What is a redirect and how can it help increase profit?

In traffic arbitrage, where every penny counts and every second of loading time affects conversion rates, redirects are not just a technical term but a powerful tool. With redirects, you can manage traffic flow, hide affiliate links, test offers, filter audiences, and ultimately increase profit.

What is a Redirect?

A redirect (from English «redirect») is an automatic forwarding of a user from one URL to another.

In simpler terms, a person clicks on one link but ends up on a completely different page. This happens in fractions of a second, often unnoticed by the user.

What Types of Redirects Are There?

There are several main types of redirects, each used depending on the task:

• 301 Redirect (Permanent)

Used for permanent forwarding — e.g., when a page has been moved permanently. Useful in SEO but rarely used in arbitrage.

• 302 Redirect (Temporary)

Indicates to browsers and search engines that the redirect is temporary. A more flexible tool for arbitrageurs, especially when testing different offers or geos.

• JavaScript Redirect

Occurs via a script on the page. It doesn’t work if the user has JavaScript disabled but allows better circumvention of anti-fraud systems.

• Meta Refresh

A redirect using a meta tag in the HTML code. Not the fastest and can be noticed by users, but still used in certain cases.

• Frame Redirect (iframe)

Allows loading the target page within another site. Can be used for «highlighting» landing pages or masking.

• Cloaking Redirect

Shows different content to bots and humans. Used in gray arbitrage but requires caution — abuse can lead to bans.

Why Should Arbitrageurs Use Redirects?

Redirects are not just a way to hide links; they are a traffic management tool.

Here are the main goals for which they are applied in arbitrage:

1. A/B Testing

You can divide the traffic to two offers. See where EPC and CR are higher and redistribute traffic in favor of the more profitable option.

2. Geo-Targeting

Redirects allow sending users from different countries to their corresponding landing pages or offers. For example, traffic from Italy goes to Cardiol IT, while from Romania traffic goes to Cardiol RO.

3. Cloaking and Protection

Hide your landing pages from moderators, anti-fraud systems, and competitors. Redirects allow checking IPs, user agents, referrers, and directing bots to a «white» page.

4. Traffic Filtering

You can segment traffic by device type, time of day, browser, or other parameters. For example, mobile traffic goes to an adapted landing page while desktop traffic goes elsewhere.

5. Profit Maximization

You extract maximum value from your flow: send unsuitable traffic to smart links, retarget lost users, or switch to another offer if the first is unavailable.

How to Set Up Redirects in Arbitrage?

There are several ways to set up redirects—from the simplest to advanced methods.

1. Through Trackers

Such as Keitaro, Binom, Voluum, RedTrack. Trackers allow setting up complex redirect chains based on geo-location, devices, browsers, IPs, time, and even user behavior.

Example:

Russia → Offer A

Ukraine → Offer B

Others → Smart link or placeholder

2. On the Server

If you use your own hosting, you can set up redirects through .htaccess (on Apache) or nginx.conf. Suitable for more experienced webmasters.

3. Scripts on Landing Pages

JavaScript or meta-refresh can be embedded directly into the page code. This is quick and easy but less flexible and may be less effective for filtering purposes.

How Can Redirects Affect Profit?

Here’s how redirects help increase an arbitrageur’s income:

• Budget Savings: Traffic goes strictly to necessary offers.
• Increased CR and EPC: Properly directing users = more conversions.
• Flexibility: If an offer fails — replace it with one click without losing flow.
• Protection: Moderators don’t notice «gray» landing pages — the ad account lasts longer.
• Optimization: Quickly test creatives and combinations while scaling what works.

What Is Important to Remember When Working with Redirects?

To ensure redirects work positively rather than negatively, follow these simple rules:

• Don’t overdo it: 5 consecutive redirects = poor UX and suspicion from platforms.
• Monitor speed: The faster the redirect, the higher the chance that users will reach the offer.
• Check display on different devices and browsers.
• Don’t direct bots and moderators to prohibited pages.
• Don’t use public scripts without modifications—it’s risky.

Conclusion

A redirect is not just a technical detail but a powerful tool for arbitrageurs. By properly configuring redirection, you can enhance traffic efficiency, optimize costs, and increase overall profit.

If you’re not yet using redirects in your setups—it’s high time to try them out! And if you already do — review your settings; there may be untapped potential hidden there.