PartnerPerform Blog

This morning at CJU in Santa Barbara, CA, CommissionJunction announced the launch of a web services API available to advertisers and publishers alike. Here’s a sample from each of CJ’s announcements, one made to advertisers, the other to publishers– edited for brevity:

For Advertisers:
Commission Junction’s Web Services empower you to increase your promotability, extend your brand and strengthen your partnerships. Using them, your publishers will be able to access your Product Catalog in real-time and choose data to present to their visitors, creating a better buying experience while driving more results for you.This is the first in a series of Web Services release and includes the following Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):

- Branded Sign-Up and Confirmation E-mail
- Branded Login
- Publisher Look Up
(You can access details about the publisher, including their status within your affiliate program, program name, Web sites, categories, promotional methods used and other information related to their account.)

For Publishers:

Web Services are made for tech-savvy publishers who are looking to increase their ability to promote their advertisers and shape their network environment. With Web Services, you can create innovative applications to extend the power of your affiliate program through enhanced Product Catalog functionality and advertiser searches. Use Web Services to connect directly to Commission Junction’s technology and create custom applications to access the specific data that matters most to your visitors.

This is the first in a series of Web Services releases and includes the following Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):

- Product Catalog Access (in real time)
- Link Search Functionality
- Advertiser Search Functionality

This is a big step for CJ and a big step for affiliate marketing. Advertiser/Publisher relationships are based on communication, tools, and offers– and opening up the CJ API fosters enhanced communication and tool sharing. I tip my proverbial hat to CJ, this is an impressive move for the betterment of CJ network partnerships across the board.

In contrast to the fumble of the Link Management Initiative, this is a solid step forward for CJ. You’re the PartnerPerform hero of the day…