We scaled an affiliate program to $1.2M in just 5 months…with a 3,547% ROI.
But it didn’t start that way.
When we stepped in, tracking was broken. The top affiliates had gone silent, and CAC was rising fast. (A typical nightmare for any agency!)
But here’s how we fixed it (step by step):
1. Fixed broken tracking
We found out that their tracking was a mess. lagging data, broken postbacks, and missing pixels were costing $18K/month.
We rebuilt the system with server-side tracking. Once affiliates saw accurate data, traffic recovered fast.
2. Reduced CAC by 13.6%
We introduced:
Tiered commissions (12–15% base + performance bonuses)
New bundle offers lifting AOV by 14%
22 new review affiliates with 27% higher EPCs
As a result, the customer acquisition cost (CAC) dropped 13.6% in 45 days.
3. Scaled profitably
We held quarterly reviews with top affiliates, launched seasonal campaigns, and added a product feed API to stop promo leakage. For influencers, a “3 reasons why” video format outperformed long reviews by 31%.
4. Refreshed creatives
CTRs had fallen below 0.8%. We fixed it by launching new creative packs every 45 days, testing formats, and offering custom creatives to top partners. It boosted the conversions by 19%.
5. Tightened compliance
Fraud detection tools flagged fake leads and coupon misuse. That’s why we removed 8 bad partners and rolled out strict traffic policies.
The end result:
$1.2M revenue
CAC ↓ 13.6%
ROI ↑ 3,547%
“Performance Partners fixed our tracking, rebuilt affiliate relationships, and scaled revenue while lowering CAC. Their impact has been massive.”
Need help with scaling your affiliate program?
Reply to this email and I’ll get in touch.
Brand Spotlight:
Who they are & why it works
Cheech & Chong’s is a world-recognized cannabis-inspired lifestyle and wellness brand that channels its legendary counterculture spirit into driving e-commerce growth through a focused partner mix and strict governance.
Performance & fit
Over 50,000+ confirmed new customer acquisitions driven through a single affiliate platform, while averaging a 14.3% conversion rate across high-intent affiliate funnels. Strongest results seen across lifestyle, wellness, and cannabis-focused partners
Strategy & execution
The brand offers multiple high-converting funnels, a full library of UGC content and raw footage for partners, and a variety of top-performing products to promote.
How to partner
Reply to this email for Q4 partnership opportunities.
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
CNN Underscored is the commerce and product-recommendation arm of CNN, publishing over 80 gift guides each holiday season and reaching 124 million monthly visitors on CNN.com. Their reputation, editorial integrity, and strong SEO presence make them one of the most trusted media partners for high-intent consumer traffic.
Performance & best fit
Articles average 10K to 700K+ page views with a 23% CTR, and placements are featured across CNN’s website, mobile app, and newsletter. Best fit for premium lifestyle, wellness, and gifting-friendly brands targeting older, high-income shoppers during Q4 and beyond.
How to partner
CNN Underscored offers sponsored product placements in themed gift guides and editorial roundups (starting at $2,000–$3,500 per placement).
Your question & my answer:
“How do you quality control media buyers and ensure compliance?”
We require all creatives to be pre-approved before launch. If any affiliate runs unapproved content, the brand won’t pay for that traffic. This ensures full compliance and control over what goes live.
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