CJ text links?

[anthonycea]

How does one get a simple text link (url link) from Commission Junction?

When you request text links they offer you a "get HTML" cut and paste code button, when you click on that you get HTML, not a text link.

I sent them a mail message asking how to get a simple text link from them and may have to wait a month or so to hear from them.

LinkShare you will never hear from if you send them a support question.

Most of these outfits are very sorry when it comes to customer support and that includes CJ and Linkshare.

[T0PS3O]

It depends on the Advertiser.

With eBay you can make your own links quite easily yourself or with their link creator.

Others require you to use their inventory of ad formats (which sucks indeed). If they do let you make links with some form, just inspect the output. It always has your ID and the link ID in it and like in eBay's case, the destination. Just alter that and it works in most cases.

[anthonycea]

Have you ever tried to get any help from CJ or Linkshare, what a joke that is, where is this link creator within CJ Tops?

[T0PS3O]

http://pages.ebay.co.uk/affiliate/cjflexiblelink.html is the eBay tool I was talking about.

Yes I did request CJ help once, about sorting on currency or UK only. Answer came about 6 working days later and well after I had found that the answer was NO myself. I never worked with Linkshare.

[anthonycea]

Well at least they got back to you a week later, LinkShare never bothers to reply to emails for help, even when their banner code does not display properly.

Imagine trying to get paid for your efforts in dealing with such idiots.

Thank you Tops, I will look into CJ for the flex link here in the states. :)

[jaffa]

How does one get a simple text link (url link) from Commission Junction?

When you request text links they offer you a "get HTML" cut and paste code button, when you click on that you get HTML, not a text link.



The html CJ provide is the html required to create a text link (as oppoosed to an image link).

If you want just the url, you can extract it from the html provided for a standard text link.

Although CJ's terms and conditions say you shouldn't amend the links provided by them, they turn a blind eye to this as long as what you're doing isn't misleading (individual advertisers may have their own specific rules regarding this).

[anthonycea]

Tops mentioned the thing about the flexible link where you can make custom links automatically.

Other than that, how would one know unless they are a coder if the URL link is correct and that you would be getting proper credit?

[jaffa]

Tops mentioned the thing about the flexible link where you can make custom links automatically.

That's only for eBay, not for other advertisers.


Other than that, how would one know unless they are a coder if the URL link is correct and that you would be getting proper credit?

If someone doesn't know how to create a link in html they really ought to learn basic stuff like that before putting ads on their site.

[anthonycea]

Some webmasters are not coders believe it or not, some do not even know HTML or understand server administration or FTP.

Does that mean they can not produce a website? It means that they can not write code and need to hire or partner with those that can code and do understand programming.

Producers of television and movies are not all camera men or film editors but still are movie producers.


Hugh Hefner knows nothing about website coding but has one of the largest websites in the world.

[jaffa]

Some webmasters are not coders believe it or not, some do not even know HTML or understand server administration or FTP.

Does that mean they can not produce a website? It means that they can not write code and need to hire or partner with those that can code and do understand programming.

Producers of television and movies are not all camera men or film editors but still are movie producers.


Hugh Hefner knows nothing about website coding but has one of the largest websites in the world.

But I imagine Hugh Hefner has someone to add the CJ links on his site for him!

Surely someone who is adding links to a site needs to know the basics of how they work?
You can hardly call creating a hyperlink 'programming', it's the most basic concept anyone creating a website should be able to understand.

[T0PS3O]

AC is worried about creating the seemingly simple A HREF link in a way that it still passes his ID's and tracking stuff. This is not transparent at all and goes way beyond simple linking.

Some come with a impression tracking image, others are more plain. Some are encoded, some are not encrypted.

[jaffa]

It's not as difficult as you make it sound.

If you know the basic html to create a hyperlink, it's simple to work out which part of CJ's link html is the url. It's the same as it is for any other link, the url is the bit between href=" and the closing quote. Everything else can be disregarded.
The same thing applies if the link is encrypted (which will only happen if you ask for an encrypted link).

The tracking image is not required, all that does is measures impressions, and doesn't affect the tracking of sales.

