2025 BCM is officially behind us. In this issue of the newsletter, I'd like to share a trend we're observing that's quietly reshaping how the most innovative brands approach affiliate marketing.

Here’s something I noticed firsthand. Brands that experienced their biggest revenue spikes this Black Friday and Cyber Monday are discovering something important. 

Those wins didn't come from traditional coupon sites or content affiliates. They came from media buyers who could scale traffic fast when given the right CPA and a conversion-optimized funnel.

The shift is already happening. Forward-thinking brands are moving beyond treating media buyers as an afterthought. 

Instead, they're restructuring their affiliate programs around these partnerships, recognizing that media buyers operate fundamentally differently from traditional affiliates. 

They need competitive payouts, clean landing pages, and the freedom to test and optimize at a rapid pace.

What makes media buyers so powerful is their ability to turn on traffic like a faucet when economics work. They're running paid campaigns across Facebook, Google, native platforms, and emerging channels. When they find a winner, they can scale it aggressively within days.

Here's my prediction…

By next BFCM, media buyers will be the top revenue driver for most mature affiliate programs. 

The brands that recognize this early and build media buyer-friendly infrastructure, such as clear commission structures, fast payouts, dedicated support, and performance-focused creatives, will dominate their categories.

I can share exactly how we recruit media buyers to scale a DTC brand. Book a free strategy call here and let’s talk.

Now, let me quickly introduce a brand that’s crushing its affiliate marketing campaign.

Gains in Bulk is a premium performance supplement brand focused on Whole Food, research-backed formulations for serious fitness enthusiasts and athletes. Led by Kaleb Mattice, the brand is recognized as the world’s first 100% soluble creatine, designed for enhanced absorption and performance.

Gains in Bulk performs best with fitness-focused partners, including content creators, niche fitness websites, supplement reviewers, and media buyers who understand performance-driven audiences.

Affiliates receive competitive commission structures, optimized tracking, and access to high-converting creative assets tailored for performance-driven traffic.

The brand supports partners with clear communication, fast execution, and alignment across promotions to ensure consistent results.

To explore partnership opportunities or access custom offers, reply to this email, and the Gains in Bulk team will connect with you.

Forbes is a 100+ year global business media brand trusted by leaders, founders, and investors worldwide. Known for authoritative journalism and cultural influence, Forbes reaches decision-makers at moments of ambition, growth, and purchasing intent. 

Strong fit for finance, SaaS, enterprise tech, luxury, consumer products, education, mobility, lifestyle, and premium ecommerce brands. 

Forbes offers high-impact affiliate and commerce integrations through Forbes Vetted, its definitive shopping destination. Content appears across Forbes.com, newsletters, and social channels. 

Brands can activate paid and sponsored placements through Forbes Vetted and broader Forbes content solutions, with customizable packages. To explore upcoming placements or secure coverage, connect with the Forbes partnerships team.

“Optimized landing pages align SEO, clear CTAs, and detailed product context to capture high-intent traffic. Performance data from tools like Google Analytics enables continuous testing and refinement. This reduces drop-off and increases revenue per visitor from affiliate traffic.”

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