Each affiliate group, like ClickBank, ShareASale, and LinkShare, has a different process for signing up and getting your affiliate links. Today, I’d like to take you through the process of getting LinkShare set up, and how to apply to affiliate companies within LinkShare.

Here is the first screen you’ll see in the signup process for LinkShare.

Click the “Join” button in the upper right hand corner. You'll see a screen like this:

It doesn’t have any difficult questions, provided you know where you live. The only question that might give you pause is the “EIN” or Employee Identification Number. If you do any direct sales off of your website, you’ll need one of these. It’s like your Social Security Number for your business. (This applies to US businesses. If you are outside the US, but doing business with the US, I would recommend that you do some research on this to ensure you’re legal and getting any tax breaks you are owed through trade agreements.)

The next page will ask you some website information. They want to know how you’re getting your traffic, and to see that you’re a viable website and not a fly-by-night or spammer. If you have trouble answering any of the questions, just type it into the search bar at WA to learn more, or assume that you probably don’t do it if you don’t know what it is!

I got confirmation instantly that I was now part of LinkShare. Be sure to write down your username and password!

I’d recommend starting an Excel file for LinkShare, to keep track of your links. LinkShare keeps track of a lot for you, but that list of links comes in handy when you're not logged in.