Affiliate Marketing Isn’t Dead: How Top Affiliates Are Still Cashing In With Niels Zee [Ep.189]

Affiliate marketing is far from dead. In fact, it’s evolving faster than ever. While many have written it off as an outdated model, the smartest affiliates are quietly cashing in by adapting to shifts in algorithms, AI, and consumer behavior. In this week’s podcast, Greg sits down with Niels Zee, affiliate entrepreneur, author, and co-founder of Afframp. Niels breaks down what’s working in 2025 and how top affiliates continue to rack up big wins. Niels shares how the Google Helpful Content Update completely reshaped his entrepreneurial journey, pushing him to rethink strategies and embrace adaptability. He reveals why pivoting and staying flexible are the real superpowers for affiliates, and how to scale faster with tactics like negotiating above-market commission rates and using Google Ads to supercharge campaigns. We also dive into how to build long-term sustainability instead of chasing short-term wins, and how to evaluate offers that are actually worth promoting. Plus, Niels uncovers today’s most promising niches, explains why YouTube is becoming a must-use channel, and shares practical strategies for avoiding burnout in a high-pressure industry. Whether you’re new to affiliate marketing or a seasoned pro looking to sharpen your edge, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you thrive in 2025. Topics Discussed in this episode: How the Helpful Content Update changed Niels' entrepreneurial journey (02:00) The importance of pivoting and flexibility for affiliates (06:30) Using Google Ads to boost your affiliate business (14:27) How to get above-market commission rates (19:31) What top affiliates are doing to keep succeeding (23:59) How to build longevity as an affiliate (26:11) Evaluating a good affiliate offer (29:35) The best verticals and niches to operate in (32:45) Using YouTube to boost your affiliate business (35:19) How to avoid burnout while scaling your business (46:33) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our newsletter Afframp Niels site  Niels LinkedIn The Payout Mafia by James Dooley and Niels Zee Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to succeed as an affiliate in 2025 and beyond!

Personal brands are all the rage, marketed as the ultimate path to business growth and success. But what if the very thing that makes you stand out is also what’s keeping your business from scaling, or worse, from selling? In this week’s podcast, Greg Elfrink uncovers the hidden downsides of personal branding and why it’s not always the golden ticket people make it out to be. We break down Alex Hormozi’s personal branding journey, looking at how his meteoric rise highlights both the power and the pitfalls of building around a personal brand. While the strategy can create visibility, Greg explains why it often makes businesses fragile: customers are buying you, not the product. That dependence makes it difficult to delegate, grow, or eventually exit. That doesn’t mean personal brands have no place. As Greg points out, they’re valuable for thought leaders and creators building authority. But for founders who want freedom and scalability, relying too heavily on a personality creates risk. Even more concerning, when it comes time to sell, personal brands can hurt your valuation. If your company’s success is tied to your face or name, buyers see it as a liability. That can mean lower multiples or no sale at all. Download the episode to find out if personal branding is really the right growth lever for your business. Topics Discussed in this episode: Why personal brands can hinder your business growth (01:42) When you should use a personal brand (08:32) Breaking down Alex Hormozis' personal brand journey (16:42) Businesses scaled on a personal brand are inherently weak (26:12) How personal brands can hurt the sale of your business (31:40) Why you should build a product first, then build an audience (34:40) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Sit back, grab a coffee, and explore the positives and pitfalls of personal branding!

