Watch the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT74EBjBc5Q

The post Affiliate Nerd Out Podcast with Dustin Howes appeared first on Niels Zee.

In September 2023, I lost 95% of my traffic overnight. One morning, my dashboards were a sea of red. It felt like the end.

I’m not exaggerating when I say, “I get it” when so many people are claiming “Affiliate SEO is dead.” The negative sentiment is real and comes from lived experience (an experience I’ve absolutely lived, felt, and hated).

But here’s the thing, affiliate marketing is not dead. At least not if you’re willing to change. What’s dead is relying only on SEO.

I joined Gundeep Grover on The Business Playbook to share my story of how I rebuilt after that loss, why SEO fragility is forcing affiliates to adapt, and how getting into the Google Ads game gave me my most profitable months and an actual future as an affiliate marketer. 

Life as an affiliate is only dead or over when you give up hope or refuse to change. 

If you’re willing to fight for what you’ve built and want to future-proof your sites, this episode will show you what’s still possible.

Watch the podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqH-OAcaCqM

The post The Truth About Affiliate SEO in 2025: What Works vs What’s Dead appeared first on Niels Zee.

I went deep on my Google Ads pivot story with Niche Pursuits Podcast

In this episode, we covered:

• The exact moment I realized SEO alone was too fragile.
• How I went from loss to record profits by optimizing content for conversion.
• The metrics that actually matter: Revenue per Page, EPC, EPV.
• How I manage 3,000+ landing pages at scale.
• Why negotiating higher commissions is easier once you bring the right data to the table.

If you want to see how affiliates can leverage paid traffic for scalable, predictable profit, this episode is full of actionable insights.

Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euxo1h-X7Pc

The post How I Pivoted to Google Ads for Big Profits! appeared first on Niels Zee.

This episode breaks down the smartest moves you can make right now to stay ahead and cash in as an affiliate marketer. 

In this conversation with Greg, I share my journey from losing €40K overnight to scaling a 7-figure portfolio, writing The Payout Mafia, and launching Afframp to help affiliates win with Google Ads.

We covered:

• How the Helpful Content Update reshaped my business
• Why pivoting is the #1 skill affiliates need in 2025
• Using Google Ads to break past the SEO ceiling
• How to get above-market commission rates
• The best niches and verticals I see right now
• How to build a relevant, future-proof business
• How to avoid burnout while scaling big
  

If you’re an affiliate (new or experienced) who wants to thrive in 2025, this episode is packed with lessons you can use right away.

Listen here → https://empireflippers.com/how-top-affiliates-are-still-cashing-in/

The post The Opportunity Podcast: Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Dead: How Top Affiliates Are Still Cashing In With Niels Zee appeared first on Niels Zee.

The post Affiliate SEO Isn’t Dead: Here’s What Still Works in 2025 : Niels Zee Podcast appeared first on Niels Zee.

Let me share what’s changing

Affiliate marketing isn’t dying, it’s evolving.

The “build a site, rank, and bank” days are over.
Google updates, AI search, and new buyer habits have changed the game.
But people still buy, just differently.
They buy from people and brands they trust.

Brand beats backlinks.

A website alone won’t protect your business anymore.
Your brand will.
When people see you on YouTube, LinkedIn, email, and even Reddit, you stop being “just another affiliate.”
You become the voice they trust. And when that happens, clicks and commissions follow you.

You can’t scale alone.

I’ve been there. Writing every review, editing every headline, chasing every keyword.
You burn out fast.
Growth happens when you delegate and build systems instead of doing everything yourself.
That’s how you move from freelancer to business owner.

The smartest affiliates are becoming creators.

It’s no longer SEO vs. TikTok vs. YouTube.
It’s all of them, working together.
Turn your best-performing posts into short videos.
Add a clear call to action.
Build an audience that remembers you.
That’s how you earn more and close better deals.

When you bring value, ask for more.

If a brand benefits from your traffic, don’t be shy.
Ask for higher commissions or hybrid deals (a mix of sponsorship + affiliate backend).
Show your numbers. Use competitor data as leverage.
This isn’t begging, it’s good business.

