Affiliate Has Changed — Is Your CPA Only Strategy Holding You Back?

Not all partnerships are worth the spend—here’s how to tell.

We've talked a lot about organic CPA driven affiliate coverage—you know, those beautiful earned placements where editors genuinely love your product and feature it because it deserves the spotlight. But let's be real: sometimes organic just isn't cutting it, and you need a placement with guaranteed results.

Enter paid affiliate partnerships.

If you've been wondering how to navigate the world of cashback sites, loyalty programs, and paid placements—or if you've ever stared at a budget allocation wondering where the hell to spend it for maximum impact—this one's for you!

But first, a couple of headlines and a hot tip:

Are you working with YouTube Creators? They just announced new ways for creators to earn with brand partnerships, including swappable sponsorship slots in long-form videos and linkable brand deals in Shorts. The new Creator Partnerships Hub in Google Ads will help brands easily connect with the right creators.

YouTube Shopping continues rapid growth, reporting that GMV (Gross Merchandise Volume) is up 5X year-over-year and now expanding to Brazil with major merchants like Nike, Etsy, and Best Buy. AI will also auto-tag products in videos, streamlining shopping integrations and boosting creator revenue! Read more here.

Penske Media (owner of Variety, Rolling Stone, and more) has sued Google, alleging its AI Overviews misuse their journalism and divert traffic away from publisher sites. PMC says the feature has cut affiliate revenue by more than a third since 2024, threatening the sustainability of independent media. Google argues AI Overviews actually expand discovery and benefit users. Though the suit was filed a couple of weeks ago, it’s one to watch closely… it could set a precedent that shapes the future of editorial publishing. Get up to speed here.

Hot Tip