Affiliate Nerd Out

Dustin Howes
  • 5.0 (3)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Partnership marketing enthusiasts and affiliate marketing gurus are sharing their best strategies for affiliate program growth. New guests every week will come to discuss hot topics in the industry and what latest growth hacks working right now.

  1. Jul 16

    Affiliate Marketing Drama: Cookie Stuffing, Budget Cuts & Industry Chaos

    In this Real Talk Friday episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes and Cristen Evans break down the latest affiliate marketing trends, including industry drama over fraud accusations, the impact of cutting affiliate commissions, and why protecting partner relationships matters. They also share updates on Alfie, AI automation, affiliate program migrations, and an upcoming webinar on modern affiliate strategies. The episode wraps up with a reminder that building relationships starts by saying yes to the conversation. 00:00 Loyalty App Warning Shot 00:44 Show Intro And Banter 01:55 Top Hat Giveaway Stories 03:36 Affiliate Drama And Tattling 05:54 Budget Cuts Hurt Partners 08:54 Alfie Updates And Webinars 11:00 Cristen Work And Automation 12:49 Always Take The Call 14:46 Wrap Up And Sign Off Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #RealTalkFriday #AffiliateProgram #PartnerMarketing #DigitalMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateStrategy #AIAutomation #MarketingPodcast #CookieStuffing #ImpactDotCom #ChristenEvans Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    Affiliate Marketing Drama: Cookie Stuffing, Budget Cuts & Industry Chaos

  2. Jul 16

    AM to C-Suite EP2: Navigating the Path to Executive Leadership with Viktorija Ratomskė

    In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes sits down with Viktorija “Vik” Ratomske, CEO of Partner Gap, to discuss her journey from business intelligence analyst to executive leadership in affiliate marketing. Vik shares how she entered the industry, the mentors who shaped her career, and why affiliate managers develop powerful skills in negotiation, relationship management, adaptability, and cross-channel marketing. She explains the challenge of being labeled “just affiliate,” the importance of speaking the language of the C-suite, and how to prove the value of relationship-driven work through data. Vik also reflects on what she would do differently and offers advice for aspiring leaders looking to build a broad, modern affiliate marketing perspective. 00:00 Affiliate Ceiling Question 01:01 Meet Vik Ratomske 01:49 How Affiliate Found Her 02:33 From Data To Deals 03:08 Mentors And Mindset 04:01 Avoiding The Plateau 05:10 Executive Skills From AM 05:53 Underrated AM Superpower 07:00 Breaking The Pigeonhole 07:44 Speaking C Suite 08:29 Proving Intangibles 09:20 Be Bolder Lessons 10:38 Choosing Battles With Data 11:24 Sponsor Alfie Break 11:49 CMO By 2030 Advice 12:49 Final Thanks And Outro Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #PartnerMarketing #AffiliateManagement #MarketingLeadership #BusinessLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #DigitalMarketing #CareerGrowth #NegotiationSkills #MarketingPodcast #WomenInBusiness Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    AM to C-Suite EP2: Navigating the Path to Executive Leadership with Viktorija Ratomskė

  3. Jul 16

    AM to C-Suite EP3: Navigating the Path to CMO: Insights from Michael Cole

    In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out (AM to C-Suite Edition), host Dustin Howes welcomes Michael Cole, CMO of Everflow, to discuss how affiliate marketers can grow from affiliate manager to executive leadership. Michael shares how he got started in affiliate marketing, why many affiliate managers hit a career plateau, and how skills like partner relationship management, fraud prevention, and strategic communication translate into leadership roles. He also explains why affiliate marketing is more than a single channel and how to report results in terms of revenue, pipeline, and business growth. Whether you're an affiliate manager, partner marketer, or performance marketer, this episode offers practical insights to help you grow your career. 00:00 Affiliate to CMO Mindset 00:39 Welcome to Nerditorium 01:05 Meet Michael Cole 01:31 Accidental Affiliate Start 02:31 Mentors and Relationships 03:14 Breaking the Plateau 04:38 Fraud and Deescalation 06:16 Affiliate Beyond a Channel 07:18 From AM to C Suite 08:56 Learning All Disciplines 10:11 Speaking Executive Metrics 11:15 Career Regrets and Lessons 12:10 CMO by 2030 Playbook 13:10 Closing and Signoff Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateManager #PartnerMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateProgram #AffiliateNerdOut #csuite #Everflow #SaaSMarketing #MarketingLeadership #DigitalMarketing #MarketingCareers #MichaelCole Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    AM to C-Suite EP3: Navigating the Path to CMO: Insights from Michael Cole

