My all-time favorite boss told me something once that changed my entire career.

"Dustin, you're the best network marketer I've ever met."

That's David Vogelpohl. He started by cold-calling computer shops in the late '90s to set up referral agreements. That was his first accidental entry into affiliate marketing.

His take on where most affiliate managers go wrong:

1. You're running a business within a business. Most just don't see it that way.
2. The fastest path to leadership is to volunteer.
3. If you're pigeonholed, it's because you're not asking enough questions.

This one's for every affiliate manager who's ever wondered where this career can actually take them.

We also get into why David calls affiliate marketing the E=MC² of marketing and why you should never be ashamed of what you do for a living.

Watch the full episode to see why, and drop a comment if this resonates.

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Connect with Dustin Howes on LinkedIn: /dustinhowes 

#AffiliateMarketing #CareerGrowth #AffiliateManager #DigitalMarketing #MarketingLeadership

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

Someone sees your ad on Meta. They Google your brand. They find a Reddit post from Joey323 saying your brand sucks.

That's your entire paid spend strategy gone.

Ewen Finser, CEO of ScaleVisible, calls this the villain archetype. And it's more common than most brands want to admit.

On this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Ewen joins me in to break down how brands can win in the age of AI search, Reddit, and ChatGPT.

One of his clients has 2% market share against QuickBooks. They now have 50% parity in AI search. It's becoming one of their top customer acquisition channels.

The play? Reddit, YouTube, and tier-two media. Three legs. Build clusters. Build consensus. Get AI to say nice things about you across multiple surfaces.

For brands still coasting on old KPIs, watch out. It's death by a thousand paper cuts. You may not even know it's happening yet.

If you're running an affiliate program or managing a brand's online presence, this one is worth your time. 

Watch the full episode and let me know where your brand falls: ghost, villain, challenger, or defender?

#AffiliateMarketing #AISearch  #RedditMarketing  #B2BMarketing  #DigitalMarketing  #ScaleVisible

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

Dustin Howes hosts a panel with Nancy Harnett (Instantly.ai, ex-HubSpot), Victor Moen (Affilial.com), and Ed Ceballos (EverFlow) on scaling B2B SaaS affiliate programs. Nancy emphasizes auditing existing partners and analyzing funnel data before expanding recruitment. Victor shares strategies for removing low-quality affiliates, reactivating dormant partners, and scaling targeted outreach. Ed highlights building referral programs around loyal customers, using meaningful rewards, and tracking influence beyond last-click revenue. The panel also explores commission structures, ecosystem partnerships, creator payments, and effective affiliate activation strategies.

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin:   / dustinhowes 

#B2BAffiliateMarketing #SaaSAffiliateMarketing #AffiliateMarketing
#PartnerMarketing #AffiliateProgram #B2BMarketing #GrowthPartnerships #AffiliateRecruitment #SaaSGrowth
#ReferralMarketing #AffiliateStrategy #PerformanceMarketing
#AffiliateNerdOut

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

Go to https://dustinhowes.com/alfie to set up your account with a 30-day money-back guarantee 

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

In this Real Talk Friday episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes and Cristen Evans break down the latest affiliate marketing trends, including industry drama over fraud accusations, the impact of cutting affiliate commissions, and why protecting partner relationships matters. They also share updates on Alfie, AI automation, affiliate program migrations, and an upcoming webinar on modern affiliate strategies. The episode wraps up with a reminder that building relationships starts by saying yes to the conversation.

00:00 Loyalty App Warning Shot
00:44 Show Intro And Banter
01:55 Top Hat Giveaway Stories
03:36 Affiliate Drama And Tattling
05:54 Budget Cuts Hurt Partners
08:54 Alfie Updates And Webinars
11:00 Cristen Work And Automation
12:49 Always Take The Call
14:46 Wrap Up And Sign Off

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes

#AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #RealTalkFriday #AffiliateProgram #PartnerMarketing #DigitalMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateStrategy #AIAutomation #MarketingPodcast #CookieStuffing #ImpactDotCom #ChristenEvans

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out (AM to C-Suite Edition), host Dustin Howes welcomes Michael Cole, CMO of Everflow, to discuss how affiliate marketers can grow from affiliate manager to executive leadership.

