If you’re serious about making this year your best yet for your affiliate program and affiliate marketing, you’ve got to commit to doing things the right way. Today, I’m sharing 10 resolutions that will set you up for a year to remember. Trust me…if you follow what I share, you’ll take your business (and your life) to a whole new level.
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Links/Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Turn Your Passions into Profits Book
Meet Edgar Social Media Scheduler
Affiliate Activation Email Templates
TEXT ME – +1 260-217-4619
Previous Episodes of The Affiliate Guy
The 10 Commandments of Building a Winning Affiliate Program
Should Your Affiliate Program be on a Network or In-House?
Oops! This Affiliate Program Totally Blew It (Here’s How to Avoid Their Mistake)
7 Things Every Affiliate Manager Needs to Know About the Holiday Season
New Year’s Resolutions for Both Affiliate Managers and Affiliate Marketers
So happy (almost) New Year! My family and I are now entering week three of whatever virus or viruses we’ve had. And let me tell you—it has NOT been fun. I know I’ve had a couple of episodes where I aired an oldie but a goodie. Last week, we even aired a special episode where we gave you access to a training.
This week, I’m hoping it’s the final week I have to air one of these older episodes. Because honestly, I miss being here, talking to you in real time. But you know what? The timing couldn’t be better. If I had to record an episode this week, I would have ended up recording this one anyway and saying pretty much the same things I said last year at this exact time—right after the New Year.
Last year, I shared “10 New Year’s Resolutions for Affiliate Managers and Affiliates.” And since I’m still struggling to record an entire episode without having a massive coughing fit multiple times, I figured this was the perfect episode to revisit. I’m on the road to recovery, though. Thank you to everyone who reached out—those who texted, sent well wishes, and offered prayers. You have no idea how much I appreciate that.
Hopefully, by next week, we’ll be back at it because I have some really great episodes planned for the New Year that I don’t want to delay. Some of them won’t make as much sense if they air in late January instead of early January. So, fingers crossed I’ll be back soon.
With that, let’s jump into this episode: “The 10 New Year’s Resolutions That Affiliates and Affiliate Managers Should Be Making for 2025.”
And here’s the funny part—I even say this at the beginning of the episode: No matter when you’re listening to this, everything I’m sharing applies. So even if you’re listening in the middle of summer in 2026, these resolutions still hold true.
Let’s Get Started!
First off, Happy New Year! It’s kind of cool—while I don’t believe in New Year’s resolutions, I do believe in goals. But there is something special about turning the page on the calendar. People have asked me when I talk about goal setting, “Why now? Can’t you set a goal anytime?” Absolutely. I set goals in August. Sometimes I set goals in December. Just the other day, our team set a goal for the end of January. Why? Because that’s when the idea came up, and it made sense.
That said, there’s something symbolic about a new year. Even though it’s an arbitrary point in time, it gives us a mental fresh start. But if you’re listening to this in March, set these resolutions for the next ten months. If you’re listening in June, start now!
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Remember that old Chinese proverb: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” The same applies here. The best time to implement these resolutions is today.
10 Resolutions for Affiliate Marketers and Managers
I’m going to share five resolutions for affiliate marketers and five for affiliate managers and program owners. Most of you listening fall into both categories, so all ten will apply. And yes, I have a bonus one at the end!
Resolution #1: Learn How to Use AI Properly
AI is everywhere, and while it’s a game changer, there’s also a lot of garbage AI content floating around. The key is knowing how to use it effectively. You need to train it just like you would a copywriter. If you hire a copywriter who has never read your emails, blog posts, or social media content, they’ll write something that sounds completely off-brand. AI works the same way. You have to train it to understand your voice.
When I first started using ChatGPT, I loaded in about 100 of my best-performing emails. Then, I added 50 of my worst-performing ones and asked AI to analyze the differences. The insights were eye-opening. I also gave it rules based on my communication style—like keeping the reading level at a sixth-grade level for maximum clarity and engagement.
This process applies to social media too. I fed AI around 400 of my most engaging posts and had it learn my style. Over time, it improved. Initially, I had to rewrite about 11 out of 15 sentences in AI-generated emails. Now, I only tweak one or two. The key is consistency and iteration.
So, if you haven’t embraced AI yet, make it a resolution to start using it and refining it to work for you.
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Resolution #2: Build Your Email List
Your email list is your most valuable asset. Social media algorithms change, platforms rise and fall, but your email list is yours. It gives you a direct connection to your audience without gatekeepers.
In my book Turn Your Passions into Profits, I outline how to build and grow your list effectively. (By the way, if you’re listening between January 2-10, 2024, you can get the Kindle version for just $0.99 at passionsintoprofitsbook.com.)
If you haven’t started building your list, start today. If you already have one, focus on growing and nurturing it more intentionally.
Resolution #3: Diversify Your Affiliate Promotions
It’s easy to fall into the trap of promoting the same products every year. I do it too. But make a resolution to mix things up—try new price points, new promotional methods, and new product types. Test new strategies like promoting summits or challenges.
Resolution #4: Get Out of Your Comfort Zone and Connect
Relationships drive affiliate marketing success. Resolve to reach out to other affiliates, participate in leaderboards, and build connections. Some of my best partnerships came from simply reaching out to fellow affiliates in a promo.
Resolution #5: Plan Your Promo Calendar at Least 90 Days Out
Many affiliates don’t plan ahead. Set your content and promo calendar at least three months in advance. This gives you clarity and prevents last-minute chaos.
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Final Thoughts
These resolutions can be adopted anytime—whether it’s January or June. The key is to take action.
Also, if you haven’t yet, grab my book Turn Your Passions into Profits while it’s on sale. And if you have any questions or takeaways, text me anytime at 260-217-4619.
Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming episodes, including my series on “The Six Pillars of Every Great Affiliate Program.” I’ll see you soon!