  4. Jul 3

    Inside the 2026 Impact.com IPX: A Review of Highlights and Insights

    Dustin Howes is joined by Dan Sweeney and creator Lauren Eckert to recap their experience at the Impact.com IPX Conference in Austin. They share what made the event stand out, including valuable networking, a strong creator community, and insightful sessions on AI and affiliate marketing. Lauren explains how IPX helped accelerate her transition into affiliate partnerships by connecting with top brands and creators. They also discuss areas for improvement, including speed networking, meeting logistics, and scheduling issues, while exploring Impact’s AI roadmap, retail media opportunities, and the future of affiliate partnerships. 00:00 Event Fixes Feedback 00:15 Impact App AI Buzz 00:48 Show Intro Panel 01:17 Austin Venue First Impressions 01:38 Tex Mex Debate 02:19 Creator Community Wins 04:30 Discovering Impact Creators 05:20 Affiliate Mindset Shift 05:59 Venue Meetings App Review 08:06 Speed Dating Fiasco 10:11 Scheduling Tips Noobs 13:32 Networking Like Paresh 14:25 Roast Plans Brewing 15:06 Food Drinks Verdict 15:55 Coffee Water Food Trucks 17:24 Best Sessions Highlights 18:14 AI Takeaways In Practice 19:48 Impact Roadmap Debate 20:52 MCP Data Transparency 22:34 Event Fixes Retail Media 24:13 Single Use Coupons AEO 24:50 Final Thanks And Plugs Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes #AffiliateMarketing #ImpactIPX #Impactcom #AffiliateNerdOut #CreatorEconomy #PartnershipMarketing #InfluencerMarketing #AIMarketing #B2BMarketing #RetailMedia #AffiliateManager #DigitalMarketing #MarketingPodcast #ContentCreators #PerformanceMarketing The hottest affiliate recruitment tool of 2026 is Alfie. There is a 7-day free trial and a no-risk 30-day money-back gaurantee Go to Dustinhowes.com/trial to sign up Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    Inside the 2026 Impact.com IPX: A Review of Highlights and Insights

  5. Jul 1

    AM to C-Suite EP1: Climbing the Ladder: Affiliate Marketing to CEO with Jenny Gonzalez

    She moved to Barcelona in 2006 as a glorified executive assistant. 10 years later, she was a CEO. Jenny Gonzalez had no mentor. No roadmap. No one in her corner. She spotted one guy in the office. Nobody knew what he did. But he traveled the world, made 4x her salary, and had crazy respect from everyone. That was the affiliate manager. "I don't know what affiliates are, but clearly it is what I want to do." The rest is a story worth hearing. Junior affiliate manager to CEO in 10 years. Opened her first affiliate network. Spun out three more businesses since. All starting from a peanut salary and a maternity leave cover. What was her secret? Watch the full conversation to hear how she made it happen. #AffiliateMarketing #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateManager #CareerGrowth  #AMtoCMO #AffiliateNerdOut Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    AM to C-Suite EP1: Climbing the Ladder: Affiliate Marketing to CEO with Jenny Gonzalez

  6. Jun 15

    Why Relationships Matter More Than Ever in Affiliate Marketing

    Success in affiliate marketing depends on strong relationships and a solid reputation. In this episode, Dustin Howes and Christen Evans share real-world insights on networking, professional boundaries, and long-term career growth in the affiliate industry. Dustin explains how reconnecting with his network helped turn a slow week into a major win, proving that warm relationships often outperform cold outreach. Christen discusses the importance of setting boundaries to protect your mental health and maintain productive working relationships. They also cover networking strategies, handling difficult professional situations, early technology adoption, affiliate marketing trends, and balancing work with family life. Plus, Dustin gives a shout-out to ClickGo for its innovative tracking solution. If you're looking for affiliate marketing tips, networking advice, and honest industry insights, this conversation delivers valuable lessons for marketers, managers, and entrepreneurs alike. 0:00 When professional relationships turn sour 0:25 Welcome to Affiliate Nerd Out 1:03 Humanizing the affiliate marketing process 1:44 Balancing summer schedules with parenthood 2:30 Turning a bad week around with friends 3:40 Getting feedback on the Alfie tool 4:56 The legend of the Affiliate Summit tattoo 7:45 Standing up for your mental health 10:18 How to spot a burnt bridge 12:55 Managing multiple platform migrations 13:34 Exploring the ClickGo tracking solution Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin:   / dustinhowes  #AffiliateMarketing #AffiliateNerdOut #RealTalkFriday #AffiliateManagement #PerformanceMarketing #MarketingPodcast #BusinessRelationships #NetworkingTips #AffiliateIndustry #PartnershipMarketing #MarketingLeadership #AffiliateManagers #MarketingInsights #BusinessGrowth #Alfie #ChristenEvans Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    Why Relationships Matter More Than Ever in Affiliate Marketing