Michael shares how he got started in affiliate marketing, why many affiliate managers hit a career plateau, and how skills like partner relationship management, fraud prevention, and strategic communication translate into leadership roles. He also explains why affiliate marketing is more than a single channel and how to report results in terms of revenue, pipeline, and business growth.

Whether you're an affiliate manager, partner marketer, or performance marketer, this episode offers practical insights to help you grow your career.

00:00 Affiliate to CMO Mindset
00:39 Welcome to Nerditorium
01:05 Meet Michael Cole
01:31 Accidental Affiliate Start
02:31 Mentors and Relationships
03:14 Breaking the Plateau
04:38 Fraud and Deescalation
06:16 Affiliate Beyond a Channel
07:18 From AM to C Suite
08:56 Learning All Disciplines
10:11 Speaking Executive Metrics
11:15 Career Regrets and Lessons
12:10 CMO by 2030 Playbook
13:10 Closing and Signoff

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes

#AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateManager #PartnerMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateProgram #AffiliateNerdOut #csuite #Everflow #SaaSMarketing #MarketingLeadership #DigitalMarketing #MarketingCareers #MichaelCole

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes sits down with Viktorija “Vik” Ratomske, CEO of Partner Gap, to discuss her journey from business intelligence analyst to executive leadership in affiliate marketing. Vik shares how she entered the industry, the mentors who shaped her career, and why affiliate managers develop powerful skills in negotiation, relationship management, adaptability, and cross-channel marketing. She explains the challenge of being labeled “just affiliate,” the importance of speaking the language of the C-suite, and how to prove the value of relationship-driven work through data. Vik also reflects on what she would do differently and offers advice for aspiring leaders looking to build a broad, modern affiliate marketing perspective.

00:00 Affiliate Ceiling Question
01:01 Meet Vik Ratomske
01:49 How Affiliate Found Her
02:33 From Data To Deals
03:08 Mentors And Mindset
04:01 Avoiding The Plateau
05:10 Executive Skills From AM
05:53 Underrated AM Superpower
07:00 Breaking The Pigeonhole
07:44 Speaking C Suite
08:29 Proving Intangibles
09:20 Be Bolder Lessons
10:38 Choosing Battles With Data
11:24 Sponsor Alfie Break
11:49 CMO By 2030 Advice
12:49 Final Thanks And Outro

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes

#AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #PartnerMarketing
#AffiliateManagement #MarketingLeadership
#BusinessLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #DigitalMarketing #CareerGrowth #NegotiationSkills #MarketingPodcast
#WomenInBusiness

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

Dustin Howes is joined by Dan Sweeney and creator Lauren Eckert to recap their experience at the Impact.com IPX Conference in Austin. They share what made the event stand out, including valuable networking, a strong creator community, and insightful sessions on AI and affiliate marketing. Lauren explains how IPX helped accelerate her transition into affiliate partnerships by connecting with top brands and creators. They also discuss areas for improvement, including speed networking, meeting logistics, and scheduling issues, while exploring Impact’s AI roadmap, retail media opportunities, and the future of affiliate partnerships.

00:00 Event Fixes Feedback
00:15 Impact App AI Buzz
00:48 Show Intro Panel
01:17 Austin Venue First Impressions
01:38 Tex Mex Debate
02:19 Creator Community Wins
04:30 Discovering Impact Creators
05:20 Affiliate Mindset Shift
05:59 Venue Meetings App Review
08:06 Speed Dating Fiasco
10:11 Scheduling Tips Noobs
13:32 Networking Like Paresh
14:25 Roast Plans Brewing
15:06 Food Drinks Verdict
15:55 Coffee Water Food Trucks
17:24 Best Sessions Highlights
18:14 AI Takeaways In Practice
19:48 Impact Roadmap Debate
20:52 MCP Data Transparency
22:34 Event Fixes Retail Media
24:13 Single Use Coupons AEO
24:50 Final Thanks And Plugs

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes

#AffiliateMarketing #ImpactIPX #Impactcom #AffiliateNerdOut #CreatorEconomy #PartnershipMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #AIMarketing #B2BMarketing #RetailMedia #AffiliateManager #DigitalMarketing #MarketingPodcast #ContentCreators #PerformanceMarketing

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

Go to https://dustinhowes.com/alfie to set up your account with a 30-day money-back guarantee 

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

She moved to Barcelona in 2006 as a glorified executive assistant. 10 years later, she was a CEO.

