Consulting · Independent & network-neutral
Affiliate consulting – independent, network-neutral, actionable
You don't need another deck, you need a basis for decisions: which network fits, which commission model holds up, which publishers are worth it, and what the channel really costs. As an independent affiliate consultant with 15+ years of experience on the advertiser, publisher and network side, I audit your programme and hand you a prioritised action plan you can execute immediately – with or without me.
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What is affiliate consulting?
Affiliate consulting is the independent analysis and strategy work for your partner programme, separated from day-to-day execution. It covers an assessment of your current setup (network, tracking, commissions, publisher mix, validation), alignment with your business goals, and a concrete action plan with effort, impact and sequence. Unlike an agency that mainly sells retained hours, or a network that recommends its own product, my recommendation is free: if the right move is switching networks, building in-house or shutting down unprofitable partners, that is exactly what the result says.
What you take away from the engagement
- Programme audit with numbers – Assessment of revenue, EPC, publisher concentration, new-customer share, validation rate and cost of sale – including where margin leaks.
- Network & tech recommendation – Which network or SaaS platform fits your model, markets and budget – evaluated network-neutrally.
- Commission model design – Tiers, new-customer bonuses, basket logic and placements built to reward growth instead of subsidising sales you would have made anyway.
- Publisher strategy – Which partner types drive your growth, which ones you overpay, and which sources are still open in your market.
- Prioritised action plan – Every recommendation ranked by impact and effort – with a clear answer on what should happen in 30, 90 and 180 days.
Who is this for?
- Advertisers before launch – You want to launch a partner programme and avoid the expensive structural mistakes in network, tracking and commissions.
- Programmes that have plateaued – The programme has run for years, but revenue and publisher activity no longer move – and nobody can explain why.
- Companies doubting their agency – You pay a retainer and want an independent second opinion on whether performance and reporting hold up.
- In-house teams – Your team runs the programme and needs sparring, benchmarks and structure rather than another service layer.
How the engagement works
Four steps from first call to action plan – no pitch theatre.
- 1 · Intro call (free, 30 min) – Goals, status quo, markets and budget. By the end you know whether and where the potential is – with no obligation.
- 2 · Data access & audit – Read access to network and analytics. I review tracking, commissions, publisher mix, validation and competitive context.
- 3 · Findings session – We walk through the findings together: what works, what costs money, what is missing – backed by numbers, not gut feeling.
- 4 · Action plan & execution – A prioritised roadmap. You execute internally with selective support – or I take over programme management operationally.
Why independence changes the outcome
I have run affiliate programmes from all three perspectives: as an advertiser, as a publisher and as Country Manager on the network side. That 360° view is why my recommendations are rarely the most expensive option, but usually the most effective one. Over 15+ years, I have managed 100+ programmes, domestic and international, B2C and B2B. You work with me directly, not with a junior account manager.
Affiliate consulting FAQ
- What does affiliate consulting cost?
- The intro call is free. A compact programme audit is quoted as a fixed price, ongoing consulting as a day rate or retainer. You get a concrete quote up front – no hidden extras.
- How is consulting different from programme management?
- Consulting delivers analysis, strategy and a basis for decisions. Programme management is the ongoing operational steering. Many clients start with an audit and then decide whether to execute internally or hand over.
- Are you tied to an affiliate network?
- No. I receive no commission from networks or tool vendors. Recommendations follow your use case, markets and budget only.
- How long does a programme audit take?
- Usually two to three weeks from data access, depending on programme size, number of markets and data quality in the network.
- Do you consult internationally?
- Yes. I work in German, English, French and Spanish and have built and steered programmes across several European markets.
- What do you need from us to start?
- Read access to your affiliate network, ideally to web analytics, plus your objectives and margin frame. Nothing else is needed to begin.