If you’ve been running an affiliate program but aren’t seeing the results you expected, you’re not alone.
Here’s what’s probably happening:
1. Affiliates don’t even know your program exists.
2. The ones who do apply are low-quality (random coupon sites, small influencers, or disengaged audiences).
3. You’re not reaching to enough high-performing affiliates to make a real impact.
The problem is relying too much on inbound applications.
You set up your program, maybe on Impact, ShareASale, or Refersion, and wait for affiliates to find you.
But the best affiliates aren’t just scrolling for new programs. They partner with brands that actively pitch them.
The #1 strategy to actually scale: Proactive affiliate recruitment.
Here’s how it works:
1. Identify high-value affiliates by researching competitors, scanning affiliate networks, and analyzing social media or YouTube creators who already promote similar products.
2. Reach out directly with short, personalized messages that show the value of partnering with you. Don’t sell the program upfront; rather, start a conversation.
3. Get on a call with top affiliates to understand their audience, explain why your brand matters, and offer exclusive incentives like higher commissions or custom landing pages.
4. Follow up consistently. Most top affiliates need multiple touchpoints before saying yes.
This approach turns affiliate marketing into a relationship-driven sales process. You hand-pick affiliates that match your ideal customer, build partnerships that actually drive revenue, and scale your program predictably.
If you’re ready to stop waiting and start growing, it’s time to take control.
Start identifying, reaching out, and building relationships with the affiliates who can really move the needle.
Your next top-performing affiliate may be waiting for you to reach out. Who knows!
With that, let me quickly give a shoutout to a partner that’s crushing its affiliate marketing campaign.
Brand spotlight:
Who they are & why it works
HeyShape is a direct-to-consumer shapewear and activewear brand offering body-sculpting garments designed for comfort, breathability, and confidence. Their blend of style and functionality, backed by strong social proof from over a million customers and high ratings, makes them stand out in a crowded market.
Performance & fit
High-converting direct response funnels built for scale
Extensive UGC creative library to support affiliates
Open to providing test budgets for top partners
Free worldwide shipping and returns
Ships to most countries globally, making it easy to reach international audiences
Limited-time BOGO (Buy One Get One Free) promotion running through the end of November
Strategy & execution
The best results are achieved by promoting shapewear through authentic, body-positive storytelling and clear “before-and-after” benefits. High-impact placements on TikTok, Instagram Reels, and listicles drive strong impulse buys, while limited-time offers and bundles help boost AOV and urgency.
How to partner
Reply to this email for Q4 partnership opportunities, and I’ll get you in touch with the brand.
Content resource for the week:
Let me share a couple of my favourite content pieces to improve your affiliate marketing strategy and overall business.
Affiliate Spotlight:
Who they are & why it works
M3dia Buy is a native advertising and media buying agency that specializes in generating 100,000 to 1 million+ monthly clicks from high-intent readers on premium news and content sites. Their 27-step conversion optimization framework ensures every ad and landing page converts readers into buyers efficiently.
Performance & best fit
M3dia Buy has delivered over $10M in revenue for clients through precise targeting and relentless testing. Top campaigns include 1M+ monthly clicks and up to 5,000 leads per day, with costs as low as $5–8 per lead compared to $40+ on Google.
Best fit for insurance, eCommerce, and performance-driven brands seeking to scale lead generation or sales through native ads on major outlets like MSN, Yahoo, and other high-traffic publishers.
How to partner
M3dia Buy offers campaigns on a per-lead or cost-per-click model, reducing upfront risk for advertisers. Setup starts at $2,000 and includes ad copywriting, landing page design, and full native ad management.
Reply to this email to explore Q4 placements with M3dia Buy.
Your question & my answer:
What’s the biggest mistake brands make when starting an affiliate program?
“Thinking volume is more important than quality. We’ve seen brands waste resources on low-converting affiliates when just a few elite partners could drive most of the revenue.”
That’s it for this issue. If you want intros to any of our partners, reply today and I’ll connect you personally.
And if you have any questions for me, feel free to ask.
I read all of the emails. (Even the spammy ones!:)
Thank you for reading till the end.
Talk soon,
Fred