What Happens If You Get blocked from an Affiliate Program (and How I Got Unblocked)

okay soooooo...... this is something I never thought I'd be writing about.

I've had some ups and downs as a creator. I've built, rebranded, and rerouted more times than I can count. But nothing prepared me for the moment I got blocked from an affiliate program I was trying to grow with. It was sudden, confusing, and crushing.

No warning.

No clear explanation

Just....locked out.

And no one talks about this. Like ever. So let me be the one to say it. Getting blacklisted (or at least, feeling like you've been blacklisted) from a platform SUCKS. But it's not the end. And I'm living proof that you can bounce back from it.

✂️ It Started with Walmart

I originally joined Walmart's affiliate program because I thought it would make sense with my content. I'm a mom of 5, I post about cozy life, I'm constantly feeding a whole crew....it made sense on paper.

But bestie, let me tell you. It drained me.

Emotionally. Mentally. Creatively.

I was doing so much work and making literal pennies in return. I was pushing links for a brand that honestly didn't even reflect the vibe I was building anymore. But the worst part? In order to be in their affiliate program, I had to go through Impact.

That's where everything started going downhill.

🧍‍♀️ I left Walmart and Sam's Club and tried to start over

I made the decision to walk away from both of those programs. They didn't align with me anymore, and I knew I wanted to promote brands that actually matched my energy and what I stand for.

So, I cleaned up my links. Took Walmart and Sam's club out of everything. Fixed up my media kit. Verified my site. Got ready to apply to better-aligned brands.

And then I submitted an application to the Impact Marketplace.

I really thought I was doing the right thing.

Instead, I got hit with a "your application has been declined message.... and suddenly my entire dashboard was gone.

🔒What being "blacklisted felt like"

They didn't say the word "blacklisted"

But when your dashboard disappears, when you lose access to your partners, when you can't apply for anything, and you get told you need to "make a new account if you want to try again......

It feels like being blacklisted.

I didn't even know that was a thing that could happen. And the worst part? I couldn't find answers. I had no clue how to fix it. It broke me!

I sat there questioning everything.

Was I not professional enough?

Did they think I was a fraud?

Was it because I left Walmart?

Did I mess something up that I didn't know about?

🧹So, I Cleaned up. Again

Even though I didn't know if it would help, I decided to take full control of my space.

I made sure there was zero conflicting links anywhere

I updated my entire media kit

I made sure everything was verified

I took a breath and got really clear about the kind of brands I actually wanted to work with

No more rushing. No more applying just to apply.

I wanted aligned partnerships only.

💌Then I Sent One Last Email....

I reached out to Impact support. I wasn't rude. I wasn't desperate. I just explained what happened, how I'd cleaned everything up, and asked if they could reinstate my dashboard even if I couldn't access the Marketplace.

I waited.

And waited.

And then one day...it was back!

I’M BACK IN. 💅

That’s right. After all the back-and-forth, the confusion, the emails, the cleaning up, the waiting, and the crying (yes, there were tears lol)

I sat there frozen. Like, wait… did that just say what I think it said??

Bestie, I REFRESHED my browser five times to make sure it wasn’t a glitch.

It wasn’t. 😭

🧠 So, here's what I learned

Let's break this down because this might save another creator from going through what I did.

Make sure your website is verified and branded clearly.

Remove any conflicting affiliate partnerships

Use tags that reflect your actual niche

Upload a real, complete media kit.

Turn OFF any VPNs or blockers when you're applying.

DON'T

Apply to a marketplace too early

Assume you can "just fix it later" you might get locked out.

Leave any brand fields blank or generic

Promote brands that don't match your energy just for a payout.

Try to sneak around with a second account (it's not worth it, and they'll catch it)

From someone who felt blacklisted

I know how it feels to get locked out of something you put time and heart into. I know what it feels like to question your worth because some platform decided you weren't a fit.

But I also know this

They don't define your brand. You are not done, and you are not behind.

If door slams shut, it doesn't mean your journey ends. Sometimes it means you're being pushed toward something way more aligned and way more you.

I'm not ashamed to say I got blocked out. I'm PROUD I found my way back in on my terms!

And if this happens to you? You've got this. You've got options. And you've got me right here cheering you on. 💖