What Would You Do?
First, I was depressed and you all helped me get over that. Then I was angry and you all helped me get past that. Now I'm mostly curious and I'm hoping you will help with with that. I was turned down for another affiliate program, this one a very large representative of various tool companies. Once again, I'm having no luck in getting them to tell me why. I really am only asking so I can learn where they think I need to improve my site.
Is it because I don't have enough there for them? I admit I'm nowhere near through adding informational pages. Is it because the site isn't clear in its intent to be informative? Is it not "friendly" enough? Is it hard to read? Does it not have a good look to it? What IS it? That's what I need you all to help me with. What do you like about the site? What do you not like? What would you add? What would you change?
If I could have the benefit of your collective wisdom, it would help me a great deal. What would you do?
http://tomscustomwoodcraft.com.
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I'll check them out, but Commission Junction has quite a few relevant vendors and that's where the last 2 rejections came from. I wonder if it isn't better to try vendors that aren't associated with a large network.
I have been looking over your site and I'm stumped (no pun intended, hahaha). I'm really reaching here, but the only thing I would suggest as a possible change are the colors, to make the font larger and make the pictures larger. The orange and blue are a little hard to read and ditto on the green and orange.. but I don't see that as a reason for being turned down. As an aside I did notice that your pictures don't enlarge when you click on them so I couldn't read some of the captions or fine details.
Is it possible that you showcased a competitor's product and maybe that's why they turned you down? I really just don't get it, your articles are good and you get a lot of interaction. How many visitors are you getting?
Also try the peek.usertesting.com and see what people say as they're looking around. I think you can do three free a month, so it's another way to see what people completely outside the realm of affiliate marketing have to say.
Thanks Kristy. You are the second person to mention the colors. I guess I will have to revisit them and the photos. I have a few pages left on which to enlarge the font. Most I've already taken care of. As far as traffic, I'm not getting very much yet. That, to me is the most likely problem.
Are you pinning your posts on Pinterest? I would think that could help you generate some traffic.
I have not yet created a Pinterest account. I am considering it, but my dislike of social media in general has kept me from it so far. Also, since my site is mostly written at this point, as opposed to visual, I'm not sure how well that will play on Pinterest.
Pinterest is fun to me, I started using it way before Mr. Bo-Bo. I find things I like and pin them so instead of creating a ton of bookmarks that I never organize, so everything gets lost in the mix, I can go to one of my boards and there it is.
Even if you don't have a lot of visuals on your site you can create a Tom's Custom Woodcraft pinterest board and link to your favorite articles and tools and examples of your work. People will follow you. Some of those people might click on the link to your website because they'll think "hey, this guy has great taste in tools," or "he shared some really great articles, I wonder what he shares on his website."
Great thing about Pinterest is, for the most part you don't have to come up with anything clever to say, you're not sharing personal details unless you pin personal things, and people Pin like crazy. It's vastly different than Twitter or Facebook.
You are doing a great job. I took a quick look and found no headings on some of your pages. I also found no authorship on any of your pages. Adding a picture of yourself helps with that along with a By ... your name.
Please take a peek at mine to see what I mean. At the bottom of every page in my closing you will see a By Linda W..... and my picture.
Take the time to proof read each page and post. Every time you do you will find room for improvement. Such as headings and adding content you did not think of before.
It is always the little things that seem to stump us. You can always try again in the future with the affiliate links you want to add.
It could also be you don't have enough keywords. Such as your Custom Woodworking page. I only found your key word twice. Again Adding to your content will help with adding to your key word count.
I wish I knew what to say. I have looked at your site and I think you have great content and it is helpful for someone who doesn't even know a lot about woodworking. I know one of the things adsense mentioned was having at least 10 pages. But it looks like you have that many.
I guess if it were me, I would add a few more pages or posts and then try again. They can't ALL turn you down, right? :)
Thanks Angela. I'm not nearly through adding content. I'm a bit slow about it, though. I would hope they don't all say no!
Well, we're never really through, are we? lol
But I just know one of the things when I was reading how to apply for adsense that they liked for you to have at least 10 pages. Some of the other affiliate programs might be the same.
You will get one. I have faith :)
You know, it's not that I think I won't find any programs. I have a couple of products in mind to promote that can only be found from certain vendors. So far they have been the ones to turn me down. I think that's why it's bothering me so much.
I have been accepted and turn down as well, just depends on their guidelines...what ever that may be...Don't give up, I didn't...one even sent reply back later after they denied me and then accepted me. It may be based on ranking, traffic...sales even for some of the more difficult affiliates to get into. Keep trying, and never give up or back down...they don't know what they are missing out on. Lol, Kim :))
Well, just remember you can't please every one all of the time, but you can please some most of the time. Just finding the right ones is all its about. Wish you the best. Kim :))
I just went to your site, and if they are denying you affiliate status, I don't think it's because of content. You have a lot of excellent content. So if they are saying "No", maybe it's format or color scheme(?). Maybe if you started with switching up the colors first, like the dark blue band at the top to something warmer. Hell, maybe they just don't like orange! You've got everything else in place and working, so I cannot think of anything else that maybe they would find off-putting.
I agree with Carla Tom, they all seem to be different. I've been turned down and accepted. I read somewhere you need about 30+ pages of content for some progs. I would try a different one, and return as Carla says, after a couple of months
Thanks Peter. That's been my plan, Just looking for some advice on which direction to go with the site.
The most important thing to do is, NEVER give up! I don't know you or what kind of beliefs religious or whatever you have, there is a reason you weren't selected at this point. If this is your passion, see it to the end, and have no regrets. What's your website URL?
Sorry about that, I knew I'd forget to put it in there. It's there now. I have no intention of giving up, just looking for advice on the best path to continue on.
Each affiliate and affiliate network seems to have different rules, Tom. I've been turned down, mostly, for not enough content. However, I've also been turned down with no reason. I've written to them, too, asking why they won't take me and what do I have to do. So far, I've gotten no replies. That's nada, zippo, nuttin' honey. I got tired of that so just moved on to the next one. I some good affiliates now that suit me. I still would have liked some of those others, but I'm not losing sleep over it. I retry them about every 60 days.
Well I certainly intend to keep adding content. Maybe my impatience is coming through again. Mostly, like I said, I'm just looking for some guidance. Thanks Carla.
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I've had the same problem. Many affiliate programs want you to have a certain amount of traffic going to your site and have certain Alexa rank criteria. Unfortunately you can't really do anything about it other than keep working on your site and doing what you can to increase the number of website visitors looking at your website. And, keep searching for programs that will accept you.
Thanks. My search is continuing.