E035 - Compliance in Affiliate Marketing, The 6 Blind Spots - With Alana Levine, CRO at Fintel Connect

Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, returns to break down the compliance challenges that affiliate marketers face. As AI reshapes the affiliate landscape, financial institutions face mounting pressure to get compliance right—or face serious consequences.   In this episode, Alana shares her framework for managing affiliate compliance at scale, the real-world costs of getting it wrong, and how the rise of influencer marketing and LLMs is creating additional complexity for the next 12-24 months. We discuss... The Six Compliance Blind Spots Partner vetting: Creating systematic rules for who represents your brand Content accuracy: Managing product changes across dozens of live campaigns Compensation models: Understanding regulatory limitations on affiliate payments Disclosures: FTC requirements and commercial relationship transparency Data capture: Navigating GDPR, CCPA, and FCC lead buying rules Audit readiness: Maintaining documentation for regulator reviews Managing Compliance at Scale Manual workflows vs. automated solutions: When to invest Key players: PerformLine, BrandVerity, Fides, Red Marker, Fintel Check Cost reality: ~$100K for dedicated compliance support at $1M affiliate spend Real examples of tools catching violations before regulators notice Publisher Adaptation and the Future SEO traffic down 30% for content-heavy publishers Why paid replacement traffic is more expensive and lower converting Alana's prediction: Affiliate spend will increase, quality will improve   ***** About Alana Levine Alana is the Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, an award-winning performance marketing technology company dedicated to driving growth in the fintech, banking and insurance space. They're on a mission to create greater transparency and become the place to be for innovative fintechs and banks to connect with targeted influencers and publishers in the space. As a leading banking and fintech affiliate network in North America, Fintel is proud to power the affiliate programs for partners like Scotiabank, Tangerine Bank, EQ Bank, Borrowell and others.   ***** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=oct A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/

We've all heard the rumors around SEO traffic drying up for publishers. Today I riff on what's going on, why it's happening, and what lenders should be doing about it. This is a supplement to something I recently published on The Free Toaster Newsletter. https://www.thefreetoaster.com/p/the-seo-apocalypse-has-arrived-9812 *****   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=sep   A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. www.newmarketgrowth.com If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/

We explore how fintech lenders could revolutionize customer acquisition by partnering with AI-powered finfluencers, alleviating current concentration in affiliate marketplaces. Key Topics The Current Problem: 30-70% of fintech lender volume comes from affiliate marketplaces, creating concentration risk. Lenders spend $4B-$6B annually on affiliate marketing but lack control over rankings and algorithms. The Finfluencer Opportunity: Top creators are severely under-monetizing. Vivian Tu (Your Rich BFF) made $3MM from 5MM followers—just $0.60 per audience member. Credit Karma generates $12.31 per member. At Credit Karma rates, Vivian could earn $61.5MM annually. The AI Revolution: Digital twins will allow Finfluencers to scale 1:1 advice 24/7. These AI assistants will answer questions in the creator's voice, recommend products, and handle compliant application handoffs. The AI chatbot market is exploding from $14B (2025) to $47B (2029). Why This Will Happen: Consumers already trust AI for 80% of customer service interactions. Lenders historically resist new channels (internet applications, mobile banking, social ads) before eventually adopting them. Key Stats $6.50 return for every $1 spent on influencer marketing Only 13% of influencers earn over $100K annually AI could save financial services $80B in customer service costs by 2026 The Bottom Line A platform will emerge where Finfluencers launch always-on AI assistants with seamless affiliate integration. Early-mover lenders who master compliance will create an edge while more conservation competitors remain skeptical. Action Items for Lenders Monitor top finfluencers in your category Start small influencer experiments now Prep compliance teams for AI + social media Identify potential platform partnerships Read the article in our Newsletter: https://www.thefreetoaster.com/p/the-ai-finfluencers-are-coming-dc2a   *****   A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=aug   A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/

