Why I Started Affiliation

I was always intrigued by the affiliate marketing model. One conversation turned that curiosity into a conviction I couldn't shake.

In September 2023 I flew to Cyprus for the year's biggest Forex and PropTech conference. The industry was rattled at the time — prop firms were failing all around us. And in one direct conversation, someone said the thing I couldn't unhear: "You don't control your own traffic."

It cut deep because it was 100% accurate. My companies — FunderPro, TradesAI and TradeLocker, among others — leaned heavily on affiliates, white-label partners and outside sources to drive traffic.

And here's the harsh part: traffic you don't own or control can disappear at any moment. One decision by someone else and it's flowing to a competitor instead.

The problem was clear — and I had to fix it

Sitting with that, I knew the approach had to change. The traffic was only half the issue. The bigger one: nobody knew who I was, or what my companies actually had to offer. If people don't know you, why would they trust you? And if they don't trust you, why would they buy? That realisation set everything that followed in motion.

I couldn't keep existing in the shadow of affiliates and white-label partners. I needed my own engine for awareness, leads and sales. Which meant mastering the art of affiliation — not as a concept, but as a practice I could run better than anyone.

Meeting with PropFirm owners and traders, seeing where the industry is going.

Step 1: building awareness for affiliate products

First, the obvious: people had to know who I was. That meant meeting the big players face-to-face, putting myself in front of the right audience, and making it clear I wasn't there just to compete — I was there to lead.

So I went global. I flew to every corner of the world, attended the high-profile events, met top-tier affiliates, and introduced myself and my brands. On one trip alone I did 15 meetings in 3 days. It was never just handshakes. It was stamping my name and my brands onto the Forex and prop firm map.

The effort paid off. Within weeks, revenue spiked — and people across the industry started recognising FunderPro and TradeLocker as top-tier players. Awareness: done.

Steps 2 & 3: proving the value for affiliates

With awareness in place, I had to prove the products created real value for affiliates and end users alike. So I made a decision: use my own products as an end user, promote them across my platforms, and refine them at the same time.

Marketing and product development in one loop. The improvements were tangible, and they kept coming.

Generating $33K in commissions from FunderPro over time, sharing links on many social platforms.

The results?

Over $550K in sales generated for FunderPro and other brands. Affiliates started to see what was possible through my systems, and my companies earned credibility as proven revenue generators.

Step 4: turning awareness into business

The final step was turning that momentum into growth. Visibility on one side, products that actually work on the other — together they became a system that attracted business-to-business partnerships and end-user clients alike.

I put $1.7 million into this strategy in just over a year. What came back: multi-million-dollar top-line revenue, and — more importantly — a lead generation engine that works at every level.

Generating commissions using website traffic and search engine optimisation.

The true win: owning my traffic

This was never just about the money. It was about building something sustainable — a system that generates leads, drives sales and grows the community.

Today, I'm in control. My traffic is no longer at the mercy of outside forces. I've built an ecosystem where affiliates, clients and businesses come to me.

The lesson? Control your narrative and control your traffic — that's how the outcome ends up in your hands.

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