A lesson learnt
I am writing this to hopefully help other people, not to make the same horrendous mistake that I made yesterday.
In my eagerness to get a post written and for it to be a review, something I am not great at and have neglected somewhat, I made a really stupid error.
The stupid error was that I totally forgot to apply to be an affiliate for the product I was reviewing. I only actually realised this when I went to add the affiliate links. I add these after I have published the post.
For those of you who know me a little, know that I have blonde or ditzy moments but this one was just stupid not ditzy or blonde. I quickly applied and hoped it would not take too long to be accepted.
I awoke this morning and it was the first thing on my mind. I checked and I have been denied. Yes denied. This means I have a favourable product review that took time and effort to write and now I cannot capitilse on it in any way. The post has automatically gone out to my email list.... with no affiliate links. I am gutted.
However not to be defeated I have sent an email to the owner of the product begging for the decision to be over turned.
I now await their response.
Always and I mean always apply to be an affiliate before writing anything.
With Grace, Gratitude and a bit of Guttedness
Karen
Recent Comments
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Don't feel bad I did the same thing a while ago and I am not blonde or dizzy! :-)
I had actually purchased the product and saw value for other people so decided to promote it on my site.
I didn't think there would be any problems with acceptance so was ready to promote and could not believe they denied it!
So as you say lesson learned!
Onwards and Upwards! :-)
I've just been looking at affiliates with my product...the first time I have read any rules etc about becoming an affiliate etc and saw your post as soon as I logged on to WA...very good tip Karen thanks. Let us know if they approve your request. Good luck :) Kind regards, Ora :)
I find that when I rush through something, I either forget something or hurt myself! It never fails!
I just had a conversation with a friend yesterday who meant to buy a ticket for her dad, but in her haste, she forgot to change the ticket from her name to his. She was fortunate that the airline was able to correct it, without her having to pay the usual $200 change fee!
Thanks for sharing this, Karen and I hope that the reply from the owner is in your favor!
We might be related! I do stupid stuff all the time.
If you decide not to post it, save the draft and use it as an outline for future reviews. Reviews are tough to do and get pretty involved for some products. You might even be able to modify it and use it for a different product review.
Chalk it up to practice. Stuff happens.
~Gina
I’m afraid it was already published and got indexed despite my not submitting it to Google or promoting it... typical !
If I don’t get a favourable response Ill have to change it somehow
Unpublish a Blog Post in WordPress (Steps)
Click on “Dashboard” at upper of your WordPress site.
Go to “Posts”.
Choose which post you want to unpublish.
Click on “Quick Edit” option.
Check the box marked 'Private' or Change Published Status to 'Draft '.
Update your post.
Thank you for this. It may be an option if I still get a knock back from them after my email
Don't beat yourself up. Even if you don't have direct links, you can monetize with Google Adsense or something else. We all make mistakes. This is a complicated business with thousands of small details to attend to. You have a good website, you have an email list. You are way ahead of the billions of people who don't have the skills to do that. Give yourself a pat on the back for all you have accomplished, and keep it moving. :-)
I am not going to worry too much and I’ll change the content to direct people to WA instead if they don’t approve me.
Dearest Karen,
Just put in other Affiliate Links that earn you even more money!!!
2 External links to your earning websites then 4 internal links back to your website earning pages!
This is only a small grain of sand in the Billions of online earnings available to you!
Look Forward My WA Friend!
No lashes!
Barb
Don't feel too bad it was a mistake and you can just send another email with the link I think anyway and that should correct it. Hopefully, the owner will overturn their decision on the matter. It can be correctable you just have to be creative that's all. I hope this makes you feel a little better. As long as the content was good and I sure it was that counts too.
this is not a loss your post is still a help to your readers. I have a number of reviews for products that don't have any affiliate program but the review was helpful for my site and readers.
you're being too hard on yourself for no reason. .. you added another good post to your website
Classic, Karen, hopefully, the folks who have the product will reconsider and sometimes showing that human side to folks who are on your list can work wonders, we all of us make mistakes so just about everyone identifies and if you get approved send an email with the links included.
Wishing you a great outcome and some sales to boot.
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I’m sorry u had to go through that. No need to beg just be honest and say it was a mistake. But on this same note; maybe them denying you had nothing to do with your error... think about it.
Unless if u asked them “why” and they told you.
I haven’t even had a reply yet. The message is still showing as unread. I did ask them if they couldn’t accept me to give me a reason why so I could rectify it.
I think because it’s the weekend and it’s Mother’s Day; thus the reason they didn’t reply. If they don’t reply that would only show “how professional” they are and you deserve a much better affiliate program because I think you are genuine person, so forget them if they don’t reply, #NoLoseToYou