How to bypass adblocker closing affiliate links opened in new window?

[PROFRBcom]

My question is:

How do I manage to open an affiliate link in a new window when ad blocking browser add ons are determined to close that new window as soon as it opens the affiliate link?

I can not, not open the link in a new window. Not an option. It must be opened in a new window.

The domain is in most adblocking software, and if you attempt to open Bovada.lv anything in a new window, ad blocking software will instaclose the new window.

There has to be a way to outsmart this with redirects or something right?

I tried hiding the affiliate links, which are revenuenetwork.com links that redirect to bovada.lv, inside of BitLY shortened links, but that does not work.

I tried hiding the affiliate links inside of redirected pages on one of our websites and opening in a new window, but that also did not work.

What could be a possible solution that would allow me to have users click on a Bovada affiliate link and bypass ad blocking browser software?

[PROFRBcom]

Someone suggested detecting the adblocker and refusing to serve content until it was disabled.

Unfortunately, that will not work because I have zero control over the code on this website (it is not one of ours).

[baldidiot]

We've had to switch our links to open in the same window because of this, loads of sites get blocked if it's in a new window.

I'm guessing this is a link on a third party site that you've been allowed to place? If so, and you can't get them to change the link target, then one option would be to link to a static page on your site that has another link through that does it in the same window. Something like:

"We're sending you to your offer now, click here if you don't want to wait"

Could also put a javascript redirect on the page after 5 seconds as well, although I suspect the ad blockers would see through that so it would be a case of the user having to click the link.

It's not ideal but would probably work (albeit be a bit annoying).

[MJM]

I haven't been paying attention to this issue recently - I wasn't aware that "open in a new window" was a problem so BaldIdiot's comment caught my attention.

I'm following this thread with interest. My links all currently set to open in a new window. How are you all testing this to see which sites it is a problem for and which it isn't. Also is this globally consistent - or some geo's more than others.

Thanks in advance - good thread here.

[baldidiot]

I'm following this thread with interest. My links all currently set to open in a new window. How are you all testing this to see which sites it is a problem for and which it isn't. Also is this globally consistent - or some geo's more than others.

Best way to test is install and adblocker and click the links. Of course, different ad blockers will block different things but will give you an idea of the issue.

For example, I checked a couple of sites in your profile and clicked the sites on the HP and the following links were blocked:

bet365
Unibet
Monkey Knife Fight

We just have everything open in the same window because of this.

[MJM]

Best way to test is install and adblocker and click the links. Of course, different ad blockers will block different things but will give you an idea of the issue.

For example, I checked a couple of sites in your profile and clicked the sites on the HP and the following links were blocked:

bet365
Unibet
Monkey Knife Fight

We just have everything open in the same window because of this.

Mind blowing. I assumed because we don't serve up any third party ads via banners etc, and because we cloak them via /visit/ folder, this was a non issue. Why the heck does adblocker prevent a click from a new window, but not same window? Stupid to block a click the user intends to make.

I will make this change today across my network - even though it's a downgraded user experience in my opinion. Will be interesting to see if this has any impact/results on our conversions.

Thank you!

[baldidiot]

Mind blowing. I assumed because we don't serve up any third party ads via banners etc, and because we cloak them via /visit/ folder, this was a non issue. Why the heck does adblocker prevent a click from a new window, but not same window? Stupid to block a click the user intends to make.

I guess from the adblockers perspective they're maybe viewing it as a pop up? I agree it's daft but if they can't detect the difference between something a user has clicked and something that the system is chucking out then they might have to treat it the same.

On voucher code sites they often have the voucher code pop up in a new window whilst the previous window changes to the site, I'm guessing it's to get around the adblocker issue.

For example, see: httpx://www.myvouchercodes.co.uk/bet365-sports-betting

[nwalker]

Best way to test is install and adblocker and click the links. Of course, different ad blockers will block different things but will give you an idea of the issue.

