Just wondering, I signed up with CJ a little while ago and noticed all my links have this little 1 x 1 pixel image below the affiliate link. Anyone know what this 1 x 1 pixel image is and if I can delete it?
yep it is for tracking - CJ say you shouldn't take it out of the code (they actually say dont change the code in anyway) but I "think" it is okay to remove it if you really don't want it.
so technically you can't change the code for any of the advertisements? Not even the text on the text links?
Generally it's not an issue if you change the code (unless otherwise stated by an advertiser). Many affiliates create custom text links & ads, and just link it to a standard link (no 1x1 pixel or anything else).
You can change the text (in case of a text link) - no harm in it. But be careful not to remove the tiny tracking image, as it would be difficult for the advertiser & CJ to track ads. There is absolutely no harm in keeping it!!
There's also no reason to keep it, if you don't want. Two of the largest groups of CJ affiliates in terms of earnings (search affiliates & coupon sites) do not use impression tracking pixels for the most part. Leave it in, unless there's a reason to take it out. Most advertisers don't really pay attention to impressions because so many affiliates don't use CJ's impression tracking.
the only reason I would want to ditch it is if I wanted to copy and paste the link into aim or email or something like that.
Oh I have a good question! If you have 4 affiliate links on a web page (assuming they are the same), so you have to add the image 4 times? Wouldn't that make your impressions go up X 4?