Commission Junction (CJ) - Affiliate Programs for Success

[italian_job]

Hello All,

I am considering to ramp up one of my "test" online ventures, promoting products from Commission Junction.

I have found, more in detail, 2 very promising niches where I would promote a total of six brand name products.

And here is my question to those of you that are already using CJ:

in order to promote products, you need to be accepted by the advertiser. Sometimes the process is automatic (=as soon as you apply, you are accepted), other times it is manual (the advertiser can see your own CJ account, how much you are already selling, what your websites are etc).

I do want to maximize my chances to get accepted by those 6 very famous brand products.

Any suggestion on what is the best way to approach the advertiser: building first my minisite with their brands, banner ads etc and show them my commitment to them (even though this is a risk, since I might end up building a professional minisite and then not been able to promote the products I want).

Does any of you have solid experience with Commission Junction?


thanks

[sub8hr]

I've never heard of having to directly contact the brands through CJ, though it could be possible. I'm pretty sure you can just pull banner code off of their interface without having to talk to anyone. At least that's how it was at one of my previous jobs. Brands know that when they reach out to affiliate programs they are not getting prestigious publishers. The affiliate programs are their long-tail "fire a shot in the dark and hope it works because no one is looking at it" programs. It works out for them monetarily and with no active management because they are paying on a CPA basis, so there is no risk.

Moreover, brands generally don't manage their ad campaigns themselves. They farm out the advertising $$ they actively look at to agencies who are likely out buying on a CPM or CPC basis from name-brand pubs or ad networks. I always smirk a little when I see a "Sponsored By:" title above an ad that someone clearly pulled from CJ as it's almost guaranteed they've never talked to anyone from the advertiser's company.

[webgal]

I have CJ, LS (Linkshare) and Amazon. Amazon is by far my leading affiliate. It's low at first but I end up with about 6.5% commission at the end of the month. It's simply more flexible and people like the "one stop shopping".

I do ok with footlocker and eastbay through LS but it's not worked out as well with CJ. But I know there are people who do very well with them. I do affiliate sales through sportsmedinfo.net and Amazon simply has more of the merchandise that I write reviews for. So that has more to do with it than anything.

[DaveCraige.com]

We make about a grand with CJ right now with our Fashion Blog (http://www.denimblog.com). Its kinda tough getting everything linked up to the items. I wish there was a flexible destination tool. (ebay has one)

feel free to drop me a line if you want to learn more.

-Dave