Own something.

Every successful affiliate reaches the same point. Traffic isn’t the end goal.
Ownership is.
Create your own product, SaaS, or info offer.
That’s where the real profit and control come from.

The mindset shift

2025 isn’t about gaming algorithms.
It’s about being too strong to game.
Build a real brand. Build a loyal audience. Build systems that scale.

Watch the full podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNViFizp8KQ

If you’re building a lasting affiliate brand, not just another site, this one’s for you.

The post Affiliate Marketing 2025: What’s Actually Working (and Why Most Still Fail) appeared first on Niels Zee.

In my talk, I shared how I run a sustainable SEO and affiliate business. I was honest about the hits too. Some of my sites were hurt by Google’s Helpful Content Update. Traffic dropped hard. Still, our profits grew. That’s the point of this post.

Why I Don’t Chase Only Traffic

More traffic sounds great. But it’s not always the best move.
Sometimes it’s smarter to improve conversion, average order value, or offer.
I look at the full funnel and fix the weakest step first.

My Growth Approach

I use a growth hacking mindset. Nothing fancy. Just discipline.

• I stay T-shaped: deep in SEO, fluent in other channels.
• I work the full funnel: awareness to referral.
• I measure everything and test often.
• I keep what works and kill what doesn’t.

Every channel gets less effective over time. People learn to ignore tactics.
So I adapt fast, run many tests, and let data decide.

Systems Beat Hustle

You can build a car, or build a factory that builds cars.
I choose the factory.

When a page hits a revenue threshold, my team runs a playbook:

• Improve CTAs and page layout.
• Check stock, ratings, and offers.
• Reorder products by earnings per click.
• Negotiate better commission with partners.
• Scale winners with ads and more coverage.

For content, we run a clean pipeline: keyword → brief → write → edit → QA → publish.
My job is to feed inputs and tune systems. The team handles execution.

Culture Is the Glue

We hire and work by a few simple values:

• Extreme ownership
• Create lasting profit
• Stay curious and keep learning
• Care for people and family

Values only matter if you live them. We do.

Metrics That Matter

Three numbers guide most of my decisions:

• Revenue per page: which pages truly earn.
• Earnings per visitor: which topics deliver the most value per session.
• Earnings per click: which products deserve top placement.

Heat maps help too. Most visitors only see the top of a page.
So I place the highest-value products higher. Simple change, big results.

Watch the video here.

The post World of Search 2024 Manila: How I Build a Business That Lasts appeared first on Niels Zee.

In this episode of In The Query Podcast, I shared how I went from reviewing mattresses in my spare time to building Traffic Family, an affiliate portfolio now generating over €150K/month.
Here’s what I’ve learned along the way.

1. Don’t Buy Declining Sites

If a site has been hit by a Google penalty, skip it.
You can’t scale something that’s already broken.
I only buy sites with stable or growing traffic and clear room to expand.

2. Focus on One Thing

Everyone wants to do affiliate, e-commerce, and crypto all at once.
Pick a lane.
Getting one project to serious revenue takes real focus and consistency.

3. Start Small, Reinvent Fast

My first affiliate win was a sleep review site.
It made €500 during COVID with enough proof to double down.
Within two years, I scaled it from €500 → €10K → €100K+.
That’s when I went full time.

4. Diversify, But Smartly

Affiliate sites that depend only on SEO are at risk.
I’ve learned to balance with paid traffic, partnerships, and content diversification.
Don’t build a single-channel business.

5. Buy or Build with Love

I love sites built by real people, hobbyists who care about their niche.
You can feel it in the design, the writing, the details.
Cookie-cutter SEO sites? I skip them.

6. Think ROI, Not Hype

Every investment I make must pay itself back in three months.
If it doesn’t, I reallocate the money elsewhere.
Data decides, not emotions.

7. Build a Lean, Global Team

I work with 15 people: editors, outreach specialists, and VAs.
Everyone focuses on measurable impact.
If a task is repeatable, we systemize and outsource it.

