The Affiliate Guy with Matt McWilliams: Marketing Tips, Affiliate Management, & More

Got a promotion coming up soon? In this episode, I'm breaking down how to get affiliates excited to promote and keep that energy building right up to launch day... using the exact pre-promo strategy we use with clients to turn "I might promote" into planned emails, scheduled posts, and a strong first day. Links Mentioned in this Episode Free Masterclass - How I Built a $12.6 Million A Year Affiliate Program In Only Two Years Without Any Connections or Credentials Affiliate Warm Up Plan and Promo Plan

Over the years, I've made enough affiliate-program mistakes to fill a small handbook... and a few of them were the kind you don't forget because they come with real consequences. In this episode, I'm continuing the "killer mistakes" series with the stuff that can get you in trouble fast, including one lesson that involved the FTC. I'll break down what went wrong, what I should've done instead, and how you can protect your program while still growing it aggressively. Links Mentioned in this Episode Find Affiliates Now Program PDF Report (Top Affiliate Program Mistakes and How to Avoid Them) My #1 Affiliate Recruiting Email How to Determine Commission Structure How to Create Swipe Copy for Your Affiliates Affiliate Promo Plan Template Affiliate Activation Templates Facebook Live on Getting Affiliates to Commit

Most affiliate programs don't blow up overnight... they bleed out slowly from a handful of preventable mistakes. In this episode, I'm breaking down the "killer" errors that quietly wreck tracking, relationships, motivation, and momentum, and I'll show you the simple fixes that get you back on solid ground fast. Links Mentioned in this Episode Top 20 Affiliate Program Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them) Find Affiliates Now Program My #1 Affiliate Recruiting Email How to Determine Commission Structure Facebook Live: The BIGGEST Lie You've Been Told About Finding Affiliates

Most people make this decision backwards... they pick "in-house" or "agency" based on budget, then hope it works out. In this episode, I'll show you how to decide between an in-house affiliate manager and an agency based on what your program actually needs right now. We'll walk through the real tradeoffs, the questions that make the answer obvious, and a few common scenarios so you can choose the model that gets results without creating a management mess. Links Mentioned in this Episode Your Affiliate Launch Coach Find Your First 100 Affiliates

Most affiliate programs leave email performance up to chance... and then wonder why some promos flop. In this episode, I'm sharing how to help affiliates write emails that convert without turning into their copywriter. You'll get a simple framework you can teach, the few elements every high-performing affiliate email needs, and the feedback process that improves emails fast while keeping the affiliate's voice intact. Links Mentioned in this Episode Video - How to Use Swipe Copy as an Affiliate Video - How to SERVE Your Audience by Promoting Affiliate Offers Podcast - Overcoming the Fear of Selling Affiliate Offers Article - How to Condition Your Audience

Most affiliate programs don't fail because of tactics... they fail because the person running them believes the wrong things. In this episode, I'm breaking down 7 common beliefs that quietly kill affiliate programs, from what you think affiliates want, to how you think motivation works, to what you think "good management" looks like. I'll show you what each belief costs you, what to do instead, and how to fix the foundations so your program stops leaking sales and starts building momentum. Links Mentioned in this Episode How to Hear YES from More Affiliates (Recruiting Tips) Top 5 Biggest Affiliate Recruiting Mistakes How to Steal Your Competitors' Affiliates Affiliate Activation Templates How to Give Your Affiliates What They Need How to Communicate Better with Your Affiliates Affiliate Promo Plan Affiliate Training Templates

Affiliate management is one of those careers people stumble into... and then wonder why nobody told them about it sooner. In this episode, I'm breaking down how to become an affiliate manager. What the job actually is day to day, the core skills you need to build, and the fastest ways to get real experience even if you're starting from zero. If you want a clear path into affiliate management without guessing your way there, this is your roadmap. Links Mentioned in this Episode Apply for Our Affiliate Manager Training

If affiliates are promoting your webinar and you're seeing plenty of registrations but not enough sales, this episode is for you. Today I'm sharing the exact strategies we use to triple webinar sales when affiliate traffic is in the mix. Not theory... the specific levers that have worked across dozens of clients: what to adjust before the webinar, what to change during the presentation, and what to do after so more attendees turn into buyers. If you want affiliate-promoted webinars to convert like your best internal traffic... you're going to get a clear plan here. Links Mentioned in this Episode ConvertKit

A seven-figure affiliate launch isn't luck. It's planning, sequencing, and a few leverage points most people skip. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact launch plan we use to turn affiliate promos into a coordinated push, not a scattered shout into the void. We'll cover what happens before the launch, what you give affiliates so they can promote fast, how you keep momentum during the window, and the handful of moves that separate a decent launch from a monster one. If you've ever wondered what a real seven-figure plan looks like... you're about to get it. Links Mentioned in this Episode Your Affiliate Launch Coach Avatar Creation Guide Turn Your Passions Into Profits Book Affiliate Program Kickstarter Package

