Ep. 195 - Leave the Hamster Wheel and Get Unstuck ft. Ralph Burns
Feb 10, 2025
auto_awesome
Ralph Burns, Founder & CEO of Tier 11 and host of Perpetual Traffic, shares valuable insights for affiliate marketers and media buyers eager to thrive. He discusses overcoming corporate struggles to achieve affiliate success, emphasizing the importance of strategic hiring and data-driven decision-making. Ralph reveals how outsourcing can unlock business growth and highlights emerging trends like micro and nano influencers. Tune in for tips on navigating the challenges of privacy regulations and creating thriving collaborations in the evolving affiliate landscape!
Data privacy is crucial for affiliates and media buyers, necessitating a shift towards first-party data strategies and third-party attribution tools.
Micro and nano influencers are becoming essential in advertising due to their engaged audiences, providing more authentic endorsements and high ROI.
Transitioning from affiliate marketing to agency work allows for a more stable business model, emphasizing community impact over fluctuating affiliate offers.
Deep dives
Challenges of Data Privacy in Media Buying
Data privacy is becoming increasingly critical for media buyers and affiliates. With cookie deprecation and the implementation of various privacy laws, currently impacting 42% of the U.S. population, managing data effectively is essential. As privacy regulations continue to expand, particularly in 2025, businesses must adapt by embracing first-party data strategies and utilizing third-party attribution tools. This shift in focus aims to enhance data collection and usage for better decision-making in ad spending.
The Rise of Micro and Nano Influencers
Micro and nano influencers are emerging as valuable assets in modern advertising strategies. Brands are finding that these smaller influencers, with follower counts between 10,000 to 100,000 or even below, often provide more effective content due to their engaged audiences. These influencers typically have not burned out their follower lists, making their endorsements more authentic and impactful. Leveraging these relationships can lead to high returns on investment, especially as creative content becomes increasingly important in media buying.
Transitioning from Affiliate Marketing to Agency Model
The journey from being a successful affiliate marketer to running an agency can provide both personal and professional fulfillment. Many affiliates realize that they can have a more stable business model by helping other companies grow, rather than solely relying on the fluctuations of affiliate offers. For instance, creating value for clients in local markets helped in establishing a reputation and clientele, leading to a thriving agency. The transition emphasizes the importance of community impact, which can be more rewarding than the affiliate model.
Importance of SOPs and Efficient Hiring
Establishing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and effective hiring practices is crucial for expanding an agency successfully. By documenting processes and allowing team members to learn and produce their own SOPs, managers can create a cohesive and efficient workflow that reduces dependency on any single individual. The philosophy of hiring for will rather than solely for skill emphasizes that motivated and enthusiastic individuals can drive success, as they often learn and adapt quickly. This approach fosters a collaborative environment where team members are encouraged to grow and excel.
Emphasizing Community and Relationships
Building strong relationships within the industry is vital for long-term success in digital marketing and advertising. Many successful entrepreneurs credit their achievements to networking and forging connections, which can lead to collaborative opportunities and new business ventures. Engaging with local business groups or attending industry events can also lead to fruitful partnerships and broaden one's knowledge base. Companies that prioritize community and relationship-building not only contribute positively to their local economies but also strengthen their business foundations.
Ralph Burns joins the ClickBank Affiliated podcast to discuss various ways that you can make 2025 a success as an affiliate marketing and media buyer. He also outlines how to look for a good hire and new trends that you need to be aware of going into the new year.
Ralph Burns is the founder & CEO at Tier 11 as well as the host of the hit podcast, Perpetual Traffic. He helps purpose-driven businesses achieve their vision through metrics that matter and growth that scales using his 20+ years of internet marketing experience and 25+ years of sales and sales management experience.