For example, I checked a couple of sites in your profile and clicked the sites on the HP and the following links were blocked:

bet365
Unibet
Monkey Knife Fight

We just have everything open in the same window because of this.

What Adblocker did you use for the tests? I've added into my browser an Adblocker plugin and it's not blocking new windows.

I'd like to give my site a good test.

Cheers
Neil

[Sherlock]

No bypass. Open in the same window. Yes, it is because of popunders.

The adblock blacklists are public, you can look there for domains. Even the bypassing domains are usually on the list.

[Michael Martinez]

What Adblocker did you use for the tests? I've added into my browser an Adblocker plugin and it's not blocking new windows.

I'd like to give my site a good test.

Cheers
Neil

One extension that throws up a warning is uBlock Origin. The user has the option of allowing the page to load either 1-time or permanently.

[PROFRBcom]

I'm guessing this is a link on a third party site that you've been allowed to place? If so, and you can't get them to change the link target

Correct.

then one option would be to link to a static page on your site that has another link through that does it in the same window. Something like:

"We're sending you to your offer now, click here if you don't want to wait"

Yeah, that is an option, but we can't link it to our website directly either. Not cool to do a link directly to a "gambling" topical website according to their EIC.

Could also put a javascript redirect on the page after 5 seconds as well, although I suspect the ad blockers would see through that so it would be a case of the user having to click the link.

It's not ideal but would probably work (albeit be a bit annoying).

I was kind of thinking this as well. Some sort of pause and refresh option. Javascript I didn't think of but suppose that might be a better solution, although we have no experience with such a thing and would have to figure out the technicals. Probably not that difficult though I guess.

I haven't been paying attention to this issue recently - I wasn't aware that "open in a new window" was a problem so BaldIdiot's comment caught my attention.

I'm following this thread with interest. My links all currently set to open in a new window.

You are 100% losing money if you are setting all your affiliate links to open in new windows.

We used this tactic for many years, because we wanted the reader/user/clicker to still have a copy of our website open, in hopes they would later browse our site... but we had to make the switch to open in same window maybe 3-5 years ago? Hard to recall. But a number of offshore sites got hit by adblockers and it became necessary to swap methods in order to not waste clicks/frustrate users.

[baldidiot]

What Adblocker did you use for the tests? I've added into my browser an Adblocker plugin and it's not blocking new windows.

I'd like to give my site a good test.

Cheers
Neil

This one: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/d...namgkkbiglidom

Yours were fine for me though (just went and checked some links I know get blocked). I'm guessing it's because the window you're opening is the same domain that then uses a meta refresh to send the user to the aff link.

So that's a possible solution for anyone wanting to open aff links in new windows.

[baldidiot]

Yeah, that is an option, but we can't link it to our website directly either. Not cool to do a link directly to a "gambling" topical website according to their EIC.

If what Neil does on his site can get past the ad blockers then the same thing could work for you. Get a third domain that's not gambling related and bounce it off that using a meta refresh.

[PROFRBcom]

No bypass. Open in the same window. Yes, it is because of popunders.

The adblock blacklists are public, you can look there for domains. Even the bypassing domains are usually on the list.

Ty. Do you have any timesaving links for a site that collects all this data and allows searches for blacklisted domains?

I tried some things like https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/ and https://safeweb.norton.com/ but those really only check for technical vulnerabilities and blaacklists because of those types of issues... not advertising blocks. The 3 sites I checked for those either didn't work, or looked like some kind of spam **** to sell me other crap instead of providing me with actual data.

What Adblocker did you use for the tests?

Adblock Plus in my case.

[Sherlock]

I was watching some in the past, it did not help me at all.

For example here is rn: https://github.com/justdomains/block...e/master/lists

[MitchellHax]

Thanks for the heads up, a few links were blocked on my site.

[PROFRBcom]

Thanks for the heads up, a few links were blocked on my site.

Feel free to hand out links to reward the helpful parties!