Newbies only - getting eBay, CPA approvals

I continue to see questions from people who've applied to become an eBay partner or
join a CPA network and get turned down. If they include their url, it's often
filled with ads, on a free host, script generated and/or a design mess.

The easiest way to get accepted is to create a true website (html or wordpress)
on a non-controversial subject. Think gardening, cooking, lawn maintenance,
fly fishing, etc.

Regardless of the subject matter you eventually want, for approvals avoid
legally difficult subject matter such as cures for cancer, anything not
G-rated and anything that raises red flags on potential intellectual
property issues. In other words, don't use a trademark name as your
domain name, or a celebrity's name or pirate someone else's website
material.

All your website needs to get started is five pages, but ensure:

1. Have text on your homepage.
In other words, don't rely on a script that creates a page. Do it the old fashioned
way (just for this website). Browsers (eBay and Google) only view text. If
there's no text, to a browser that means there's no content.

2. Hold off on Adsense ads or Google widgets or anything commercial on your
on the website before you apply to eBay. Get eBay's approval before you go back
and add Adsense, etc. Google won't care about eBay ads but the reverse
is not true.

3. Have a privacy policy page.
Use Microsoft's or Google and rework for your own or go to dmoz which has a
ton of samples:
Open Directory - Computers: Security: Policy: Sample Policies

4. Register your own domain with a real address and a real phone number.
Most CPA networks will insist on reaching you via phone before you
are approved. They'll also check your domain registration.

5. Once you're approved, immediately activate and use your account.
eBay may cancel you if your don't; they don't like dormant accounts.

Hope this helps.