In this episode host Jake Fuller welcomes his predecessor, Jamie Birch, Co-Founder at EquineRevShare, for a lively discussion. Jamie shares his unexpected pivot from affiliate agency life to launching an affiliate platform targeting the equine community. The duo delves into the hurdles and nuances affiliate publishers face—think discovering that networks don't always roll out the welcome mat or miraculously have tech support on standby. Amid the candid insights (including some thought-provoking quips on figurative carrots and sticks), Jamie offers a fresh perspective on how advertisers and networks can better support emerging affiliates. If you’ve ever wondered why your affiliate efforts felt like chasing horses without a saddle, this episode’s for you. Don't miss it!

In the inaugural episode of PPM's season four, new host Jake Fuller, CEO at JEBCommerce, sits down for an engaging conversation with Cary Pierce, Senior Global Director at Rakuten Advertising. Tackling the hottest topic of the moment, AI, they delve into its impact on the affiliate marketing industry. Cary shares insightful examples of AI's current applications at Rakuten, such as machine learning in forecasting and partner discovery tools. They discuss the fine line between using AI as an efficiency tool and preserving the essential human touch in building relationships. With humor and humility, they explore both the benefits and potential pitfalls of AI, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to stay ahead in performance marketing.

In this episode, Jamie Birch delves into the critical aspect of alignment and tools for affiliates. Whether aiming for new customers, maximizing revenue, or prioritizing profit margins, providing affiliates with essential tools is paramount. Jamie covers key categories including tracking, reporting, incentives, compensation, consumer offers, creative, and content. Tune in to gain insights and strategies for optimizing affiliate programs effectively.

Today I talk with Adam Weiss of Weiss Digital Consulting. Adam and I have known each other for about 15 years from his time at LinkShare (now Rakuten) and my time with Coldwater Creek. Adam has had a pretty incredible career in the affiliate space and loves working on the publisher side. We talk about Covid-19 and leadership through tumultuous times as well as running profitable programs and why many still look at the affiliate space with skepticism.

You can reach Adam at https://www.weissdigitalconsulting.com/

And don't forget to visit www.jebcommerce.com/strategies to get your 19 point guide (plus one extra tip) on how to survive and thrive in this current economic climate.

Today's episode features a conversation with Vanessa Isaacson, Director of Account Development at AvantLink. Vanessa has one of the most interesting origin stories in affiliate marketing, you definitely need to hear it.

Jamie and Vanessa cover trends in the space, the popularity of the channel, new emerging affiliate publishers and more.

The discussion around EPC was very unique as well and definitely shows the importance of utilizing every part of your affiliate channel to grow customer acquisition. Have you thought about increasing your EPC so you are more attractive to big and vital affiliate publishers? Have you thought about adding certain partners to increase your EPC so you are more attractive? Perhaps not, but Jamie and Vanessa discuss that today!

To contact Vanessa, follow her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-isaacson-4840b97/

Did you know commissions can be paid out based on the products you sell? Or that commission levels can be set for different categories or product SKUs? Do you sell your own manufactured products as well as resell others' goods?

In this episode Jamie unpacks the complexities of and strategies for determining commission rates on products with varying profit margins. Navigating the balance between competitiveness and profitability, he highlights the importance of considering both advertiser and affiliate perspectives. Our solution: a blended average commission, with insights on tailoring rates for specific products. Gain actionable tips, real-world examples, and insights into adapting commission structures for cashback and loyalty sites. Tune in for expert perspectives on effective affiliate program optimization, and learn how you can commission based on products to maximize both growth and profitability of your affiliate program!

Today our host, Jamie Birch, discusses the metric EPC, or Earnings Per Click. He discusses what it is, how to calculate it, how and why affiliates use it, why you should use it as an advertiser, and how you can manage it effectively.

Here are two common EPC formulas:

• earnings per 100 clicks - commissions paid / (clicks/100)
• earnings per click - commissions paid / total clicks

A good rule of thumb is to know and calculate your 7 day, 30 day, and overall EPC, then track it over time.

