Automatic link monetization
Sovrn Commerce Affiliate Link Checker
formerly VigLink
Sovrn Commerce (VigLink) links route through redirect.viglink.com and fail the same way Skimlinks links do: the redirect keeps working while monetization silently stops, or the embedded destination page dies. Old VigLink-era links in decade-old content are among the most rotted affiliate links on the web.
How Sovrn Commerce links work
Typical link
https://redirect.viglink.com?key=abc123def456&u=https%3A%2F%2Fmerchant.com%2Fproduct&cuid=my-campaignSovrn rewrites outbound links through redirect.viglink.com with the destination in the u parameter. Monetization is matched server-side at click time, then the visitor is redirected to the destination.
Like all aggregators, the health question is not "does it redirect" but "does it reach the right page, and is the merchant still monetized". Both require following the link, not just pinging it.
Link domains
redirect.viglink.com · viglink.com
Tracking parameters
| Parameter | Role |
|---|---|
| key | Your Sovrn API key / site ID |
| u | URL-encoded destination page |
| cuid | Your custom tracking ID |
How Sovrn Commerce links break
Merchant relationship lapses
The redirect continues; earnings stop. No error page is ever shown.
Ancient destination rot
VigLink was widely deployed on forums and blogs 10+ years ago. A huge share of those u= destinations now 404 or redirect to homepages of restructured sites.
Legacy domain confusion
Content owners see viglink.com links, don’t recognize the (rebranded) service, and leave them unaudited for years.
Error signals Afterlink detects
These are actual failure fingerprints from Afterlink's validation engine for Sovrn Commerce links:
- ▸Destination (u parameter) returning 404
- ▸Destination redirecting to a homepage or parked domain
- ▸Redirect chain ending on an unexpected domain
How Afterlink checks Sovrn Commerce links
Afterlink extracts every link from your YouTube channel or website, recognizes Sovrn Commerce links by domain and parameter signature, then runs five checks on each one: the full redirect chain (including JavaScript and meta-refresh redirects), network error-page detection, destination verification against the embedded target, tracking parameter analysis, and deep-link decay detection (product page silently replaced by a homepage). Every link gets a clear verdict — working, warning, or broken — with the evidence attached.
Frequently asked questions
VigLink links in my old posts — do they still pay?
VigLink is now Sovrn Commerce and the redirect domain still operates. Whether a specific link pays depends on your account status and the merchant’s participation. First check the links even resolve to live pages — in old content, many don’t.
How do I extract the real destination from a viglink.com link?
URL-decode the u parameter. Afterlink does this automatically for every Sovrn/VigLink link it finds and verifies the destination separately from the redirect hop.
Troubleshoot Sovrn Commerce
- Sovrn Commerce Links Not Working? Diagnose and Fix Them
- Sovrn Commerce Link Redirects to Homepage Instead of the Product — Fix
- Sovrn Commerce Tracking Not Working? How to Verify and Fix Attribution
- Sovrn Commerce Program Closed or Merchant Left? What Happens to Your Links
- How to Test Sovrn Commerce Affiliate Links (Complete Procedure)
Related networks
Check every affiliate link you've ever published
If you've published Sovrn Commerce links, some of them are probably broken right now. Afterlink scans your entire YouTube channel or website, follows every redirect chain, and alerts you the day a link breaks.
Run a free scan