Exactly how does CJ track commissions and place cookies?

Is the invisible pixel gif required next to every link?

[ebess]

I have a bunch of websites that used to do really well with commission junction. Since the onslaught of the parasites, as well as Norton's blocking of many affiliate links, my sales have gone down tremendously even though my traffic remains the same.

I tried to do a workaround with various different methods of redirecting the link so that the parasites and norton wouldn't identify the links as being CJ links. However, that doesn't seem to be working. I realize that the problem may be partly related to the fact that when I create my links, I don't include the pixel gif that they assign with each text link. I was under the impression that the gif was purely for tracking impressions, but now I've heard that it plays a part in setting the cookie which actually tracks your commissions.

Can anybody explain to me how cookies are set by CJ and whether or not I really need to have those pixel gifs by each and every text link going to a CJ merchant (whether it's a redirected link or not)?

Thanks in advance for any help that folks can provide!

[kodaks]

The pixel is simply just to track the number of impressions your ad has made so far. As far as I know, it is not mandatory.

[bonanza]

I was under the impression that the gif was purely for tracking impressions, but now I've heard that it plays a part in setting the cookie which actually tracks your commissions.

Your "impression" is correct. The pixel is only for impressions.

If there's no impression pixel, the cookie is set on the click.

[ebess]

Thanks to both of you for the quick reply. Much appreciated! I was starting to panic that I would have to go through all of my pages and start adding that gif next to each and every link, which would take me a zillion hours or so. Thanks for saving me the time!

[bic0r]

i already spent the zillion hours adding the img links to all my links cause i wasnt getting any sales from my CJ and linkshare links. after about 1000 clicks later, still no sales. i copied and pasted the html text links exactly. not sure if im doing something wrong.