Learn how you can manage EPC with tactics like general click management, optimization of high-click producers that do not convert, recruiting of high converting closers, and more.

Jamie mentioned a coupon case study during the episode. Most of the networks were involved and it gives you real data on the power (or lack thereof) of coupon publishers. Find it here: https://jebcommerce.com/lp/do-coupon-affiliates-drive-any-value/

In this episode, Jamie discusses the three main areas of compliance every affiliate program needs to be aware of: network, regulatory, and affiliate compliance.

For more in-depth coverage of the issue, here are some resources from the PMA: https://thepma.org/?s=FTC

Join Jamie Birch, founder of JEBCommerce, in a historic episode with JEB’s new ownership team: current CEO Jake Fuller, Director of Administrative Services Nicole Ripley, and Director of Creative Services Gabe Ripley. As they mark a significant moment in the agency’s history, the episode explores the future direction of the company and the affiliate marketing channel. After nearly 20 years, the transition to a new ownership team promises exciting new heights for JEBCommerce. Listen in for insights on the journey ahead.

In this episode, Jamie engages in an insightful conversation with Cary Pierce, the Director of Agency Services at Rakuten Advertising. With a decade-long history, Cary makes his second appearance on the Profitable Performance Marketing Podcast.

As they share their shirts of the day, the duo delves into Rakuten's groundbreaking release, Audience Engine (more at Rakuten publisher help center). This innovative tool empowers publishers to present real-time, personalized offers to users, with a focus on distinguishing between new and existing customers. The potential impact on growing a new customer base through the affiliate channel is simply monumental.

For further details, explore the release at Rakuten Advertising's Media and Press and find additional information in their publisher help center here.

Connect with Cary on LinkedIn here.

Don't miss out on this episode, as Jamie and Cary explore the transformative potential of Rakuten's Audience Engine in reshaping affiliate marketing.

Join our host, Jamie Birch, as he expertly guides us through the often-overlooked aspects of affiliate program management. In this episode, Jamie transforms the discussion into a fundamental checklist, ensuring affiliate managers establish a robust foundation for success.

Key Topics Covered:

1. Rotation of Creative Assets: Learn the importance of keeping creative assets fresh and engaging.
2. Datafeed Management: Assess the status and relevance of your datafeed – a crucial yet commonly missed component.
3. Consistent Outreach: Explore the significance of regular and effective communication with affiliate partners.
4. Continuous Learning: Embrace the value of staying informed and utilizing available educational resources.
5. Affiliate Partner Approvals: Streamline and optimize your affiliate partner approval process.
6. Promotional Strategies: Avoid the pitfall of a lackluster promotional approach by incorporating diverse strategies.
7. Commission Strategies: Ditch the one-size-fits-all approach and tailor commissions based on performance.
8. Channel Ignorance: Address the detrimental impact of neglecting the affiliate channel altogether.
9. Publisher Development: Cultivate lasting relationships through consistent efforts in publisher development.

Jamie recommends exploring relevant articles on the JEBCommerce site here and highlights the invaluable "Affiliate Marketing Strategies to Survive and Thrive" ebook available here, offering 19 actionable strategies for navigating the current business climate.

Tune in for an episode packed with insights, strategies, and a roadmap for affiliate marketing success!

In this episode, Jamie engages in a dynamic conversation with the remarkable marketer and long-time friend, Matthew Ray Scott. As the mastermind behind the successful medtech marketing firm, FEED. The Agency, Matthew has been an integral part of Jamie and JEBCommerce for over 13 years. Notably, he played a key role in shaping the MyAffiliateCoach affiliate manager training program in 2010, impacting numerous marketers and sales professionals positively.

Join the discussion as Jamie and Matthew delve into various aspects, including:

• The Power of a Daily Scorecard: Discover how a daily scorecard can be a game-changer on the path to success.
• Video Marketing Strategies: Explore how video accelerates the process of building trust and rapport with the audience.
• Success Elements - Belief and Discipline: Unpack the crucial elements like belief and discipline that contribute to overall success.
• Affiliate Industry Insights: Stay tuned until the end, where Jamie distills these learnings specifically for the affiliate industry.

