TL;DR:
- CJ Affiliate (formerly Commission Junction) = premium affiliate network. Top brands: Lowe's, GoDaddy, Office Depot, Verizon.
- Higher application bar than ShareASale; harder approvals.
- Realistic: $500-$10K/month year 1. Top: $50K-$500K+/month.
What Is CJ Affiliate?
- Founded 1998 (rebranded 2014 from Commission Junction).
- One of largest affiliate networks globally.
- Owned by Publicis Groupe.
- Features 3,000+ premium brands.
- Free to join.
How CJ Works
- Affiliate applies + gets approved.
- Apply to individual merchant programs.
- Get tracking links.
- Promote → customer buys → CJ tracks → commission paid.
Step 1 — Apply
- Go to cj.com.
- "Sign Up" → Publishers (affiliate).
- Fill detailed application:
- Website / channel URL.
- Traffic sources.
- Audience description.
- Promotion methods.
- Verify website.
- Wait 1-7 days for approval.
Approval Bar
- Higher than ShareASale.
- Established website (3+ months age preferred).
- Real traffic.
- Privacy policy + disclosure.
- Niche aligned with merchants.
Step 2 — Find Merchants
Browse Advertisers
- 3,000+ brands across 100+ categories.
- Search by keyword or browse categories.
- Check 7-day EPC for performance.
Top CJ Brands
- GoDaddy — domains, hosting.
- Lowe's — home improvement.
- Office Depot.
- Verizon Wireless.
- Booking.com.
- Priceline.
- Best Buy.
- Bed Bath & Beyond.
- Walgreens.
Key Metrics
- EPC (Earnings Per Click) — 7-day + 3-month.
- Network Earnings — measure of program activity.
- Cookie length.
- Commission rate.
- Reversal rate.
Step 3 — Apply to Programs
- Click "Join Program" on each.
- Some auto-approve, others require manual review.
- Premium brands stricter — may take 1-2 weeks.
- Apply to 20-50 relevant programs.
Step 4 — Get Affiliate Links
Tools
- Deep Link Generator.
- Banner library.
- Content widgets.
- Browser extension.
- API access.
Step 5 — Promote
Top Methods
- SEO blog content (review-style).
- Coupon / deal sites.
- Email marketing.
- YouTube reviews.
- Pinterest (for shopping niches).
- Display advertising (PPC).
Disclosure Required
- FTC compliance.
- Sample: "This post contains affiliate links."
- Place near link or above-the-fold.
CJ vs Other Networks
| Network | Best for | Approval bar |
|---|---|---|
| CJ Affiliate | Premium brands | High |
| ShareASale | Mid-market brands | Medium |
| Impact | SaaS + premium | High |
| Awin | Mid-market global | Medium |
| Rakuten | Premium retail | High |
| FlexOffers | Mid + small brands | Low |
Top Niches for CJ
- Travel — Booking, Priceline, Hotels.com.
- Home improvement — Lowe's, Home Depot.
- Web hosting / domains — GoDaddy, BlueHost (some).
- Office supplies — Office Depot, Staples.
- Telecom — Verizon, AT&T.
- Health — Walgreens, CVS.
- Retail — Best Buy, Bed Bath, Macy's.
Payment Terms
- $50 minimum (direct deposit).
- $100 minimum (check).
- Net 20 (paid 20th of month for prior month).
- 30-day reversal window (refunds, returns).
Realistic Earnings
| Stage | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Months 0-3 | $0-$500 |
| 3-6 months | $500-$3K |
| 6-12 months | $2K-$15K |
| 1-2 years (active) | $10K-$50K |
| Top affiliates | $50K-$500K+/month |
Common Mistakes
- Apply before site mature — rejected.
- Apply to everything — diluted focus.
- Ignoring EPC — low-EPC programs waste effort.
- Spammy promotion — banned.
- No disclosure — FTC fines + CJ ban.
Tools
- CJ browser extension.
- Deep Link Generator.
- Lasso WordPress plugin.
- SkimLinks alternative for auto-monetizing.
Frequently Asked Questions
CJ vs ShareASale?
CJ: premium brands, harder approval. ShareASale: mid-market, easier. Many run both for portfolio.
How hard is CJ approval?
Medium-hard. Established website + niche relevance + decent traffic. New blogs often rejected.
Best niche for CJ?
Travel, home improvement, web hosting, telecom — strong premium brands.
How much can I earn?
Most: $0-$5K/month year 1. Top: $50K-$500K+/month with established sites + multiple niches.
Minimum payout?
$50 (direct deposit) or $100 (check). Pay 20th of next month.
Key Takeaways
- CJ Affiliate = premium brand network.
- 3,000+ brands; harder approval than ShareASale.
- Top niches: travel, home, hosting, telecom.
- $50K-$500K+/month for top affiliates.
- Apply with mature site + clear niche.
One link for affiliate content + brand
Add a UniLink URL to your bio — features your blog, products, social. Free.