In here we’re share with you CJ Affiliate complete review for publishers.
Commission Junction was established in 1998 under the name “Commission Junction” until its acquisition by ValueClick in 2003.
Following this, it underwent rebranding in 2014, adopting the name “CJ Affiliate by Conversant.” However, among affiliate marketers I’m familiar with, the shorthand “CJ” is still commonly used. At one point, CJ stood out as the premier global affiliate network. Yet, let’s determine whether this distinction remains accurate in the present times.
Table of Contents
- What Is CJ Affiliate?
- How To Be Approved As A CJ Affiliate?
- Signing Up For CJ Affiliate
- How Does CJ Affiliate Work?
- CJ Affiliate Payment Methods
- CJ Affiliate Publisher Help
- CJ Affiliate Pros and Cons
- CJ Affiliate Alternatives
- Conclusion
What Is CJ Affiliate?
CJ Affiliate stands as an affiliate network platform that provides merchants with a solution to initiate their own affiliate programs. Within this network, merchants can seamlessly link up with publishers and marketers who possess a keen interest in endorsing their products.
What is affiliate marketing?
Affiliate marketing serves as an advertising strategy adopted by brands to counteract ineffective expenditures within their marketing budgets. The prospect of shelling out substantial sums for clicks or impressions, yielding only a small customer acquisition, can be exasperating for businesses.
Numerous brands have experienced setbacks due to such ventures. As online advertising expenses have surged, they’ve sought innovative approaches that curtail costs while simultaneously expanding their customer base.
Although most businesses acknowledge the necessity of investing in advertising, the ultimate goal is to confine expenditures to earned customers. This aspiration led to the conception of affiliate marketing.
Functioning as a performance-driven marketing technique, affiliates and businesses collaborate in a mutually beneficial partnership, sharing revenues between the brand and the marketer.
For brands with products aiming to boost sales, they can incentivize growth through an affiliate program. On the other hand, individuals lacking their own products can still generate income by identifying valuable products and engaging in affiliate marketing.
How To Be Approved As A CJ Affiliate?
Enrollment in the Commission Junction affiliate program comes at no cost. Nonetheless, prospective merchants must be of at least 18 years of age and possess a website to qualify for registration.
Now, what if you happen to possess multiple websites? Does this imply that you need to establish separate accounts for each one?
Absolutely not. Just navigate to the “Account” section, then proceed to “Websites,” and select “Add Website.”
However, it’s worth heeding the following advice:
Exercise caution if your website is relatively new and attracts minimal traffic. Publishers who do not achieve satisfactory outcomes within the initial 6-month period might face deactivation.
Signing Up For CJ Affiliate
In this section, we will delve into the process of registering with the CJ Affiliate Network.
Begin by visiting CJ.com and initiating the sign-up process as a publisher. Complete the required personal details, including your name, email address, and preferred language. Afterward, click the “Next” button to proceed.
Subsequently, you will be redirected to the publisher registration form.
Proceed to input your information into the form and then click on the “Accept Terms” option to finalize and conclude the registration procedure.
Next, access the email account that you used for registration, and locate the confirmation email sent to you by CJ in your inbox.
Following your registration, you will promptly be guided to the CJ Account Manager, which serves as a dashboard featuring crucial information like network statistics, performance summaries, and messages.
To begin, navigate to the “Account” section and then select “Network Profile.”
Please take note: This profile must be fully completed in order to be eligible for joining the affiliate programs.
You will see these three sections in the site profile:
Provide a comprehensive description of your website, highlighting its strengths and relevant statistics that underscore its appeal.
Detail the methods you employ for promotion, encompassing the affiliate channels you utilize to endorse advertisers. This could encompass avenues like blog posts, email marketing, social media engagement, or any other digital marketing platforms.
Consider including any supporting documents, such as a media kit if available. Though optional, this step can enhance your chances of being chosen.
By completing these three sections, you effectively demonstrate the value you offer to advertisers and how you can enhance their outreach to your audience.
Subsequently, proceed to the “Account” section and select “Administrative Settings” to modify your payment and tax information. Adjust your payment details and indicate your preferred payment method, choosing from options like direct deposit, check, or Payoneer.
Moving forward, proceed to modify your tax information. CJ Affiliate mandates that all publishers submit their tax forms to facilitate payment processing.
If you are in the United States:
Complete the W-9 Application for Taxpayer Identification and Certification.
If you are outside the United States:
I’ve opted for a W-8BEN certificate as the beneficial owner located outside the United States. This pertains to a Certificate of No Activities in the United States.
If you have any inquiries, it’s advisable to consult your tax advisor or visit the website of your country’s tax authority for clarification.
Tax tip:
Keep in mind that if you alter your country of residence or the nature of your business, it’s important to file a new tax certificate to ensure seamless processing of ongoing payments.
How Does CJ Affiliate Work?
A fundamental grasp of HTML is necessary, as this skill is essential for integrating the tracking code into your website.
To locate advertisers within your specific niche, navigate to “Advertisers” and then select “Category.”
