As an outsourced program manager, I review numerous affiliate applications each day. Some applications bring humor, others excitement and a few each day leave me wanting to write a post like this one. Below are 5 tips on how to get your application approved and a smile on your new affiliate managers face.
1) Use the Additional Information field. In Shareasale, it is a big white box in the window when you click Join Program and a new window pops up. Avantlink does not have a comments field, but you do have my email address on the Merchant Page. Please use this space, especially if your name and application url are not relevant. Remember, I see several applications each day. Taking the extra step to tell me how you plan to promote my product/brand makes my life easier and guarantees you a spot in the program if there is a fit. If there isn’t a fit, based on your description, hey at least we found out early on. It also gets the conversation started which is the key to any successful affiliate relationship.
2) Make sure your links work. I click on every single affiliate application url I approve and the vast majority of the ones I decline. There are no exceptions. If you link is dead or coming soon, I am hitting decline and moving on to the next application. I cannot stress enough the importance of having valid and relevant links.
3) Be nice. If you do get a Denied email realize that it is NEVER personal. If you come back to with an angry email, this does not increase your chances of getting into the program. If you send me an email explaining why you feel this decision was reached in error, you have significantly increased your changes of an approval. At the very least, we will have a discussion as to why it was declined which could help you down the road.
4) Be Unique. If you are launching a coupon site with no additional value, your chances of getting your affiliate application approved significantly decreases. You may get into less discerning merchant programs, but chances are these same managers will provide less one on one support. Create a site that brings something unique and reaches my target audience, I will approve you all day.
5) Keep it clean. I don’t mean your language, though that helps too, I mean your site. A site sprawled with banners and flashing icons does not convert well and therefore won’t make it into many programs. Remember as affiliate managers, we not only care about sales, we care about our merchant’s brand. As an affiliate you are an extension of that brand.
Please share any other recommendations or thoughts about getting your affiliate application approved. And if you want to try out your new skills on my programs, click here.