Welcome to a brand new season of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast with your host, Lee-Ann Johnstone. Our guest this week is John Wright, Co-Founder and CEO of StatsDrone, whose unique journey gives him rare insight into what makes partnerships succeed or fail.

In this conversation, we tackle the contentious issue of data ownership in iGaming, explore why trust remains the biggest barrier to effective collaboration, and reveal the tactical approaches that separate partnerships that scale from those that stagnate. Whether you're an affiliate manager looking to build stronger relationships with your partners, or an affiliate seeking to maximise your operator partnerships, this episode delivers actionable strategies you can implement immediately.

We're delighted to have Mate Affiliates supporting this season of the podcast - thank you for making these conversations possible.

Key segments of this podcast and where you can tune in to go direct:

[19:43] Three tactics for building partnerships that scale beyond basic CPA negotiations.

[25:47] Future predictions: How real-time data and operator quality metrics will reshape affiliate marketing.

[29:36] Career advice: Why affiliate managers need to think like customer success professionals

Our thanks go to Mate Affiliates as this season's sponsor. Would you like to talk about sponsoring our podcast, or gaining a brand mention? Take a look here.

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This wrap-up episode celebrates a 21st season dedicated to proving that affiliate marketing is actually about every touchpoint in your customer's journey—from initial awareness through long-term retention. Host Lee-Ann Johnstone welcomed industry leaders who shared cutting-edge strategies, data-driven insights, and real-world case studies that demonstrate how sophisticated tracking, authentic partnerships, and cross-channel integration are revolutionising the way brands approach affiliate marketing. Whether you're looking to scale your existing program or build one from scratch, this season has delivered actionable wisdom that will help you move beyond transactional thinking to create lasting, profitable partnerships.

Key segments of this podcast and where you can tune in to go direct:

[03:28] Michael Cole explains why brands get affiliate attribution wrong and how to fix it.

[23:59] Aaron Paul discusses AI's impact on affiliate marketing and content creation.

[33:52] Lauren Garner discusses the mindset shift to treating affiliates as customers and scaling systems.

Our thanks go to Everflow as this season's sponsor, powering our exploration of why affiliate marketing is about every moment in the customer journey.

We return next week with a brand new season of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, and our season sponsor is Mate Affiliates. Would you like to talk about sponsoring our podcast, or gaining a brand mention? Take a look here.

#AffiliateWINS: Your Victory Lap Starts Now!

Join the #AffiliateWINS movement! Share your affiliate marketing triumphs and success stories on social media to help spread positivity throughout the industry.

Time to flip the script: less calling out, more calling UP. Let's make #AffiliateWINS the hashtag that dominates feeds everywhere!

Ready to brag? Share success stories like these:

• "Just closed our best Q1 ever with the partner who's been in it with us since day one. Loyalty pays dividends. #AffiliateWINS"
• "Our affiliate just turned a shoestring budget into 5x ROAS using nothing but authentic UGC and love. Small spend, massive returns. #AffiliateWINS"
• "Here's to the quiet achievers, steadily driving volume without the spotlight. You're the backbone of this industry. #AffiliateWINS”

Each week on the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, we're showcasing why affiliate isn't just a moment—it's EVERY moment in your business. Share your #AffiliateWINS as we unveil an incredible lineup of guests and features.

Use the hashtag to shout-out your wins and positivity on social channels or contact us directly with your stories.

Send me a text with your questions

In this week's episode of the Affiliate Marketing Podcast, host Lee-Ann Johnstone sits down with Lauren Garner, VP of Demand Generation and Partnerships at Ascent Funding, to explore the dramatic transformation of affiliate marketing over the past two decades. From her accidental entry into the industry at age 19 to managing multi-million dollar affiliate programs across multiple platforms, Lauren shares invaluable insights on scaling affiliate operations, the critical mindset shifts required for success, and why treating affiliates as customers rather than suppliers is fundamental to program growth. This conversation offers a masterclass in strategic program management for experienced affiliate marketers looking to elevate their approach and navigate the complexities of modern partnership marketing.

Key segments of this podcast and where you can tune in to go direct:

[06:30] The three major industry transformations: platform proliferation, fraud protection, and data transparency.

[30:50] The importance of failure, rapid iteration, and creating a culture of learning

[32:26] Rapid-fire insights on mobile-first approaches, AI tools, and performance incentives.

Our thanks go to Everflow as this season’s sponsor. Would you like to talk about sponsoring our podcast, or gaining a brand mention? Take a look, here.

ELEVATE 2025: Time is running out to join the revolution!

Join us in London on July 15 and 16 for two days of pure performance marketing acceleration.

Check out the agenda, get your ticket AND get your entries in for the BRAND NEW AFFIVERSE RAV AWARDS here.

Miss it and miss out!

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