Why I Started Affiliation

December 19, 2024

I was always intrigued by the Affiliate Marketing Model. But one event in particular convinced me of its true power.

In September 2023, I flew to Cyprus to attend the year’s top Forex and PropTech conference. The industry was shaken then, with many prop firms experiencing failures. During a direct conversation, someone told me a truth I couldn’t ignore: “You don’t control your own traffic.”

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

But here’s the harsh reality: traffic not owned or controlled can disappear at any moment, redirected to competitors in the blink of an eye.

The Problem Was Clear—And I Had to Fix It

At that moment, I knew I needed to rethink my approach. The biggest issue wasn’t just traffic; it was that no one knew who I was or what my companies truly had to offer. If people didn’t know me, how could they trust me? How could they buy from me? This realisation sparked a relentless drive to change the narrative.

I needed to do more than exist in the shadows of affiliates and white-label partners. I had to create my own engine for awareness, leads, and sales. And that meant mastering the art of affiliation —not just as a concept but as a practice I could dominate.

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

Step 1: Building Awareness for Affiliate Products

First, I tackled the obvious: people needed to know who I was. This meant meeting the big players face-to-face, putting myself in front of the right audience, and showing the world that I wasn’t just here to compete, I was here to lead.

I went global. I flew to every corner of the world, attending high-profile events, meeting top-tier affiliates, and introducing myself and my brands. On one trip alone, I held 15 meetings in just 3 days! It wasn’t just about shaking hands, it was about stamping my name and my brands onto the Forex and Prop Firm map.

That effort paid off. Within weeks, not only did my companies see a spike in revenue, but people across the industry began recognising FunderPro and TradeLocker as top-tier players. Awareness = achieved.

Steps 2 & 3: Proving the Value for Affiliates

With awareness established, it was time to prove how my products could create value for affiliates and end users alike. I made the decision to use my products as an end user, promoting them across my platforms while simultaneously refining them.

This dual approach—marketing and product development—resulted in tangible, consistent improvements.

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

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

The results?

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

Step 4: Turning Awareness into Business

Once the awareness was there, the final step was to translate that momentum into business growth. By combining the visibility I’d achieved with the functionality of my products, I created a system that attracted business-to-business partnerships and end-user clients alike.

I invested $1.7 million into this strategy in just over a year. The outcome? 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 wasn’t just about making 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 a thriving ecosystem where affiliates, clients, and businesses can come to me.