I put off affiliate links for months after starting this blog. Not because I did not want to eventually make money from it, but because I did not want a new post to feel like it existed to sell something before it had a chance to just be a post. So when I finally looked into affiliate programs, I gave myself a rule first: no links go into anything until a post has been live for 60 to 90 days. The program came second. The rule came first.
This isn’t a tutorial or an income report. It’s simply my experience applying to ShopMy as a brand-new blogger with no affiliate earnings, what surprised me about the approval process, and why I chose it over applying to several separate affiliate programs.
Why I Chose ShopMy
ShopMy ended up being where I started, mostly for a practical reason. I already had a small handful of retailers I shop at regularly, and applying to a separate affiliate network for each one felt like a lot of paperwork before I had sold anything at all.
ShopMy is set up so you search a retailer inside their own platform and generate the link right there, and most of what I actually buy from turned out to be searchable directly inside it. That alone made it worth trying first.
What the Application Was Like
Applying was less about numbers than I expected. My Pinterest account was still building, I did not have Instagram running yet, and the application asked how much I currently earned from affiliate links. I wrote zero, because that was true.
What the application actually seemed to want was a clear, honest account of the content itself, not a highlight reel. I applied through a referral simply because that was the route I chose after reading about other creators’ experiences. I cannot say whether it affects approval, only that it was the path I took.
What Surprised Me After Getting Approved
Since getting in, a few things about the platform have stood out. You can build collections around a theme, a season, or even a specific blog post and embed them directly on your site. Those collections update automatically whenever you add something new.
There is also a talent card where you set your own rates for things like a dedicated blog post or a product mention, so brands can see what working with you might look like before reaching out. There is also a gifting and collaboration side that I have not fully explored yet, but it exists as a separate track from affiliate links.
Can You Use Amazon With ShopMy?
Yes but not automatically.
If Amazon is part of your routine, you’ll need a separate Amazon Associates account. Amazon has its own application process, eligibility rules, supported countries, and payout methods. Once your Associates account is approved, you can add shopmy.us as an approved site in your Amazon Associates settings. After that, your Amazon links can run through ShopMy alongside your other retailers.
It’s an extra step, but only a one-time one.
International Payments
One detail that mattered to me was how ShopMy handles payouts. ShopMy pays weekly through either Stripe or PayPal, with no minimum payout threshold. As someone outside the United States, that immediately made it feel more accessible.
Many affiliate programs assume a domestic bank account, which quietly creates another hurdle before you even apply. Stripe and PayPal both work internationally, so this felt like something I could realistically use rather than something designed for someone else.
Would I Recommend ShopMy?
I’m still early in actually using the platform. Most of my links are only now reaching the 60-to-90-day window I set for myself, so I don’t have meaningful earnings data to share yet.
What I can say is that the application process was much more approachable than many guides made it sound. Having one place to search across the retailers I already shop instead of managing multiple affiliate dashboards made this feel like a practical place to begin.
If you’re a new blogger looking for a simple way to start affiliate marketing, ShopMy has been a good first experience for me so far. Whether it becomes my primary affiliate platform long term is something I’ll be able to answer with more confidence after I’ve used it longer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need affiliate income to get approved for ShopMy?
In my case, no. I applied with zero affiliate income because that accurately reflected where I was. I can only speak to my own experience, but it did not prevent me from being approved.
Can beginners join ShopMy?
Based on my experience, yes. The application seemed more interested in the quality and direction of my content than existing affiliate revenue.
Does ShopMy work for creators outside the United States?
It can. Weekly payouts through Stripe and PayPal make it much more accessible for international creators than programs that only support domestic bank transfers.
Can you use Amazon with ShopMy?
Yes, but only after creating and being approved for a separate Amazon Associates account.
If you end up applying and would rather use a referral than apply directly, here is mine .
Want to shop curated creator collections? Join ShopMy as a shopper here.
It doesn’t cost anything either way, and I can’t promise it changes your approval odds. It’s simply the route I personally used.
Some rules exist so a thing does not start before it is ready. This one still applies now that it finally has.
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