Q&A: “How to become an affiliate manager for large launches?”

Big launches don't promote themselves. Behind the Instagram posts and promo emails from well-known names, there's often one person keeping the affiliates organized. Today's listener wants that job, as a freelancer.

I've noticed that big product launches like B-School have lots of big-name people promoting them on Instagram and through email, presumably for commissions. I learned there's often an affiliate manager who handles those relationships, putting together contests and making sure everyone has the info they need. I'd like to do that on a freelance basis. I have the people skills and can learn new tech systems. I'd earn a commission on the commission, but in a way that makes the product creator a lot more money. Is this feasible?

B-School is Marie Forleo's annual program, which has run for roughly a decade. Influencers, authors, and bloggers feed people into the course and earn commissions for it. The affiliate manager is the wrangler. That's what I called mine. Or think of a hype man: the person who builds energy for everyone else. The job is support and cheerleading, which usually means running contests, preparing sales copy, and sending lots of reminder emails. It's like HR for entrepreneurs, and it rewards performance. But there aren't many of these jobs, and you usually have to know someone.

So get into those circles, and offer value before you ask. Skip the vague “Can I help with something?” and do something specific for the person you'd like to work for. Then say, “I did this.” And look wider. Almost nobody sets out to be an affiliate manager. They land there through other marketing roles. The skills you'd bring, sales and communication, fit plenty of other jobs. Keep building your marketing skills, keep meeting people, and stay open to roles that use the same strengths under a different title.

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