Commission Junction Changing Things Up

One of the great things about utilizing affiliate programs as opposed to contextual advertising is the ability to 'modify' your listings to better blend with your site. Typically, contextual advertising requires an individual to 'not touch' the code, although small modifications are allowed 'pre-code creation'(Changing Text Link Color on Adsense).

Commission Junction recently announced that they are moving to Javascript style links and ads. Using javascript removes the ability for the publisher to modify their listing. This will remove one of the inherent benefits of being an actual publisher for an affiliate program. This move has upset a lot of affiliate publishers, many long term customers for CJ.

CJ responded:

"The Bottom Line: The new JavaScript linking format will give CJ more flexibility and control over their links and creative. The new links will also give CJ Google-AdSense-like insight into their publishers, which will help eliminate rogue affiliates from their network."

Is this a good move? Are they going to push publishers away? Time will tell if this does strengthen their affiliate program. The move is undoubtedly to appease investors, since the transfer to javascript will benefit advertisers more than publishers.

CJ's Homepage:

CJ Vantage enables advertisers to realize their performance marketing goals by combining Commission Junction's pay-for-performance expertise with advanced affiliate marketing functionality.

Advertisers rejoice and publishers cringe.