URL Tracking Code & SEO Implications

[Noon_an_Night]

Question:

I have a client that wants to use URL tracking code on inbound link from a highly ranked website.

What are the implications? I have mixed info on this...

Does using tracking code on inbound link effect SEO

Example: www.xyz123. com?tracking_code=abc

[Noon_an_Night]

Anyone have any input on this???

[jeet]

Google might not like that URL.
But can't be sure. I read something about that type of URL's in their webmaster guidelines, cannot find the exact page now.
Bye

[manageyourlinks]

With regards to passing link popularity...

I cant say for a fact either but I have a feeling it wont be the same if the link was static. ie www.example.com

[webexpertz]

IMO it does effect the SEO Rankings.

There is two things, if you are using the tracking code in your website then its not good.

but if publisher where you link is placed is using tracking code on his website to trace the hits then no problem in tracking..

One more thing, If you are proving advertising space on your website and using the tracking code to check the hits and referalls. then again its not the major problem..Go Ahead with this.

Hope this will help.

Kind Regards
Brijesh

[Natural Elements]

I used some tracking codes with pay keywords on exactseek to see how efficient were the keywords. Last year I did not have any problem on the big search engines with these urls. It is a good way to track the best keywords.

The only thing I did not like with this, it's the inbound link will be on the top placement on search engines, and you regular url from your site will be below.

Hope to help.

[webexpertz]

but its ok, reaping the traffic benefits from big names. organic listing is long time to run. So keep trying for organic.

This was the same situation with one of my client...he advertise a keyword in directory business.com and business.com was coming top for his targeted keywords....but it was a kind of challenge for me to come on top for that keyword.

I acheived the top position and suggested client to remove the link from the business.com

[Noon_an_Night]

Thank you for your input!

I am looking for a factual answer to my original question. I know that using URL tracking codes for paid search is fine. What I am looking for is the answer to “does a url tracking code effect SEO juice back to your site from other websites? “Natural Results Only”

Strictly care about SEO ranking effects related to Google results only, but any info will do. Any articles or website links that confirm Yes or No. Thanks…

[GeXus]

It will see that tracking URL as it's own url, not the root domain, thus it will not pass to the main page...

One idea, is to use a folder structure, such as domain.com/affiliate/5555 (5555 being the affiliate id).. then do a 301 redirect to the main page.. that *should* pass to the domain itself.

[thePro]

phpkjunkyard has an excellent click tracking script