When getting links at CJ

[jkgourmet]

What is the SID field? And for that matter what should I be doing with the other fields that I've put into red below? Since CJ offers links in both java and html, is there an advantage of one over the other?


Cooking.com: 120x90 Button 1 Sale/Discount
Link Type 120x90 Button 1 Sale/Discount
PID removed by jeanette
AID 10377682
Web Site
Encrypt link? Yes
Set link to open a new browser window? Yes
Hide tracking code in link? Yes
SID
Code blah, blah, blah

[Lynn Terry]

I generally use the HTML format. This gives me a little more control in case I want to change something (image alignment, text link, etc).

The SID is an optional tracking code. I usually use the links exactly like you have it shown below with the exception of opening in a new window (on some sites I do this, some I don't).

[Rick Olsen]

Sorry I can't help you, Jeanette, but I have a question of my own that maybe you can answer for me.

I tried to sign up for CJ, but couldn't. It asked for a category. They don't have a cat, or even a pet category. Would you suggest some other category?

[Lynn Terry]

Category: Home & Garden > Pets

It's in the list :)

[jkgourmet]

Follow up to this issue:

When using text links at CJ, I often want to change the text that they have built into the link. For example, their text in this link would be "OXO at Cooking.com" :

<a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3552749-10519220" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.cooking.com/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;">OXO at Cooking.com</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3552749-10519220" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>

1. Am I allowed to the text to something that fits the wording of my post better?
Like >You can find great prices on OXO here</a>

2. If that is allowed, how can I remove the little circle that keeps showing up in my posts when I do this? You can see an example on the last link in this post (see the P.S.) for KitchenAid http://anythinggoesgourmet.com/533/kitchenaid-stand-mixer/.

I've made it go away in other links by removing this from the end of the above code:

<img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3552749-10519220" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>

I THINK that works and leaves my affiliate tracking intact. YES?

[jkgourmet]

Hi, - that's the CJ tracking pixel. If you're inputting the html link, does the circle still happen when you leave off your own tracking code??

Oh, there doesn't appear to be a circle after the banner code beneath the text link and it still has the CJ tracking pixel - the only difference in the links appears to be your own javascript tracker code.

All I can think of, I'm afraid.

M

Maggie, thank you, but I'm afraid I haven't a clue what you mean (I'm a coding idiot).

If this is the text link given to me by CJ:

<a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3552749-10519220" target="_blank" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.cooking.com/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;">OXO at Cooking.com</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3552749-10519220" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>

and I delete the code that I've highlighted in red, will it still include my affiliate link? (In this case, the text would read OXO at Cooking.com which would link to the merchant's page.)

If I delete that code highlighted in red, the little circle goes away, but I'm concerned that I also may be screwing up the tracking of my affiliate code. (see - coding idiot here.)

Thanks.

[Lynn Terry]

That image at the end that you've highlighted, counts the impressions. This is the part of the code that calculates your CTR (click through rate) but your actual sales tracking won't be affected by leaving it off. You just won't be able to see the number of views vs number of clicks in your stats.

You could also try changing the height and width elements to "0" instead of "1" to see if that fixes it.

[schemjo]

I'm glad someone brought this up. On CJ's page where you copy the link there's this text


Copy and paste the following HTML code into your web pages.
You must include all the above html in your links. Any missing html, including the image source, will prevent the link from tracking properly and result in a loss of commissions.

I was a bit nervous about modifying the code but I did anyway as a test to see what would happen. I have different affiliates on my 'Model Numbers' page and they each looked different so to make it the same I had to change the text and hide the images. I'm glad to hear it shouldn't affect the sales :)

[jkgourmet]

That image at the end that you've highlighted, counts the impressions. This is the part of the code that calculates your CTR (click through rate) but your actual sales tracking won't be affected by leaving it off. You just won't be able to see the number of views vs number of clicks in your stats.

You could also try changing the height and width elements to "0" instead of "1" to see if that fixes it.

Nope, that didn't fix it. Still have the little zero (like the sign after a number that shows temperature degrees) from the following code:

the super-sized <a onmouseover="window.status='http://www.cooking.com/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/1g81ox52x4KOQQNSPUKMLQTMTNQ" target="_blank">9.5 quart oval Le Crueset Dutch Oven</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/99101r6Az42OSUURWTYOQPUXQXRU" border="0" alt="" width="0" height="0" />

I know that if I take out everything after the </a>, it gets rid of the little circle. AND, most importantly, my tracking is still okay.

BUT the consequences of removing that bit of code is that I lose my stats re: CTR on CJ. Is that correct?

any other fixes? (seems strange that I'm the only one with this problem)

[Lynn Terry]

Right, it just removes the ability to calculate CTR. I often remove it, sometimes leave it. I don't track my CTR that closely though - just calculate sales. I can see number of visits/views to a specific page anyway, but it could be useful if you have multiple promotions of that one link.

It's worth giving up if the circle thingy bugs you, in my opinion - but that's your call. And yes, I edit the anchor text all the time - no issue with that.

[jkgourmet]

That solves one of my issues. Remove the little circles I shall. Thank you - the very LAST thing I need at this point is more stats to study. Better off spending my time writing content, articles and building links. I'm taking off my accountant's hat and moving onto marketing land.

:)

[Nelson Swett]

I noticed that she used the mouseover code for this link. How would you do something like this with a .php redirect? Meaning how much of this code do you copy in to the location?


<a onmouseover="window.status='http://www.cooking.com/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/1g81ox52x4KOQQNSPUKMLQTMTNQ" target="_blank">9.5 quart oval Le Crueset Dutch Oven</a><img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/99101r6Az42OSUURWTYOQPUXQXRU" border="0" alt="" width="0" height="0" />


Would the .php redirect look something like this?

<?php
header("Location:http://www.anrdoezrs.net/1g81ox52x4KOQQNSPUKMLQTMTNQ");?>

or do you need to include more than that?

[Lynn Terry]

Right - a lot of times I'll just use the direct link. Especially on Twitter and Facebook and in php or html redirects. So just this link out of all that code:

http://www.anrdoezrs.net/1g81ox52x4KOQQNSPUKMLQTMTNQ

Just like you said.

[jkgourmet]

I have no idea what you two just said - and I've decided not to give myself another headache by asking. :)

[Lynn Terry]

We said you can just pull the affiliate link out of the code and use that too. I do it all the time.

[CG12]

I'm so glad you asked this question jk. You are not alone on this one, I just read your inquiry and I am having the same problem. You have little circles, I have little squares that have been bugging me too and I didn't know how to fix them either.

I think I understand what to do now. Thanks Lynn for clearing that up.

Blessings,
Christine