I launched C28.com’s affiliate program in AvantLink about a month back and we’ve announced it here and had a big email go out to a couple of hundred Christian affiliates announcing it.

Have any of you had trouble getting rejected by AvantLink?

I know that they are a bit harder on applications than many networks like CJ and Shareasale, but I want to make sure folks are getting in if they want to work with C28.

If you have had an issue with this - please email me through the Contact Us page on the site.

God Bless,

Wade

I just had an interesting conversation with a guy who was looking to get into affiliate marketing in a financial lead generation opportunity. We were talking extensively about some of the sites in the financial lead generation space who target Christians with specially designed landing pages to appeal to and generate trust in Christians merely because of an apparent shared belief.

He indicated that he didn’t feel comfortable taking a similar approach - selling his Christianity as a reason people should consider him as a business partner. He threw some Scripture my way throwing some Paul at me from 2 Corinthians:

Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit. On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God.

This created an interesting question about all “Christian” businesses and what we should be thinking about in doing our every day business. Are we profiting from “peddling the Word?”

I think the issue is intent and execution.

If our belief is hollow and we have no interest in ministering to our audience or the lost through what we do, I think we are definitely in trouble. If our focus in doing business with a Christian focus is on doing ministry, and in supporting that ministry through the commerce that we do, I think we are fine as long as we keep our focus where it belongs.

I take a look at sites like Abbey Press - where the proceeds of the sales benefit a monastery. Or to SinglesofFaith - where proceeds of a dating ministry with heavy emphasis on Faith development and service go to support inner-city outreach that members are invited to participate in. I think of C28 and JesusBranded that design clothing and accessories with Christian inspiration that put Scripture out there to inspire sharing among youth and young adults. I think of Alpha Omega and Sonlight who help Christian parents educate their kids with a focus on God’s Word.

I see no problem with these companies because I think that their heart and their execution are in the right place.

I look at companies like ChristianFaithFinancial, BigChurch and the variety of Christian BizOpp offers, etc and think that these folks have something big to worry about. The bottom line is this: As Christians, we have a tendancy to trust our own. Any jackass can throw up a site with “Christian” in the URL, and slap up a couple of crosses or an icthus and a badly chosen Bible verse on it and reel in the suckers. Trust me…it happens all the time.

As Christians in online business, we need to make sure that we live up to any claims we make and do the ministry work with all of our hearts, souls and strength.

As Christian consumers, we need to carefully analyze sites that market to us based on our “shared” Faith.

Try this sometime. If you go to a site that seems fishy in it’s faith basis - ask them what they believe, or ask them to point you at their “statement of faith” and you will know instantly what they are up to.

What do you think?

I covered this on ChristianAffiliateNews yesterday, but I wanted to make sure that the word got out.

My partners and I at GTO Management have just re-launched the affiliate program for C28.com. If you aren’t familiar, C28 is a Christian multi channel retailer with a combination of their C28.com website and physical locations that are the Christian equivalent of mall stores like Zumiez.

C28 is a really cool company that is committed to seeing the Gospel preached to the nations. They look to inspire “sharing” conversations through their bold Christian clothing and accessories including t shirts, sportswear, hoodies, jewelry, shoes, and more. They are very committed to customer service and they do some things that I love in their ecommerce process that I noticed when I placed a test order. The “thank you” page and email that I received included a picture and a personal greeting from my customer service representative - Also included on the note was a prompt to send any prayer requests.

C28 is probably the best known and most established of the Christian clothing manufacturers targeting youth and young adults and if you have this traffic on your site, you should be working with them.

We chose to launch the C28 affiliate program in the AvantLink affiliate network for a few reasons. I am really impressed with some of the linking tools these guys offer centered around the C28 product datafeed including a store builder as well as raw feeds. One of the things that really impressed me the most is their Affiliate Link Encoder (ALE) technology that is awesome for content sites, bloggers and reviewers.

As an affiliate with the ALE script in place on your site, you can write reviews or articles on C28 products and link directly to them ( no need to look up individual product links ) and your visitors will be tracked to your site. Here is an example for you:

My favorite shirt of all at C28.com is the “Made to Love God Forever” t shirt - I love the bold statement that it makes to anyone who sees me wearing it. In fact - I was walking to lunch today and have a conversation with a guy on the street who saw the shirt and asked me what I thought it meant….

If you mouse over the link.. you will see the affiliate tracking in place. That is a seriously slick tool for people who like to blog or write reviews.

It’s an awesome reason to join AvantLink as well… as this linking technology works with any direct link to any active AvantLink merchants site.

C28 is paying commissions of 15-20% depending on sales volume. We’re looking for affiliates who will work hard to help us reach the world and share in our success. Are you interested?

Join the C28 Affiliate Program Now

Note: C28 does not allow trademark bidding on “C28″ “NOTW” or any mis-spells or derivatives.

I am way stoked to announce that C28.com has just signed on with my company GTO Management to re-enter the affiliate marketing world with an affiliate program hosted at Avant Link.

C28 is I feel the top player in Christian apparel for youth and young adults. Their look is edgy and conversation inspiring and as a company they are committed to retail ministry… meaning, it’s about more than just selling clothes. It’s about helping to take the Gospel forward and see people saved and developing a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Stay tuned for more on this as we get closer to launching the affiliate program for C28.com