Affiliate marketers often face the question: "Work solo or in a team?" It seems that working solo is challenging; you need to know and be capable of a lot. It's much easier to join a team where they welcome you with open arms and teach you everything, and even pay you.
Our editorial team spoke with the founders of affiliate marketing teams to learn about the reality of their work. Owners shared what skills an affiliate marketer must possess to become a buyer and how much one can earn within a team. They also offered some advice for novice affiliate marketers.
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Hello! What is the name of your team? On which verticals do you operate, and why these verticals?
Our team is called "Peaky." We strictly work on our projects, having long abandoned PPL and revshare. We run our own offers.
If a solo affiliate marketer has 100% profit from their activity, why would they join a team? How is the earnings of each team member calculated?
A solo affiliate marketer, having 100% profit, may join teams for a few reasons:
- Everyone needs to feed themselves and their families. Therefore, with 100% profit, you don't always have significant budgets for scaling a project.
- Connections often die out, traffic sources behave unstably. It's still easier to earn in a team, having a percentage.
If a project turns out to be unsuccessful and doesn't bring profit, what happens with the losses? Is the loss amount deducted from each buyer's salary?
We bear the losses ourselves; we have many unsuccessful projects. As they say, "The most successful people are actually big losers."
How to motivate buyers to work for the success of the entire team, not just for personal profit? Have there been situations where an affiliate marketer joined the team just to see "how it's done" and then left?
The first and main motivation is money. Besides work, we have a well-organized approach to leisure. This includes PS5, hookah, billiards, frequent attendance of various events. Of course, there are situations when a person comes only for information. That's why we completely abandoned remote work. Everyone is in the office, and everyone is happy.
What is the probability that a novice affiliate marketer will be accepted into a team? What do you pay attention to before bringing someone into the team?
Regarding beginners, it depends on how much of a beginner they are. We try to skip those who read on the internet or forums that affiliate marketing is easy. But those who have experience or a clear understanding of what it is and how it works, of course, are considered.
What is the working schedule in your team? How many hours a day does an affiliate marketer work in the team?
We don't have a schedule. It's there, but it's not. Everyone understands that the level of growth and income depends strictly on themselves. I often pass by the office at 2-3 a.m. and see that it's still not empty.
What is the structure of an affiliate marketing team? Is there a leader, or is everyone equal? What other specialists should be in the team? Who is responsible for what? Is there an optimal number of people for an affiliate marketing team?
In terms of structure, it's simple for us. Media buyers, others are outsourced. Programmers are not particularly needed in our projects. Designers either. We focus on search, so there's no need for creatives.
How much can an affiliate marketer earn in a team?
The income of an affiliate marketer always depends on their capabilities and needs. There's no exact figure for income. Sometimes it's $200-300, and sometimes it's tens of thousands.
By what methods does the team enhance its skills? Only through personal experience? Or are there other sources of knowledge? Who pays for courses if a buyer wants to take them?
We enhance our skills only through our tests. We don't collaborate with anyone; we always find information ourselves. Perhaps that's why when a particular traffic source behaves unstably, everything seems fine with us.
What advice can you share with novice affiliate marketers?
Advice for everyone who's just starting, and even for veterans: the most successful people are actually big losers. I've already talked about this. But there's more meaning in this phrase than it seems at first glance.
Hello! What's your name? What's the name of your team? What verticals do you work in? Why these verticals?
Hello, my name is Eugene, and I'm the founder of the Traffic Jack Team.
We focus on gambling and betting in traffic affiliate marketing. Over 7 years of work, we've concluded that these are the most stable and reliable verticals in this industry.
If a solo affiliate marketer has 100% profit from their activities, why join a team? How is the earnings of each team member calculated?
We're currently witnessing a growing trend towards team collaboration. It's evident that scaling is easier in a team due to the quick exchange of knowledge and experience. However, we also know cases where solo affiliate marketers achieve similar, and sometimes better, results. Solo affiliate marketing requires more effort due to the abundance of tasks, but it's also a more complex and creative approach.
If a project turns out to be unsuccessful and doesn't bring profit, what happens with the losses? Is the amount of losses subtracted from each buyer's salary?
The entire structure depends on the team itself. Each media buyer usually works with several sources simultaneously, and if one of them goes into the negative, the buyer takes responsibility. However, if the loss occurred not due to the buyer's fault, the company covers that loss.
How do you motivate buyers to work for the success of the entire team, not just for personal profit? Have there been situations where an affiliate marketer joined the team to see "how it's done" and then left?
Effective motivation includes good conditions and infrastructure that meet specialists' requirements. We've changed our hiring approach to avoid cases where employees used us for training and then left.
What's the likelihood that a novice affiliate marketer will be accepted into the team? What do you pay attention to before bringing someone into the team?
The opportunity for a novice affiliate marketer to join the team exists, but experience and knowledge play a crucial role. Without previous experience and an understanding of affiliate marketing, the chances decrease.
What's the work schedule in your team? How many hours a day does an affiliate marketer work in the team?
The media buyer profession is interesting but requires constant attention. Dependence on sources like Facebook and Google makes the work unpredictable. Working 24/7 is not uncommon, but the schedule heavily depends on sources and the buyer's motivation.
