Happy Tuesday, and welcome to another Affiliate Pulse!
AI — there’s no getting away from it…even in this newsletter. This week, we look further at how the industry is adapting to the technological transformation, with hot takes from industry execs and new partnership launches.
And as affiliate grows, we hear from Alexander Feist, Head of Affiliate Marketing at Sage, about how brands best approach scale. Word on the street? Without structure and strong foundations, you won’t get far.
We’ve also got some words of wisdom from Silverbean’s Nick Russell: do less. When growth slips: pause, reflect and recalibrate.
Oh, and before we get on with the news, PI LIVE Level Up is right around the corner, March 26 to be exact. Come along for a day of workshops and skills training in *hopefully* sunny Bristol. We'd love to see you there.
Now, here's the news.
In today's newsletter:
- Pick of the day: "AI's Real Role is Recommendation" Industry Reacts to ChatGPT Checkout U-Turn
- Trending: Partnerize and Profound Partner to Build Out Zero-Click Commerce Infrastructure
- Industry Insight: More Isn’t Always Better
Pick of the day
"AI's Real Role is Recommendation" Industry Reacts to ChatGPT Checkout U-Turn
OpenAI recently announced it was backtracking on its ChatGPT instant checkout. With users uninterested, merchants absent and a number of technical and compliance issues, it was all over before it ever really began.
But as the news hit the headlines, some industry players say they saw this coming.
We heard from Matt Gilbert, CEO of Partnerize; Ian Brodie, CEO and Co-founder of Levanta; Rob Berrisford, Founder of affiliate.ai and RevenueStack; and Mike Jaconi, CEO and Co-founder of Button, to find out what signal this sends to the industry.
🤩 We're Heading to DealMaker
The Hello Partner team is excited to attend DealMaker Europe on March 25th, so make sure to reach out and connect.
Keep an eye out for our sales team – Drew Cameron and Danyon Billings — who will be on hand to discuss all things sponsorship for PI LIVE Europe.
Jen Poulston will be on site chatting with brands about joining our Hosted Meetings programme. Brands receive free VIP access, up to £450 in travel support, and a curated schedule of double opt-in meetings. Any brands looking for guaranteed ROI at PI LIVE Europe or Creatorfest should definitely look for her!
Also attending is Hello Partner Founder and CEO, Matthew Wood, who will be available to chat in between judging the 2026 Golden Link Awards (GLAs) Europe.
And finally, Sol Wilkinson will be on the ground, keeping his finger on the pulse of the industry, while I’m covering talks, conducting interviews and exploring what’s on the horizon for affiliate and performance.
There are also some BIG prizes at our stand with a special Pick, Pop & Play balloon challenge. Head over, say hello and maybe get your hands on something bubbly 🍾
Trending
What's hot on Hello Partner right now
Designing Global Affiliate Programmes That Scale With Confidence
Global affiliate growth only works when structure comes first, says Alexander Feist, Head of Affiliate Marketing at Sage.
Partnerize and Profound Partner to Build Out Zero-Click Commerce Infrastructure
The collaboration aims to measure, verify and compensate brand influence in the AI era.
From CAC to Co Brands Partner Marketing That Delivers
Ready to elevate your growth game? Watch this engaging session for those seeking scalable success through influencer, affiliate, and partner channels, as tried and tested frameworks are shared, helping you efficiently grow your user base without burnout.
What to Expect at Rakuten Advertising DealMaker Europe 2026
With big names, deep insights, and industry wins, this year’s Rakuten Advertising DealMaker Europe will be a jam-packed day.
USPA News 🎉
In other exciting news, we’ve now officially launched our complete panel of judges for the first-ever digital edition of the USPAs!
We’ve got some exciting newcomers joining the panel, alongside some familiar faces, and with entries now closed, they’ll shortly be gathering to crown the winners of the 2026 awards.
You can see our full lineup of expert judges here.
Industry Insight
Stay at the top of your game
More isn’t always better, says Nick Russell, SMB Growth Lead at Silverbean.
According to Nick, when growth decelerates in affiliate marketing, brands panic and throw everything they have at a programme, whether that’s more partners or more channels.
But that’s not what brands actually need to do.
“It's like adding more petrol to your car, but then realising that your tyres are flat. Or maybe you don't even have tyres. Or an engine. Doesn't matter, we can still get there with more petrol.”
Instead, Nick recommends a detox — but don’t worry, he’s not putting you on to juice cleanses and sauna sweat-outs.
He’s talking affiliate detox.
That means pausing and reviewing programmes. Nick says, truth be told, there are usually at least five activities that could be removed that would result in enhanced performance, time-saving, and what he calls “true incremental growth.”
“Rather than rushing in and doing more, pause for a moment and work out if you can get the same results (or better) by running a bit of an affiliate detox.”
☀️What are you up to next Thursday?☀️
PI LIVE Level Up is almost upon us. Held in the sublime setting of Bristol Harbourside at the iconic M Shed, Thursday 26th May is your chance to connect, dive deep, and network.
And if you haven't signed up yet, what are you waiting for? Grab your tickets and pick your workshops. It’s first come first serve, so book your sessions today!
Amusing Affiliates
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Location: London, UK
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Until next time,
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Madaline Dunn Community Editor Email me Connect with me on LinkedIn |
