Social Affiliate Method: Our Approach

We’re not here because we love social media.

We love creators

and the relationships we create with them.

This matters because social affiliate marketing (when done right) isn’t about trying to outsmart the latest algorithm or copying whatever’s trending. Neither will get you the wins you want.

Understanding the people who are making that social media magic is what actually grows your channel.

Here’s the basic principle from which we believe everyone should operate:

Always treat creators like clients, never like commodities.

It’s the motto that informs our Method and what allows us to repeatedly get results for our clients—scaling profitable social affiliate programs that build brand credibility, acquire new long-term customers, and increase overall revenue.

$4.2M

Affiliate revenue generated

965k

New customers + leads acquired

4,500

Affiliates onboarded

Our goal is for you to see the same success.

We’re not here because we love agencies and dreamed of running one.

We love connecting brands with creators and had a vision of helping both sides win—solving how to balance business profitability with affiliate happiness (aka engagement).

And over the last decade, working both client- and creator-side, we’ve created a Method that does just that.

And now we’re sharing it with you.

The Social Affiliate Method is how you understand and implement relationship-based marketing so you can curate a community of creators who love helping your brand grow.

Explore SAM in more detail:

Meet the founders
explore Services + Products
See the agency in action 
Social Affiliate Method: Founders

Meet the creators of Social Affiliate Method

And your guides for scaling your channel

Suzanne Rex

Suzanne’s road to relationship management was a pretty windy one, but along the way she developed a unique set of skills that have given her insight into this industry not many other people have.

In 2000, she began her career in visual communications, helping brands tell stories through graphics, photography, and illustration. The campaigns she built were seen by people across the globe, but what gave her the most pride was developing deep relationships with her clients and the teams she connected with in-person on a daily basis.

Realizing her innate superpowers—being a full-blown nurturing Cancerian, intuitive empath (claircognizant), and born problem solver—she pivoted in 2017 to partnership management in the natural health + wellness space, where she could put her natural strengths into action—understanding, connecting, coaching, influencing, and activating.

Also a Kolbe Quickstart, Manifestor (Human Design), and Achiever type (Clifton Strengths), she gained experience copywriting, branding, funnel building, website UX and optimization, and contract negotiation along the way, rounding out her marketing + communications resume.

In the last decade, Suzanne has put together her passion for people and her diverse understanding of many things digital marketing to get some pretty remarkable results: growing brands’ affiliate channel revenue from 5- to 6- figures in a year, building an affiliate roster of several thousand high quality (and loyal) creators, collecting over a million leads collectively, generating just as much in revenue, and most importantly—being well-respected and trusted by everyone she works with. #relationshipgoals

Courtney Van Auken

Courtney has always had a knack for sales and an even bigger passion for figuring out what makes people want to buy, share, and come back for more.

Long before becoming a full-time creator, she generated more than $1 million through social selling. She went on to build her own creator business, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars through brand partnerships, affiliate marketing, and UGC content—selling everything from fancy cat litter boxes ($6 figures in just 8 hours! #believeit) and handcrafted coffee tables to luxury vacation destinations.

Today, Courtney gets to live on both sides of the creator economy. She’s the creator opening the pitch email, deciding which brands are worth talking about and figuring out what will resonate with her audience, and she’s also the strategist behind the scenes building affiliate programs, recruiting creators, developing campaigns and driving sales for brands.

That perspective is at the heart of Social Affiliate Method. Courtney knows what brands need to do to grow, and she also knows what makes creators actually want to join, post, sell and stick around.

Her goal? Help brands build affiliate programs that creators are excited to be part of and are eager to help grow.

Affiliate Feedback + Praise

  • "I wanted to write you and tell you how much I appreciate you. I work with a few companies, and truly, you are hands down the best. ZERO comparison. Thank you for all you do!"

    —Brittnie LaCroix

  • "I want to thank you for EVERYTHING you have done as my contact at this brand. You are truly one of a kind! I work with a number of brands and have consistently said that this one is my favorite because of how well you communicate with the affiliates, how well you treat us, and the sense of community you've cultivated.

    —Jenn Reed

  • "You are by far one of the best affiliate managers that I have ever worked with (and I've been in this world for 14 years)! The work you do makes promoting the company so much easier for your affiliates."

    —Jessica Espinoza

  • "I just wanted to say I think you are the best partnerships person I have been in touch with since starting in this industry 7 years ago. Thank you for all the tips, incentives, and encouragement! I'm truly more motivated to sell this brand than I have been with others."

    —Whitney Shook

  • "You guys are the best! I don't just feel like another number, like some companies tend to treat us. I appreciate you!

    —Courtney Luna

  • "I have just been totally blown away by your kindness and friendship. Thank you so much for being a bright light in this world!"

    —Rebekah Heishman

  • "I am an affiliate with many companies, but they should take notes from how you do it!"

    —Paleo Girl Margaret

  • "Thank you for always being so personal in your outreach! You are so great with your creator relationships! I am grateful for you!"

    —Kari Ruff

  • "Thank you and everyone at this brand SO MUCH. Having worked with many brands as an affiliate, I just know you and the rest of the team are absolutely killing it. Your communication and clarity on sales are so helpful for me to stay organized in my promotion. Plus, your generosity and inclusion to all affiliates, not only to the very top performers, is really nice and makes me extra happy to support this brand."

    —Alexa Frederico

  • "YOU ARE SPECTACULAR! THANK YOU!!"

    —Natalie Zima

  • "You are the best in the biz, and I always reference how you run this program in my sales calls because you really know how to build relationships with your affiliates!!"

    —Kelsey Neyman

  • "You have made this brand the best to work with as an affiliate, and I'm not exaggerating. I have at least 10 to 20 brands I work with, and you all treat us the best out of all of them. It truly feels like family."

    —Jennifer Winkler

Let’s get creators to fall in love with your brand.

Shoot us a message or schedule a free consultation today.