Jenny Gonzalez had no mentor. No roadmap. No one in her corner. She spotted one guy in the office. Nobody knew what he did. But he traveled the world, made 4x her salary, and had crazy respect from everyone.

That was the affiliate manager.

"I don't know what affiliates are, but clearly it is what I want to do."

The rest is a story worth hearing.

Junior affiliate manager to CEO in 10 years. Opened her first affiliate network. Spun out three more businesses since.

All starting from a peanut salary and a maternity leave cover.
What was her secret?

Watch the full conversation to hear how she made it happen.

#AffiliateMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateManager #CareerGrowth  #AMtoCMO #AffiliateNerdOut

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

Success in affiliate marketing depends on strong relationships and a solid reputation. In this episode, Dustin Howes and Christen Evans share real-world insights on networking, professional boundaries, and long-term career growth in the affiliate industry.

Dustin explains how reconnecting with his network helped turn a slow week into a major win, proving that warm relationships often outperform cold outreach. Christen discusses the importance of setting boundaries to protect your mental health and maintain productive working relationships.

They also cover networking strategies, handling difficult professional situations, early technology adoption, affiliate marketing trends, and balancing work with family life. Plus, Dustin gives a shout-out to ClickGo for its innovative tracking solution.

If you're looking for affiliate marketing tips, networking advice, and honest industry insights, this conversation delivers valuable lessons for marketers, managers, and entrepreneurs alike.

0:00 When professional relationships turn sour
0:25 Welcome to Affiliate Nerd Out
1:03 Humanizing the affiliate marketing process
1:44 Balancing summer schedules with parenthood
2:30 Turning a bad week around with friends
3:40 Getting feedback on the Alfie tool
4:56 The legend of the Affiliate Summit tattoo
7:45 Standing up for your mental health
10:18 How to spot a burnt bridge
12:55 Managing multiple platform migrations
13:34 Exploring the ClickGo tracking solution

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin:   / dustinhowes 

#AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #RealTalkFriday
#AffiliateManagement #PerformanceMarketing
#MarketingPodcast #BusinessRelationships #NetworkingTips
#AffiliateIndustry #PartnershipMarketing #MarketingLeadership #AffiliateManagers #MarketingInsights #BusinessGrowth #Alfie #ChristenEvans

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

Can AI really save affiliate marketers hours every week? 🚀

In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes and Cristen Evans dive into how Claude AI, ClickUp, and automation tools are transforming affiliate marketing workflows. From speeding up complex commission reporting and automating documentation to building ICP decks and streamlining daily operations, they share practical ways AI is helping marketers work smarter and scale faster.

They also discuss AI usage limits, productivity hacks, sales mindset shifts, stress management, and how tools like Alfie are changing the future of affiliate program management.

00:00 Usage Credits Panic
00:49 Show Intro and Catch Up
01:05 Busy Week and Mind Reset
03:02 AI Workflows with Claude
05:32 Reporting Automation Wins
07:47 Credits and Sleep Talk
10:57 Mindset Shift for Sales
14:12 Quick Calls of the Week
15:11 AI for Workflows Not Content
16:22 Wrap Up and Alfie Plug

Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics.

Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/

Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes

#AffiliateMarketing #ClaudeAI #AIAutomation #AffiliateMarketingTips #ClickUp #MarketingAutomation #AIWorkflows #DigitalMarketing #BusinessAutomation #AffiliateManager #ProductivityHacks #Alfie #MarketingStrategy #Entrepreneurship #AIForBusiness

Alfie: https://dustinhowes.com/alfie and use code DUSTIN30 for 30% off your first month

For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com