This factor counts how many links on a page match RankGear’s legacy Commission Junction click-link URL shape. It returns a whole-number occurrence count — not a count of unique destinations — and because the host portion of the pattern is broad, unrelated links can be caught as false positives.
| Factor ID | RG-AFF-022 |
|---|---|
| Family | Affiliate & ads |
| Measurement | Occurrence count |
| Measured zone | Rendered, script-free page body |
What it measures
The factor counts URLs matching RankGear’s legacy Commission Junction click-link shape. It is a tally of matching links found in the rendered, script-free page body — a rough proxy for how many old-style CJ affiliate links a page carries.
How RankGear measures it
RankGear scans the rendered page body for case-insensitive HTTP or HTTPS www URLs whose path contains /click- followed by two numeric identifiers, and returns the number of matches. The host portion of the pattern is deliberately broad, so it can match links that are not Commission Junction affiliate links.
What RankGear looks for
<a href="https://www.example.com/click-1234567-89012345">shop now</a>
Matched shape (case-insensitive):
https?://www.<host>/click-<digits>-<digits>How to optimize it
Treat this count as an observation, not a target — there is no ideal number to reach for. Retain only useful, disclosed commercial links, and verify every destination and every claim tied to them. A high count is worth reviewing mainly to confirm the links still resolve and remain properly disclosed, not to raise or lower the number for its own sake.
Important considerations
- False positives are possible: the broad host pattern can match links that are not Commission Junction affiliate links.
- Current CJ link formats may be missed, since the pattern targets the legacy click-link shape.
- The count does not measure unique destinations — several links to the same target each add to the tally.
- The inherited factor name contains a double space, a quirk carried over from its source; it does not affect measurement.
- Correlation is not causation: this count tracks a page attribute within a measured result set and is a prioritization signal, not something that makes a page rank or guarantees a position.
Related factors
Part of the Factors reference · how RankGear measures · glossary.