Reconnecting...
When Applying to Affiliate Networks, Don’t Use Wealthy Affiliate as Your Business Name
Last Update: February 23, 2019
Each affiliate network asks for a business name or account name as part of the application process. You are not Wealthy Affiliate, so don’t use that as your business name. Only Kyle and Carson can use Wealthy Affiliate because they are the only ones who can claim WealthyAffiliate.com as their URL.
Why does this matter?
When a merchant reviews your application to join their program, they will review your site as part of the process. They will expect your business name to have something to do with your site or company description. When things don’t seem to match, it is a red-flag that something may be wrong with your application, which could result in being declined from the program. Wealthy Affiliate is too well known for you to use that name, and it seems like you are pretending to be someone you are not.
Here are some choices you can use instead:
- Your company name, if you have one. It doesn’t have to be incorporated or an LLC.
- Your personal name – this makes sense to merchants!
- Your site name – the one you will actually be using to promote the merchants. You’ll need to enter it as part of your application anyway. Don’t use the www part, just the name.
If you want to bounce a name off me, feel free to do so either by adding a comment below or sending a private message. After 20 years in the industry, I’m an expert at this!
Join the Discussion
CarlaNavarro
Premium
I am looking forward to chating with
You tomorrow and great to be in your business line. I am very eager to learn and have some knowledge
Of affiliate marketing and thst is one site i need to get off the ground to make income. My niche is just as
Important. But the income generator is NO.1!!!! I need to connect the dots.
Where do you live for time zone purposes.
Let me know
You tomorrow and great to be in your business line. I am very eager to learn and have some knowledge
Of affiliate marketing and thst is one site i need to get off the ground to make income. My niche is just as
Important. But the income generator is NO.1!!!! I need to connect the dots.
Where do you live for time zone purposes.
Let me know
Reply
rubyandally
Premium
Hi Jeannine
My site is still fairly young however I managed to be accepted by AWIN which I am really excited about. I am however finding their systems a bit intimidating as there seems to be lots of jargon I simply don't understand.
I have applied to two retailers within the network. I really had no clue what I should be saying to these retailers when asking to join so I have kept it to a brief overview of my niche.
I have two questions if I may please?
Firstly, how long should I expect to wait to find out if my application is accepted?
Secondly, do you have any training/tips/cheat sheet/guide to making successful applications within the network, particularly when a site is new and has no traffic yet?
Hope to learn lots from you as AWIN really has the market covered in the areas I wish to operate in!
Best regards
Alison
My site is still fairly young however I managed to be accepted by AWIN which I am really excited about. I am however finding their systems a bit intimidating as there seems to be lots of jargon I simply don't understand.
I have applied to two retailers within the network. I really had no clue what I should be saying to these retailers when asking to join so I have kept it to a brief overview of my niche.
I have two questions if I may please?
Firstly, how long should I expect to wait to find out if my application is accepted?
Secondly, do you have any training/tips/cheat sheet/guide to making successful applications within the network, particularly when a site is new and has no traffic yet?
Hope to learn lots from you as AWIN really has the market covered in the areas I wish to operate in!
Best regards
Alison
JeannineC
Premium
Hi Alison, Welcome to Awin!
Of course I'm glad to answer any questions on my favorite topic.
The approval process is up to the merchant. Some do it daily, some weekly, some make me crazy! You can always reach out to them about your application, but I would give them at least a week before doing so.
Merchants understand that there are new sites which may have little to no traffic. What they focus on is why you are a good match for their products - why do you think you would do a good job for them? How are you a match? Do you have any experience with that product category, especially with their products? Have you already talked about their products on your site?
Seeing that you've already embraced them or your plans to highlight them is usually a very successful strategy when applying to merchants. If you don't get accepted, or need some additional program recommendations, just let me know. That's why I'm here!
Of course I'm glad to answer any questions on my favorite topic.
The approval process is up to the merchant. Some do it daily, some weekly, some make me crazy! You can always reach out to them about your application, but I would give them at least a week before doing so.
Merchants understand that there are new sites which may have little to no traffic. What they focus on is why you are a good match for their products - why do you think you would do a good job for them? How are you a match? Do you have any experience with that product category, especially with their products? Have you already talked about their products on your site?
Seeing that you've already embraced them or your plans to highlight them is usually a very successful strategy when applying to merchants. If you don't get accepted, or need some additional program recommendations, just let me know. That's why I'm here!
rubyandally
Premium
Thank you Jeannine!