For years, many agency owners mistakenly believed that marketing agencies couldn’t be sold. But that myth is fading fast, and buyers are hungrier than ever to acquire agencies. In this episode, Greg Elfrink explains why he thinks we’re in the golden age of marketing agencies. He dives into why buyers are actively hunting agencies to grow their portfolios, highlighting everything from recurring revenue models to the skyrocketing importance of digital marketing across industries. Of course, no conversation about agencies in 2025 is complete without discussing AI. Greg addresses the big question: Will AI kill agencies, or will it become a tool that accelerates their growth? He also shares why agencies may be entering a profit renaissance, with more opportunities than ever to scale and succeed.But it’s not all smooth sailing. Greg also breaks down the three main reasons why agencies struggle to sell and what founders can do to fix them. If you’ve ever wondered whether your agency has real exit potential, or if you’re curious why investors are piling into this space, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Topics Discussed in this episode: Busting the myth that marketing agencies cannot be sold (01:30) Why buyers are hungry for marketing agencies (04:35) Will AI kill agencies? (09:25) The marketing agency profit renaissance (15:25) The 3 main reasons why agencies don’t sell (26:46) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Episode 185 - Amos Bar Joseph’s AI system Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn why marketing agencies are becoming the hottest businesses on the market!

Note: In this episode, Greg is interviewed by Matt and Liz Raad for the Digital Investor Show podcast. We’re sharing the interview here so that you don’t miss out on the useful M&A insights that Greg shares.Enjoy! Here’s why 2025 is Creating Unprecedented Opportunities for Online Business Buyers… Where are the biggest opportunities in buying and selling online businesses right now? In this interview, Matt sits down with Greg Elfrink, head of marketing at Empire Flippers who’s helped create over 100 millionaires, to share what’s working, what’s changed, and how to buy profitable online businesses in 2025.Greg reveals million-dollar lessons, stories, and actionable strategies for both beginners and experienced website investors. If you want to hear how to buy smart with Empire Flippers, listen to this episode. You Will Learn: How the current market reality is presenting online investors with hidden opportunities. How strategic buyers can negotiate deals in today’s market. How to renovate & improve monetisation from traditional affiliate sites. Why it’s important to diversify your online business traffic. Where to buy and sell smaller online businesses safely. What your next steps are for investing in today’s market. Mentions: Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Original Digital Investors podcast eBusiness Institute Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn new ways to grow your wealth and income with online assets.

Social commerce has become one of the most powerful drivers of online revenue, and when combined with the right video marketing strategy, it can turn casual viewers into loyal buyers faster than ever. In this episode, we sit down with Eitan Koter, co-founder of Vimmi, to explore how brands can turn content into real revenue using the combined power of social commerce and video marketing. Eitan starts by sharing his background and the story behind Vimmi, a video commerce platform helping brands drive sales with shoppable video and live shopping across storefronts and social networks. He then defines social commerce in today’s context, explaining how it has evolved from simple “buy now” links to a full-scale ecosystem where video, community, and purchasing power merge seamlessly. For businesses wondering where to start, Eitan breaks down exactly how to launch your first social commerce videos, from choosing the right platforms to understanding your audience’s buying triggers. He introduces his powerful Content, Community, and Commerce framework, which shows how storytelling, engagement, and sales strategy work together to drive long-term results. Listeners will also learn what makes content truly valuable in a social commerce setting, how to maintain high-quality output while producing videos at scale, and why consistency often beats one-off viral hits. Listen now and start transforming your video content into conversions that count. Topics Discussed in this episode: Eitan’s background and an overview of Vimmi (02:04) A definition of social commerce and how it has evolved over the last few years (07:56) How to get started with social commerce videos (12:10) Eitan’s Content Community and Commerce framework (23:09) What is valuable content when it comes to video and social commerce? (33:28) Setting up a system to ensure you can generate a high quantity of videos (41:05) The KPI’s you should be tracking with your video marketing campaigns (48:34) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Vimmi Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn practical strategies to help you sell more through social commerce.  

