There must be a better way to select affiliates

I keep running into what I consider silly requirements to be an affiliate of certain programs.

The latest was that they automatically stopped registration if you use a "free" email address.

I guess they need to filter their affiliates somehow, but stuff like that only makes people like me jump through more hoops. I like free email like Yahoo and Google and actually my Yahoo email is not free. I pay for it every year. So sue me.

Even a fancy website requirement can be created for show. Being denied for not having a nice website (yet) is silly.

I think trying to judge the value of an affiliate based on what they got currently is crazy. Sure you need to weed out the wackos, cheaters, spammers, etc.. but this won't get it done.

If you think of it, everyone, even super affiliates started somewhere. Who is to say the little guy won't become a big guy and very important to your business.

Once in a network there are also more levels of denial. Each company that offers something has the right to accept or reject affiliates based on who knows what. It's like saying "Sorry, we don't want you do try to sell our stuff and make us money, go away, we only want certain people in our program and we wont tell you why, but you aint it"

Do you deny affiliates? Why? The only reason to deny them is if they violate rules like spamming, etc. Why not give new affiliates a chance and watch them closely for a period of time. If they mess with you get rid of them, but not before you see what they can do.

Maybe they will do nothing. That's ok... encourage them to sell your stuff.

Each network also thinks it's the most important thing on earth and if you are not promoting with them at the moment, your account can be terminated without warning.

What? These are people trying to make you money. They come back to promote something and find out they can't get in. Ok... so they promote it with another network and you lose. Feel good now?

Don't you realize how many networks are out there and you need them worse than they need you? You should be giving them a hearty "Welcome back" when they log in after a long time instead of a " Go to hell, goodbye".

I realize there are criminals, spammers, jerks, wackos, and all manner of garbage sellers out there. I submit they are the minority. Why make us all pay for that? Most people are simply seeking a way to do business and make money. That's your goal too as a product creator and/or network.

What other way can you attract and keep quality affiliates without throwing away the little guy? He may be little now, but might grow up to be a super affiliate someday but selling someone else's stuff because they gave him a break and you didn't.

Ok... I feel better now.