We sit down with Alana Levine, Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, to uncover what financial institutions get wrong when launching affiliate marketing programs—and more importantly, how to get it right from day one. As someone who lives in the trenches and is often the first call when lenders want to activate the affiliate channel, Alana shares her unfiltered pre-launch checklist and the hard-won insights that can save months of frustration and wasted budget. We discuss... The Strategic Foundation Why geographic reach can make or break your affiliate program The "me too" product problem and how to overcome it Application experience as everyone's shared challenge Budget reality check: Why $50k is the healthy starting point Setting realistic CPA expectations (especially for fintechs) Operational Requirements The critical role of existing digital marketing experience Why your current application page won't work for affiliate traffic Tracking and attribution: The technical foundation that publishers demand Written publisher guidelines as legal and risk management tools Performance reporting beyond basic conversion tracking Common Pitfalls The biggest stumbling block: Defining success metrics clearly Why volume, quality, and channel contribution all matter How to test your success criteria with external parties Timeline and Commitment The 6-month minimum commitment reality Month-by-month breakdown of the typical program journey Why 18-24 months is the real timeline for hitting potential Understanding the "zero to one feels like an eternity" phase Industry Context The massive scale of affiliate marketing in financial services How top fintech lenders achieve 45%+ acquisition through affiliates The $4B-$6B annual spend opportunity in consumer lending ***** About Alana Levine Alana is the Chief Revenue Officer at Fintel Connect, an award-winning performance marketing technology company dedicated to driving growth in the fintech, banking and insurance space. They're on a mission to create greater transparency and become the place to be for innovative fintechs and banks to connect with targeted influencers and publishers in the space. As a leading banking and fintech affiliate network in North America, Fintel is proud to power the affiliate programs for partners like Scotiabank, Tangerine Bank, EQ Bank, Borrowell and others.   ***** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=aug A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Today's Topic (06:20) Optimizing Landing Pages for Better Conversions (11:59) Co-Branding and Its Impact (18:20) Tracking and Reporting Standards (26:44) Setting Up Publisher Terms and Conditions (33:08) Client Spending Spectrum (38:08) Publisher Performance and Success Metrics (45:07) Setting Clear Expectations and Timeframes (56:36) The Importance of Dedicated Staff (01:04:50) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

We sit down with Kirill Klokov, CEO of Truv, to break down everything lenders need to know about income verification providers.  Vetting Income Verification Vendors Why most providers use the same underlying data sources The power of back-testing analysis on your own data Smart questions sophisticated lenders ask during RFPs The Consumer Experience Why 35% of users drop off at bank login screens How to build a smart "waterfall" approach (spoiler: start cheap, then hit instant databases) The messaging that actually works with borrowers Beyond Basic Income Verification Why a "complete product" covers W2s, gig workers, benefits, and self-employed How payroll data beats bank data for complex income situations The complexity of underwriting sales reps vs. salaried workers AI's Impact on Lending How AI is eliminating manual QA and bug fixes Why payroll data becomes more valuable as AI-generated fraud gets better The future of mortgage loan officers (hint: they're not going anywhere) Truv's New Business Model Their shift from per-transaction pricing to "pay when the loan closes" How this aligns incentives and removes upfront risk for lenders Find Kirill Klokov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirillklokov/ *** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=july A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Greetings (01:46) Complete Solutions for Income Verification (04:23) Consumer Friction in Lending Applications (08:40) Vetting Potential Partners (22:02) New Pricing Model: Pay Per Closed Loan (26:05) Impact of AI on Lending (32:29) Conclusion and Contact Information

