Well, here’s a solution. Use the free service, TinyURL.com. It lets you enter a link of just about any length and it generates a much shorter link that you can use instead! And it works perfectly with affiliate links, like the ShareaSale/ImageKind links you’ll be using to promote Fotodirt images. In fact, it works so well, we’ve included a TinyURL form below so you don’t have to go all over the place to do your short link generation.

Enjoy!

Part of the seeming complexity is that you’ll have to choose whether you want to generate a link that forwards to the main Fotodirt page at ImageKind, the Fotodirt “cute” gallery page, or direct to specific Fotodirt images in the gallery. (NOTE: In my experience, it’s probably most effective to promote specific images.)

OK, here goes…

1. Go to the Shareasale site and login to your account. (If you don’t have an account, click here.)
    
2. Among the menu options on the top part of the screen, in the “Get Links” section, click on the Create a Custom Link to a Page option.
    
3. Look for the Merchant for this link: field, and select ImageKind.
    
4. In the Destination URL: field, enter one of the following:
   (TIP 1: Leave out/delete the http:// part when pasting into the field)
   (TIP 2: Right-click on the destination link you want below, and select Copy Shortcut)
    
   • Fotodirt Main Page
     http://www.imagekind.com/MemberProfile.aspx?MID=bef05403-3c6e-4b5e-9571-8a9f93d8318d
      
   • Fotodirt Cute Gallery page
     http://www.imagekind.com/GalleryProfile.aspx?gid=656da54b-5503-42f6-94a9-02aa3ac2ba18
      
   • Product: Mario
     http://www.imagekind.com/Showartwork.aspx?IMID=20354912-6d4e-4e0e-90d1-8b8969bef46c
      
   • Product: …Oh, poop!
     http://www.imagekind.com/Showartwork.aspx?IMID=696853d8-56c5-419d-a1d9-a45eb0a1b49a
      
5. Click on the Create Custom Link button.
    
6. The Shareasale system will automatically generate the link you can use that, when clicked on, will forward to the destination you selected; it will also have your unique affiliate code embedded in the link so that any of your referrals will be tracked by the various systems involved in the transaction. If a sale results, you’ll get a commission!Copy and use the linking code you see on the screen; you’ll probably want to save this to a file for later use and easy retrieval. Although the link looks pretty complicated, it’s actually not much different than any link or URL you type into your Web browser. It’s just a very long one, full of unique and special codes to help track your traffic and sales. Just copy-and-paste this link as one whole unit as needed, and you’ll be fine.
    
7. Use the link and test it, making sure that it works!

To help make things even simpler, you may want to check out the following tip:

• How to Shorten Your Links »

And, of course, if you have any questions or need assistance of any sort, do please contact me. 

Now that you have a Shareasale account (click here if you don’t). do the following to sign up as an ImageKind affiliate:

1. Go to the Shareasale site and login to your account.
    
2. Among the menu options on the top part of the screen, in the “Find/Join Merchants” section, click on the View and Search Merchant List option.
    
3. Scroll down a tad, and you’ll see the “Search by Keyword” form field. Search for: imagekind
    
4. Scroll down and you’ll see the search results; the ImageKind affiliate program should be the only one listed. Click on the [Join Program] link on its right.

That’s it! As of this writing, ImageKind automatically accepts everyone who joins. What to do next:

• Generate Your Fotodirt Linking Code »

To join Shareasale free (if you don’t know why you need to, read the intro), simply click on the following link:

• Click to Join Shareasale »

When you get there, follow their steps and instructions to set up your free Shareasale account.

When you’re done and have your Shareasale account, you’ll want to…

• Join the ImageKind Affiliate Program »

Hello! Thanks for your interest in helping promote Fotodirt images and prints! As an “affiliate,” you will be earning a percentage “commission” from every sale to your referrals. In effect, Fotodirt makes sales and money, YOU make sales and money! Best part: Joining is FREE!

Technically, the affiliate program we’ll be working is owned and operated by ImageKind, the nifty online service I use to catalog, package, print, sell and deliver my images online. ImageKind handles all of it. So basically, our customers are ImageKind customers. Which ergo means that you essentially are ImageKind’s affiliate and really, are doing business with them.

Even though you’re technically ImageKind’s affiliate, I obviously have a vested interest in your success at promoting Fotodirt images, so I will be providing any additional needed marketing support here that ImageKind may not already be providing for Fotodirt purposes (such as specific banners and instructions to promote Fotodirt-specific images).

There are a number of things about this arrangement that you will find quite cool and beneficial business-wise:

• ImageKind is an excellent operation. No fly-by-night operation here; they’ll do right by you and your reputation with your “customers.”

• Instead of running their own rinky-dink in-house proprietary affiliate program operation (which is quite risky for affiliates, in my experience), ImageKind uses a larger and industry-respected affiliate program network service, ShareaSale. Which most importantly means (among a whole slew of benefits to you as a result of this business association): you can be sure that you will get paid, and regularly, for any sales you help generate.

You’re dealing with larger, solid “real business” operations, in other words. And yes, that should give you the warm fuzzies.

So, to get started, you’ll need to follow a few simple (and free) steps:

1. Join Shareasale (if you haven’t already).
2. Sign up as an ImageKind affiliate through Shareasale.
3. Get the correct links to promote Fotodirt images on your website, blog, emails, etc.

That’s it! Don’t worry, the process is relatively simple, and I will provide step-by-step instructions here for you in case you need it.

Ready? OK! Here are your options:

• Not yet a Shareasale member? Click here for Join Shareasale instructions »
• Already a Sharesale member? Click here for Join ImageKind Affiliate Program instructions.