Follow and connect with Matthew on LinkedIn for more insights: Matthew Ray Scott's LinkedIn

Don't miss out on this enriching episode, offering a wealth of strategies and insights to enhance your marketing prowess. Press record and let the learning begin!

Whether you've just taken the reins of your affiliate channel or it's been a while since you've given it the attention it deserves, and you're looking to revamp your results, returning to the fundamentals is a fantastic strategy to kick-start or revitalize your affiliate program.

In this insightful solo episode, our host, Jamie Birch, guides you through the five essential actions you can take today to revamp your affiliate management:

1. Affiliate Application Approvals: Streamline the process of approving new affiliate applications, ensuring you have a well-vetted and motivated group of partners.
2. Craft Your Recruitment Language: Craft compelling and effective recruitment messaging to attract quality affiliates. For inspiration, check out this article: The Perfect Affiliate Recruitment Email.
3. Run a Report and Know Your Producing Affiliates: Dive into your data and get acquainted with the affiliate publishers who are delivering results for your program.
4. Connect with Your Producing Publishers on LinkedIn: Foster stronger relationships with your top-performing affiliates by connecting with them on LinkedIn, enhancing your partnership.
5. Review Your Creative: Evaluate and update your creative materials to ensure they are fresh, appealing, and aligned with your brand's messaging.

Jamie provides step-by-step guidance for each of these critical actions, helping you get your affiliate program on the right track and set the stage for a more successful and rewarding journey in affiliate management. Don't miss out on this episode—it's your key to revitalizing your affiliate program!

In this episode, Jamie Birch sits down with Parrish Essell, the Agency New Business Manager at ShareASale, for a deeper look into the evolving landscape of affiliate marketing, how consumer awareness impacts brands and program management, and the significance of attribution and available tools. Exploring influencer marketing best practices and the vital role of relationship building, Jamie also asks Parrish about her insights on how agencies can streamline collaboration with platforms like ShareASale. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation offering valuable perspectives on what's current in the world of affiliate marketing.

In this episode Jamie Birch, the Founder of JEBCommerce and host of the podcast, takes a deep dive into a critical aspect of the affiliate marketing landscape: the realization that the affiliate channel isn't a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Instead, it's a multifaceted ecosystem of various channels under one overarching umbrella.

One of the most prevalent and potentially costly mistakes that digital marketers make – viewing the affiliate channel as a monolithic entity, rather than recognizing the myriad of distinct business models represented by affiliate publisher partners. The heart of the matter lies in understanding that you might have ten or even a hundred different approaches and strategies at play within your affiliate marketing efforts.

The key to avoiding this pitfall is to treat each affiliate partner individually, considering their unique strengths and objectives. Here's the game plan:

1. Understand Them Individually: Get to know the strengths and capabilities of each affiliate partner. Recognize the role they play in your overall strategy.
2. Evaluate Them Individually: Assess the performance of each partner based on their specific model and contribution to your goals.
3. Optimize Them Individually: Tailor your strategies and efforts to optimize the results for each partner, taking into account their distinct business models.

By managing your affiliate program in this thoughtful and individualized manner, you'll unlock the potential for greater success at the top of the marketing funnel. Don't miss out on this episode, as it provides invaluable insights into a more effective and profitable approach to affiliate marketing.

In this installment Jamie engages in a dynamic conversation with a long-time friend and industry luminary, Nick Marchese.

Jamie and Nick's friendship has withstood the test of time, spanning over a decade. Nick, a trailblazer in the affiliate marketing sphere, has showcased his leadership prowess throughout his journey, starting with his impactful tenure at ShareASale and continuing to shape the industry today.

The episode begins with Nick's fascinating origin story, an account you won't want to miss. From there, Jamie and Nick delve into Nick's experiences at a Mass Media affiliate publisher, shedding light on common pitfalls that advertisers encounter in this evolving landscape and offering invaluable insights on how to navigate this new world.

