Ep.7 - The State of Affiliate Marketing in 2026
In this episode of the Wonderful World of Affiliate Marketing, Nigel Williams sits down with Anca Gita, CPO of Scalers and author of Affiliate Insider, to unpack where the affiliate marketing industry is heading in 2026 and beyond.
They discuss the biggest shifts shaping the space, including rising anxiety around platform policy changes, the growing power of YouTube as a traffic source, the changing role of media buyers, and how AI is transforming video ad creation and workflow efficiency.
Anca also shares why personal branding matters more than ever, how trust drives long-term success in affiliate marketing, and why the line between creator commerce and traditional affiliate marketing is getting increasingly blurred.
The conversation also covers the future of clean versus aggressive funnels, the role of AI influencers, the value of community in a space with no formal school system, and what Anca is building now at Scalers, including its performance-first model, private education platform, and the Affiliate Takeover conference.
If you want a real-world look at how affiliate marketing is evolving and what top operators are doing to stay ahead, this is a must-watch episode.
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Watch the full episode here https://youtu.be/vh5n0CVUKeo?si=QTXrCx4GhLReOd9t
