Get 90% of your site together before applying to programs?

[Sir Richard]

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Dear Rosalind:

On page 216 of the Super Affiliate Handbook it states:

"... get 90% of your site together before applying to programs." (bold for emphasis)

However, I have noticed that certain affiliate networks require that you have an already established website before applying to their program.

Question: How can an individual apply to their programs and design a website accordingly, when they are unable to see their advertisers?

Respectfully,

Sir Richard

P.S. Any information regarding this issue would be appreciated.

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[Tropical Tundra]

You can design the overall look and feel of your site than add the items you are going to promote. You shouldn't build your website around the program since you can decide to stop promoting that specific item or they go out of business now you'll have to re-design your website. I think that's where Ros says to have at least 90% of your site done. So if you're doing a dating site have your site layout and design completed than you can sign up to the programs and add your write ups to your site.

[jkeifer]

I think also that most merchants are more interested in how complete and relevant your site is. A new site with pages still "Under Construction" or with no relevant content is a major turn-off, because they want their product well represented and shown to happy, not frustrated visitors.

It virtually doesn't cost the merchant a thing to have you affiliate with their product. Affiliate back links also increase ranking importance for the merchant's site with Google. Remember, it's their privilege to have you, not the other way around, so most merchants (in my experience) won't turn you away except for the above mentioned reasons generally. They don't want to lose face on their products by having them sitting on an incomplete website or a site whose theme has nothing to do with their product.

If you're still turned down having a complete site and relevant content, I would simply find another related product.

[Jason]

I've had the task of deciding which applications to approve or decline at a couple of jobs, and I can tell you that there are a lot of people out there that just like to fill out applications. As a merchant, we want to know that we aren't spending our time approving applications to sites that will never be completed. It's sloppy.

Most these applicants probably have every intention to finish the site and expose it to the world, but many of them never will.

Finish the site and show potential Affiliate Managers you mean business. It's kind of like going to a job interview. You can wear a suit, or go in a t-shirt. The results will depend on the type of work(quality of work often applies here too) you are looking for.

[Katherine Huether]

I read that section in the Affiliate Handbook and decided that I don't agree with it entirely. Instead, I compromised.

My first site is a blog. I designed the concept and the theme. I have a clear idea of my audience. I've written the first three posts and my "welcome" page. I already have affiliate programs imbedded in my text.

I know that for me, it will be frustrating to go back through and add in affiliate programs after the fact. Frustrating and time consuming. So, I got started. I've been getting approved for the programs, too. But, it is clear that the Blog has a purpose which I am sure helps.

Oh - here is the site in case you want to see. I have three "dead" pages. But, by the end of this week, I am sure that the pages will be up and running.

Once those three pages are not "dead" anymore, I'll put the site in my signature.

[orion2000]

Hi all

I liked the question that was asked. But I didn't feel so satisfied with the answers except for the one about the blog. Now, when you give them the url of your blog, can you later have this url changed upon request?

I am thinking to start my blog about the affiliate business I want to do and at the same time build my website on the side. So, is it possible to change the url given to the affiliate program?

Oh, how does one redirect a visitor to another site? How do we get these redirecting services and how much do they cost?

Kind Regards

Arzoo

[jgproduct]

Not all merchants require you to have a website to be an affiliate. Click Bank for example.

Jerry

[Katherine Huether]

In Commission Junction it is possible to add as many websites as you have. I signed up under one site and I have since added the blog that is in my sig and every squidoo lens that I have. You can add and delete whichever sites you want.

I am really happy I chose the blog platform. If I hadn't, I would still be developing my content and nothing would be online.

When you select "get links" in commission junction, you specify which site it is going to and it changes the html code slightly.

I am not sure what you mean by redirect... there is an HTML command code (I don't know what it is off the top of my head) that will redirect people from one site to another. For example, I reserved a specific domain for my Path to Success blog but once I figure out how, I will need to redirect the visitors to another domain. You just put the HTML command in the code for your page and it does it automatically.