To connect with Nick and delve further into his wealth of knowledge, you can visit his LinkedIn profile.

A big thank you to Nick for sharing his wisdom and experiences in this illuminating episode!

In this episode Jamie Birch, the Founder of JEBCommerce, delves into the intriguing realm of affiliate publishers and their impact on your SEM marketing strategy. If you've ever wondered about the potential downsides of affiliates increasing your costs, cannibalizing customers, or complicating your other marketing channels, this episode is a must-listen.

Discover how working with SEM affiliates can be not just rewarding but highly successful. Jamie presents three key ways in which this collaboration can drive significant benefits:

• Expanding Your Presence on Familiar SERPs: Learn how SEM affiliates can help you secure more opportunities on search engine results pages (SERPs) where your brand is already visible, ultimately boosting your brand's online presence.
• Venturing into New SERPs: Explore how SEM affiliates can assist you in gaining visibility on SERPs where your brand isn't currently present, opening up new avenues for customer acquisition and growth.
• Leveraging Others' Budgets for Amplified Results: Jamie discusses the smart strategy of utilizing the budgets of affiliate partners to complement your own, achieving greater reach and impact without incurring additional costs.

This episode promises to be a valuable resource for businesses seeking to harness the full potential of SEM affiliates while mitigating potential challenges. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion that offers actionable insights for a more effective SEM marketing strategy.

Our guest is industry veteran Blake Cantrell. Blake has several exciting stops in his career including Commission Junction, Impact, and Partnerize and he brings that unique perspective to the show.

We talk about career, how to make a decision to move on and most of all we dive into what makes up a good partnership and why they are so important to our channel and anyone's affiliate marketing endeavors.

As of the date of publishing of this episode, Blake is also looking for his next exciting opportunity. So if you are looking for some one to develop your partnership department or grow your partnerships, Blake is your guy. Oh, and if you are in the music industry, then definitely reach out to this passionate digital marketing and musician. You can reach Blake on LinkedIn.

In this episode Jamie answers a question received from a listener last season: "How can we further support our internal efforts to move overstocked products through affiliate?" Here's a brief summary of what's covered:

1. The affiliate channel can definitely help move overstock inventory, in fact it is probably the best channel to do so

2. Communicate with your partners about these items through text links, product links, banners, newsletters, FMTC, and more

3. Create exclusives for top partners

4. Use these to recruit partners

5. Use these in an affiliate contest, and ...

6. Use these to recruit the important content publishers

Give it a listen and let us know what you think!

• Don’t communicate too little
• Don’t communicate too often
• Only communicate with your affiliates when you have something impactful to say
• If you don’t have anything impactful to say, find something impactful to say
• No less than quarterly because of seasonality, but that really isn’t enough
• Use both in network and outside network communication methods
• Find the preferred communication mediums of your affiliates and focus on that

Join host Jamie Birch in a captivating conversation with Sal Conca, CEO of AmazingAds, as they delve into over two decades of industry collaboration and insights. From their co-marketing endeavors at 1800Flowers and Coldwater Creek to leadership reflections, affiliate marketing strategies, and the dynamic realm of video marketing, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and experience. Discover the innovative "Flanking Allies" approach utilized by Sal and AmazingAds to empower affiliates and enhance brand visibility. Gain valuable insights into the importance of flexibility and adaptability in leadership, along with the finer nuances of YouTube audience targeting.

With highlights ranging from affiliate video tactics to leadership principles, this episode is a must-listen for anyone seeking actionable advice and industry expertise. Don't miss out on this enriching dialogue with one of the industry's luminaries.

Today I speak with Andy Hohl, Brand Partnerships and Sales at MagicLinks. As Public Relations and Affiliate Marketing continue to merge, we at JEBCommerce try to bring you the conversations that will help you navigate this brave new world. And this is just one of those conversations.

MagicLinks is an influencer platform, working with over 25,000 influencers and 4500 brands. Andy and I discuss best practices in working with MagicLinks, their influencers, and integrating affiliate marketing and PR in this way.