  7. Jun 2

    Embracing AI and Mind Resets: A Real Talk Friday Special

    Can AI really save affiliate marketers hours every week? 🚀 In this episode of Affiliate Nerd Out, Dustin Howes and Cristen Evans dive into how Claude AI, ClickUp, and automation tools are transforming affiliate marketing workflows. From speeding up complex commission reporting and automating documentation to building ICP decks and streamlining daily operations, they share practical ways AI is helping marketers work smarter and scale faster. They also discuss AI usage limits, productivity hacks, sales mindset shifts, stress management, and how tools like Alfie are changing the future of affiliate program management. 00:00 Usage Credits Panic 00:49 Show Intro and Catch Up 01:05 Busy Week and Mind Reset 03:02 AI Workflows with Claude 05:32 Reporting Automation Wins 07:47 Credits and Sleep Talk 10:57 Mindset Shift for Sales 14:12 Quick Calls of the Week 15:11 AI for Workflows Not Content 16:22 Wrap Up and Alfie Plug Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustinhowes #AffiliateMarketing #ClaudeAI #AIAutomation #AffiliateMarketingTips #ClickUp #MarketingAutomation #AIWorkflows #DigitalMarketing #BusinessAutomation #AffiliateManager #ProductivityHacks #Alfie #MarketingStrategy #Entrepreneurship #AIForBusiness Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    Embracing AI and Mind Resets: A Real Talk Friday Special

  8. May 30

    Finding the Right Work-Life Balance in a Remote World

    Dustin Howes and Christen Evans dive into the realities of remote team collaboration, leadership, and communication in the affiliate marketing industry. From managing virtual teams and startup culture to navigating misunderstandings in Slack messages, they share practical tips for building stronger relationships while working remotely. The conversation covers virtual happy hours, team-building activities like Jackbox games and trivia, communication strategies, flexible workflows, and adapting to different working styles. They also discuss affiliate marketing, startup growth, balancing work and life, and the importance of creating a positive remote work culture. If you work in affiliate marketing, remote teams, digital marketing, or startups, this episode is packed with relatable experiences and actionable insights to improve collaboration and productivity. 00:00 Finding Team Flow 00:32 Show Intro And Weekend Plans 01:18 Cristen Updates Work And School 02:54 Alfie Beta And Dog Update 04:00 Relearning Collaboration At Work 05:11 Remote Team Bonding Ideas 06:54 Clear Communication Over Text 09:19 Flexible Processes And Templates 11:27 Building Relationships Remotely 13:00 Meetups Alfie Plug And Wrap Subscribe to this channel for more affiliate program growth tactics. Start your 7-day free trial and see how Alfie can transform your affiliate recruitment process today! https://www.alfie.io/ Want to recruit more affiliates? https://affistash.com Connect with Dustin Howes on Linkedin:   / dustinhowes  #AffiliateNerdOut #Alfie #RealTalkFriday #MarketingPodcast #WorkplaceCommunication #StartupCulture #AgencyLife #TeamCollaboration #RemoteWork #PerformanceMarketing #AffiliateManagement #AffiliateManagers #ChristenEvans Have you heard about Inflektion yet? They are changing the game in Affiliate marketing.The only platform with personalized funnels to scale partnership marketing for brands, agencies, influencers, and affiliates. Catering to the health and wellness space, this tracking soluition is helping build landing pages for partners in a manner of minutes instaead of weeks. They have social listening to capture all the content your brand is creating so that you can find more partners talking about y For more tips on how to scale your affiliate program, check out https://performancemarketingmanager.com

    Finding the Right Work-Life Balance in a Remote World
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Partnership marketing enthusiasts and affiliate marketing gurus are sharing their best strategies for affiliate program growth. New guests every week will come to discuss hot topics in the industry and what latest growth hacks working right now.

Information

  • Creator
    Dustin Howes
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    175
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Affiliate Nerd Out
  • Show Website
    Affiliate Nerd Out