Starting June 23, 2006, Commission Junction is planning on having all affiliate links be javascript, unless you had previously signed up with a particular merchant, in which case you have about a year before you must change to javascript links.

Yes, this is serious. I’ve been thinking about promoting CJ merchants more heavily… so glad I haven’t done much yet, because this is something of a deal breaker.

Why?

Javascript is turned OFF in many people’s browsers, anywhere from 3-11%, from what I’ve heard from those who checked their own stats. That’s problem #1.

Problem #2 is that it slows the website down. CJ is sometimes very slow, so requiring the links to go through their javascript is not good at all!

Problem #3 is a privacy issue. The javascript gives CJ much more access to information about my visitors. Sorry, guys, but that’s more my business than yours.

Problem #4 is a biggie. Javascript is easier for spyware to hijack, at least the way they’re talking about doing it, which is a POST method in the headers, from what I understand. Apparently that’s easy to mess with.

What are your options? Well, Linkshare is often messed up, but they’re better than being forced to use javascript links. Then there’s Shareasale, a favorite of mine. Not so many big merchants, but if enough people leave Commission Junction, maybe that will change. And, of course, there are various other affilate networks as well as independent programs to consider.

If you want to read more opinions on this, go to ABestWeb to read about it here and here.