Andy has been working in PR and Affiliate Marketing for over a decade and has seen the transition and the integration of these two channels happen for some time. Needless to say, he has some great insight.

If you are trying to navigate this new thing, this is definitely the episode for you.

Want to contact Andy? Follow him on LinkedIn or email.

Are we entering an economic downturn? Who really knows. There are quite a few signs that we are and that is scary. Not only for individuals, but for businesses as well, and it can be tough to figure out how to get through it.

Jamie, PPM host and CEO of JEBCommerce, has learned a lot from previous downturns and a multitude of other events with far-reaching impacts. In today's episode he discusses several reasons how, during times like these, Affiliate Marketing is a top performer and why it should get more investment, not less.

Jamie talks about how the affiliate channel provides:

• Security: You only incur costs after you see revenue

• Audience flexibility: Affiliates are constantly stretching, innovating, flexing, and pivoting to reach new markets and acquire new customers. You literally have thousands of shots and getting it right and finding the new markets that adjust.

• Investment flexibility: Many companies during the pandemic saw a huge increase in their demand but didn’t plan for what would happen when things started opening up. Now they are experiencing pain because of that growth which wasn’t necessarily sustainable. Affiliates allow for ebb and flow with demand.

• Float: Cashflow is king and affiliates allow you to keep the cash until your invoice comes in. That can be huge.

• Profit and margins: The affiliate channel has the ability to quickly adapt to keep you profitable.

• Liquidation: Coupon affiliates have the ability to move clearance products quickly and at a higher profit margin than other options. Check out our blog post on the topic: Coupon Affiliate Marketing More Important as Economy Swings Down

Give this episode a listen and let us know what you think!

Also, if you need help developing your strategy, we have a free PDF that outlines strategies to thrive in uncertain times. Do yourself (and business) a favor and check it out today.

One of the most common mistakes a brand can make with their affiliate channel is to create it and then expect it to start producing sales, grow over time, and achieve their goals without a ton of time, attention, expertise, and experimentation. Today our host, Jamie Birch, talks about why this isn't the case and outlines 4 steps to take now to increase revenue and find greater success in the channel.

Today we speak with Nick Baker of Sovrn Holdings. Sovrn is a sub-affiliate network. If you are looking to scale your affiliate program, you definitely want to listen to this episode and consider a sub-affiliate network like Sovrn Commerce. Reach out to Nick at nbaker@sovrn.com or his team at commercesupport@sovrn.com

During a recent webinar hosted by our very own Director of Business Development, Jake Fuller, a viewer asked "how do I recruit more affiliates to join the program and help them convert more? I have hundreds joined my affiliate program but only one generates sales." What a great question! Our host, Jamie Birch, outlines an affiliate marketing farming strategy to help this individual grow sales right now.

Today I talk with Tiara Rea-Palmer, Director of Partnerships at CouponFollow.com. In addition to discussing her career path and how she found Affiliate Marketing, we dive into all things coupon affiliate, including the common perception of coupon affiliates.

Tiara shares, in great detail, the many ways CouponFollow can promote brands, how they use content to drive traffic, and how they can test campaigns to drive the right KPI for any brand.

We also talk a ton about consumer behavior shifts since the beginning of the pandemic, how coupon affiliates need to change, and how to take advantage of the current economic climate.

So, if you are interested in knowing more about CouponFollow or wondering about how to incorporate coupon affiliates into your mix, this episode is for you.

If you'd like to contact Tiara, reach her on Linkedin!

The merging of Affiliate Marketing and Public Relations continues and today's guest, Cristina Velocci, is at the forefront of this exciting new development. Cristina is the VP, Content Development at SHE Media and straddles the worlds of editorial and commerce as well as anyone in our space.

In today's episode, Cristina and I talk about her career, what it's like to go through several layoffs, how she migrated her career from media to commerce and how she manages through change and the importance of adaptability and flexibility in her career and her current role.

And we also talk a ton about the merging of Affiliate and PR.

