Marketing Operators E048: Scaling with Affiliate Marketing: What’s Working for Leading DTC Brands, with Aaron Paul
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Feb 25, 2025 Aaron Paul, founder of the affiliate marketing agency Paul Street, shares his deep insights into the world of affiliate marketing, drawing from his experience with top DTC brands like Onnit and HelloFresh. He discusses the crucial shift towards content-driven affiliates and why traditional media buying may not always be effective. Aaron highlights common pitfalls like over-reliance on coupon sites and emphasizes building trust with affiliates. He also explores innovative strategies, including hybrid agreements and the importance of community engagement in accelerating growth.
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Aaron Paul's Entry into Digital Marketing
- Aaron Paul's interest in DTC marketing began when he encountered difficulty ordering Warby Parker glasses to Bahrain.
- This sparked his curiosity in digital marketing, leading him to work with cinemagraphs, affiliate programs, and eventually founding Paul Street.
Affiliate Marketing's Impact on Facebook & Brands
- Early Facebook's algorithm was built on affiliate marketers exploiting arbitrage opportunities with often-fraudulent products.
- Many successful modern brands originated from this era, using tactics like advertorials and landing pages.
Shift from Arbitrage to LTV
- Early affiliate marketing focused on arbitrage, exploiting cheap CPMs on platforms like Facebook.
- As costs rose, the focus shifted from short-term product-based arbitrage to long-term brand building and LTV.