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Why use Commision Junction? A waste of time?

by Andrew Davis
12 replies
Thanks for stopping by to read this Thread!


A friend and I were planning on slowly building a new website.
And we want it to be something major!

I was thinking about Affiliate Programs and Commission Junction.

I am a member of Commission Junction, and by observing how that Company works, it is just really a big bunch of sites all joined into the referral program of CJ.

If those sites are affiliated to CJ, then you are affiliated to CJ, doesn't that may more of a loss of earnings for you?

The more programs involved, the less you earn.

Why not try to join other Companies directly?

eg, Join a Clothing Site's Affiliate program, Join an Automobile site's affiliate program, etc...

And make yourself your own list of Companies you are directly affiliated with.

Isn't this a more sensible way people?

If you are looking towards a lifelong business plan, isn't it smarter to try to set up direct partnerships yourself?

Rather than join a site that just harvests loads of sites together so that you can join easily?

I don't want a sum of my possible lifelong earnings to be drained every day...



Now I'm not at all saying that CJ isn't good!

It has tracking tools, secure payment methods, easy to join programs because they do the work for you, and that's about it!

I am not an enemy of CJ mind you
I have joined with them over a year ago, but since I would like to make a serious business, I think it would be wiser to make serious partnerships.

I'd really like to hear some feedback from you guys on this issue.

And please really read and try to understand what I have said, so that we don't waste time repeating the obvious points on, "Why you should Join CJ.com"


Thanks allot for your time and your input on this topic,
-Andrew Davis
#commision #junction #time #waste
  • Profile picture of the author Andy Hart
    I think the main draw of CJ is that they have a wide variety of choices all in one place.

    The problem I have is that alot of the good companies choose to go with a third party to run the affiliate program as they dont want to do it themselves or know how, so you would be more limited in finding good independent affiliate programs to join.

    Of course Im lazy in that respects and haven't looked real hard at finding independent run affiliate companies but it seems alot of the big names are hooked up with major affiliate networks and that would just leave you with the smaller fish, which isn't always a bad thing but it can be considering brand recognition and brand trust.

    just my thoughts
    thanks
    andy
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    • Profile picture of the author pearsonbrown
      The other point is that CJ aggregates your earnings and pays you a lump sum.

      Having to control the reception of 10 dollars from here and from there would be complicated.

      OK, CJ take their cut on each transaction but they provide excellent service in return.

      Pearson
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      • Profile picture of the author Monetize
        You can join aff programs directly, however most of the
        major merchants use CJ and other networks to manage
        their programs for them. Otherwise the merchants would
        have to dedicate members of their staff to manage the
        affiliates, payouts, etc. and it's probably not very cost
        effective.
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      • Profile picture of the author Andrew Davis
        Hey thanks allot for the replies so far guys!


        @ honestandy

        Yeah I think one of the major problems many people have, is that they don't want to go all around the place and do the process of joining all these different Companies.

        It may sound like a hard task, because it means, allot of registrations, different methods and agreements, etc...

        Overall, it is a long and complicated task.
        But I wouldn't mind taking the time to slowly set up my own partnerships, if I am looking to be a serious and lifelong internet marketer.


        @ pearsonbrown

        No doubt, CJ is providing a very good service!

        They do allot of work for you, by having everything set up for you.

        You then just pick and choose what products you would like to promote, and at what rates you are ok with.

        But from the standpoint of making a very large online company, I think it would be smart to make your own direct partnerships, rather than to reply on this third party.

        In the long run, it can cause your company Thousands or Millions from relying on a third party.

        I'd really like to know, "What sort of rates do CJ have?"

        By this I mean, "How much of does CJ earn on an average per transaction?"

        What percent of the Advertisers payment do they take for themselves, and consequently leave you with?


        Thanks again for your important advice!
        -Andrew
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        • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
          Originally Posted by EpsilonX5 View Post

          By this I mean, "How much of does CJ earn on an average per transaction?"

          What percent of the Advertisers payment do they take for themselves, and consequently leave you with?
          Why does it matter? They pay you 100% of what's shown on the site. If it's a $100 commission per sale, your check is for $100. If it's a 7% per sale at a retail store, your check is for 7% of any sale you refer.

          Of the few companies I work with that have a program both on Commission Junction and in-house, they pay higher commissions on Commission Junction because they have to compete for affiliates there.
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          • Profile picture of the author Andrew Davis
            @ Dan Grossman & Monetize,

            I just read your last two replies.


