Welcome back to my blog today!
I hope you’re all having a fantastic week so far! While I enjoyed having company recently, I’m relieved to get back to focusing on my business. It was wonderful having them here after Christmas, but it did set me back a bit, and I’m not a fan of falling behind! This week has been full of exciting developments, along with a few challenges. Let’s dive in, and I’ll share what’s been going on!
How I Learned the Importance of Reading the Fine Print as an Amazon Affiliate
If you’ve been following my journey, you know I signed up for the Amazon Associates program last year with one clear goal: to make three sales within 180 days and secure my spot as an approved affiliate. It felt like a manageable milestone, and I was thrilled when I hit the target. But then, something unexpected happened, my application was denied! Let me explain what went wrong and share some valuable lessons I learned along the way.
My Amazon Associates Journey: The Ups and Downs
When I first signed up for Amazon Associates, I was excited about the potential to earn commissions by promoting products through my blog. After reaching the requirement of three qualifying sales, I thought I was in the clear. However, Amazon reviewed my application, and to my surprise, it was denied.
What went wrong?
In my excitement to share my experience, I wrote a blog post about signing up for Amazon Associates (that you can find here) and included a picture that featured their logo. I didn’t realize at the time what I had done, but using their logo violated their program guidelines. I already knew you can’t use their logo on your own website, so it wasn’t news to me. It was a complete lapse on my part. Everything had happened so quickly before the holidays that I didn’t get the time to read the fine print. I was a little overwhelmed with a lot happening at once. Big mistake!
Amazon’s decision felt like a setback, but I didn’t want to give up. I immediately wrote to their team, explaining that it was an honest mistake. They graciously allowed me to reapply, and I was given a new affiliate link. The catch? I now have to achieve three sales again to be evaluated for approval. While it’s frustrating to start over, I’m grateful for the second chance.
Lessons Learned: Read the Guidelines!
This experience taught me a critical lesson:
Always read the fine print when signing up for any affiliate program. Every company has its own set of rules and guidelines, and it’s essential to follow them to maintain your eligibility. A small oversight, like including an unauthorized image, can lead to unnecessary delays and frustration.
For anyone considering joining an affiliate program, take my advice:
- Read and understand the terms and conditions thoroughly before starting.
- Avoid using company logos, trademarks, or any material not explicitly permitted.
- Double-check your content to ensure it complies with program rules.
🎉A Bright Start to 2025:🎉 TikTok Shop and New Opportunities
While I was navigating the challenges with Amazon Associates, some exciting things started happening elsewhere. As I had mentioned in this blog post, right before Christmas, I got accepted into the TikTok Shop Affiliate program for creators. I posted my first product video in the first week of January, and within just three days and three videos, I made two sales!🥳 You can imagine how thrilled I was to see this progress.
But it didn’t stop there. Shortly after, I received an email from Amazon Associates inviting me to work directly with brands. That means higher commission’s. Then, the very next day, TikTok notified me that a brand wanted to collaborate with me as well. These back-to-back opportunities left me both excited and overwhelmed at the same time! It just shows if you start putting yourself out there, good things will come your way.
Finding Focus: Choosing the Right Opportunities
With new doors opening, I’m learning the importance of prioritizing my energy and time. While it’s tempting to say yes to every opportunity, I know spreading myself too thin could lead to burnout. My focus now is to evaluate each opportunity and decide which aligns best with my goals and vision for my business.
Here’s my advice for handling multiple opportunities:
- Assess Your Goals: Consider how each opportunity fits into your long-term plan.
- Prioritize: Focus on the projects that offer the most growth potential or align with your passions.
- Say No When Necessary: It’s okay to decline opportunities that don’t feel right for you.
Looking Ahead: 2025 Is My Year!
With my business now up and running, I’m optimistic that 2025 will be the year I truly start earning and scaling my affiliate marketing efforts. Between Amazon Associates, TikTok Shop, and potential brand collaborations, I’m gaining momentum and feeling more hopeful than ever.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success doesn’t happen overnight. Mistakes are part of the journey, and every setback is an opportunity to learn and grow. For anyone starting out in affiliate marketing, remember this: the opportunities are out there, but it’s up to you to stay focused, learn from your experiences, and keep moving forward.
