When exactly do I apply for affiliate programs + add links? How much content do I need before that?

6 replies
I'm building a new affiliate site, and of course want to offer great value to my readers, so I'm making content. But a lot of my posts should include affiliate links. But it's a new site, hasn't even launched yet - should I write all these posts without affiliate links and launch the blog, THEN apply to the appropriate affiliate programs? Or should I apply now when there's nothing? At what point is the best time to do that? Thanks
#add #affiliate #apply #content #links #programs
  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Start posting content to your site right now. Don't worry about your affiliate links yet. You can add those in later after you've been accepted.

    At times the affiliate programs / networks will look at your site before they approve you and you don't want to have a site with nothing on it.

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author hellosuccess
      Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

      Start posting content to your site right now. Don't worry about your affiliate links yet. You can add those in later after you've been accepted.

      At times the affiliate programs / networks will look at your site before they approve you and you don't want to have a site with nothing on it.

      Steve
      Thanks Steve. Do you have an idea of how much content should already be on there before applying, or just so it looks 'full'? And also, say I plan on applying to Groupon to be an affiliate and want to mention it in a post. Should I mention and link to all the products I want to be an affiliate for anyway, even though there'd be no commission?
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      • Profile picture of the author Steve B
        There is no set amount of content that is suggested or required. Personally, I would try to get at least a dozen posts up (but that's just an arbitrary number). It's more important to post good valuable content that will help others in the niche. You want to show that your site isn't just about affiliate links to make money - you are trying to build an audience of targeted prospects.

        "Should I mention and link to all the products I want to be an affiliate for anyway, even though there'd be no commission"

        I wouldn't . . . but that's just me. I would concentrate on making my site the best it can be and don't worry about all the products that will eventually be promoted for a commission. That can come at a later time.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author ANDREIS
    You should apply only after you have a decent looking site with decent content. This means that you need to post at least 15 posts before applying. Before doing anything you need to think about how you intend to drive traffic to those posts because without visitors no point in having affiliate links or website!
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  • Profile picture of the author Nico Puegher
    You can make money with a single post, the real key there is driving traffic to see your links.

    For example if you have a blog just 1 post can be enough, I will recommend to have an active blog rather than that but, there're different ways to drive traffic, you can make youtube videos, redirect a domain you own to the affiliate link (you can do it inside your hosting panel, youtube doesn't allow to leave links to affiliates but redirecting is legal).

    You can start a tumblr account and with qplus which is free you can start posting on autopilot and add your link (same as youtube) inside all your posts.
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  • Profile picture of the author mreespinosa
    Do it now! Do it now! Do it now! I watched an audio book video on YouTube and even though I can't remember the title of the book it was based on, that phrase stayed in my head. "do it now!" Why wait? I think you should just launch the blog now and when the time comes, implement the links
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