Affiliate marketers live and die by the link. Whether you’re recommending tools, supplements, or SaaS, one misconfigured redirect can cost you clicks, commissions, and credibility. That’s why choosing the right type of redirect matters—and the best option, by far, is the 307 Temporary Redirect.
🚫 Why You Should Avoid 301 Redirects for Affiliate Links
The 301 redirect is often misunderstood in the affiliate world. While it’s perfect for permanently moving pages within your own site, it’s a poor fit for affiliate links—and here’s why.
1. It Passes Your Hard-Earned SEO Authority to Someone Else
A 301 redirect tells Google and other search engines that the old page has permanently moved—and crucially, it transfers link equity (aka “link juice”) to the new destination. If you’re linking to an affiliate product page using a 301, you’re giving away your SEO value to a third-party site you don’t control.
💡 Translation: You’re boosting their search rankings, not yours.
This can weaken your own domain’s authority and dilute the value of your content over time.
2. It Can Be Cached Permanently by Browsers and Search Engines
301s are designed to be cached long-term. That means if you ever need to change your affiliate link—whether due to a broken URL, a new partnership, or a better commission deal—you might not be able to do so effectively. Browsers and search engines may keep using the old destination, even if you’ve updated it on your site.
❌ Result: lost commissions, broken tracking, or a bad user experience.
3. It Reduces Flexibility for Future A/B Tests or Rotations
Smart affiliates often rotate links to test different offers or split traffic between vendors. A 301 ties your hands by locking in the destination. If you later want to:
- Try a new offer
- Swap networks
- Implement geo-redirects or mobile targeting
…you’re stuck with a redirect that wasn’t built for flexibility.
4. It May Violate Terms of Service
Some affiliate programs explicitly prohibit cloaking or redirecting in ways that permanently alter the URL. A 301 can appear to search engines as an endorsement, which might violate affiliate network policies if not disclosed properly.
⚠️ Always read your program’s rules before redirecting—and avoid 301s unless you know they’re allowed.
Here’s what makes 307 redirects the top choice for affiliate links, and how to implement them without breaking a sweat.
What Is a 307 Temporary Redirect?
A 307 redirect is an HTTP response code indicating that a page has been temporarily moved to a new URL. Unlike a 301 (permanent) or 302 (legacy temporary), a 307 preserves the original request method—so a POST stays a POST, and a GET stays a GET.
That small detail can make a huge difference in affiliate tracking and data accuracy.
Affiliate Marketing and Redirects: Why It Matters
Affiliate links serve multiple purposes:
- Generate revenue
- Track user behavior
- Maintain brand trust
But raw affiliate URLs are often long, messy, and packed with UTM parameters. Cloaking these links with a redirect makes them look cleaner and easier to manage. The question is: how should you redirect them?
Using the wrong type of redirect (like 301) can sabotage your SEO or lock you into a permanent decision. The 307 offers a smarter, safer alternative.
Why 307 Redirects Are Ideal for Affiliate Links
Let’s break down exactly why this redirect method stands out.
1. Avoids Permanent SEO Signal Transfer
A 301 redirect tells Google: “This page is gone forever—pass its SEO value to the new destination.” That’s great if you’re migrating your site… but disastrous if you’re linking out to an affiliate vendor. You don’t want to give away your SEO juice. A 307 says: this move is temporary, so search engines leave your page’s authority intact.
2. Preserves HTTP Methods (GET/POST)
Most affiliate links use GET requests, but preserving the method is still smart. For example, some affiliate networks run form submissions or track conversions server-side. A 307 ensures nothing breaks in that process by keeping the method and payload unchanged.
3. Supports Accurate Click Tracking
Affiliate platforms and analytics tools (like Google Analytics, Voluum, or ClickMeter) rely on precise request headers and referrer data. A 307 doesn’t interfere with this, allowing clean data capture that supports smart decision-making.
4. Facilitates Easy Future Link Changes
Affiliate programs change. Vendors disappear. Offers expire. Because 307s are temporary, they’re designed for change. You can swap destinations anytime without confusing users or search engines—or getting stuck with cached old redirects.
5. Aligns with Best Cloaking Practices
Using a redirect also helps cloak affiliate URLs under your brand—e.g., yoursite.com/go/tool—while still respecting most affiliate terms of service. A 307 is ideal because it balances transparency with performance and doesn’t mislead search engines.
How to Implement 307 Redirects
You’ve got three easy ways to get started:
1. .htaccess Example (Apache servers)
If your site runs on Apache, add this to your .htaccess file:
Redirect 307 /go/product https://affiliate-site.com/product123
This tells the server to issue a temporary redirect whenever a user visits /go/product.
2. WordPress Plugin Method
Install a redirection plugin like Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates. When creating a new link, choose the 307 option from the dropdown menu. No coding required.
3. PHP Manual Redirect
For full control, add this to your PHP file:
header("Location: https://affiliate-site.com/product123", true, 307);
exit();
It manually sends the correct 307 header and redirects the visitor instantly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using 301s by default: This passes SEO value to affiliate sites and can’t be undone easily.
- Not testing redirects: Broken links = lost revenue.
- Violating affiliate TOS: Always check if link cloaking is allowed by your program.
- Overloading with plugins: Stick to trusted tools to avoid security and performance issues.
Final Thoughts
Affiliate links may look small, but they carry weight—both for your business and your SEO. A 307 Temporary Redirect gives you flexibility, accuracy, and peace of mind. It’s the technical tool that smart marketers use to protect their revenue without compromising performance.
💡 Take action: Audit your affiliate links today. Switch to 307s where appropriate and watch your tracking improve while your SEO stays intact.
Click here to read our comparison of the best affiliate marketing plugins for WordPress.
