Award-winning affiliate manager Matt McWilliams has worked with Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, Lewis Howes, Michael Hyatt, and Jeff Walker to run their affiliate programs and coach their affiliate teams.

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Guest Resource

Your First 100 Affiliates – Get The Strategies I Used to Recruit 604 Affiliates and Build a $1.1 Million/Month Affiliate Program in Only 18 Months.

3 Value Bombs

1) You do not necessarily need more information or know-how. It is about surrounding yourself with the right people. Sometimes, it is beneficial to be the least knowledgeable person in the room.

2) The key is not putting all your eggs in one basket. Many may question working with small affiliates who might only make a few sales initially. However, these affiliates have the potential to grow.

3) Reconsider, if you think you do not need an affiliate program. Starting one and finding your first 20 to 100 affiliates might not be easy, but it is possible.

Sponsors

HubSpot: Stop spending more time managing tools than connecting with prospects and customers. HubSpot’s customer platform is a smoother, more effective way to grow! Visit HubSpot.com to learn more!

ThriveTime Show: Want to meet me, JLD?! Attend Clay Clark’s 2-Day Interactive Business Workshop & meet me – JLD – Tim Tebow, & Clay Clark this June! Learn More & Request Your Ticket At ThrivetimeShow.com/EOFire!

Show Notes

**Click the time stamp to jump directly to that point in the episode.

Today’s Audio MASTERCLASS:  Going from $0 to $1M a Month with an Affiliate Program with Matt McWilliams

[1:07] – Matt shares something he believes about becoming successful that most people disagree with.

• You do not necessarily need more information or know-how. It is about surrounding yourself with the right people. Sometimes, it is beneficial to be the least knowledgeable person in the room.

[1:58] – What is an affiliate program and why do you need one?

• At its core, affiliate marketing has roots dating back 5000 years.
• Over the years, technology has enhanced this concept. Matt’s over 19 years in the industry,  he recalls starting their first affiliate program in 2005 out of desperation. They found four key benefits: earning before spending, paying for performance, avoiding targeting guesswork, and attracting warmer prospects through third-party endorsements.
• Affiliate success often leads to more success through word-of-mouth and community connections, resulting in a ripple effect of growth.

[5:57] – Matt talks about the lies most business owners believe about affiliates.

• The first misconception is that businesses do not need an affiliate program because they can rely solely on platforms like Facebook or LinkedIn. However, relying solely on these platforms can be risky. Diversifying sales channels through an affiliate program can mitigate this risk.
• The second misconception is that growing an affiliate program requires extensive connections or reciprocal promotions. In reality, it is possible to recruit affiliates even without prior connections or reciprocal agreements.
• It is a common misconception that most sales will come from a few top affiliates. However, this is not necessarily true, as successful affiliate programs often see sales spread out among a large number of affiliates, rather than being concentrated among just a few.

[8:53] – How can you get your first 20 affiliates by stealing your competitors’ affiliates, where do you start?

• When Matt started his first affiliate program in 2005, he did not have any connections. So he asked himself a crucial question: “Who already has my audience?” He realized that his competitors’ affiliates were the perfect fit.
• Despite these affiliates being small, Matt reached out to them and gradually built up his program. Within four to five months, they were making $10,000 a week, which was a significant success for their startup. However, things took a turn when their biggest competitor, with a $100 million annual affiliate program, was acquired by a larger company.
• Matt feared they would be overshadowed and driven out of business. But in a stroke of inspiration, he reached out to his competitor’s affiliates, offering personal attention and care that the larger company could not match.
• This approach paid off handsomely, as within six months, Matt’s program grew from $40,000 to $70-120,000 per month. Through personalized engagement and differentiation, they ultimately reached over a million dollars per month, a significant achievement for their program, even though it was just a fraction of the competitor’s size.

[13:17] – A timeout to thank our sponsors!

• HubSpot: Stop spending more time managing tools than connecting with prospects and customers. HubSpot’s customer platform is a smoother, more effective way to grow! Visit HubSpot.com to learn more!
• ThriveTime Show: Want to meet me, JLD?! Attend Clay Clark’s 2-Day Interactive Business Workshop & meet me – JLD – Tim Tebow, & Clay Clark this June! Learn More & Request Your Ticket At ThrivetimeShow.com/EOFire!

[16:18] – What is an affiliate army and how the heck do you build one?

• It is exactly what it sounds like, an army of advocates all spreading the word about you. It is about having an army of supporters praising your product or service to their audience. Even with smaller companies.
• The key is not putting all your eggs in one basket. Many may question working with small affiliates who might only make a few sales initially. However, these affiliates have the potential to grow.
• By supporting them early on, you build loyalty that lasts for years. Some of these affiliates may become significantly larger over time, and they’ll remain loyal to you. That is why it is crucial to build and nurture this army of advocates.

[20:23] – How to get affiliates motivated to sell more?

• This is like the secret sauce for Matt’s agency. Over the years, he has found five effective ways to motivate affiliates, regardless of niche or program size.

• 1. Co-branding adds a personal touch to the affiliate’s promotion, like using custom graphics or coupon codes.
  2. Training affiliates on how to sell more can significantly boost their performance.
  3. Building a community of affiliates creates a sense of camaraderie and mission, driving engagement.
  4. Hosting time-bound events like launches or webinars generates excitement and urgency.
  5. Implementing leaderboards fosters healthy competition among affiliates, motivating them to strive for higher rankings.

• These strategies have consistently proven to increase affiliate engagement and drive results.

[24:20] – Matt gives his takeaway.

• Reconsider, if you think you do not need an affiliate program. Starting one and finding your first 20 to 100 affiliates might not be easy, but it is possible.

[24:50] – Matt gives his call to action.

• Your First 100 Affiliates – Get The Strategies I Used to Recruit 604 Affiliates and Build a $1.1 Million/Month Affiliate Program in Only 18 Months.

[25:18] – Thank you to our Sponsors!

• HubSpot: Stop spending more time managing tools than connecting with prospects and customers. HubSpot’s customer platform is a smoother, more effective way to grow! Visit HubSpot.com to learn more!
• ThriveTime Show: Want to meet me, JLD?! Attend Clay Clark’s 2-Day Interactive Business Workshop & meet me – JLD – Tim Tebow, & Clay Clark this June! Learn More & Request Your Ticket At ThrivetimeShow.com/EOFire!

Killer Resources!

1) The Common Path to Uncommon Success: JLD’s 1st traditionally published book! Over 3000 interviews with the world’s most successful Entrepreneurs compiled into a 17-step roadmap to financial freedom and fulfillment!

2) Free Podcast Course: Learn from JLD how to create and launch your podcast!

3) Podcasters’ Paradise: The #1 podcasting community in the world!

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