            @ Dan Grossman

            "Why does it matter? They pay you 100% of what's shown on the site."

            Yes I know that they pay you 100% of what they display for you.
            That is obvious.

            But what I am trying to say, is,

            The less transactions/steps involved to make a purchase,
            The less division of earning amongst involved parties.

            It's as simple as that,
            Nothing hard to understand.



            @ Monetize

            I read what you said and it makes allot of sense.
            Yes you have to take action in the business world, because otherwise, you will loose out on the right opportunities.

            "Don't fall into the trap of not doing
            anything because you think you might be cheated
            out of 25¢"


            Don't worry, I never said I'll sit back and do nothing.

            I am searching around to find the best solution,
            If CJ seems to be the best method, then fine! I'll go with that.

            But if in the long run, taking the extra effort to establish your own partnership is more profitable, then I will make the extra effort to do things the hard way.


            I'm not here worrying that CJ is stealing from my earnings.

            I am trying to make an educated and well though out decision, based on a large scale scenario, that could turn out to be a successful and major internet business.
            So I have to take every factor into consideration, and be aware of all very simple and small money leaks that can become manifested.

            I am willing to go the extra effort to make the best decision,
            I won't sit around and do nothing out of fear.


            Thanks again for your replies.

            I do think some of your answers may be a little biased though,

            Pertaining to my Topic title, "Why use Commission Junction? A waste of time?"

            I guess allot of "Die hard" CJ users would come to this thread to prove me wrong.

            Once you are already deeply into a business or routine, it is hard to accept any other facts that may be negative about it.

            I guess many replies here, may be more of "self confirmations" to yourself, that you made a wise choice in joining CJ, and that they are not robbing you.
            (Which I never said they are)



            I'm still very glad to hear your views and points, because it has helped me to see things in different angles, and get me to understand more about CJ.

            I guess from the feedback of you guys, CJ is really the best thing out.

            Thanks again!
            -Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author ahuddy
    CJ worked great back in the day when I was using it. They were always reliable to have accurate reporting of sales. Sometimes CB can be questionable.
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  • Profile picture of the author Dan Grossman
    The biggest affiliate programs in the world are run on Commission Junction's network. All the name brand retailers are there, as well as thousands of medium and smaller businesses. I make thousands a month in commissions there and have been paid every month consistently for over 6 years.
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  • Profile picture of the author Monetize
    Andrew,

    You can't sit around and wonder about if's and and's.
    You must take what is available and work with what
    you have. Once you start making bank with these
    affiliate networks/programs, you may be eligible for
    bonuses and you may possibly be able to negotiate
    better payouts. Don't fall into the trap of not doing
    anything because you think you might be cheated
    out of 25¢
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  • Profile picture of the author Andrew Davis
    @ ahuddy

    When you say "CJ worked great back in the day when I was using it"

    Have you stopped using CJ?
    And do you mind saying why here? (If it is ok)
    And if you are still into online marketing, what do you use now?


    @ Monetize

    I think what you said makes allot of sense.

    It also is a task for those merchants to set up their own Affiliate programs.

    But I would think that a very large company would be able to manage this themselves.

    Because it would obviously cost them more to use a Third Party Network to do this work for them.

    But I guess it may work out the same way as having to pay Employees to do it for them...

    I that in such a situation it seems to make sense.

    But I know that Large Companies such as Nike, Addidas, etc... don't market through CJ now do they?

    I was surprised though to see that Yahoo is on CJ's list!


    @ Dan Grossman,

    What exactly do you mean by: "All the name brand retailers are there"

    Are these sites like Those major ones I mentioned above?

    I'll try to search better around CJ now, because I haven't found many very reputable companies (know worldwide) on CJ.

    I'll definitely try looking around allot more.


    I think what I may end up doing, is going both ways.

    Some partnerships through CJ, and some directly.

    But any further input is still welcomed.

    Thanks allot for all the replies!

    -Andrew
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  • Profile picture of the author tommygadget
    Andrew, I'll cut straight to the chase. Your best focus right now is getting the site up and running and getting traffic and rankings. As far as building relationships go, you are fooling yourself if you think major companies are going to waste time with an unknown with no traffic or track record. Also, with a company like CJ you can constantly swap offers to test and compare. Last, but not least, you don't need a collections manager to get your money.

    TomG. - None of this is based on me justifying my use of CJ.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bishop81
    When you do your search, make sure you check your filters. I searched for hours before I realized that I was only searching areas that were available in the Phillipines for some reason.
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    I'm tired of my signature... Deleted.

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