ValueClick's Commission Junction plans to launch its CJ Performer program today for top-performing affiliates, providing them enhanced support, additional resources and greater recognition in CJ's network, ClickZ reports. It will invite about 200 among its 70,000 affiliates to join, including Upromise, Shopping.com, and Mezi Media. Advertisers will now more easily be able to find top performers. The new program is likely intended to lure merchants from competitors' programs, such as LinkShare or DoubleClick's Performics.

"This is the latest step in the maturation of the affiliate industry," Elizabeth Cholawsky, VP of marketing and product development at Commission Junction, told ClickZ News. "Affiliate marketing has gotten to where any online marketer considers it to be part of the mix."

CJ Performers will be assigned an account manager to help improve results and develop relationships with advertisers - and receive expedited responses to technical inquiries, access to product catalog data and customized reporting.