What is "bidding"? And what does

[yuri21]

Okay and just to update, I just got rejected by 2 sites under CJ. I could find nothing but big sites for the niche I found(yikes!). So, next steps to consider: find SAS or if not, start working on my site a bit more.

Hopefully, I can find someone willing to accept my site. If not, it's time to find another niche.

Hmmm... how do people get the guts to appeal without a site?

[jkgourmet]

I had the barebones of my site up before I applied - but only 1-2 posts. I've been rejected by very few merchants, but coincidentally, I spoke with one just yesterday. I contacted them to ask that they reconsider, but before I went into my elevator speech, I asked why they had declined.

Interesting answer: "Ms. Hauser, your application information online with CJ has a mistake in the url for your site. It's missing the dot-com at the end of your site name. We automatically decline when that happens."

I gave him my 30 second elevator speech, while I was fixing the file at CJ. He accepted the application as soon as I shut up.

Now this wasn't a super big merchant. But, I've only been turned down by a couple of merchants, and have been able to get them all accepted when I finally got a human on the phone. (There is one larger merchant that I have not yet contacted, and I now suspect the same thing occurred since it was also CJ.)

I DO add information about my professional and educational qualifications in an effort to 'sell' myself. And I've purposefully avoided going to merchants that are huge, like Macy's (or Best Buy, if I were selling that kind of stuff).

I've used the same application formula with Linkshare and SAS, with virtually the same results. SAS has some smaller merchants and more auto-accepts, I think. SAS also has a human that you can get on the phone or via email sometimes. so have a look around, and I'd encourage you to appeal directly on the phone. (I've even been complimented for my assertiveness and have had a couple of merchants send me some freebies, even though I brand new at this. But I do good phone.)

[yuri21]

Uh oh... you had posts up? I didn't. I had a "Testing 123" post with garbage which must've screamed "spam and not serious at all". Aw, nuts. I guess I'm learning a very hard lesson now. Can people be banned from re-applying? Plus, it probably didn't help that I didn't fill in what type of advertising I wanted.

Hmm... call them on the phone from Singapore? Hmmm... good suggestion. I could also try to find the "email approach" first. Or... be brave and post on their forums at ABestWeb(if they've one there). It's time to tie meself to the fishing rope, ahoy! Time for me to act as the bait. ;D

You do good phone? Yeesh... I stutter, am very nervous and so on. I'm going to have to chew on my tongue literally, then. ;D At least I won't be nervous and be calm(not screaming from the pain ).

[jkgourmet]

I am sincerely sorry if I sounded like a know it all. That was not my intention, but in re-reading my post above, it does sound that way. Please accept my apolgies.

I do not think you will be regarded as "spam and not serious at all." The same actions could easily be regarded as 'assertive and enthusiastic about getting started as soon as possible."

What do you mean about "what advertising you wanted." Do you mean the questions about how YOU were going to promote your site, using the merchants products?

It's not such a problem to call from Singapore, esp. if you use Skype. But, if you are uncomfortable on the phone, then that is not good advice for you (again, I am sorry). My concern with email is that I sent several emails to those merchants who declined me prior to calling them on the phone. They did not respond, which led to my phone call.

I am very familiar with the forums on ABestWeb, including the ones set up for the merchants and affiliate managers. I'd suggest that those are not the places to get into a conversation about appealing a decline. They are good sources of information about who is the affiliate manager and who to contact - AND how to contact them. It was this site that orignally encouraged me to contact the merchant directly rather than rely on the network to deal with a decline.

You mentioned you are in Singapore. Some merchants have elected to NOT work with affiliates outside of the US. I wonder if this is causing your problems? Again, I have consciously avoided trying to get an app approved by one of the big retailers.

[yuri21]

Ah I finally found out what'd happened to my site. It was broken(yikes!), even though the last time I checked it, it was loading okay. I decided to delete it and then start over, while hastily re-configuring everything. 'Cos I'm no good at fixing WP. Yet. This teaches me to re-check my site before submitting it to anywhere... yeeks!

Ya, CJ.com has those website settings, no? Like through Search Engine Marketing(PPC, right?), Site content, etc. PLUS, I neglected to select my "target audience"(US). Yeah, how fun. Another boo-boo! ;P

Yeah... I don't think embarrassing the poor Affiliate Manager on ABestWeb is the best thing to do. Yah and that forum is really good for checking out what I can/can't do.

And you're not being a "know it all", serious! Btw, what counts as a "big retailer"?

Yes, I shall try emailing them for starters. And uhm, the "no affiliates outside of US" only counts IF the target audience isn't in the US, right?

[jkgourmet]

And you're not being a "know it all", serious! Btw, what counts as a "big retailer"?

Yes, I shall try emailing them for starters. And uhm, the "no affiliates outside of US" only counts IF the target audience isn't in the US, right?

