torontotim
Member
I'm trying the code in the PAGE_CONTAINER template to see if it picks up.
VigLink 1.1.3
- Thread starter Brian Lovett
- Start date
Big Dan
Active member
torontotim
Member
I did it just above the </body> tag as per your earlier post and Viglink/SOVRN report it is working.
Big Dan
Active member
Either way works. Glad to hear you got it working! 🍻
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
I am pre-launch on a couple of sites and need to resolve some issues. Sovrn (formerly Viglink) needs to step up to the plate and start maintaining this add-on again if they want us to continue using their service, or at least give guidance as to how to integrate it without messing up the forum completely.
In XF 2.1, I am finding that the Sovrn code is being added inside users' posts. The way it is supposed to work, is that the content on the site is unaltered, and links are inserted after the fact. Now my staff is having to go in and edit posts to remove the crap that got inserted. It has to be some JS incompatibility happening here. My only solution will be to edit numerous templates in order to have Insert work only in areas where it should be allowed--thread content. Not in polls, thread titles, the "Thread Starter" text, etc.. I need to use Insert on all of our sites since we are generating noticeable revenue from it, so turning off the feature isn't an option.
In XF 2.1, I am finding that the Sovrn code is being added inside users' posts. The way it is supposed to work, is that the content on the site is unaltered, and links are inserted after the fact. Now my staff is having to go in and edit posts to remove the crap that got inserted. It has to be some JS incompatibility happening here. My only solution will be to edit numerous templates in order to have Insert work only in areas where it should be allowed--thread content. Not in polls, thread titles, the "Thread Starter" text, etc.. I need to use Insert on all of our sites since we are generating noticeable revenue from it, so turning off the feature isn't an option.
You need to switch off the Insert feature in your Sovrn dashboard--you have to go to where you manage sites, and you'll see it there.
Exactly. A few forums of ours have "deals" threads. So in an Amazon or eBay deals thread, members don't want to end up at some shady site that is not Amazon or eBay. We didn't just get complaints, we had members panicking that they had a virus on their computer, and started blaming us (and Viglink) for infecting their computers or phones.
torontotim
Member
I'm not using the plug-in. I modified the Page_Container template with the changes described in this thread. Works with either Viglink/SOVRN or Skimlinks for me with no issues.
I'm on 2.1.7
I'm on 2.1.7
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
I guess the automatic linking issues we were having with VigLink/Sovrn are a moot point now, since they have just eliminated their Insert feature. So that's one less thing we have to worry about (such as, our "Thread Starter" banner being turned into a link). But it's also a loss.
Thing is, I can't find a replacement for that anywhere. Skimlinks has no equivalent. There are WordPress plugins that might provide this, but that does no good on a XenForo site.
Thing is, I can't find a replacement for that anywhere. Skimlinks has no equivalent. There are WordPress plugins that might provide this, but that does no good on a XenForo site.
askandy
Active member
@Rudy - When did Viglink/SOVN announce they were doing away with the Insert feature? Are they just getting rid of Insert? Or are they retiring their affiliate auto-linking URL links?
I'm actually working on a solution for our site intended to replace Insert and compliment the Viglink affiliate auto-linking. Planning to write it as a SaaS, so it could be available to others.
If you're interested in learning more, please PM me here.
Mike
I'm actually working on a solution for our site intended to replace Insert and compliment the Viglink affiliate auto-linking. Planning to write it as a SaaS, so it could be available to others.
If you're interested in learning more, please PM me here.
Mike
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
I got an email early in June saying they were discontinuing Insert a couple of days later. Convert and Anywhere are still working though. If you look for Insert on the site, it is no longer available in the dashboard or settings.
Big Dan
Active member
Viglink gave me next to zero notice (maybe 3 days) about dropping the Amazon affiliate program. That was my biggest earner. It was easy enough to convert Amazon links to my own affilate ID with another addon but I have zero confidence in Viglink now. I only keep it around for the occasional eBay commission.
askandy
Active member
@Big Dan - eBay has a script that you can add to your website that auto-affiliates eBay links with your affiliate id.
So, just sign up for eBay affiliates, grab their code, and install it on your website. Then you can get rid of Viglink if you want.
If I can get my platform up and running in the next few months, I won't have to use scripts from eBay or Amazon -- I'll just be able to automatically add our affiliate link to existing links.
So, just sign up for eBay affiliates, grab their code, and install it on your website. Then you can get rid of Viglink if you want.
If I can get my platform up and running in the next few months, I won't have to use scripts from eBay or Amazon -- I'll just be able to automatically add our affiliate link to existing links.
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
That was not Viglink's decision--Amazon no longer deals with third parties. So Skimlinks and anyone else who did the same auto-linking also got affected by it. In fact, I saw Skimlinks announced it a couple of days before Viglink, so I knew it was coming. Fortunately I use an add-on for XF that adds an affiliate ID to the end of all Amazon links, so the sites I manage are well-covered.
I will keep Viglink around since they do generate traffic to other merchants that members post in the forum--they do a good job with those and the payouts are higher than going direct. There just isn't much eBay income anymore--eBay themselves decimated their original affiliate payouts four or five years ago, so now, very little of the traffic we generate pays out.
askandy
Active member
Yeah, XF2 Addons does this for eBay and Amazon.
Been thinking about using those add-ons, but the eBay script works for eBay links, and Amazon affiliate, even though Viglinks, has never been that great, so I haven't implemented anything for Amazon yet.
Wildcat Media
Well-known member
I've had a lot of success with Viglink over the years, but some of my sites generate a lot of product links, and shoppers seem to buy more than the item that was linked. What I actually fear more is Amazon severely cutting back or eliminating their affiliate program completely.
Big Dan
Active member
That's understandable but my guess is VigLink themselves had quite a bit of notice compared to it's users. That's my beef. I never earned a ton of money from Viglink so it's not a huge deal for me; More or less it's the principal. If Amazon unilaterally made the decision to cut out 3rd parties, it wasn't overnight. How long did VigLink know BEFORE telling us?
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