Rich Walker is back! After our first direct mail episode became the most popular episode on the show, we're back for round 2. The 10 DM Pitfalls We Discuss 1. Attribution Nightmares People get your mail, then go to Credit Karma to respond. Your CFO freaks out about "paying twice" but that's just how the channels work together. Rich breaks down holdout testing and why you need to stop thinking about this as double-paying. 2. When Campaigns Go Off The Rails  Your mail program is humming along, then suddenly a campaign tanks for no reason. 80% of the time you'll figure out what happened, but 20% you just shrug and move on. Rich walks through the diagnostic checklist and why organizations sometimes kill entire programs over one bad campaign. 3. The Unit Cost Trap Everyone obsesses over cost per piece, but Rich explains why lowering your mail costs often means you'll spend MORE money overall (and why that's actually good). 4. Complexity Overload You start simple, then add segments, then more segments, then product variations... suddenly only one person understands how your program works. We talk about how to dig out of this hole. 5. Testing Problems Direct mail is expensive to test, so you're always making decisions on samples that feel too small. Rich shares the "10 small tests, pick the 3 winners" approach. 6. Model Addiction Your response models get biased because you only mail to people who passed your last model. Universe testing is the cure, but it's a hard sell to the CFO. 7. Overthinking Non-Response 99.5% of your mail gets thrown away without being read. Stop trying to psychoanalyze why people didn't respond - most of them never saw your offer. 8. Funnel Blindness High click-through but low conversions? That's a signal, not a failure. Your audience is telling you something - listen to them. 9. No Testing Culture Organizations that say "we're really good at testing" usually aren't. Real testing culture means constant experimentation with the right infrastructure to support it. 10. Death by Committee Legal needs 5 days, then compliance needs 5 days, then brand wants changes... Rich explains how to get everyone aligned without killing your cycle time.   About Rich Walker: Rich Walker is a 35-year industry vet who’s been responsible for over 10 billion pieces of Direct Mail. Rich has led direct marketing teams at Capital One, the Winterberry Group, Deluxe Corporation, 2nd Order Solutions, and more recently, Aven. He also ran his own consulting shop - Pilot Performance Marketing - focused on helping lenders solve Direct Mail. *** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=june A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Podcast Success (05:15) Consumer Behavior and Validation (11:42) Holdout Analysis and Incremental Value (16:42) Campaign Performance and Troubleshooting (29:15) Optimizing Unit Costs and Growth (35:31) Understanding Buffer and Discount Rates (39:52) Signs of Overshooting in Complexity (46:48) Making Decisions on Small Samples (56:08) Model Addiction and Bias (01:04:31) Reading Too Much into Non-Response (01:12:19) The Importance of Gross and Net Response in Direct Mail (01:29:05) The Role of Testing in Direct Mail Campaigns (01:35:24) Challenges in Direct Mail Approval Processes (01:44:22) Navigating Affiliate Marketing for Lenders (01:49:14) Conclusion and Final Thoughts

I sat down with John Henson, a fintech-savvy lawyer who formerly worked at LendingTree (both as an attorney and a general manager). He unpacks the regulatory chaos swirling around lead generation in 2025 — what’s changed, what’s still risky, and how fintech marketers can navigate it without getting burned. In today's discussion: The CFPB Rolled Back Rules: Credit card and personal loan lead gen just got a little more breathing room. John explains what’s safe and what’s not. Mortgage Lead Gen Isn’t Dead: Despite RESPA, there are ways to play without federal headaches. State Privacy Laws Are Tightening: You might be a “data broker” without knowing it — and that’s a compliance minefield. Banks Fear AI: Rumor has is that some big banks are banning generative AI in lead gen. John weighs in on the reality. Some Lead Gen Is Still Garbage: Learn how to spot sketchy providers before you get sued. ...and much more.  Memorable Quotes “Everything is UDAP.”  “If you don’t understand how they’re generating the leads, you’re buying problems.” “Nobody ever got fired at a bank for saying no.” About John Henson John Henson is a rare breed: a lawyer who understands marketing. He spent 6 years at LendingTree running lead gen and compliance, so he knows the real-world challenges fintechs face. Now, he helps companies stay out of trouble while growing smart. Follow him on LinkedIn for sharp insights. *** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=june A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Greetings (04:22) Understanding RESPA and Non-Steering Regulations (34:59) State Privacy Laws and Data Management (45:43) State Privacy Laws and AI Regulations (51:24) Starting a Solo Practice (54:48) The Role of LinkedIn in Business Growth (01:13:56) Challenges in Legal and Compliance Content (01:21:18) Conclusion and Contact Information

