, VKontakte didn’t understand domains like ***.online, now it recognizes them in the text and immediately inserts a link, but only if it’s to the root, at least for me
The last post showed that people need solutions to get rid of unnecessary inconvenient advertising in applications and simply on websites.
What are Deep Links and how to integrate them into your application
It often happens that both a page on the website and a screen in the application correspond to certain content. In such cases, it will be convenient for the user who has the application to open a link to this content through the application. As an example, you can take an online store. The user can click on the link in the browser, after which he will be prompted to view the product page through the application. This also works well with link sharing. Example: Petya saw cool sneakers on the site and sent a link to them to Vasya on Telegram. Vasya already has the online store application installed, so by clicking on the link in Telegram he is taken to the application screen, which displays all the information about these wonderful sneakers. Convenient, isn't it?
Before we get into implementation, it's important to understand that there are two ways to handle links:
Methods for bypassing link blocking in VK
The search engine provides many answers to the question “how to prevent VK from blocking a link ,” but not all of them are effective and stable. I have identified the three best (in my opinion) methods:
- Redirect through the Blogger platform – free;
- Domain parking in an affiliate program – 99 rubles. in year;
- Your own redirect service – 250 rubles. and monthly 120-150 rubles.
I advise you to allocate 100-300 rubles and a little more time. In the long term, paid methods work much better.
If you use trafficback, the parking method does not work. In this case, use the third method or switch to a tracker.
Method 1: Redirect through the Blogger platform
How to make a redirect so that VKontakte does not block the link?
Register with blogger.com and create a new blog
Come up with a title and address, choose a simple topic.
After creating a blog, go to the “Theme” tab, disable the mobile template by clicking on the gear and selecting the appropriate position.
Let’s leave this tab alone for now and prepare a link from the affiliate program. We shorten it in vk.cc, otherwise an error may appear during further actions.
Return to the blog tab and click “Edit HTML”. Looking for a tag
and immediately after it we insert the code, replacing the word LINK with the shortened link in vk.cc.
Immediately after the tag
insert the second code, also replacing the word with a link. document.location=”LINK”;
We save and check the redirect. Everything should work. Now the domain of the resulting blog can be shortened again via vk.cc and advertising can be placed.
Links shortened through vk.cc, Vkontakte work better than a direct link to Blogger.
Method 2: domain parking in an affiliate program
M1-Shop recorded a video that clearly shows how to park a domain. The algorithm is similar with other affiliate programs.
I mainly register domains on 2domains, because the registration cost there is only 99 rubles for a year. But often, the same REG.RU or Beget hold promotions and give away domains for 47 rubles or even free in some new domain zone! But we, as arbitrators, don’t care what zone the domain belongs to. The main thing is that it’s cheap, and ideally – free!
I recommend registering with at least these three services and when you receive letters with similar promotions, do not miss the opportunity to get a domain on the cheap.
After registering a domain, you need to enter the DNS server data. It's very easy to do.
Go to your account and open the list of your domains. Next, select the required domain.
Click “Manage DNS zone”
Come up with a subdomain name. I recommend writing a short name of the offer. In another field we enter the data that the affiliate program provides in the “Domain Parking” section.
After this, you need to wait until the DNS re-registration occurs. This may take from several hours to a day. Everything will definitely work if you don’t mess anything up.
Method 3: creating your own redirect service
What to do if VK blocks a link? Create a redirect service that only you will use! This is the most promising method, but in addition to purchasing a domain, you will also have to fork out for hosting.
By the way, at REG.RU you can get a domain for free when you pay for hosting!
Simply shortening a link from an affiliate program through popular redirection services (vk.cc or goo.gl) is not reliable. If VK has already banned the landing domain, then your link will be enough for a dozen clicks at best.
That is, the first check will show that the link works, and you can safely post it. But as soon as several people cross it, it will stop working. The path for traffic will be blocked, and the statistics in the affiliate program will remain very, very sad.
A simple redirect service can be created on the free WordPress engine using the Pretty Link plugin. Even the free version is enough, but the paid version has a tracker. Your own redirect service with a tracker inside – that’s cool!
You can learn more about the plugin here. The cost of a license for one site is $47 per year. There are other tariff plans, but the “beginner” tariff is enough.
So, to create your own link shortening service, you need to register a domain, purchase hosting and link the domain to hosting. The algorithm is identical to parking in an affiliate program, so I won’t repeat it.
Next we need to install the WordPress engine. This process is shown in great detail in this video.
Now install the Pretty Link plugin from the official WordPress repository. In the site control panel, go to the “Plugins” – “Add new” tab and enter the name of the plugin in the search bar.
After installation and activation, a new tab called “Pretty Link” will appear in the menu. There is no need for any settings, since the required items are enabled by default. But it’s worth checking, in case the developers change anything in new versions.
If you want to collect statistics on clicks, there should be a checkmark in the “Options” subsection opposite Track Link.
Shortening the first link
- Go to the “Add New Link” subsection;
- In the “Target URL” field, insert the link from the affiliate program that needs to be shortened;
- In the “Pretty Link” field, come up with your own tail for the link or leave the automatically generated one;
- Click the “Create” button and the link is ready.
Links can be grouped to make it easier to navigate hundreds of links later. I recommend building a structure based on offers, and first adding the name of the link to the affiliate program in which it was taken.
Later, when there are already clicks on our link, you can go to the “Clicks” tab and see statistics on the number of clicks, source, date, time and IP address.
That's all for me. I think you understand what to do if VK blocks a link. And if you still have questions, ask them in the comments. I will be happy to answer.