Do you have any idea how excited I was to find you here yesterday? The answer is VERY!!! but I think you already know that :-D
I have steered clear of mentioning any specific product at all on my website, but I have talked about categories of product, ie, slippers, pajamas themed to my niche. My niche is unicorns so I might talk about the fluffy unicorn slippers and hope to link to a selection people might buy. I may in future review a book and therefore link to the book vendor.
BTW, did I mention how excited I am to meet you!
Thank you again for the help and advice. Have a wonderful day!
Do you have any idea how excited I was to find you here yesterday? The answer is VERY!!! but I think you already know that :-D
I have steered clear of mentioning any specific product at all on my website, but I have talked about categories of product, ie, slippers, pajamas themed to my niche. My niche is unicorns so I might talk about the fluffy unicorn slippers and hope to link to a selection people might buy. I may in future review a book and therefore link to the book vendor.
BTW, did I mention how excited I am to meet you!
Thank you again for the help and advice. Have a wonderful day!
JeannineC
Premium
Aw, you are most kind. I'm very glad to assist in any way!
Unicorns will be a fun niche, I'm sure. I have a friend who did quite well with a site on penguins.
You can share your site focus with merchants, something like "My site is all about unicorns. I love the unicorn-themed products you offer and I'd like to share them with my audience."
That lets them know you've already checked out their site and products, why you want to work with them and why you'd be a good fit. If they have any questions, they'll usually ask you, but often that's enough to get approved.
Best wishes for amazing success!
Unicorns will be a fun niche, I'm sure. I have a friend who did quite well with a site on penguins.
You can share your site focus with merchants, something like "My site is all about unicorns. I love the unicorn-themed products you offer and I'd like to share them with my audience."
That lets them know you've already checked out their site and products, why you want to work with them and why you'd be a good fit. If they have any questions, they'll usually ask you, but often that's enough to get approved.
Best wishes for amazing success!
rubyandally
Premium
Thank you Jeannine, that is the sort of approach I have taken so far so fingers crossed the merchants start to say yes!
Wishing you a wonderful Friday and a fabulous weekend!
Wishing you a wonderful Friday and a fabulous weekend!
seconds2work
Premium
Good advice, thank you for sharing. If I can add to this advice; A lot of affiliate companies want your website to be somewhat set-up, not under construction. I would suggest creating some of your basic pages like home, about, contact and adding a post or 2. This way when the merchant does visit your website, to see if you qualify, they will have something to go by. ~LeNard
JeannineC
Premium
Absolutely agreed! When networks review, we want to see at least a handful of posts or pages to get a sense of the site's content. Don't apply without at least that much content or you stand a good chance of being declined.
ValerieJoy
Premium
Thanks for the advice Jeannine.
I would never use the name of a company that I do not own. But I can understand why some people would do that. Not everybody who owns a website also is the owner of a company.
When I had my own virtual secretarial business I registered it as a company. So, it was no problem to provide my company name.
However, when I discontinued the service I deregistered the company. Now I get stuck when it comes to providing a company name, so I use my full name. And then I use it as a personal name.
Why oh why is everybody who provides a service expected to own a registered company!
Thanks Jeannine for raising the subject. I find it an interesting one.
Valerie
I would never use the name of a company that I do not own. But I can understand why some people would do that. Not everybody who owns a website also is the owner of a company.
When I had my own virtual secretarial business I registered it as a company. So, it was no problem to provide my company name.
However, when I discontinued the service I deregistered the company. Now I get stuck when it comes to providing a company name, so I use my full name. And then I use it as a personal name.
Why oh why is everybody who provides a service expected to own a registered company!
Thanks Jeannine for raising the subject. I find it an interesting one.
Valerie
hordol2013
Premium
I use my website name for the company spot. It may not be an actual “company”, but it is my brand.
JeannineC
Premium
Networks don't expect you to own a registered company. You can just use your name, no problem. I think that a lot of people just use Wealthy Affiliate because that's where they are studying, so that comes to mind first.
cris1018
Premium
Seems like common sense to some, but sometimes it's the small things like this that throw a curve ball!
Good of you to mention for those who were unaware. WA is the MEANS to building our business, NOT our business. This is simply the platform, or tool, used to get all of us from point A to point Z!(and the best one at that!)
Good of you to mention for those who were unaware. WA is the MEANS to building our business, NOT our business. This is simply the platform, or tool, used to get all of us from point A to point Z!(and the best one at that!)
JeannineC
Premium
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