You'll enjoy this episode if you:

• are a PR agency trying to figure this new world out

• are a Brand wanting to increase your acquisition through content affiliates

• are a publisher and want to learn how to adapt to an ever changing landscape

It's chock full of amazing information that is super relevant to our world today.

If you'd like to follow Cristina you can do so on Twitter and at SHE Media.

We also discuss some of the PR and Affiliate content we produce at JEBCommerce.

Tricia Meyer is a 17 year industry vet, an affiliate and has been running helpingmomsconnect.com and sunshinerewards.com that entire time.

In today's episode we dive into her evolution from lawyer to affiliate industry pro, well respected and successful affiliate.

We talk about FTC Disclosures in affiliate marketing, affiliate nexus legislation and regulations, how actions taken by advertisers and fraudsters impact your affiliates and much much more.

Follow Tricia at tricia.me and LinkedIn, Twitter she is @sunshinetricia.

I had so much fun interviewing today's guest, Dan Christian, current founder of Acceleration Team. Dan and JEB have worked together extensively while Dan ran the digital team the Travel Corporation.

Dan's extensive digital marketing background is impressive. From a snowboarding start up in 1999 through several truly incredible travel organizations and back to scratch that entrepreneurial itch with his latest endeavor, Dan brings his passion, spirit, and ambition with him every where he goes. And I think we are all better for it!

In this conversation we cover:

• His career path

• The importance of culture and culture change

• The importance of an affiliate channel in a multi-channel environment

• The importance of executive buy-in

• The convergence of influencers and affiliates

• And some of the mistakes advertisers make when it comes to their affiliate channel

You are going to enjoy this conversation as much as I did! Dan is super smart, successful, has a passion for helping others achieve and gives a great view into how his early years shaped his success now. So much to learn from my conversation with Dan Christian!

Join Jamie Birch in a candid discussion about some of the frustrations and challenges stifling innovation in affiliate marketing. From inaccessible advertiser contact information to network approval hurdles, Jamie sheds light on several key obstacles hindering affiliate growth and offers insights for improvement. Tune in for a thought-provoking episode on the state of affiliate marketing today.

We have a special guest for you today, a client of JEBCommerce! Josh Reed, Director Consumer Demand Generation for Evenflo is on the podcast and you don't want to miss it! As always, we go through Josh's journey to digital marketing and affiliate marketing, and I can guarantee you it's not a path you have heard on this podcast before.

Josh gives an MBA-level discussion on marketing that I'm super proud to have on our podcast. We discuss:

• The differences with high consideration products

• Digital transformation

• The diversity affiliate publishers bring to a DTC manufacturer

• Why he chose to bring in SMEs to run his affiliate program instead of an in-house team

We also discuss some key things in career development and why this period's crop of college grads seem different than when we got out of school.

It's a great episode that you'll want to share.

And if you'd like to connect with Josh, you can do so on LinkedIn.

On this episode Jamie chats with JEBCommerce's own Director of Affiliate Marketing, Blagica Bottigliero, about the convergence of Affiliate Marketing and Public Relations (PR).

We noticed a trend occurring over a year ago with more PR professionals and agencies entering the affiliate marketing space. It's one of the reasons we set out to find someone with significant affiliate marketing AND PR chops to lead our Affiliate Marketing team. And Blagica fits the bill perfectly being a pioneer in the affiliate space (managing the Orbitz affiliate program back in the day) and having significant experience and success in the PR world with her time at Edelman. She also has significant experience in social marketing as well.

Oh, did we mention she won an Emmy for her marketing? It's true.

On today's episode we discuss the following topics:

• The general merging ofAffiliate Marketing and PR, and how that impacts affiliates, PR professionals, and advertisers

• How Affiliate Marketing and Public Relations are very similar in relationship building and pitching/recruiting publishers

• How the advancing technology of the affiliate channel can help PR firms and professionals track way more than they have before and protect the top-of-funnel publishers and track outside of pixels

• How affiliate marketing can increase the speed and reach of PR campaigns

• How we need to change our KPIs to measure in this new world

You can reach out and follow Blagica on LinkedIn.

