p202 Outbound Redirect - 403 ERROR (10)
I set up p202 and a landing page. It worked fine for a little bit, even tracked a few clicks and conversion so I know I have it set up properly. Then, all of a sudden I noticed I was still getting clicks from the traffic source but wasn't getting any conversion. I checked it out... the redirect was giving a 403 Forbidden error on the outbound link.
I got a new LP redirect code. I tested it, worked fine for 2 or 3 clicks then again, gave a 403 forbidden error.
Any suggestions of what the problem might be and how to fix?
Look at your http headers, is the 403 happening on your outbound URL? Or on the affiliate networks URL?
It's on the outbound URL.
the affiliate URL works fine.
Hmm, if you load your landing page through a proxy does it then work fine again? Is the outbound redirect an https one? 403 errors can be various things, e.g. incorrect permissions on the file/folders, invalid SSL cert etc. Weird for it to work for a while then stop working though - that almost implies some sort of IP blocking (which a proxy would effectively check).
What host are you using?
Just to be sure, is your redirect set up similar to this?
Landing page here: http://yourdomain.com/landingpage1 with the outbound link to http://yourdomain.com/landingpage1/go.php (go.php being your outbound redirect code).
You should be able to browse directly to your redirect at http://yourdomain.com/landingpage1/go.php and it will redirect you to the affiliate urls.
If the redirect doesn't work when you open it directly, it is probably something strange with your host. Opening a ticket would probably be the fastest way of getting this fixed.
Yep, I'd agree, open a ticket with your hosting company. They should be able to track the issue down.
Is the page using SSL, or just a straight http:// connection?
K, so I tried a couple things again today.... I put the redirect link straight from p202 and plug it into the address bar of my browser, it works fine and links to the offer. Then I set up the redirect link on the button on my landing page - worked the first click but then the error came up when I clicked it a second, third, etc. time. After the error showed up, I tried the redirect link directly into the address bar again and now getting the error.
Originally Posted by zeno
Outbound redirect is http (not https).
Originally Posted by kyuss
Yep, the redirect is set up pretty much exactly like you've laid out here. Right now it's working when I open it directly but wasn't a few minutes ago.
Originally Posted by caurmen
Seeing as it's so flaky - working one minute then not the next, I guess it's gotta something to do with the hosting. I've opened a ticket with them.
I know I really have to get off of shared hosting and I realize that a VPS or dedi is an investment but I'm burning so much $$ on traffic and have a problem of buying the odd "shiny thing" here & there so I'm really trying to be diligent and not buy anything except traffic until I figure this whole thing out and start turning a profit. VPS or dedi will be the first thing as soon as it happens.
Thanks for the suggestions guys.
Burning so much $$ on traffic.... using Hostgator (shared plan?) until you turn a profit... This is a horrible way to start. Consider this: your shitty hosting may be damaging your campaigns and preventing you from turning a profit. You're right, you are literally burning $$ on traffic at the moment, as in throwing it away.
At least get the cheapo Starter VPS package from BH, that can't be classed as expensive by any definition (since there is the wtf savings coupon here...).
Not to be negative but if you indeed are on some crappy Hostgator shared plan and are spending a significant amount on traffic you really need to take a step back and reevaluate what you're paying for before burning more and more money. Fix this issue, another one will probably pop up later. You'll push more traffic, issues will get worse.
@zeno Hey thanks for the kick in the ass, man! seriously, great advice 
"...shitty hosting may be damaging and preventing from turning profit... another issue will probably pop up later." <- great points!
I'll get a VPS now.
Up until a couple weeks ago I'd just been direct linking , didn't even have a landing page or p202 so the money I've been throwing away while on HG isn't too significant. I'm still pretty new to paid traffic & CPA and trying to learn as much as I can as I go along, taking things one step at a time.
FYI: Hostgator shared hosting is absolutely not recommended for p202 unless you don't mind wasting money on lost clicks, unexpected account shutdowns, and more.
Get an account with BH if you want to control your servers.
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