Hi Cathy,
I am real newbie, but I think I would ask a friend to make a Amazon purchase through my site. Does it count if they buy something other than the thing you are promoting? They aren't going to pay extra cash or anything.
We use Amazon all the time, so I am going to get my hubby to buy through my links.
Good luck
Rose

Excellent points Cathy! It's best to wait until you have traffic going to your site before even thinking of joining an affiliate program.

Like yourself, I cut it very close with Amazon when first starting out here, but got a sale in time to not get deactivated. But, if that happens, I believe you can still reapply at a later time.

I've also been an affiliate of ClickBank and what used to be Commission Junction...think it's the CJ Publisher you mentioned here now, but never made a sale through either one... since at the time, I just didn't have enough traffic.

I never was charged anything from either one though. I'd heard of this being the case with CJ only, but not at ClickBank...maybe things have changed since i signed up.

Anyways, like you've pointed out here, it's best to have traffic first. Worry about signing up for affiliate programs later...even if you're at the point in the training here that says to do so...just wait awhile.

And once you do, and start adding links, make sure you steer your readers towards at least one main affiliate link in a "call to action" type of sentence or add it as a button even...something that stands out a bit. Otherwise, people might not even notice it's there.

Hopefully, you can get that sale in soon Cathy! But, either way, keep on going!

Best wishes :) ~Sherry

Thanks for this information Cathy. I didn't know there was a time limit. I've been with Clickbank for a couple of years now. When starting with them I didn't a sale for at least 6 month. (!) And I never got a penalty of $1. This must have changed recently.
Even it seems not to affect me I would like to thank you for this post. Because this might help some newbies. I agree with you. You should be ready before you join big affiliate programs.

Hi there
Thanks for this post
I dont know what to do right now, I am much like yourself....I have a few weeks to go and no sale or no trace of a sale from anywhere on my amazon a/c
we live in hope, I guess
Cheers PB

If you can not make a sale in 6 months then you better quit making websites!
I used ClickBank once whiteout any experience and whiteout a website and I sold 3 products I a month!
What about Friends and Family ? I have friends they buy every month stuff on amazon !
I think you do something verry wrong but hey.... i am just a Noob in this World !

Hello Cathy,

Thanks for this great information, I'll keep this in mind. I am focusing on getting my Wealthy Affiliate Business off the ground before I do anything else. I was involved with another affiliate business but I deleted my website because there were not paying my commissions as they should- don't mess with my MONEY!

I Pray all is well with you and your loved ones and everyone is in the best of health. May Our LORD And Savior Continue To Shower His Abundant Blessing UpOn You!

Have A Blessed And Safe WeekEnd;
To God Give The Glory;
We Always Praise His Holy Name;
Your Brother In Christ;
William

You can ask your family members or friends to use your affiliate to purchase something from Amazon. After clicking your affiliate link if they buy any product you will get the credit.

I think this is something many amazon affiliates do to get their first sale.

You shouldn't use your own affiliate link yourself.

But your friends and family members can do it with their account. Ask them for help.

Hi Cathy,
I wish someone would have shared this advice with me before i signed up for these programs. I just recently lost my Amazon Affiliate account and I am about to lose my CJ account. It is very discouraging and I contemplated giving up, but my husband won't let me. :) He says I have put way too much time and effort into my website to give up now. I suppose he is right but it still frustrates me.
Kathy

This can be settled by going to a website of a product you wish to promote and contact them to be put on their affiliate program, individually.

The problem, of course, is that many of them only deal through one of the large services (such as CJ and Cklickbank, for example.)

Thanks, I joined my first Affiliate program on April 4th so I'm still good and hope I make a few sales before the deadline.

I didn't know about the charge? I thought affiliate programs aren't suppose to charge you for anything. They should be grateful we chose them to promote their products.

Wishing you luck on getting a sale soon!