Kelli's update:

I waited and waited and waited for some news from the affiliate programs I applied to. I didn't apply for everything and anything related to my niche because I was only interested in products that I've either heard were really good, tried myself, or had friends who tried them. Finally I received word from one of the ones I really wanted to promote, and sadly I was declined. To top it off - with no explanation - just declined. That's just great. Of course I was totally bummed and when couple more days went by and still no word from any of the others, I became devastated. (I know - where's the faith, right?!)

Then I wrote this really cool post, and I don't know what happened but it disappeared into what seemed like thin air. I got up from the computer to get out extra blankets and pillows - there was a major sleepover happening at my home with tons of teens. Came back to my computer - it froze - and then my post was gone! I was typing it in Word, and don't ask me why I didn't save it before I got up - it's something I always (well, I used to anyway, hahaha) do automatically without even thinking. Yes, I had "autosave," but apparently it didn't "autosave" enough.

I must confess I totally threw a mini-fit. I was so angry at myself for not saving it before I got up. I have no idea what the heck happened - I was totally on a roll and it was just flowing. Afterward, for the life of me, I couldn't even string two sentences together to try to re-create what I wrote. I lost all of my momentum. Combine that with no affiliate programs accepting me yet and I was a mess. Boo-freakin-hoo for me.

I got up, started cleaning (it's a stress reliever for me), then went and watched a movie with everyone. I regrouped and came back to my computer and wrote about something completely different. Still haven't managed to re-approach that dang disappearing post. But I am almost finished, or I should say almost satisfied (almost) with my first "newsletter."

Guess what - I set up a Twitter account on Monday! Hooray! Of course it took me forever to come up with a username. Finally I came up with "iFightCellulite." I then began messing around with the backgrounds but thought, you know, until I really get the hang of this Twitter thing, and until I get my web site more to where I want it, I'll just stick with the default background for the moment.

It's now the wee hours on Wednesday, and I sent off my first "tweet" just a few minutes ago. So far I'm following one person - "IMteacher" aka Laura of Affiliate Marketing Schoolbook fame - have you heard of her! I also worked on trying to finish my first newsletter - I'm almost satisfied (almost). I also installed the "Sexy Bookmarks" plugin too!

Now for some good news! I was accepted by 3 - yes, count them, 3 affiliate programs during the writing of this post! I was dancing around like a goofball - all by myself at 2:30 a.m. I was happy. One week later exactly, almost right on the dot.

Oh, and here is something else - I finally took the plunge and made FightTheCellulite.com visible to the search engines. Yikes! I asked Laura her opinion on her private student forum, and she told me to go for it. However, it took me a few days before I actually went for it because I was very nervous. Let the viewing begin! (Outside of Laura's readers and my family!)

Until next time!!
- Kelli

Laura's comments:

Well, this post was a roller coaster of emotions, wasn't it? I think I was holding my breath through the whole thing, wondering how it would all turn out! I'm so glad it has a happy ending (except for that brilliant missing post—but I'm sure it'll start coming back to her).

It can be very discouraging to be denied approval in an affiliate program—believe me, I know—but it certainly doesn't have to spell the end of an affiliate marketing career. There are always other options. It would have been helpful if they had informed her of the reason why she wasn't accepted so she would know what to work on or change, but unfortunately, they often don't. She could e-mail them back and request a reason; I don't know whether they'd respond, but it's worth a try.

The lesson about saving is a good one. With Kelli, it was a fluke that she didn't save this time, so she doesn't need a lecture, but we can all use the reminder. This may be a good opportunity for a reminder about doing backups of your site (or any important files) as well, because another affiliate marketer I work with recently lost 95% of months and months and months of work when her computer went belly-up. She was devastated. Don't let it happen to you!

Anyway, way to go, Kelli—congratulations on being accepted to three affiliate programs!

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