Every affiliate application is a tiny fork in the road. Approve the right people and your program gets stronger. Approve the wrong ones and you get refunds, brand headaches, and a whole lot of noise. In today's episode, I'm sharing my approval criteria for screening affiliate applications, plus the exact process we use to make decisions quickly and consistently. You'll learn what to look for, what to ignore, and how to handle the "maybe" applicants without turning your program into the Wild West. Links Mentioned in this Episode Your Affiliate Launch Coach

You've got affiliates raising their hand. Now the real question is: what do they get in the first few days after they say yes? In this episode, I'm giving you my affiliate onboarding checklist. The exact pieces that help new affiliates feel confident, find what they need fast, and start promoting without a bunch of back-and-forth. If your current onboarding is "here's the link, good luck"... this will fix that. Links Mentioned in this Episode Weekend Email Template Sample Affiliate Promo Plan How to Write Swipe Copy for Your Affiliates How to Warm Up Affiliates Before a Launch

Most affiliate programs grow by inches. This one grew by miles. In today's episode, I'm breaking down how we grew affiliate revenue 20X in 48 months. No fluff. No "one weird trick". Just the exact moves that changed everything: what we focused on first, what we stopped doing, the leverage points that mattered most, and a few bets that didn't pay off. If you want a clear playbook for scaling an affiliate program without burning trust, relationships, or your sanity... this is it. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Training Templates and Scripts Promo Strategy Call Template Resources Page Guide

If affiliate marketing feels harder than it should, chances are you're making a few mistakes you don't even realize are mistakes. And the frustrating part? Most affiliates repeat the same ones over and over. In this episode, I'm breaking down the most common affiliate marketing mistakes I see every day and what to do instead. This episode will show you how to fix the small things that make a big difference. Links Mentioned in this Episode Avatar Creation Guide Affiliate Promo Plan Review Post Guide Pretty Link List Launch Challenge Top Affiliate Program Mistakes

Trust is what separates good affiliate programs from great ones. It's the reason someone says yes to your offer... and keeps showing up promo after promo. If your affiliates don't trust you, or don't believe you've got their back, they'll disappear, fast. In today's episode, I'm sharing exactly how to build that trust. The kind that gets affiliates excited to promote, confident in your offer, and loyal for the long haul. These are the same strategies we've used to keep top affiliates engaged for years. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Email Template Affiliate Email Pro

If you want affiliates to actually promote, it's on YOU to make it happen. Because the truth is… most affiliates don't wake up thinking about your program, your product or your launch. They need a spark—and if you don't light the fire, no one will. In this episode, I'll show you how to activate affiliates early, keep them engaged, and turn passive partners into top promoters. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Promo Plan Template Rethink Dieting Webinar with Matt and Alan Get ALL of our Affiliate Activation Templates What Affiliates REALLY Need to be Successful How to Co-Create Promo Plans with Your Affiliates Recommended Affiliate Programs and Upcoming Product Launches

When it's time to sell, do you suddenly sound… different? A lot of people do. Their tone changes. Their words change. Their confidence changes. And without realizing it, they stop sounding like themselves. They stop sounding confident and start sounding desperate. That shift kills trust, hurts conversions, and slowly damages your brand. In this episode, I'm sharing how to sell in a way that feels natural, confident, and completely on brand… without sounding desperate, awkward, or fake. If selling ever feels uncomfortable or forced, this episode will help you fix that. Links Mentioned in this Episode How to Use Swipe Copy How to Stand Out in a Crowded Market

What if the biggest threat to affiliate marketing right now… is also its biggest opportunity? There's been a lot of noise lately about AI replacing content creators… killing SEO… making affiliates obsolete. But is that actually true? In today's episode, I'm discussing the real impact of AI on affiliate marketing… what's changing, what isn't, and how the smartest affiliates are using AI to grow faster than ever. If you're worried AI is going to ruin everything… or just trying to figure out how to adapt, this one's for you. Links Mentioned in this Episode Review Post Pro Affiliate Email Pro Affiliate Terms Wizard

If you're looking to grow your audience, boost your credibility, and build your email list in a big way, podcast interviews might just be your secret weapon. In this episode, I'm sharing exactly how I've landed more than 600 podcast interviews… and how I turned those into affiliates who became a huge driver of our company's growth. Links Mentioned in this Episode ListenNotes MeetEdgar Your First 100 Affiliates Pretty Link

Let me ask you something… what if 2026 is the year you stop hoping affiliate marketing works and start treating it like it actually matters? Not more random promos. Not more last‑minute emails. Real commitments that change how you show up, how you promote, and how you get paid. In this episode, I'm sharing the affiliate resolutions that actually move the needle… from building systems and tracking results to selling with confidence and creating bonuses that stand out. If you want this year to be different, this is where it starts. Links Mentioned in this Episode Watch My Walkthrough of my Kit Account Kit Email List Launch Challenge Turn Your Passions Into Profits Review Post Pro

What if 2026 was the year your affiliate program finally took off? Today, I'm sharing the resolutions smart affiliate managers are making this year. These are the type of resolutions that lead to bigger launches, more evergreen sales, and stronger affiliate relationships. If you want this to be your best year ever, listen up. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Email Pro Affiliate Training Templates The Book on Affiliate Management Affiliate Terms Wizard Affiliate Activation Templates