Affiliate Application Denied? Challenge Accepted!

For the last month, my focus has been getting my new website in shape. Since this isn't my first site, I was able to power through some of the early steps, and really focus on content creation. Now that I have a variety of articles available, and am starting to get traffic, I figure it's time to expand my affiliate programs beyond Amazon. (While they're a great affiliate program, they don't offer a great selection of certain products.)

So last week, after much research, I decided on one particular program whose products would really add to my website content. Although I wrote what I felt was a stellar application to this program, they turned me down within minutes. The reason cited? "Not enough traffic."

This was a totally new -- and depressing -- experience for me. While my previous website didn't get exceptional traffic, my articles converted well, so I never had problems getting affiliate program approvals. But it appeared that things might be different this time around.

For about 15 minutes, I sulked over my application being denied. The fact is, rejection in any form doesn't feel good, and it's healthy to let oneself feel sad for a little bit. But it's also important to move on from that feeling, and not let it take control.

So I refocused on my goal, and reminded myself of some key things about affiliate programs:

1. It's very rare that one affiliate program offers something no other company does.
2. Just because an affiliate program fails to see a website's earning potential doesn't mean that all will.

With those things in mind, I went back to researching. In doing so, I found several other affiliate programs that not offer similar products, but also pay better. And you know what? Every single one approved my application!

While being rejected by my top-choice affiliate program was frustrating, in the end it's turned out better for me. Plus it led me to an interesting insight about myself: being rejected by an affiliate program makes me want to work harder (and smarter) to prove them wrong!

I will get my traffic way up, and I will continue to write great content that converts. But because they wouldn't take a chance on me, my sales won't go to them. Challenge accepted, and ultimately, their loss!