Introduction

Anyone with a website, blog, or internet presence can join Rakuten Advertising. You will also need to provide a valid mailing address to receive payments, bank, and tax information. Sign up here for your free membership.

Publisher Screening Process

Rakuten Advertising is an open network and does not screen publishers at the time of their application. However, we may review websites or publisher accounts as stated in the terms of the membership agreement after you have joined.

Our Network Quality team screens and monitors publishers to ensure the quality of our network. To successfully begin as an affiliate publisher, you will, at a minimum, need the following:

• Your own professionally designed, optimized, quality website, blog, or customized social media site.
• Robust and unique, quality content that adds value to your visitors.
• A well-thought-out business plan.

After you join Rakuten Advertising, you will apply to join specific advertisers' affiliate programs. Each advertiser has certain criteria that you must meet to be approved for their program. For example, an advertiser in the fashion industry may require that your website has a certain number of monthly visitors and features fashion-related content. Your website content must also be relevant to the advertiser's business verticals and meet brand guidelines.

For more information, review your Publisher Membership Agreement, which can be reviewed and downloaded on the Publisher Registration page.

Required Information

When you sign up as a publisher in the Rakuten Affiliate Network, you are asked to provide some basic information about your website, including its URL, when it was established, the number of monthly visitors and page views, a short description of your business, and links to your sell sheet or marketing information.

Once you sign up as a publisher with Rakuten Advertising Affiliate Network, you can enter more details about your website, any related social media accounts, how you drive traffic, whether you offer paid placements, and more in the Publisher Dashboard. Learn more about updating your website’s profile.

Your website information gives advertisers the opportunity to learn about your site and target offers that match your business. Be truthful and keep this information up to date. Providing advertisers with complete and accurate information maximizes your chances of joining an advertiser’s program and being selected for private offers.

SSN and TIN

US tax laws and the Internal Revenue Service require Rakuten Affiliate to collect a social security number (SSN) or employer identification number (EIN) for tax purposes. Without this information, Rakuten Affiliate cannot issue payments.

Per the IRS, Rakuten Affiliate is required to collect and report annually the information for individuals to whom commissions are paid. Without either an SSN or EIN, Rakuten Affiliate would be required to do a “backup withhold” of 24% on publisher commission payments for tax purposes.

For more information about IRS requirements see these resources:

• About Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification
• Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9