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

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

What does 2026 look like for affiliate marketers? Let's just say… it's not business as usual. From AI taking over the grunt work to virtual influencers and voice-driven SEO, the landscape is changing fast. In this episode, I'm sharing 13 bold, research-backed predictions for where affiliate marketing is headed, and what you can do now to be ready. Spoiler: the future favors the prepared. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Email Pro Affiliate Terms Wizard Review Post Pro

What if you could turn the busiest shopping season of the year into your biggest affiliate payday? Today, I'm sharing the strategies top affiliates use to make more money in December without burning out, posting nonstop, or guessing what might work. If you want a simple plan to increase your holiday commissions, this episode is for you. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Promo Warm Up Guide

The holidays are here… which means chaos for most affiliate managers. There are promos flying everywhere, inboxes are packed, and your affiliates? Half of them are over-promoting, and the other half have gone silent. So how do you stay sane and strategic when the whole season is moving at lightning speed? Today, I'm sharing the practical guide to not just surviving December, but actually thriving as an affiliate manager during the busiest season of the year. Links Mentioned in this Episode The Book on Affiliate Management

Writing a book is hard. Making real money from it is harder. In this episode, I'll show you how to add affiliate offers to your book so it drives more revenue and creates long-term passive income. Links Mentioned in this Episode The Book on Affiliate Management Affiliate Marketing for Authors Training Resources Page Guide My Recommended Books Page

If you're serious about affiliate marketing, you'll love this conversation. Today I'm talking with someone who's written for top publications, built affiliate programs from scratch, and approaches every campaign with strategy and intention. We'll break down his process... what actually works... and how you can think more like a strategic affiliate marketer too. Links Mentioned in this Episode Success is a Numbers Game Book

"If you're launching a book and want more sales, more exposure, and a bigger impact, affiliates are the secret weapon. But most authors screw up the launch because they don't know how to use affiliates the right way. In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact blueprint we've used to launch more than 10 bestsellers: what worked, what didn't, and how you can copy it step-by-step. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Marketing for Authors Training Behind the Scenes of the Real Artists Don't Starve Book Launch Your First 100 Affiliates Report Affiliate Recruiting Swipe Files The Book on Affiliate Management

So you wrote a book… now what? If you want it to actually, you need affiliates. The truth is, books don't magically fly off the shelves. Even bestsellers usually have a small army behind them. In today's episode, I'll walk you through how I found affiliates for my book… and how you can do the same for your launch, whether it's a book, a course, or anything else. Links Mentioned in this Episode Affiliate Marketing for Authors Training Behind the Scenes of the Real Artists Don't Starve Book Launch Your First 100 Affiliates Report Affiliate Recruiting Swipe Files How to Recruit New Affiliates You Don't Even Know The Book on Affiliate Management

What I’m about to share with you might honestly shock you. It used to be the single worst part of my entire business. Something that held me back for nearly three years. I'm ashamed to admit that the worst part of our company was our affiliate management. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on exactly what went wrong, why even I — The Affiliate Guy — struggled with this, and most importantly... how we finally solved it. Links Mentioned in this Episode Your Affiliate Launch Coach

Ever feel like your brain is juggling 47 browser tabs—only none of them are loading? That’s what it’s like trying to stay focused as an affiliate manager. Between answering affiliate questions, navigating fast-changing platforms, staying on top of launches, and replying to Slack messages at all hours… staying focused can feel impossible. And regaining it once you’ve lost it? Even harder. In this episode, I’m bringing you a behind-the-scenes recording of a private training I did for a mastermind group, all about how to get focused, stay focused, and bounce back when your focus gets derailed. Whether you're managing dozens of affiliates or trying to keep your own business on track, these strategies will help you get more done, with less stress. Links Mentioned in this Episode Bob Newhard Clip Focus Music Track Need help activating your affiliates? Use my proven email templates for getting inactive affiliates in the game and making sales! Get them here Get my #1 affiliate recruiting email (the one I’ve personally used to recruit thousands of affiliates in dozens of niches). Grab your copy here!

Ever wonder how a niche audience and the right bonus strategy can put you in the Top 3 of a $5.7 million affiliate launch? Today, I’m bringing back a return guest to show you exactly how she did it. She used prep courses, long-term funnels, and collaborated with other affiliates to absolutely rock this promo and earn nearly $100,000 in affiliate commissions. Listen up to find out how! Links Mentioned in this Episode Heidi’s Facebook Page How to Start Your Affiliate Program Get Started with Affiliate Marketing Your First 100 Affiliates

Want to know how someone with a small email list still landed in the Top 10 of one of the biggest affiliate launches of the year using a single social media network? In this episode, you’ll hear directly from a social media pro who leveraged Instagram — not ads, not email — to crush it on the leaderboard. Links Mentioned in this Episode Manu’s Instagram – @YourSocialTeam How to Start Your Affiliate Program Get Started with Affiliate Marketing Your First 100 Affiliates