I explain positive and adverse selection in lending using recruiting as an analogy. If you've ever hired someone, you'll instantly understand why your channels, pricing, and process determine your loan portfolio quality. Key Takeaways The Big Idea: Attracting great borrowers works exactly like hiring great people. The parallels... 1. Channel Quality Inbound (website traffic): People actively searching, often desperate Outbound (direct mail): Higher-quality prospects who aren't hunting Best candidates and borrowers usually aren't usually looking 2. Price Matters Post a $100K vs $200K director role—which gets better candidates? Same with loans: competitive rates attract quality borrowers Even small rate differences (12% vs 14%) shift your entire applicant mix 3. Process Friction Complex hiring processes drive away top talent with options Heavy loan applications do the same to good credit risks You're left with applicants who have time and fewer alternatives Action Items for Fintech Marketers Audit your inbound vs outbound channel mix Price competitively—good borrowers shop around Streamline your application process ruthlessly Go find great borrowers instead of waiting for them You can find a written version of today's content in our Newsletter: https://www.thefreetoaster.com/p/positive-negative-select-in-lending *** A word from our sponsor, Fintel Connect Drive thousands of new accounts and billions in deposits with the only partner marketing solution built for fintech and banking – your all-in-one affiliate platform, partner network, agency, and marketing compliance engine. https://partner.fintelconnect.com/get-to-know-fintel-connect?utm_campaign=13897733-2025%20Partners&utm_source=The%20Free%20Toaster&utm_medium=podcast   A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=june A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to Positive and Adverse Selection (02:19) Pricing Strategies in Lending (04:01) Funnel Friction and Its Impact (06:35) Personal Stories on Price Signals (09:38) Recap and Final Thoughts  

I talk about a surprising case study where a lending product thrived in one affiliate marketplace but completely flopped in another. We explore the key differences between marketplaces that can dramatically impact performance and provide actionable insights for fintech marketers. Key Insights Don't assume success transfers between marketplaces: A product that works well with one affiliate partner may struggle with another due to fundamental marketplace differences. Three critical marketplace variables to consider: Algorithm differences Competitive landscape variations Offer presentation layer discrepancies Strategic takeaways: Consider designing different product versions for different channels Expect varying unit economics across partnerships Recognize that market share will naturally differ between platforms ***** A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=may A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction and Overview (02:19) Challenges in the Second Marketplace (05:35) Analyzing the Differences (08:05) Key Takeaways and Lessons Learned (11:17) Conclusion and Contact Information

Marketers sometimes like to enter new channels gradually, conservatively even. This works in many channels like paid search, social, and direct mail.  But for fintechs, entering new affiliate channels like this can have catastrophic consequences.  In today's Podcast, I share why entering into new affiliate marketplaces "cautiously" can be dangerous for new entrants. I'll walk you through how to play the game in reverse. Note: If you want to hear more about this in future Podcasts, email me at [email protected] with your questions.   ***** A word from our sponsor, Spinwheel:   Reduce friction in your lending application with just two fields—phone number and birthdate. Spinwheel’s APIs boost application rates by 20-30% while also providing real-time credit data and seamless payment processing. Want to see it in action? Connect with their Head of Growth for a demo! https://spinwheel.io/partner/?utm_source=freetoaster&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=apr A word from our sponsor, New Market Growth:   New Market Growth helps fintech consumer lenders generate explosive growth on affiliate marketing channels like Credit Karma, Experian Marketplace, LendingTree, and others. Affiliate marketing involves marketing & credit risk expertise, and NMG's founders bring this with 21+ years of lending experience and 8+ years experience as executive affiliate operators. If you'd like help planning or implementing your affiliate marketing strategy, email us at [email protected]   Subscribe to the Free Toaster Newsletter: www.thefreetoaster.com/   Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction to Launching Products in Affiliate Channels (02:00) Challenges and Mistakes in the Partnership (06:03) Playing the Game in Reverse: Concept Introduction (10:53) Conclusion and Contact Information