Affiliate Nerd Out

Headline: "We want a viral campaign. Also, we have $0 for the budget." 🤡

We’ve all heard it. The CEO dreams of 50 high-quality partners and millions of organic views, all on a performance-only model with zero upfront investment.

In my latest chat with Christen Evans (she/her) , we broke down the hilarity and the headache of managing unrealistic brand expectations in affiliate marketing.

From the "split-screen" tech glitches in Chrome to why you should NEVER turn down a $2,000 vibration plate (even if it just sits in the corner), we covered the real-world grind of being an affiliate manager.

Key takeaways from the full post:

1/ Why "Product Seeding" is your secret weapon for authentic pitches.
2/ How to explain to brands that "viral" isn't a menu item you can just order.
3/ Why managing a new program is exactly like potty training a puppy (accidents will happen!).

If we can’t laugh at the absurdity of our daily spreadsheets, we’re doing it wrong.

Read the full breakdown and see my upcoming webinar schedule here: https://lnkd.in/gSqMFqjd

#AffiliateMarketing #MarketingHumor #Partnerships #DigitalMarketing #DustinHowes

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 Publisher Highlight, Dustin welcomes back Lucas, the founder of GoLoot, to discuss their innovative approach to content-based advertising. Lucas explains how GoLoot helps brands drive revenue through performance outcomes ranging from traffic to conversions and sales. With a network of 300 premium editorial partners, Go Loot reaches around 75 million unique shoppers in North America. They offer a variety of ad formats optimized for conversion, not awareness, and work on flexible pricing models such as cost per click, cost per lead, and cost per action. Tune in to learn more about how Go Loot provides guaranteed results and supports brands in optimizing their content strategies for successful affiliate marketing.

Check out Goloot
https://dustinhowes.com/goloot

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:35 Meet Lucas and Go Loot
00:59 Go Loot's Unique Approach
03:49 Demo and Features
04:05 Client Success Stories
04:43 Content Strategy Insights
07:22 Pricing Model Explained
10:08 Conclusion and Call to Action
Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com

Connect with Dustin Howes on LinkedIn:   / dustinhowes  

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

Most affiliate programs fail because they are treated like a "set and forget" project.

If you want to scale, your strategy must match your revenue. What works at $1M ARR will break your program at $10M.

I’ve broken down the 4 proven stages of affiliate growth:

Stage 1: Why you should NOT launch under $1M ARR.
Stage 2: Testing the waters with part-time help.
Stage 3: When to hire an agency for speed.
Stage 4: Using a hybrid model to hit $20M+.

Stop wasting money on advanced tactics too early.

Read the full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/gwmhNBAg

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

Ending a partnership is never easy, especially when a brand faces a sudden budget crunch. Christen Evans (she/her) and I talked about how to handle these awkward breakups without burning bridges. We have both seen brands pause services right before the holidays because their Q4 didn't hit the mark.

My biggest piece of advice is to avoid holding a program hostage.

Demanding extra payments or blocking access only hurts your reputation in the long run.

Instead, I focus on creating a smooth transition document to help them succeed while we are apart. This gesture of goodwill often leads to clients coming back when their funding returns.

We also discussed the new YouTube Shopping affiliate program and how it might change creator outreach. Plus, I shared a few productivity tools that help me run a one-man show without losing my mind.

How do you handle it when a long-term client needs to step away for a while?
Do you leave the door open or move on completely?

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 SaaS Review edition, host Dustin Howes is joined by Joe Campanella, CEO of Comply, an AI-powered compliance platform designed to review marketing, sales, and affiliate content for FTC compliance. Joe shares insights on the importance of affiliate compliance, common pain points in the industry, and how Comply's solutions can help businesses proactively manage and monitor their affiliate activities. Learn about the platforms' key features, onboarding process, and the critical role of compliance in protecting your brand from potential FTC violations. Watch the full episode to discover how to safeguard your affiliate program effectively.

00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:21 Meet Joe Campanella and Comply
01:01 The Importance of Affiliate Compliance
03:48 Challenges in Affiliate Compliance Management
05:33 How Comply's Tool Solves Compliance Issues
11:40 Onboarding with Comply
13:48 Conclusion and Call to Action

Schedule a Demo with Complily:
https://dustinhowes.com/complily

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

Connect with Dustin Howes on LinkedIn:   / dustinhowes  

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

Learn how to increase customer lifetime value with a simple text using Warehouse Bob. Brett Fairall
joins Dustin Howes in this edition of Affiliate Nerd Out to discuss boosting lifetime and order value with customers. This Waarehouse Bob Review reveals how their AI-driven platform enhances e-commerce sales by increasing average order value, lifetime value, and retention through innovative SMS and email marketing strategies. Learn how Warehouse Bob’s automated systems offer seamless upsells and exceptional customer service without extra hassle for customers. Brett also shares insights into their client onboarding process and upcoming features, including lead generation and potential crypto integrations. Don’t miss out on this in-depth look at revolutionizing e-commerce with cutting-edge technology!