You’ll find an extensive array of categories to select from. Some of the most sought-after programs on CJ Affiliate are present in:
- Furniture
- Computer & Electronics
- Beauty
- Wellness
- Accessories
- Financial Services
- Internet Services
- Sports & Fitness
- Travel
Before you begin the process of joining affiliate programs, it’s important to understand the significance of these three columns:
The first column : In the initial column, labeled “Network Earnings,” you can gauge the advertiser’s performance within the CJ site.
Observe the green bar—its length corresponds to the commission paid to publishers like you. A longer green bar is indicative of a higher commission rate. This signifies that advertisers are actively honoring commission payments, which is a favorable aspect.
Accounts labeled as “new” pertain to recently established accounts and retain this label for the initial three months of their inception.
Column Two:
“Earnings Per Click” quantifies the effectiveness of the visitors you direct to your site in terms of generating sales for advertisers.
Over a span of 3 months and 7 days, if the click count remains below 1000 for the former and 100 for the latter, “N/A” will be displayed.
For more detailed insights about a selected program, click on the advertiser’s name. This section provides essential information including commission rates, policies, and the referral period, equipping you with the necessary details.
Third column:
To initiate your application for joining, click on the “Join Program” button. At this stage, you might encounter a request to agree to the terms and conditions.
Exercise caution and apply solely to programs that align well with your capabilities for promotion. Avoid indiscriminately applying to all available programs. Keep in mind that certain advertisers utilize automated criteria to accept or reject applications, while others undertake manual reviews. Consequently, response times can range from a day to a few weeks, necessitating patience on your part.
It’s worth noting that advertisers on CJ’s Affiliate Network are renowned for their discerning selection process. If your website’s application is declined, don’t be disheartened. Simply move on to the next advertiser. There’s a chance they could be a more suitable match for your blog.
Upon receiving approval, proceed to the “Get Links” section.
Following this, click on the “Get Code” button enclosed within parentheses ().
There are 4 options to choose from:
- HTML.
- JavaScript.
Click on the URL to promote the search engine, also known as Google and Bing. - Image URL (for products).
For personalized code adjustments, access the “Get Code” interface. Remember to save your changes, as failing to do so will render the modifications ineffective.
It’s important to note that various advertiser codes may include distinct click ranges or additional parameters. It’s advised not to alter these components.
Be aware that CJ Affiliate Network holds no responsibility if publishers make coding errors while modifying the codes. If you intend to alter the codes or have inquiries about them, contact the respective advertiser directly—do not reach out to the CJ Affiliate website.
To get in touch through the control panel, navigate to “Mail,” then proceed to “Messages,” and select “Create.”
Once the customization is completed, copy the entire code and paste it onto your web page.
CJ Affiliate Payment Methods
CJ Affiliate offers a limited selection of payment methods, including direct bank transfer, checks, and Payoneer. Regrettably, they do not support PayPal; however, Payoneer serves as a viable alternative with favorable low fees for international affiliates.
Affiliate payments from CJ follow a Net-20 schedule, signifying that payments are dispatched on or after the 20th day of each month, provided you meet the minimum required balance.
For direct deposit, the minimum balance required for payment eligibility is $50. Meanwhile, for payments via check, the minimum is set at $100. It’s worth noting that for specific currencies like the Euro or the British Pound Sterling, the minimum threshold might be adjusted to $25.
CJ Affiliate Publisher Help
Under normal circumstances, you might not frequently require assistance from your affiliate network, but there might be occasions when reaching out becomes necessary.
CJ Affiliate offers various support options to cater to your needs. The primary avenue is the Support Center, which functions as a comprehensive knowledge base. Here, most affiliates can locate the answers they seek.
The Support Center boasts a well-structured design, with the search function adeptly delivering accurate results.
Should you require human customer service, you have the option to access it through the “Contact Support” menu.
For inquiries related to affiliate marketing, you can either utilize their contact form or engage in web chat support.
While there isn’t an easily accessible phone number for those seeking direct verbal communication, a swift Google search can often yield the desired results.
On the whole, CJ’s customer care offerings are satisfactory, though they might not stand out as exceptional.
CJ Affiliate Pros and Cons
Pros
- CJ Affiliate presents a diverse array of renowned businesses to select from.
- You’re equipped with the capacity to assess link performance alongside supplementary functionalities.
- Payments are processed within 20 days following the conclusion of each month.
- The platform provides a user-friendly tool for identifying and enrolling in affiliate programs, as well as crafting affiliate links.
Cons
- The focus of CJ Affiliate predominantly lies in the realm of digital goods, with fewer offerings in the realm of physical products.
- The stringent user regulations in place can pose challenges for prospective affiliates aiming to join the network.
CJ Affiliate Alternatives
Looking for a CJ Affiliate alternative? we had published top 12 affiliate networks article for you. you can read that click here
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are our impressions of CJ Affiliate as an affiliate marketing network. Overall, CJ Affiliate remains a commendable choice and particularly advantageous for beginners.
The platform offers a robust assortment of tools within a reliable framework, accompanied by ample support. While it might lack some of the flashy features found in other networks, it’s worth remembering that appearances can be deceiving.