I’ve been getting this question quite a bit since Amazon decided to not allow affiliates from certain states due to stuff I don’t anything about. What I do know is if you don’t have Amazon as an option… all is NOT lost!
There are many other affiliate networks available for you to use. Some of them house some of the biggest names in “real life” shopping, like Target, Walmart as well as many very very niche stores that are perfect for finding specific products to promote.
Two of my favorites, and the ones I find easiest to navigate and use are
I like these because they don’t seem quite as complicated to get around and find what you’re looking for as say CommissionJunction ~ which is another affiliate network you can use… and I still find it confusing to get around and find what I’m looking for.
You will have to apply to both of these programs. You’ll need a website ~ so if you don’t have a blogger blog yet, now’s a good time to get one.
They will ask you some questions, just answer them honestly. I think one of the questions will be about how you’re going to drive traffic… just write in SEO or search engine traffic ~ something like that, because that’s how we get our traffic.
You do not need to tell them you’re going to use your code on your lenses ~ the application pertains to the site you’re using on your application.
Once you’ve been accepted to the network you’ll have to apply individually to each merchant (store) to be an affiliate for them.
This is where having a general “gift” or “deals” blog comes in handy. If your blogger blog, the one you used on your application, is about teeth whitening, and you find a great keyword on a high chair and decide you want to apply to Baby Universe over at LinkShare you may not be accepted because your site about teeth whitening is not really relevant/related to baby stuff.
That’s why I love to do holiday gift sites, or get the best deal sites, because no matter what niche physical products of any type can be given as a gift or you can get a great deal on them. A general site like this gives you better reach for a wider variety of merchants, and products to be able to promote.
Some merchants in these networks will be automatic approval… some won’t. It may take some time to get approved by some of the merchants. Some are more lenient than others and will approve just about everyone. Other merchants will check your site stats and if you don’t have the traffic level they’re looking for in their affiliates they won’t approve you.
Don’t get discouraged if you don’t get approved by a merchant. It’s no big deal. There are probably 5 or 6 other merchants that can give you the same or similar product, so just find another merchant and apply with them.
Once you’ve been approved by a merchant there is a possibility that depending on your sales level they will dismiss you as an affiliate. It doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen so I just want you to be aware. If you are dismissed by a merchant it is not the end of the world, just find another merchant that carries similar/the same products.
There are many options when it comes to where you can find products to promote. While I teach Amazon mostly ~ because it’s the easiest, and they have EVERYTHING, they are not the only show in town. So if for some reason Amazon is no longer allowing you to be an affiliate don’t worry. You have options.
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I hate maneuvering around CJ – it’s so hard for me to find what I’m looking for. That’s one thing I love about Amazon, it’s so easy to find exactly what I’m looking for. The only thing I’ve used CJ for is banner ads – I wish Amazon had more variety in that department (even though they really have a ton, just not usually what I’m looking for).
I’ll have to add Linkshare and Shareasale to my ‘repertoire’.
Kelly @ Queen of Hearts Halloween´s last blog ..Sexy Queen of Hearts Halloween Costume – 2 piece
Hi Jackie, I’d never heard of Linkshare or ShareaSale, so, thanks, I’m looking forward to checking them out. I actually really like Commission Junction, because of all the banners they offer. I like to include a few throughout my lenses, between Squidoo modules.
Just remember that banner ads don’t convert really well. People have become pretty “blind” to them. Check your stats area and see if you’re getting click outs on them.
All the affiliate networks have banner ads though…
Jackie – You are SO right about Commission Junction – I think the site was designed by an astrophysicist at MIT or something – it makes no sense.
The holiday gift idea site sure does make it easier to get accepted at multiple merchants because of its natural variety of products. I use my holiday site in nearly every application.
I like LinkShare a lot and I’m heading to ShareASale right now!
Good stuff as always!
This is off subject but you said to ask questions here so I am. I remember seeing one time you had an article on squidoo making it easier to make an image for squidoo. I can’t find it on your site. Can you steer me in the right direction.
here’s the post I think you’re looking for: http://www.squidoochristmascash.com/how-to-create-a-poster-ad-at-squidutils/