Rejected by Amazon & Rescued by a Pastry That Never Existed

My honest experience with the Amazon Associates rejection email—and what I’m doing to rebuild, relink, and reapply.

So…I got rejected!

I opened my inbox and there it was:
The email.
From Amazon.
Letting me know my affiliate account was officially rejected.

Not “delayed.” Not “please fix a few things.”
Just a hard, cold “no thanks.”

And the worst part?
I didn’t even have a bear claw to cope with it.
(The pastry. Not the back scratcher. Let’s be clear.)

What actually happened:

I had followed the rules (or so I thought).

I used SiteStripe to generate my link
I wrote a blog post
I shared it on Facebook
I was ready to watch my Amazon dreams take flight

But the rejection email listed a few reasons I wasn’t approved:

My social media profiles weren’t publicly viewable
I hadn’t posted to all the platforms I submitted (Instagram, YouTube, etc.)
And apparently, my tracking ID wasn’t visible on the blog

Spoiler alert: I had used the short SiteStripe link, which hides the tracking ID unless you’re Jeff Bezos or an Amazon bot that actually clicks links. So, that likely didn’t help.

What Amazon actually wants:

Through a slightly bitter, slightly flaky (again: no bear claw) Google session, I found out Amazon looks for:

At least 10 public posts (videos, blogs, or social content) with affiliate links
Public visibility on social media profiles you submitted
Links that show your tracking ID clearly (no short links for review purposes)
Evidence that you’re not just testing the waters—they want real effort

What I’m doing now:

Letting it go?
Pfft. Not a chance.

I’ve got content to create.
I’ve got links to relink.
And I’ve got invisible pastries to dream about.

Here’s my new game plan:

Create 10 pieces of actual affiliate-friendly content
Repost to all the platforms I listed—publicly
Use the long-form Amazon links (with the tracking ID in plain sight)
Reapply when I’ve got a stronger body of work (and maybe a snack this time)

Oh—and I filmed a Y ouTube Short about it too. Because if you don’t turn your rejection into content, did it even happen?

Final thoughts (from someone still pastryless):

If you’re in the middle of building something and a door slams in your face—whether it’s Amazon, an algorithm, or just your own doubts—I want you to hear this:

You’re not alone.
You’re not failing.
You’re just in the part of the story where it gets interesting.

Keep showing up. Keep sharing.
Even when you don’t have a bear claw.

Let me know if you’ve been through the affiliate trenches too—I’d love to hear your story or cheer you on in the comments 💛

Products I Plan to Link (Once Amazon Lets Me Back In)

These are the actual tools, comforts, or just plain fun things I’d love to share—once my affiliate account is back in action:

☕ My favorite oversized mug – Because rejection hits softer when you’re sipping from something the size of your face
🧤 The Rancher’s Record Book – Handy enough for on the go
🖥️ Laptop stand – So I can write, film, and reapply with better posture and less sass (jury’s still out on the sass)
🛏️ Comfy hoodie or throw blanket – Because comfort is a productivity tool. Don’t argue.
💡 Ring light – For those “I didn’t sleep but still filmed” moments

As soon as I’m approved again, I’ll link these up. Until then, they live here like dreams and carbs… waiting to be fulfilled.