Traditionally, headcount equals scale. But in the age of AI, is this still true? In this episode, we’re joined by Amos Bar Joseph, the co-founder of Swan AI, the first autonomous business. Their goal? Reaching $30 million in ARR with just three founders and a powerful fleet of AI agents. Amos explains how he is building an enterprise-level business with just three employees, and how Swan AI’s autonomous business model is different from traditional AI-powered businesses. While most companies simply bolt AI onto existing workflows to automate repetitive processes, Swan AI is designed around agentic workflows, where AI agents operate with memory, goals, and decision-making capabilities. It’s not just automation; it’s intelligent delegation. Amos is quick to clarify: this isn’t about replacing humans, it’s about giving small teams superpowers. He explained how each agent is purpose-built to make their founders 100x more effective, by designing agents around them, rather than 1:1 replacing a hire. Amos explains how to ensure your agents stay accurate and aligned with business objectives, avoiding ‘hallucinations’ and maintaining customer trust. He also shares when to stick with classic workflows and when to switch to agents for higher-level tasks. We also tackle the provocative question: Is a one-person unicorn possible? If you’re interested in building a smarter, leaner business using AI, this episode will challenge how you think about scale. Enjoy! Topics Discussed in this episode: What is an agentic workflow? (03:48) Amos’s background and the origins of Swan AI (04:48) How an autonomous business is different from an AI-powered business (08:45) Why adding AI agents helps enhance employees, not replace them (13:43) How Amos is building an enterprise-level business with just 3 employees (18:26) How to control the AI agents’ context and accuracy (23:33) The difference between AI automation and AI agents (28:44) When to use automations and workflows vs AI agents (35:12) The best resources for building your own AI agent (42:36) Is a one-person unicorn possible? (45:08) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Swan Amos’s LinkedIn Amos’s Autonomous Business Playbook Amos’s Avatar Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to scale your business without bloat, using AI agents.  

The rules of selling on Amazon have changed, and sellers who don’t adapt are paying the price in time, revenue, and sometimes, their entire account. In this episode, we’re joined by John Cavendish, the founder of Seller Candy, an agency that deals with Seller Support on behalf of Amazon sellers.We dive into what’s really going wrong behind the scenes of Amazon businesses with someone who sees it all from the inside. From shifting product launch strategies to the overlooked support issues that sabotage sellers, we uncover the patterns that can quietly erode your success. We explore the most common launch mistakes Amazon sellers make, why account suspensions are on the rise, and what proactive steps you can take to protect your account’s health before it’s too late. If you want to launch smarter, avoid suspension triggers, and get ahead of account health issues before they escalate, this episode is packed with essential insights. Topics Discussed in this episode: How launching a product on Amazon has changed (03:47) Common product launch mistakes entrepreneurs make (10:17) The main support problems Amazon sellers experience (11:46) The most common reasons for account suspensions (17:19) Proactive steps you can take to avoid account health issues (19:59) How Seller Candy’s clients are reacting to tariffs (25:14) John’s advice to US-based Amazon sellers (29:42) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Seller Candy Seller Candy Academy Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to protect your Amazon seller account from unnecessary suspensions!  

Not every SaaS success story starts with a multi-million-dollar seed round. While flashy headlines highlight startups raising big in Silicon Valley, most founders are left asking a far more practical question: Should I bootstrap, or go after funding? In this episode, we’re joined by Denise Edwards, the founder of SaaS Launch, a platform that helps early-stage SaaS founders secure the right kind of capital and avoid the wrong kind of investor. We dive into the different types of funding available to SaaS founders and explain the real trade-offs between raising capital vs bootstrapping. Denise breaks down dilutive vs non-dilutive funding and what those terms actually mean for your business long-term. But it’s not just about money. Denise highlights the intangible value investors can offer, like mentorship, industry connections, and strategic insights, that often outweigh the dollar signs. We also tackle some of the biggest myths and misconceptions founders believe about fundraising. Finally, Denise walks us through the anatomy of a great pitch, what to say, what to avoid, and how to stand out from the crowd. Whether you're scaling with your own savings or prepping for your first round, this episode will give you the tools and insight to make smarter funding decisions for your SaaS startup. Topics Discussed in this episode: How Denise went from working in SaaS to starting SaaS Launch(01:56) The different types of funding available to SaaS founders (06:30) The pros and cons of raising funding vs bootstrapping (09:00) Dilutive vs non-dilutive funding options (11:27) The intangible benefits that investors bring to the table (17:00) Common myths and misconceptions founders have about fundraising (20:00) The KPIs and metrics that investors look at (24:20) The biggest mistakes founders make when pitching investors (30:23) The anatomy of a great pitch (37:33) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter SaaS Launch  Denise’s LinkedIn Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take the next step in your SaaS journey with confidence.  

