The launch of AOL's new local search tool -- http://search.aol.com -- this week isn't necessarily that interesting. In fact, GoYaMi is pleased they could join the party.

What could be interesting is how AOL might use it's email block/blacklist of naughty email spammer URLs to keep their search index clean of URL's that have sent unsolicited communications to the ISP's members. The AOL block list also contains URL’s that the ISP views as deceptive, including URLs from CJ that “morph” or redirect visitors to different destinations.

Check this out. If you send an email to an AOL account and in the message you include one of CJ's domains -- like http://www.dpbolvw.net -- your email will bounce.

This happened to me the other day as I was working with my developer. When my email bounced, I contacted AOL. After doing a mail test or two, the AOL representative said the URL in my email was being blocked "because we believe it to be a morpher."

A morpher you say?? Indeed. Turns out AOL is blocking certain CJ URLs in emails to AOL members due to the fact that the destination URL constantly changes. Commission Junction has approximately 1,500 merchants so it’s pool of 5 URL must be changing a bunch with publisher ID's redirecting visitors to hundreds of product and service offerings.

Could this impact indexing of URL's in search result pages for affiliates using CJ links? What should you do? Nothing for now. AOL hasn't made any formal announcements nor have websites we monitor been impacted:

http://www.for-sale-now.com
http://www.web-hosting-for-websites.com
http://www.rootdomaincheck.com
http://www.askthejewelryguy.com

GoYaMi will keep monitoring this issue for you, and if any new information breaks we'll keep you updated.

Todd