And don't forget to read our blog posts on the subject:

Welcoming Public Relations to the Affiliate Marketing Party

Affiliate Marketing Can Boost the Speed of Public Relations

KPIs Need to Change With the Merging of PR and Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate Recruitment and PR Pitching Have a Ton in Common

Technology Available to PR Teams Through Affiliate Marketing

It is with great pleasure that we showcase one of our very own on our podcast today: Samantha Morris. Samantha leads one of our affiliate management teams as a Sr. Affiliate Manager and comes to us with over 20 years of experience working for brands like Gap, Priceline, and more. She has also worked for affiliate networks, agencies, and ran her own agency for a time.

This conversation dives deep into the day-to-day of affiliate management. Some of what we cover includes:

• How important it is to truly understand your client

• How vital her in-house experience with some major retailers has been to managing clients now

• Interesting and useful network technology that is available

• Last click vs. first click

• Preferred publisher technologies

• Attribution

• Media and Commerce Affiliates

• Card-linked offers

• Commission Splitting

• And more!

Today our CEO, Jamie Birch, talks about the problem of coupon proliferation, the problem that occurs when everyone and their cousin gets your coupons and promotes them on their affiliate site. He talks about the steps you can take to ensure this doesn't happen and what you can do when it does.

Psst, here's a hint: it starts and ends with your affiliate terms and conditions.

Today's conversation is with Richard Denny's, CEO of Webgains. I learned that Richard and I share a ton. From our first computers (both Commodores) to hours spent coding very simple programs in basic, to our desire to lift people up through education and training.

I think Richard's bio on LinkedIn says it all "Still a proud owner of a Sinclair ZX81 and Spectrum, used to copy out pages of BASIC code for RPGs from magazines into my Commodore 64 in the 1980s, went to University, taught myself HTML and started one of the world's largest websites in the 1990s, founded then folded an online travel start-up (before that was a word) in the 2000s, helped to accelerate other start-ups and teach start-up founders in the 2010s and now in the 2020s proudly run Webgains.

Work Hard; Be Kind; Have Fun. That's it really."

We discussed a broad range of topics, including:

• His origin story into affiliate marketing

• Nerding out on data

• The impact of investment in affiliate marketing

• Changes in the affiliate channel

• The change he saw that led him to embrace the channel after previously rejecting it

• Big Media and Affiliate Marketing

• Leading through turbulence and the 3 Horizons

I thoroughly enjoyed this conversation and there really is something for everyone here.

If you'd like to find more about Webgains, check out their website. To contact Richard, follow him on LinkedIn.

Thank you Richard!

Leilani Han is the Executive Director, Commerce of Wirecutter, a division of the New York Times. Her career path is rather unique: she started out working for several start-ups where she was exposed to affiliate marketing, then found herself at a top tier network, Commission Junction, and then went on to work at Wirecutter. She's seen the industry from multiple vantage points including affiliate/publisher, advertiser, and network. That perspective brings a lot of enlightening learnings that I think you'll find super helpful no matter what side of the ball you play on.

In our conversation we cover:

• Commerce Content

• Leadership principles

• Changes to leadership during and after the pandemic

• Employee development, what it is and how she does it

• The importance of intentionality in managing people

• Being a woman and how that has impacted her career and how she coaches women on her team

• How important it is to focus on the audience being served, whether you are an advertiser or a publisher

• How advertisers need to focus on the publishers' audience when pitching them

• Who and what is Wirecutter

• And how to work with them

And so much more! Leilani thank you so much for your time on this episode!

If you'd like to connect, check her out on LinkedIn.

Are you testing your affiliate program tracking? Today our CEO, Jamie Birch, talks about the importance of testing your affiliate program to ensure all areas are tracking correctly, his exact tracking protocol and procedure, and how to make sure your channel has 100% integrity in tracking all affiliate orders.

