I need to understand this:
How can my affiliate network know how much traffic one of my sites is getting? Don't they just know how many uniques are clicking on their offers? I mean they don't know how many uniques I'M getting do they?

I keep thinking I need to buy some cheap traffic just to show I'm getting traffic but they don't know this do they?

I think if you host a banner or an image from their servers then they can see which ip called the image, text links don't matter so they have to speculate there.

If they are tracking conversions then with the first one, the image, they can see if the statistics look correct, there is a different set for those who follow the link and complete the form or sale.

Hope that helps...

Thanks Clopper. But all they see is conversion ratios etc right? I might be getting 10 visitors a day or 10,000 but if 5 uniques click on the offer that's all THEY see.

I guess my bottom line question is: Can my aff possibly know how many visitors my page that has their offer gets?

Bottom line, they can't see your traffic count unless you let them. If all you have is a text link that is like trying to guess how many people read your phone number off your posted business card, if part of the card is only displayed by calling your phone (like the image on your page from their servers) then you know just by looking at your phone how many people checked out your card. You could make up your conversion ratios based on how many people checked your card and ordered your product, but if there is no calling your phone then it is difficult to track the conversions, but it is deff not 100%.