There are many affiliate networks that will approve your sign up application automatically like Clickbank and Commission Junction. But there are also affiliate networks that only want serious affiliates who are willing to put in the work so in order to weed out tire kicking under performers, they require that your application go through an approval system.
Getting approved to these networks, mainly CPA networks, can be a pain for the up and coming affiliate marketer and they usually have to deal with rejection. Knowing what the affiliate manager looks for can help ease the pain.
Here are some tips you can try to help get that application approved.
1. Have a good looking website or blog with a real domain name.
Your blogspot blog may be fine if the network approves you automatically but some networks frown on free setups. Doesn’t mean you won’t get accepted if you have a free blog but a real hosted website can go a long way to convincing an affiliate manager that you mean business.
2. An email address attached to your domain works best.
Seriously, applying with a free yahoo address makes you look like a spammer. If you have a domain, which you should, then you should use an email address such as myemail@mydomain.com on your application. This lets them know that you own the domain and website.
3. Fill out as much of the application as possible
Even the optional fields. The more experienced you appear, the better your chances of getting approved. However, don’t make up stuff, just to look good.
4. Know the Lingo.
If you’re just getting started and don’t know the meaning of traffic for example then this is going to damage your chances. Be versed on industry terminology so that when you’re talking to the affiliate manager on the phone you sound like you know what you’re doing.
5. Prepare to Answer the Phone
You’ll need to submit a phone number so that the networks call you. Not all the networks will call (nearly all CPA ones do), but you have to be prepared to answer the phone. It would be a good idea to get a separate phone to use just for 
business. If not, answer the phone in a professional manner and please make sure that your voicemail message isn’t some crass recording designed to amuse your friends.
6. Better Yet, Call Them!
Speaking of the phone, soon after you submit your application, instead of waiting on the call, pick up the phone and call the affiliate network. This shows initiative and that you’re serious about getting approved. Tell them that you just submitted your application and can’t wait to get started.
7. Your main source of traffic.
If you’re not in the US or Canada your chances of getting approved are less simply because many networks want US traffic mostly. where the majority of your traffic comes from is one of the questions you are likely to be asked in the interview with your affiliate manager. If they mention your location during the interview, let them know that yes you’re from such and such place but you get mainly US traffic. I had an affiliate manager approve me right away when I did this and told him that “according to my Google Analytics stats, 89% of my websites traffic is from the United States and Canada.”
8. Incentivized or Not?
They’ll ask if you have incentivized traffic. The answer to this question is always a “no”. Incentivized traffic is usually a source of bad leads so this isn’t of much use to the majority of advertisers although some are ok with it.
I’ve used these tips myself to get approved by CPA affiliate networks. Not only do they work with CPA affiliate networks but they also work with individual advertisers who may decline your application for whatever reason.
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