Sort of Understand, Sort of Don't
Well, after all this time, I've finally started moving through certification again and am at the point where I am being asked to join at least one affiliate network. I don't really think I have enough traffic to successfully join any programs, but who knows? It makes me wonder though, why is anybody turned down as an affiliate?
I mainly hear about people being turned down over their volume of traffic, but I am not sure why. For example, if I wanted to join Amazon and they judged that I don't have enough traffic to be able to join, would they be losing money somehow if they did let me join?
The only thing I can think of is that they don't want to "cheapen" their brand by associating with an under-performing site, but if they don't want to be seen on a site with poor traffic, they don't need to worry simply because that site has poor traffic. Who would see them?
At any rate, the training is calling for me to go do it, so I will. In my very first week at WA, I found an affiliate program that seemed perfect for my niche, so I imagine I'll be looking at them again. I do feel that I am putting the cart before the horse a bit with an average of about 1 visit per day, but whatever. Have to start somewhere.
Recent Comments
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Hi there Craig
I agree with you all the way.....
wehave to start somewhere, I guess
get on board and it will happen
Its nice to check-out your links at the end of the day....and see whats happening.
this is a long term project, so every thing that we do to enhance our site will help
Cheers.....PB
Hi Craig add face book groups and post to them also do same with LinkedIn and traffic will grow!!!
Isn't LinkedIn paid? I did sign up with them a while back, but I never really explored it much, as it seemed to me that I needed to take a paid membership to get anything useful.
No it is free as with all my stuff and if you look at the blog I have just posted called Linkedin in the second day you will see what I mean OK
I check it out then. I honestly don't know much about it. I thought it was primarily like a "Facebook for business" for lack of a better description.
Hi Craig, I can't believe we think alike! Wondering if it's too early to join an affiliate program. I don't have huge traffic just 3 comments. I don't have a lot for pages and only have 1 post! I understand everything so far and am exactly where you are, having to choose one of the 5 listed affiliate networks. I took a look at all 5 earlier and it's seems hard to navigate through 4 of them. One doesn't have my niche, the rest I went in circles trying to find the list if what they offer us. I won't sign up if they don't have my niche. We get published so early and I'm still searching for more images to add to my pages. I didn't know there was sales criteria and making sales within a deadline until I read the comments.
Anyway I do follow all the steps, just need to look over the affiliate networks again. I put that aside and took a break and will start again tomorrow. I agree about how they should not turn us away. As I mentioned, I have NO traffic, I'm still in training!
Thank you for posting this I feel better having to talk with someone who is at the same stage as I am
Reassurance is always nice! That's why I don't hesitate to ask questions when something like this comes up. :D
I am looking at Clickbank right now, actually, but I think it will take a while to sign up: there seems to be about three day's worth of reading in the client contract!
I don't feel as bad now since you posted this. It's after midnight where I am (Canada) but it was earlier when left it for a break.I never stop but keep going except today for that part.
Kyle doesn't even include Amazon in that list because none of us have the traffic needed to make any money with the 6-8% commission they offer.
I can't believe Clickbank has such a long contract to read! maybe they all do. At least you picked one and can move on in the lesson. I'm sure I'll find one tomorrow, I'm just tired I've been going nonstop.
Thanks again, keep me posted please! :)
Yeah, it's 12:35 now and I should probably take a break. I will come back to it tomorrow.
You actually made me realise that I hadn't bothered to check if they cover my niche at all, and so I did a quick search and just ended up confusing myself, so that combined with all the reading made me realise I need to come back to it fresh at a later date.
We have the same time.
The only reason I noticed one place didn't have my niche is because at least they had the option to check FIRST right away. The rest I went in circles.
If you want we can private message instead. Or stay here in case other's join in with this.
Tomorrow is another day.......
Great progress Craig .. by being an "affiliate" with sales criteria to meet it also pushes us to get more traffic faster :) That is my thinking. Cheers, William.
What I don't understand though, is why there ARE sales criteria to meet. I have seen people comment about how they managed to make a sale "just in time" before losing their affiliate status.
As far as I can see, Amazon (or whomever) isn't losing anything by letting someone remain an affiliate, even if they make zero sales, so I am not sure why anyone would be dropped. Sure, they aren't gaining anything, but if it costs them nothing and there is still the possibility of future sales, why not?
Hey Craig,
I joined Amazon when I had less than 15 posts on my site, with no connection on social media. Granted, Amazon's commission is the lowest, but I feel it gives the site some clout as they say.
I was nervous also, but they accepted my application. You just never know, so review the networks Kyle recommends and chose one that you feel is in alignment with your niche.
All the best!
Yeah, I think I will try it, but I'm reminded of my thoughts back when I first started and I actually didn't want my brand new site to be indexed, because I didn't think it was ready for people to see...
I have a similar notion now, in that I don't feel like I am ready to be an affiliate. There are other things that I feel I should do first, like set up links to my Facebook page (haven't seen how to do that yet) or set up an email list (haven't seen that yet either.).
It feels weird to be looking for sales and business when my site doesn't "feel" professional yet.
But maybe I am making too big of a deal out of it.
Those are valid concerns, Craig.
All I would say is trust the lessons, especially if this is new to you. I see you've completed Course 2, Kyle doesn't get into social media until course 4. On the surface it would seem we should have the traffic established before applying to any affiliate networks. Perhaps Kyle and Carson know most people would become too focused on social media and overlook the basics. I don't have the answer.
I came into this platform without any experience of an online business. I never even heard of the term affiliate marketing before coming to Wealthy Affiliate! Never! For that reason, I decided to stick with the lessons the order they appear. Some days I was able to do 2 or 3 lessons, orltber times it took me a week or more to get through one.
Even if it doesn't make sense, I would encourage you to stick with the order of the lessons.
I will, for sure. I know that when people are complaining about WA "not working" it's mainly because they have decided to do their own thing instead of following along as instructed, so I will go with whatever the lessons say. It just seems a bit odd and it causes me to question whether I missed something along the way.
Yep! I felt the same and I'm sure many have as well. You're really good at posting questions, Craig. Keep it up!
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Hi Craig,
Do not be uneasy to apply with Amazon Assoc. They do not review your site for "approval" until you make a sale.
They will just send a warning after 90 days if there is no sale and then cancel your account after 180 without a sale.
The good news is you can apply with Amazon Assoc and get a new affiliate ID as many times as you need to.
Also, you can call them and they will review your website and give you advice. The associates support team is a great group of people.
At minimum, putting Amazon links on your site will give you some experience using affiliate links.
For more info read Are You Violating Amazon Associate Program Rules? Food for thought when you are ready.:)
~Gina
Awesome. Thanks a lot!
You are welcome. Just remember if they ever cancel your account, you can reapply. They only "ban" the bad apples intentionally working against their interests. Even then, they have a process to dispute it.