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Immediate question on "linking" correctly - from a

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donegal



Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 8:10 pm    Post subject: Immediate question on "linking" correctly - from a Reply with quote
This might sound very basic - BUT - I had to jump in ... and then will learn to swim later.

Okay, so I set up a website and what I was WANTING to do (unless it DOES NOT work this way) is use general graphics (lets say a guitar with the wording "Best Guitar values on the web") and then simply put this as a clickable link to say www.musiciansfriend.com - NOW! - Where I very quickly set up an affiliate agreement with them through (I think commissionjunction ... it was late at night). Will it register correctly to my credit that people came from my site where I just SET IT UP AS A SIMPLE LINK THAT DIRECTS THEM TO THE SITE ABOVE --- OR!!! --- do I have to use their some sort of coded link that comes from them???

I hope I don't have to use their specific coded link that only shows their logo -- BECAUSE -- part of the strategy of my website that is to be linked to many different sites and products is to have just different chosen graphics of the actual specific products (ex. guitar, ipod, blank cd's) along with some verbage and then they click to the appropriate link. And when I set that up through a click and build website builder - after the chosen graphics you simply choose the website to link to ....... THEN - THEN -- I THOUGHT -- OH NOOO! What if it does not work that way and only if you use a "coded" link and not just a simple "link" -- will you then be credited with the link and/or any sale that might result????

Someone please help as I have a strong will to keep plowing ahead and to not be greatly sidelined from my desire and strategy ... and to be able to chose my graphics that are the clickable link.

THANK YOU!!!! Confused
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AllanGardyne
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Joined: 02 Jul 2003
Posts: 5676
Location: by the beach, Australia
PostPosted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 11:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
With Commission Junction links, you can't just use a simple, straight link to the merchant like http://www.example.com. You must include the part of the link which tracks where the visitor came from. (The stuff you get from CJ.) Then MusiciansFriend will know to give you credit for the sale.

Typical CJ text links come in two parts, like this...

Code:
Shop <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-2051-10383227" target="_top">Musicians Friend</a>, the World’s Largest Music Gear Company
<img src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-2051-10383227" width="1" height="1" border="0"/>


You absolutely MUST use the first part, if you want to get paid. The second part, which starts off "<img src=" is a 1 pixel by 1 pixel invisible graphic which just tracks impressions - it just shows how often the link was seen by a visitor to your site. You may not need to use the second part.

The best thing to do is join the program, tell MusiciansFriend exactly what you want to do, and ask if it's OK. As long as you're not doing anything misleading, I imagine they would say it was fine.

Something to consider... if you display a graphic which shows EXACTLY the product people want to buy - and also what they see when they arrive at the vendor's site - you're more likely to make sales than if you show a generic graphic.
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donegal



Joined: 04 Dec 2007
Posts: 2
PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 8:55 pm    Post subject: Allan - Many thanks! Reply with quote
Many thanks Allan - Your answer was understandable (clear) and complete (which does not always happen these days) -- so many thanks for such a thorough reply.

Also made note of your suggestion/advice "Something to consider... if you display a graphic which shows EXACTLY the product people want to buy - and also what they see when they arrive at the vendor's site - you're more likely to make sales than if you show a generic graphic.

Thanks,
Donegal
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