Check out Warehouse Bob!
https://dustinhowes.com/bob

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

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

Stop struggling with low Amazon commissions and take control of your affiliate program. In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, I sat down with Owen Guetschow from Levanta to show you how brands are scaling their sales on Amazon.

Levanta is a specialized platform that helps sellers build and manage affiliate programs directly within the Amazon ecosystem. If you've felt stuck with the basic Amazon Associates program or find manual tracking too difficult, this tool is the solution you need. You'll learn how to set custom commission rates, automate product sampling, and use accurate data pulled straight from your Amazon backend.

Owen walks through a live demo of the platform, showing exactly how to find the right creators and manage thousands of partnerships in one place. Whether you're a brand looking for more traffic or an affiliate wanting better rewards, this video explains how to make the Amazon marketplace work for you.

Support the show and explore Levanta here: https://dustinhowes.com/levanta 

Connect with Owen: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/owen-guetschow/
Email: [email protected]

What’s your biggest frustration with the current Amazon affiliate setup? Let us know in the comments. Don't forget to subscribe for more reviews of the best tools in the industry.

#LavantaReview #amazonaffiliatemarketing #BestEcommerceAffiliateSoftware #LavantaDemo

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

Stop guessing if that expensive flight and hotel stay actually paid off for your business. Most companies go to conferences, have a few good chats, and come home with nothing but a fat expense report. This episode shows you exactly how to prove your worth to leadership by calculating conference ROI with cold, hard data. We've brought together three industry veterans to share their simple frameworks for tracking reach, relationships, and revenue.

You'll learn how to move past vanity metrics and start connecting every handshake to measurable pipeline. Our experts break down their personal systems for managing packed schedules and turning awkward lobby run-ins into six-figure deals. Stop tossing your badges in the trash without a plan. Watch now to learn how to justify your 2026 conference calendar and make every event a win for your brand.

What's your go-to move for following up after a busy event? Let us know in the comments.

Inside this deep dive:

• The three R framework: Reach, Relationships, and Revenue.
• How to rank meetings so you don't ghost your best leads.
• Why your after-hours networking might be more valuable than the sessions.
• Tips for using show apps and CRMs without looking like a robot.
• Strategies for choosing which events to skip next year.

Check out the free conference ROI tracker and guide mentioned in the video:
https://www.dustin.nl/conference

https://www.dustin.nl/conference1

Don't forget to like and subscribe for more deep dives into affiliate marketing and business growth.

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

What if you could track every customer touchpoint and finally stop guessing about your affiliate marketing performance? That's the power we're uncovering today. I'm your host, Dustin Howes, and today on Affiliate Nerd Out #SAASProductReview, I'm reviewing one of my favorite SaaS platforms, Everflow. I consider this the best affiliate marketing platform for businesses. Joining me is Curt Frieden, SVP of business development at Everflow. We discuss everything from platform capabilities to common affiliate marketing pain points.

If you're an affiliate manager, CEO, or founder looking to start or switch your affiliate program, this is the episode for you. We cover everything from common struggles brands face to Everflow's ability to scale with you, whether you're a startup or an enterprise-level company.

Here’s what stood out to me:

1. Addressing Program Pitfalls: Curt highlights that many businesses underestimate the time and effort needed to run a successful affiliate program. Basic tracking setup, reporting accuracy, and managing fraud remain persistent issues for businesses.

2. Built for Scale and Flexibility: Everflow's architecture is modern and designed to handle billions of clicks per month. They offer the flexibility brands need for diverse attribution models (like first-click) and multiple action tracking, surpassing the limitations of older tech stacks.

3. Beyond Simple Tracking: A best-in-class platform goes deeper than just recording a sale. Everflow enables advanced reporting to segment traffic, track multiple events in the user funnel, and determine the true value and lifetime cycle of customers driven by partners.

4. Automation in Fraud and Optimization: Everflow's alert and Smart Switch features are essential tools for affiliate managers. They automate decision-making based on preset KPIs, like shutting off fraudulent traffic sources or those not meeting performance goals.

5. Smooth Migration: Switching platforms is scary, particularly when it involves moving your revenue plumbing. Curt confirms that Everflow has developed processes for "predictable migration," ensuring no revenue or conversion loss during the transition from a legacy platform.

Curious about how Everflow can help your business grow? We do a quick demo showing the customizable dashboard, advanced reporting capabilities, and the robust marketplace for partner recruitment.

Want to learn more? Grab a demo:
🔗 https://www.dustinhowes.com/everflow

#affiliatemarketingplatform #Everflow #affiliatetracking #attribution #partnerrecruitment #affiliatefraudprevention #SaasProductReview #DustinHowes #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