Should I be paying for placements on affiliate sites? Do I even know what that is? Today I talk about the concept of purchasing real estate on affiliate publishers' sites and how it all works. From finding them, to pitfalls to avoid, to setting each one up for success and even what to do when they don't work. We talk about it all on today's episode.

Today I got the chance to sit down and have a conversation with Jared LaMantia. Jared and I met when the team at JEBCommerce managed the Bodybuilding.com affiliate program and at subsequent organizations he has run during his career.

Jared started his career as an affiliate manager and through hard work, curiosity, and a dash of self awareness grew himself into a C-Level executive at one of the most vibrant and impactful fitness companies that I know of. Today's conversation is one of those that got me thinking of how I could spend more time and learn more about his story and how he achieves so much success. It really was my favorite hour and change this week.

We dive into his career and exactly how he made the transformation from affiliate manager to C-Level exec. Not a typical path! We talk about data and how important it is, but also how sometimes you just have to use your gut in decision making, and then round things out with one of the biggest mistakes marketers make when it comes to data. Sorry, no spoilers here!

We wrap up the conversation with a discussion on project management, a topic that Jared has found to be one of the most impactful in his career and his company's successes. It's something that is all too often left out of the marketing discussion.

Jared, thank you so much for a really intriguing and enlightening discussion today! If you'd like to continue the conversation with Jared, find him on Linkedin.

And, here is the link to our article "The Rise of the Affluencer", written by our Director of Affiliate Marketing, Blagica Bottigliero.

This is our second host rant, you read that right. I am ranting today! Ok, not really so much, but today I'm talking about something that can truly drive me crazy. The idea that we should be removing or stop working with affiliates in our affiliate programs because of their type or our self imposed categorization. What we really should be talking about is their performance markers (KPIs), the audience we get access to, and the customers we are actually receiving from them.

Let's focus on the performance, the hard data, and not our feelings. We make better affiliate management decisions.

I talk about an affiliate marketing study we put together at jebcommerce.com/value, that aggregates hard core data from all the major networks and publishers. It addresses consumer behavior and the types of customers coupon sites are actually driving. You have some amazing data at your fingertips to make great decisions. Don't miss out on this one!

And hey, we are always looking for more guests. Email gethelp@jebcommerce.com if you or someone you know should be on our show!

Join us as we catch up with Michael McNerny, the founder of Martech Record, the first objective industry publisher in the affiliate space. Three years after its launch, we delve into the developments and the future of AI in reviews, along with various topics surrounding B2B affiliate marketing.

In this episode, Michael shares insights on different monetization strategies and leveraging technology like Slack and webinars to foster community engagement within the B2B sphere. We also revisit the premier buyer's guide on networks and technology platforms, a cornerstone of Martech Record's offerings.

• Connect with Michael on LinkedIn
• Explore Martech Record
• Listen to the Smooth Operator Podcast

If you are a fan of He-Man, you definitely want to listen to this episode. Our CEO, Jamie Birch, talks about how the power dynamic in affiliate relationships has shifted dramatically in the last few years and the things you should be doing to take advantage of that swing.

Today our CEO talks with our very own Director of Affiliate Marketing, Blagica Bottigliero! Blagica started with JEBCommerce in November of 2021. Jamie and Blagica talk about her origin story (yes, it involves a great sitcom from the 80's), the importance of representation, and dive into a ton about influencers, affluencers, and affiliate marketing.

Blagica shares her experience as an Emmy Award winning digital marketer, her time at large agencies and brands like Edelman, Target, and Motorola, then as a startup founder, and how she came back to affiliate marketing.

If you want to know about affiliate marketing and the convergence of PR, Social, and Affiliate, this is the episode for you.

In this episode I cover what has become a topic of some concern for advertisers: influencers. Over the last two years advertisers have really wanted their affiliate channels to not only drive bottom-of-funnel sales, but share in more top of funnel acquisition efforts. This has lead to a stronger push toward folding content creators and influencers into their affiliate programs.

Tune in to find out how the landscape of affiliate marketing is evolving and how we're addressing these changes. Don't get left behind!