Commission Junction Tightens Link Standards in Effort to Fight Affiliate Fraud

[mandy]

Commission Junction is tightening its requirements in an effort to fight fraud by its affiliates:

Affiliate network Commission Junction (a division of ValueClick) today announced its decision to change its fundamental link structure - the means through which affiliates send traffic to advertisers - from HTML to Java script...

Web-based affiliates (operating via search-optimized websites) would henceforth be firmly within the control of the network, and therefore advertisers, Molander says. In effect, affiliates can be "turned off" beyond their network account - their media banners and product images can be shut down, giving retail advertisers ultimate control over distribution of OEM brands they represent (via affiliates)...

full article: http://www.marketingvox.com/archives/200...vertisers/

The world’s largest affiliate network will soon take back control of all but a scant few of its advertisers’ affiliate links and is positioning to run from the affiliate marketing status quo beginning in June of this year.  Affiliate networks are offically circling the wagons after becoming nearly completely reliant on search marketing (read: Google).  Commission Junction, Linkshare and others are coming under increasing pressure from advertisers to control affiliates—and their hands are now forced.  Change is in the wind.

Chaos on the Boards
Pick your affiliate bulletin board forum and tune in to the drama as affiliates are thrown into, what seems to be, mass hysteria this morning.  This (CJ’s handing out Java script rather than URL links to affiliates) can mean only one thing: change...

full article: http://www.thoughtshapers.com/index.php/...hift-risk/