What's the structure of the affiliate marketing team? Is there a leader, or is everyone equal? What other specialists should be in the team?
The team structure includes farmers, junior buyers, buyers, and a team leader who coordinates the work. Affiliate managers, HR, recruiters, and accountants are also essential.
How much can an affiliate marketer earn in the team?
The buyer's salary depends on experience. On average, in our team, it's $4 000–$5 000.
How does the team improve its skills? Only through personal experience, or are there other sources of knowledge?
Communication, sharing experiences, and learning from mistakes are crucial. Internal training helps improve skills and avoid repeating mistakes.
What advice can you give to novice affiliate marketers?
Testing new affiliate programs, paying attention to tools, and continuous learning are key success factors. Remember that investing in quality education always pays off better than making mistakes on your own.
What's your name? What's the name of your team? What verticals do you work in? Why these verticals?
I'm Eugene, from KLm team. I work in the nutra vertical. About 3-4 years ago, I transitioned from the commodity business to affiliate marketing, and that's why nutra was closer and clearer.
If a solo affiliate marketer has 100% profit from their activities, why join a team? How is the earnings of each team member calculated?
The affiliate marketer's earnings involve a lot of testing and scaling profitable connections. Often, the % ROI in modern conditions leaves much to be desired. A solo affiliate marketer needs to understand the market, experienced managers, be able to pour into the negative for some time and then turn it into a positive. This requires a significant turnover.
I doubt that now you can get into affiliate marketing even with $3 000-5 000. In addition, holds and more complex tech impose their rules. Many guys who joined the team lost a significant portion of their personal funds in solo. There was no talk of 100% profit.
If a project turns out to be unsuccessful and doesn't bring profit, what happens with the losses? Is the amount of losses subtracted from each buyer's salary?
Buyers work for a % of profit, and the amount of losses is certainly calculated. The task of team leaders is to ensure that these losses are not too large, and the buyer can easily cover them during the calendar month and become profitable.
How do you motivate buyers to work for the success of the entire team, not just for personal profit? Have there been situations where an affiliate marketer joined the team to see "how it's done" and then left?
Corporate culture should show that they are part of something important, in this case, the team. Conducting contests, quarterly and annual awards. There have been cases where buyers left, and it's part of the team's affiliate marketing life, unfortunately, it will always happen.
I believe that the task of the team owner and top management is to create favorable conditions. So that people are always busy with work, and they are paid fairly in different periods of the team's life.
What is the likelihood that a beginner affiliate marketer will be accepted into the team? What do you pay attention to before bringing someone into the team?
The main factors are desire and a strong belief that you'll join a good team. Communication is crucial; immerse yourself in the community — it's relatively tight-knit. I always observe how a person communicates and presents themselves, even checking their current mood. We aim for collaboration, not resource draining.
What is the work schedule in your team? Is it standardized? Can participants work non-standard hours? How many hours a day does an affiliate marketer work in the team?
The main work moments revolve around Zoom meetings. Communication happens during working hours from 9-10 am to 6-8 pm. This includes buyers, team leaders, and the technical department. There's no fixed schedule as some prefer working at night, while others are more productive in the morning. We have a creative approach, but people are always available in the work chat.
What is the structure of your team? Is there a leader, or is everyone equal? Who is responsible for what?
I'm the owner of the team. The technical department, buyers, and team leaders follow the classic structure of a small team. There are leaders, buyers, and junior buyers who require a lot of advice and take some time to learn to think and work independently.
Is there an optimal number of people for an affiliate marketing team?
I heard somewhere that 10-15 people are optimal for one team, like a cell. A team can have 100-200 people, but for one cell to function, there should be about 10-15 people. I believe this doesn't disrupt communication, and the team operates smoothly.
How much can an affiliate marketer earn in the team?
Solo affiliate marketers, ranging from junior buyers to top buyers, can earn from $1 000-2 000 to $10 000.
How does the team improve its skills? Is it solely through personal experience, or are there other sources of knowledge? Who pays for courses if a buyer wants to take them?
Funding for courses and AI tools comes from the team's budget. Ongoing skill enhancement and learning are imperative. We actively incorporate AI tools into our operations, with my Telegram channel aptly named "KLm-team — AI tools." Communication, meetups, and conferences serve as the main sources of information. Personally, I've experienced substantial growth through participation and discussions in various groups. Being a part of select "private" communities is essential, if you catch my drift.
What advice can you give to novice affiliate marketers?
Affiliate marketing isn't a simple "money button." It entails structured efforts and the utilization of supplementary resources. Delve into the fundamentals, put in the work, and you'll discover your initial prosperous partnership. Foster communication. Some individuals will offer assistance, while regrettably, others may attempt to mislead you. Such is the nature of this industry. Best of luck, and keep the lines of communication open!
Conclusion
Every affiliate marketing team possesses its own distinct characteristics. Although the team's structure and personnel might share similarities, the internal dynamics, atmosphere, and work approach can diverge widely.
Being part of a team entails real work. It's a misconception to assume that team players have an easier path. Acquiring experience and achieving profits require effort, and no one will mentor a newcomer solely for their charm. Therefore, focus on improving your skills, demonstrate perseverance and patience, engage with your peers, and success will follow. Whether an affiliate marketer opts for a team-oriented approach is a matter of personal preference.
