Let’s just say it: a lot of people in affiliate marketing are stuck in a time warp. Like, still using 2016 strategies and expecting 2025 results.
But—brace yourself—the game has shifted. And it’s not shifting slowly either. It’s barreling forward like a Tesla on autopilot (minus the weird bugs that sometimes crash into stationary objects).
Thing is, people resist change. I get it. Change is exhausting. Even scary. It’s so much easier to rinse and repeat that old funnel or stick with the autopilot solo ads strategy that gave you some dopamine hits a few years back.
But here’s the kicker: that safety net? It’s now a trap.
Let’s talk about what needs to go. Like, yesterday.
1. Solo Ads Without Soul (Cold Traffic Is Colder Than Ever)
You know those email blasts you buy for $50 that promise 1,000 eyeballs? Yeah, those. People are still doing that—and scratching their heads wondering why nothing’s converting.
I used to swear by solo ads. Seriously. 2017? I made bank. But now? It’s like yelling into an empty hallway. Echoes and ghost clicks.
Why?
Because you’re tossing your offer to people who didn’t ask for it, don’t know you, and probably don’t even remember signing up to that list in the first place.
Here’s a better way:
Warm them up. Build a weird little funnel that gives first—like, actually gives. A checklist. A free tool. A funny story that hits home.
Relationships over randomness. It’s slower, sure, but when you build trust? Your links get clicked and your stuff gets bought.
2. High Commissions = High Chaos (Not All That Glitters…)
Okay, let’s address the gold rush mentality. Just because something pays $500 per sale doesn’t mean it’s good. Or even usable.
Some affiliates promote these Frankenstein products because, well, the payout is sexy. I get the temptation. You see that three-figure commission flash and it’s like a slot machine jackpot ringing in your brain.
But what happens when people buy and feel duped?
Refunds. Angry emails. Or worse—your credibility is toast. People remember when you sell them trash wrapped in glitter.
Instead, get behind stuff you’ve actually used. Stuff that helped you. Or at least something that doesn’t make you cringe when you see the sales page.
People can smell fake. And fake doesn’t convert anymore. It gets ignored—or blocked.
3. Using Swipe Files Like Gospel (Please Stop Copy-Pasting)
Vendor swipe files are like IKEA instructions for a bookshelf that’s already missing half the screws.
They’re a decent starting point, sure. But you can’t just copy-paste and expect magic.
Everyone on the list has seen that subject line before. The one that says “You’ve gotta see this before midnight.” Yeah, Gary from three lists already sent that. Three times.
Here’s the deal: write emails like you’re writing to one person. A friend. Your cousin. That guy you met at a weird networking event who asked, “What exactly is affiliate marketing?”
Use your voice. Messy, imperfect, slightly unhinged sometimes. That’s what cuts through the noise. People buy from people—not templates.
4. Avoiding Video Like It’s a Trap (Spoiler: It’s Not)
This one’s gonna sting.
If you’re still hiding behind long blog posts and faceless funnels, you’re missing the biggest party on the internet. Video isn’t the future anymore. It’s the present. Like, loud and screaming in your face present.
Reels, Shorts, TikToks—whatever the format, the point is: people want to see you.
I remember shooting my first short-form video and cringing the entire time. My lighting sucked. My dog barked halfway through. But guess what? It converted better than any polished funnel I’d built in months.
Your face is the funnel now. Don’t like it? Fine. Use your voice. Use B-roll. But DO something with video. Because attention is currency—and video’s the vault.
5. The Myth of the One-Funnel Empire (Spoiler: It Dies Eventually)
Ah yes, the legendary evergreen funnel.
Build it once. Set it. Forget it. Let the commissions roll in forever…
Except, they don’t. At least not forever.
Funnels age. Emails lose punch. CTAs get ignored. It’s like trying to sell floppy disks in 2025—nostalgic, but kinda useless.
The smarter move?
Create micro-journeys. Test weird angles. Follow up with people who clicked but ghosted. Build little rabbit holes that people want to fall into.
Automate intelligently. Not blindly.
People don’t just want information—they want transformation. And transformation doesn’t always come in three emails and a one-time offer.
So… Are You Still Holding On?
Here’s the raw truth: affiliate marketing isn’t dead—but old affiliate marketing is rotting quietly in the back alley of the internet.
And the longer you hold onto it? The further behind you fall.
The good news (yes, there is good news): You don’t have to burn it all down. Just… light a match under the stuff that’s no longer working. Toss the old scripts. Rewrite the rules.
I’ll leave you with this:
👉 Start showing up, not hiding.
👉 Start giving more than you take.
👉 Stop chasing the next big thing—and build something real.
👉 And maybe—for once—ditch the funnel you downloaded from that $17 course in 2019.
You’re not here to blend in. You’re here to build freedom. Income. Impact.
And if that means getting a little messy along the way? So be it.
Your future audience—the one that hasn’t discovered you yet? They’re waiting for the evolved version of you.
Not the copycat. Not the shortcut-taker. The real you.
So… ready to make the shift?
Because the clock’s ticking, and the old ways aren’t coming back.
If you want to learn what works in Affiliate Marketing create your Free account at MAP today.