8. Keep It Ethical

Affiliate marketing isn’t just about chasing high commissions.
If a lower-paying product serves users better, that’s the one we promote.
Long-term trust always beats short-term profit.

9. Focus on What Works

Avoid shiny new tools, AI shortcuts, or random niches.
Look at your data, find what works, and double down.

10. The Future of Affiliate

If you’re starting now, don’t rely on affiliate income alone.
Add info products and services.
That mix gives you stability and a real business model — not just commissions.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR_d7JQhqTE

The post From €0 to €100K/Month with Affiliate Marketing, My Real Journey appeared first on Niels Zee.

The conference has happened since then and it was a win. Manila showed up. Smart questions. Packed energy. Real operator conversations. I’m grateful to everyone who came, introduced themselves, and shared their playbooks.

Watch the full podcast here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIRWbZI_-xU

What we covered in the episode

• Why profit beats traffic (and how to align your team to it).
• The technical lift that took a site from 5M → 11M visits/month by fixing URL bloat and building smarter internal linking.
• How to choose affiliate offers: brand trust vs. commission, and fixing merchant UX issues.
• Tools I actually use: Ahrefs, Screaming Frog, Sheets. GA4 for high-level only.
• Content at scale: when results start showing (50–100 articles) and how to track payback per page.
• Simple paid strategy: use SEO data to set break-even CPC, then bid below it.
• Team and culture: Profit, Extreme Ownership, Pioneering, Family. Clear goals. No micromanaging. Honest comms.

“Traffic is a means. Profit funds the mission.”

WOSCON 2024 Manila — quick recap

• The community was curious and direct. My favorite kind of room.
• I had deep talks with founders, agencies, and in-house SEOs about unit economics, content velocity, and offer quality.
• The local hospitality was real. Thank you, Manila.
• Special thanks to Kirk and the team for a well-run event.

Why I’m sharing this now

The podcast was recorded before the event. Listening now gives context to my talk and the mindset I brought to Manila. If you’re growing an affiliate business or leading an SEO team and you’ll find practical ideas you can ship this week.

• Start with profit math.
• Fix crawl/index bloat before chasing new pages.
• Track revenue per page. Reinvest where payback is fastest.
• Build brand-safe lists your audience actually trusts.
• Hire A-players. Be clear. Be kind. Be direct.

Next steps

If this episode helps, share it with your team. If you want a second set of eyes on your model, landing pages, or offer mix, reach out.

See you on the next one.

The post From SEO to CEO: My WOSCON 2024 Pre-Event Podcast Guesting (and how Manila delivered) appeared first on Niels Zee.

I recently shared this story on James Oliver’s podcast, where we talked about building affiliate businesses that actually last and the mindset it takes to scale them.

Start with What You Love

If you’re starting out, choose a niche you actually care about. You’ll stick with it longer, and your content will feel more real. Begin with half informational and half commercial content — teach first, sell later.

Pick the Right Niche

Look for three things:

1. Size – Start small but think long-term.
2. Monetization – Pick topics with products or services that actually pay.
3. Language – Don’t limit yourself to your local market.

Avoid competing with big media sites like Forbes or CNN. Win where you can actually win.

Build a Small but Smart Team

I work with 15 people — writers, editors, virtual assistants, and a partnership team. Everyone’s remote. I don’t care when they work, only that they deliver.

Travel and Connect

I travel across Asia but stay longer in each place. The key isn’t the location — it’s the people. Surround yourself with others building cool things. Conferences are worth it. The best ideas and deals happen over casual chats, not formal meetings.

Build or Buy?

If you’re new, build your first site. You’ll learn everything by doing.
Once you understand the game, buy a site and scale faster.

Affiliate marketing takes patience, but once it clicks, it becomes a real passive income machine — working even while you sleep.

Watch the full Q&A interview with James Oliver here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGMyma0s1eg

The post From Sleepless Nights to 7-Figure Affiliate Income appeared first on Niels Zee.