I Would Love to Hear From You
Have you ever faced challenges or setbacks in an affiliate program? How did you handle them? With so many opportunities out there, how do you decide which ones to pursue? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below!
If you’re curious about how I got started, you definitely need to check out The Iceberg Effect. This book really helped me understand the ins and outs of the business, and I think it can do the same for you. It’s completely free, you only cover shipping and handling. You can grab it here.
Also, if you’re looking for some help getting started, I’ve got a free guide to make things easier for you. You can grab it here.
Lastly, if you’re in the mood for some winter shopping, I’ve found some great deals on Amazon. You can check them out here, perfect time to pick up what you need!
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Here’s to a year of growth, success, and more exciting updates to come!
Until next time!
To Our Success,
Now there’s a touchy topic. It’s all kind of a blur to me now. I was just starting in on a new affiliate program and the timing was such that I was heading to Mexico for a vacation. Silly me – thought I could set everything up from Mexico – on the beach! At times I had to use a VPN and there were situations where it was explicitly advised to not use a VPN. I thought I was in compliance. But when I got home, things were flying by me in Spanish. And then I got the fateful notice that my Google Ads account had been permanently shut down for circumventing systems. Try to troubleshoot that when you think you’ve done everything right!
As I racked my brain over what to do, it suddenly occured to me that way back when – I had already setup a Google Ads account – but with a different email address. I was in! So I was able to continue on with my setup and training. But to this day I avoid setting up sub accounts (which is the correct way to do things). My fear is that I trigger something and I’d watch my account being shut down.
At this point in my affiliate business I am no longer using Google ads and my account has been cancelled – but can easily be reactivated.
But my take-away is two fold. Firstly, only have one main Google account. And secondly, when I have any type of setup to do – Do it from my home country.
It’s great to read of your bright start to 2025!
Hi Robert,
Wow, what a rollercoaster of an experience! It’s tough when things go sideways, especially when you think you’re following the rules. Setting up from the beach in Mexico sounds dreamy but definitely came with some unexpected challenges. It’s a relief you figured out a way forward, even with the initial Google Ads shutdown, that must’ve been so stressful!
Your takeaways are super valuable: sticking to one main Google account and handling setups from your home country are definitely smart moves to avoid future headaches. Thanks for sharing your story; it’s a great reminder to stay cautious with these platforms. Here’s to smoother sailing for all of us in 2025! 🚀
Meredith
Meredith, wow, what a journey you’ve been on! From the highs of making sales on TikTok Shop to the setbacks with Amazon Associates, it’s clear that affiliate marketing is full of surprises, but you’re handling it like a pro. The lesson you shared about reading the fine print is so valuable. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, especially when you’re juggling multiple opportunities, but your story really highlights how small oversights can have big consequences.
I also love your approach to prioritizing opportunities—there’s definitely a temptation to say “yes” to everything, but I’ve learned the hard way that focusing on what aligns with your goals is key to avoiding burnout. For me, it’s always a balancing act between chasing new opportunities and staying grounded in what I’m already working on.
I’m curious, as someone just starting out in affiliate marketing, how do you manage your time between different programs like Amazon and TikTok Shop? Any tips for staying organized and making the most out of each platform? Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!
Here’s to an even more successful 2025 for you! ✨
Hi Alison,
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! It’s so true, affiliate marketing can be a wild ride, but it’s all part of the journey. Reading the fine print was definitely a hard-learned lesson for me, and I’m glad sharing it could help others avoid similar mistakes.
I completely agree about balancing opportunities and focusing on what aligns with your goals. It’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to do it all, so staying clear on priorities is a big part of avoiding burnout.