[T0PS3O]

So all AC needs is his ID 546xxx4756 and the advertiser's ID which he can copy out of an image link perhaps, again 9384xxx747 or similar and then make a <a href='www.qcsrv.netetc.'>text link</a> link like that?

I didn't know they left it so wide open...

[jaffa]

So all AC needs is his ID 546xxx4756 and the advertiser's ID which he can copy out of an image link perhaps, again 9384xxx747 or similar and then make a <a href='www.qcsrv.netetc.'>text link</a> link like that?

I didn't know they left it so wide open...

It's best not to use the linking url from an image link, because some advertisers will use these measure the performance of different banners etc and using it for a text link will mess up their figures. Also image links can be expired.

Most advertisers provide a basic text link, so it's best to take the linking url from that.

[anthonycea]

I need the arses to supply the damned text link like other affiliate sites do, like I said before, sometimes these outfits make you jump through hoops to make nothing.

[jaffa]

I need the arses to supply the damned text link like other affiliate sites do, like I said before, sometimes these outfits make you jump through hoops to make nothing.


I use a number of affiliate programs/networks (mostly UK based), including Amazon, CJ, Affiliate Window, Tradedoubler, DGM, and several others, and NONE of them provide what you're asking for, they all provide the complete html required to create the link, rather than just the url.

[anthonycea]

Tops just posted the flex link page from eBay in this thread, what is that?

Don't tell me you never seen an affiliate text link from an affiliate program, I have and I am not as smart as you. :confused:

[jaffa]

Tops just posted the flex link page from eBay in this thread, what is that?

That's a specific tool provided by one merchant, and is not provided by CJ.


Don't tell me you never seen an affiliate text link from an affiliate program, I have and I am not as smart as you. :confused:

I use text links all the time, I use the links provided by CJ, Amazon etc.


I'm struggling to see why this is such a big issue for you.

[anthonycea]

Why is it hard to understand? I want a link that will work with anchor text that still gives me credit when someone clicks on it.

What is hard to understand is why such a great organization like CJ is such a pain in the ass to work with and why they do not offer this as great as they claim they are.

[jaffa]

I want a link that will work with anchor text that still gives me credit when someone clicks on it.


But they DO provide this kind of text link.

[anthonycea]

OK, I will wait to hear from them and we will find out from them, I will report back when THEY solve my problem.

Okay G :p :) :cool:

[jaffa]

Can you re-state your problem, with a bit more detail?

I may be misunderstanding exactly what it is you're trying to do, and how you're trying to do it.

I wouldn't rely on CJ getting back to you, their support isn't the quickest, and when they do reply they might say the same thing as I've said here.

[anthonycea]

Just read the thread over, everything is there already, but to review, I want text links, not HTML cut and paste code that create text links.

I want to use my own anchor text and link the affiliate code to that anchor text.

[jaffa]

Just read the thread over, everything is there already, but to review, I want text links, not HTML cut and paste code that create text links.

I want to use my own anchor text and link the affiliate code to that anchor text.

If you read the thread you should see how to do what you want to do. That's what's making me think I've misunderstood what you want to do.


But assuming I have understood it correctly, here's a step by step guide to creating text links on CJ.
It's very easy to do what you want.


I'll use eBay.com as an example advertiser.

Go to the advertiser's detail page on CJ. Under 'get links', click on 'Text Link'. A page will appear with several different text links. It's best to choose a generic home page type link. So in this case, click on 'get html' alongside the link that says 'Click here for eBay!'

You should then see a box containing the html code to create that link.

It will contains something like this:
(I've replaced my PID with ABCDEF)

<a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-ABCDEF-2202641" target="_top" >Click here for eBay!</a><img src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-ABCDEF-2202641" width="1" height="1" border="0">


So if you just want the url to link to, rather than all of the html, just take the bit inside quotes, immediately after href=

Which leaves you with:

http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-ABCDEF-2202641


Exactly the same thing applies if you're using deep linking, encrypting the link or adding a SID to it.

[anthonycea]

Thank you for your interest and your help, I did find that the eBay Flexible destination link tool works but it is a pain in the ass as you have to enter information in 3 fields to get your link.

CJ and eBay need to improve their programs so they do not frustrate folks like they seem to be real good at.