Platforms like Zagged use a "clipping" strategy, where hundreds of creators post UGC-style videos about a product. This floods platforms like TikTok with seemingly organic content, generating huge top-of-funnel awareness at extremely low CPMs ($3-4) and lowering blended CPAs.

A 'one-size-fits-all' commission fails to motivate top performers. Advanced affiliate programs use dynamic compensation, tailoring CPA rates by affiliate quality, customer type (new vs. returning), and specific SKUs to create the most compelling incentives.

Instead of treating all channels equally, identify which customer segments (e.g., brand advertisers) are best served by which channels (e.g., TV screens). Shifting demand accordingly can unlock massive growth by optimizing the entire portfolio and increasing customer ROI.

The pool of potential media buyers extends beyond traditional media. Any business paying a "toll" to Google or Facebook for customers is a strategic acquirer for a media asset that owns a direct audience in its niche. This reframes media M&A as a CAC-reduction strategy for non-media companies like Uber.

Top affiliates receive hundreds of offers daily. If a brand's offer fails to convert traffic on the first attempt, the affiliate will rarely give it a second chance. The onus is on the brand to have a perfectly optimized funnel before engaging with premier affiliates.

The brand runs paid ads on Meta specifically to recruit new affiliates. The ads are profitable on their own from direct product sales to people signing up. This creates a powerful growth loop: they acquire customers profitably while simultaneously building an army of affiliates who then generate even more sales.

Instead of a passive, open-ended affiliate program, create concentrated launch windows (e.g., one week) with a public leaderboard and prizes. This injects competition and urgency, motivating affiliates to push far harder than they would in a standard, always-on program.

Frame marketing strategy not as managing channels, but as "day-trading attention." Identify platforms where user attention is high but advertising costs are low due to a lack of saturation from major brands. This arbitrage opportunity allows smaller players to achieve outsized results before the market corrects.

A powerful first move for a new brand is leveraging community-driven affiliate platforms. By getting the product into the hands of engaged creators in relevant communities, a brand can build authentic word-of-mouth and generate multi-million dollar revenue before ever investing in traditional CRM or paid media channels.