Affiliate Nerd Out

Hosted by Dustin Howes

Business Marketing EducationInterviews guests

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Episodes

180

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Partnership marketing enthusiasts and affiliate marketing gurus are sharing their best strategies for affiliate program growth. New guests every week will come to discuss hot topics in the industry and what latest growth hacks working right now.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 11, 202613 min

The AI Ranking Strategy Brands Are Using to Dominate with Farzad Rashidi

ChatGPT is scraping sources to build its answers. The question is whether your brand is one of them. Sat down with Farzad Rashidi , CEO of Respona , to break down how brands are getting cited by LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI Overviews. Systematically. Here's what we covered: 1. How Respona builds high-authority citations through targeted listicles, comparison guides, and product reviews 2. Why human editors review every piece of content. No AI filler, guaranteed placements. 3. How agencies are using bulk discounts to resell this as a service at a profit We also get into pay-per-article pricing, API access, and why waiting around for organic mentions is not a strategy anymore. Watch the full episode and drop a comment: is AI visibility part of your 2026 plan? 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

August 10, 202653 min

DEEP DIVE: Affiliate Management 2.0: The Innovations Winning in 2026

Want to know what is actually working in the affiliate industry right now? I hosted a live panel with Fred Jean-Barrel from Performance Partners, Mark Goco from All Inclusive Marketing, and Josh Kennedy from Imagine Marketing to break down how to scale programs without relying on tired tactics. We talked about smarter outreach, AI research, and what it takes to win in performance marketing today. If you are trying to figure out how to recruit affiliates who actually move the needle, this conversation is packed with real examples. Forget generic email pitches and spamming coupon sites. We dug into how to soft-pitch premium publishers like Wire Cutter, why paid search is wildly underrated, and how to use data-backed insights to build trust. Watch the full chat to get the exact strategies these agency founders use to scale eight and nine-figure brands. If you want to speed up your process, check out Alfie ( https://www.alfie.io/ ) to automate your outreach and find niche content partners in minutes. Connect with me on LinkedIn ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes ) and let's keep the conversation going. 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

August 6, 202615 min

The Secret Marketing Skill That Takes You From AM to CMO with David Vogelpohl

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

August 3, 202615 min

The Future of AI Search: How Brands Can Dominate ChatGPT & Reddit with Ewen Finser

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

July 30, 20261 hr 0 min

How to Build a B2B Affiliate Program from Scratch

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

July 16, 202615 min

Affiliate Marketing Drama: Cookie Stuffing, Budget Cuts & Industry Chaos

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

July 16, 202614 min

AM to C-Suite EP3: Navigating the Path to CMO: Insights from Michael Cole

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

July 16, 202613 min

AM to C-Suite EP2: Navigating the Path to Executive Leadership with Viktorija Ratomskė

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

July 3, 202628 min

Inside the 2026 Impact.com IPX: A Review of Highlights and Insights

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

July 1, 202615 min

AM to C-Suite EP1: Climbing the Ladder: Affiliate Marketing to CEO with Jenny Gonzalez

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