As for managing time between platforms like Amazon and TikTok Shop, my biggest tip is to stay organized. I like to keep a simple schedule or checklist for each program, tracking tasks like posting, updating links, and checking performance. Also, I focus on one platform at a time during the day, so I can give it my full attention.
It’s a learning process, but finding what works for you is key. Wishing you all the best in your affiliate marketing journey, 2025 is going to be amazing for both of us! ✨
Meredith
Hi Meredith, thank you for your precious advices.
It happened to me to be layed out by Amazon. I didn’t make the sales expected in the delay imparted so they kicked me out. However I learned from this experience and it’s for this reason that I’m still waiting to have a bigger audience in order to get on the Amazon boat again. Actually risk is too high for me to repeat the pattern.
I’m glad that now Amazon took you back in. You’re doing well and you see an overwhelming progress. 😆 It’s always exciting when new opportunities present themselves.
Congratulations 🎉
Martin
Hi Martin,
Thank you for sharing your experience! It’s tough when things don’t go as planned, but it sounds like you’ve taken a smart approach by focusing on building your audience first. That’s such a good strategy, it’s all about timing and being ready to make the most of opportunities when they come.
Amazon can be tricky, but it’s great that you’ve learned from it and are being cautious about when to jump back in. I’m sure with your determination and growing audience, you’ll be ready when the time is right.
Thank you for your kind words! I appreciate the encouragement, and I’m excited about what’s ahead for both of us. Wishing you all the best on your journey, you’ve got this! 🎉😊
Meredith
Meredith, Thank you for sharing such an honest and detailed post about your experiences. I completely relate to the challenge of juggling multiple commitments and making small mistakes in the excitement of new opportunities—it’s a reminder of the importance of slowing down and double-checking the details. Your journey with Amazon Associates and TikTok Shop is inspiring, especially how you turned setbacks into learning moments and found new ways to grow. The tips about prioritising opportunities and focusing on long-term goals were particularly helpful for me as I work on balancing different projects. I’m excited to hear more about your progress in 2025 and wish you continued success! Congratulations on your sales, fantastic. Atif
Hi Atif,
Thank you so much for your kind words and thoughtful response! It’s definitely a journey with its ups and downs, but like you said, those setbacks are such valuable learning moments. I’m so glad the tips about prioritizing and focusing on long-term goals resonated with you, it’s something I’m constantly working on too.
It sounds like you’re doing an amazing job balancing your projects, and I have no doubt you’ll achieve great things. Thank you again for your encouragement, and here’s to both of us making even more progress in 2025! 😊🎉
Meredith
Hi Meredith – Wow what an incredible lesson and I so much appreciate you being transparent about some of the problems you had with becoming an affiliate with this large company. It really is a testament that we must read, understand and follow the rules. Thank you so much for sharing this learning with us so that mistakes can be avoided. That is truly a gift you have given us! I wish you tons and tons of success with TikTok shop and I hope to follow you soon in this endeavor.
Hi Ernie,
I’m really glad that sharing my experience could help others avoid similar mistakes, it means a lot to hear that. You’re absolutely right about the importance of reading and understanding the rules, even though it’s easy to overlook them in all the excitement.
I truly appreciate your encouragement and well wishes for TikTok Shop! I’m sure you’ll do amazing when you decide to jump into it, and I’m looking forward to cheering you on in your journey too.
Meredith
hi Meredith, you’re doing a great job. It is interesting to see how we in our group are choosing the paths which are similar but different from each other. Your progress on TikTok is exciting and I congratulate you. I am a little worried about the possible shutdown of TikTok. It seems like we’d have to build everything up all over again on another platform. C’est la vie. That’s the nature of business. But I am hoping it doesn’t happen.
Hi Kate,
Thank you for your kind words and support! It’s amazing to see how we all take different paths but still learn and grow together in this group. 😊
I totally get your concerns about TikTok. The possibility of a shutdown is definitely something to think about, but like you said, that’s just part of business. We adapt and keep moving forward. I’m hopeful it won’t come to that, but it’s always good to have other options ready just in case. Let’s stay positive and keep building!
Meredith