What if scaling your SaaS didn’t require burning out or selling your soul to venture capital? In this episode, Greg sits down with seasoned SaaS founder, author, and startup mentor Rob Walling for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a sustainable, sellable SaaS business. Rob kicks things off by sharing how he stumbled into SaaS before it was cool, and how that journey led him to co-create TinySeed, an alternative funding model that puts founders first. He breaks down how TinySeed’s 12-month program works, who it’s for, and how it compares to traditional VC. But this episode isn’t just about funding, it’s about founder freedom. We dive deep into the psychological shifts that come with selling your business, how to recognize the right time to exit, and how to protect your energy both before and after a sale. Rob also shares the biggest traps SaaS founders fall into when chasing “growth at all costs” and the core traits he sees in founders who succeed. Whether you're bootstrapping, raising capital, or planning an exit, this episode is packed with honest, actionable insights that will help you scale smarter, and sell without regret. Topics Discussed in this episode: Rob’s background and how he got into SaaS (02:08) The origins of TinySeed and how it differs from Venture Capital (12:09) The opportunities that are created through selling your business (19:43) A breakdown of Tiny Seed’s 12-month program (22:19) The pros and cons of a “growth at all costs” mindset (28:32) The requirements needed to join Tiny Seed (30:20) The psychological effects of exiting your business (33:56) How to tell when to sell your business (39:40) How to avoid burnout before and after your exit (46:43) The characteristics that successful founders share (52:21) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Startups For The Rest Of Us podcast  Exit Strategy: The Entrepreneur's Guide to Selling Your Business without Regret TinySeed Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to take the next step in your SaaS journey with confidence.  

As Benjamin Franklin famously said, “In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes.” But for online business owners, taxes aren’t always so certain, especially when it comes to sales tax. In this episode, we’re joined by Jessica Rhoads. Jessica is an internationally experienced CPA and self-confessed “dumpster fire accountant” who specializes in helping business owners untangle messy tax situations. We cover the key types of taxes every entrepreneur should understand, and zoom in on the one that’s most commonly misunderstood, and most likely to derail a future exit: sales tax. Jessica breaks down how sales tax applies to non-tangible goods like SaaS products and apps, what triggers a sales tax nexus, and why ignoring it can lead to massive headaches during due diligence. She also shares insight on the best and worst states to set up your business from a tax standpoint, when to file a Voluntary Disclosure Agreement (VDA), and how to stay compliant if you’re selling across borders. If you're building a business with the goal of selling one day, this episode is a must-listen. It could save you from tax troubles that scare off buyers, or cost you more than you bargained for. Topics Discussed in this episode: The different types of taxes businesses should be aware of (03:45) Why sales tax is so important when selling your business (06:49) How sales tax is applied to software and apps (11:43) An overview of sales tax nexus (17:30) The different tax softwares that can help you figure out your taxes (19:50) The best and worst states to set up your business in (23:07) How to stay compliant if you have sales tax nexus (28:16) How tax works if you’re selling in foreign countries (30:37) When to file a VDA (33:56) A major misconception founders have about sales tax that hurts them later (39:39) Mentions:  Empire Flippers Podcasts Empire Flippers Marketplace Create an Empire Flippers account Subscribe to our weekly newsletter Jessicanomics.com Sit back, grab a coffee, and learn how to get your business taxes in order - before it’s too late.