Jordan Wolfe sits down with Jeff Epstein, a serial software entrepreneur with deep experience in the affiliate and referral marketing worlds. From building poker affiliate networks in college to starting and exiting Ambassador, a B2B referral software company, Jeff shares his insights on affiliate and referral programs.

🔗 Follow Jordan on X: https://x.com/jrwolfe

👉Links to Jeff’s Work:

- Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-epstein-15a397239/

- Follow Jeff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jeff_epstein

- Jeff’s current company: https://onboard.io/

- Learn more about Ambassador: https://getambassador.com/

👉 Key Influences & Resources Mentioned:

- Jordan Wolfe: https://x.com/jrwolfe

- Jensen Huang Interview: https://youtu.be/y6NfxiemvHg?si=55b4OtEUoEYaj2XJ

- Packy McCormick on AI and distribution: https://youtu.be/qkPRRRiBqyY?si=9ZHVyTqVmXMx_1rM

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction

03:40 Building An Online Poker Affiliate Network

09:42 Insights From The Poker Experience

12:56 Birth Of Ambassador And Referral Software

15:54 Referrals vs Affiliates

21:54 Referral Strategies For Startups vs Corporates

27:04 Biggest Mistakes Companies Make With Referral Programs

28:35 Incentive Structures

30:50 Cash vs Status vs Emotional Rewards

34:20 The Evolution Of Referral Programs

36:10 Software Saturation And Commoditization

41:47 Navigating The Sale Of Ambassador

43:19 Building OnBoard: Lessons From COVID

45:55 Value Of Accelerator Programs

48:03 Importance Of Early Customer Feedback

51:01 Abundance vs Scarcity: Silicon Valley vs Europe

55:35 Rapid Fire: Influences, Podcasts, And More

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