I'm not sure of the answer to your second queston. I suspect it depends on the merchant - but someone else around here can answer I'm sure. (You might also post a general question on ABW, not on any specific affilate board.)

My definition of "big retailer" may be different than others. Generally, I think of a big retailer as one with hundreds of brick and mortar stores and lots of affiliates applying. They do not depend on affiliates for the majority of their sales. They have more applications from affiliates than they need. Their names tend to be household names (in the US, at least). And yes, there are exceptions to this, I am sure.

Compare this to the smaller merchants, especially those who only sell online. The NEED affiliates to make sales. They welcome them as part of building their own revenue and helping them brand themselves. They may be picky about doing business with somebody reputable (as well they should be).

I think of it this way: Does the merchant NEED commisioned sales people? Does paying me a commision increase their bottom line, or might they simply be losing a sale they would have made anyway if someone hadn't stopped at my affiliate site on the way to their site? It's often a thin line and sometimes a matter of a merchants ego, I suspect.

Perhaps if you share your niche we can help with finding some merchants who are happy to have affiliates working with them? In the elite group, this information is not open to the public on our brainstorming forum.

I'm glad we were able to help with your CJ application errors. Yes, I believe what you have now selected is correct. (though again, other here are way more experienced and can REALLY tell you for sure.)

[yuri21]

I'm not sure of the answer to your second queston. I suspect it depends on the merchant - but someone else around here can answer I'm sure. (You might also post a general question on ABW, not on any specific affilate board.)

Wow... it really is a bit interesting how "cross-border" issues can come into play or even conflict with an original business plan.

My definition of "big retailer" may be different than others. Generally, I think of a big retailer as one with hundreds of brick and mortar stores and lots of affiliates applying. They do not depend on affiliates for the majority of their sales. They have more applications from affiliates than they need. Their names tend to be household names (in the US, at least). And yes, there are exceptions to this, I am sure.

Then there are the ones which are online-based but have so many affiliates and sales, they can opt to be choosy, right?

Interesting and very educational, thx!

Compare this to the smaller merchants, especially those who only sell online. The NEED affiliates to make sales. They welcome them as part of building their own revenue and helping them brand themselves. They may be picky about doing business with somebody reputable (as well they should be).

I see... that also explains why I might be rejected in the future, lol.

I think of it this way: Does the merchant NEED commisioned sales people? Does paying me a commision increase their bottom line, or might they simply be losing a sale they would have made anyway if someone hadn't stopped at my affiliate site on the way to their site? It's often a thin line and sometimes a matter of a merchants ego, I suspect.

Hmmm... something I didn't know, actually.

Perhaps if you share your niche we can help with finding some merchants who are happy to have affiliates working with them? In the elite group, this information is not open to the public on our brainstorming forum.

"Green contact lenses". I'm busy writing up my first blog post though: gotta keep it interesting and informative enough to attract people! The other articles were a bit easier but my first post has gone under a lot of rewrites. 'Cos I really have no idea how to pull people in with an interesting "first post". Hmmm... would you sell or recommend a product in your first blog post? *confused*

http://green-contact-lenses.com/

First post(still going to be rewritten on a test version of a blog and posted as a page!) http://www.green-contact-lenses.com/...g/testing-page

I'm glad we were able to help with your CJ application errors. Yes, I believe what you have now selected is correct. (though again, other here are way more experienced and can REALLY tell you for sure.)

Hah, well, I'm on the right path at least, no? :P

[jkgourmet]

I like the look of your site. Clean, easy to read (yes, I read the first post. Interesting stuff) and I like the colors.

But I'm confused. Are you selling ONLY green contact lenses? Is there a big enough market just for that color? How do they buy them from you - don't you need a perscription for contacts.

And more than that, what do the ads for hosting and making money on the Internet programs have to do with contact lenses? I'm confused.

The article was wee written and interesting. But I
not sure I get what your product is.

[yuri21]

Erm, I'm doing affiliate for a micro-niche. That's all... it is just an exercise for a 30dc course I'm doing. (Small voice: it's just to make a bit of money, for my first attempt at IMing. Whether it really succeeds or fails, it's okay. Better to learn now and lose some $$ than watch thousands of dollars tank. I did vet the microniche under Market Samurai.) The prescriptions will likely be handled by the merchants doing the selling.

The site is still under construction. And I need to find out how to remove those hosting ads and stuff, since they came with the Flexibility theme. I don't even know what those "areas" with the ads are called. Ok, they're not the "sidebars", they're not the "header" nor the "footer". *confused*

I'm trying to sell "green contact lenses", but the blog may occassionally focus on topics related to contact lenses, care tips, consumer rights and so on.

And thanks for the compliments about my site: I'm flattered!