Today’s Business kicked off another year strong at Affiliate Summit West 2025! This conference is one of the few times we get to see everyone in the industry at once—from our amazing publishers and tech partners to vendors and beyond. It’s always a great opportunity to connect face-to-face, catch up with friends, and learn about everyone’s priorities for the year while strengthening our partnerships.
Each year, ASW delivers when it comes to discovering new insights, meeting potential partners, and staying ahead in this ever-evolving industry. Without further ado, here’s our recap of the event!
ASW 2025 Takeaways
- The Creator Economy is Growing
- If it wasn’t clear before, it’s undeniable now—influencer marketing is growing at an incredible pace. More and more influencer platforms are emerging, and legacy affiliate networks are making a stronger push to integrate influencers into their ecosystems, making onboarding easier than ever. This year, more people stuck around for the extra day of Creator Economy Live compared to last year, and there were plenty of creator-focused events happening around town at the same time.
- Nobody has Quite Figured out Google’s Algorithm Update
- While many have been significantly impacted by Google’s algorithm updates over the past year, no one seems to have cracked the code on how to fully adapt. Surprisingly, the overall vibe around the topic felt relatively calm. I expected more panic and urgency, but either people are keeping it cool or they’re still figuring things out behind the scenes. One thing’s for sure—things are changing fast.
- Relationships are still very important
- In this industry, being in person and building relationships remains crucial. Talking to people who sell media and placements, it’s clear that they’re constantly being pitched—and unless you’re spending big dollars, standing out is tough. If you’re not making major investments, strong relationships are key. It’s important to take care of the people who support you and to be present at events like this to build connections and gain valuable insights.
Notable ASW 2025 Meetings
Forbes
If you’re not already getting organic coverage, be prepared to spend at least $30K to secure a feature.
Healthline
As a leader in health and wellness publishing, we had a great discussion with the Healthline team about the progress of our current paid placements and future opportunities.
PayPal (Honey)
We gained insight into how they’re addressing online criticism of their platform and explored exciting cashback and exposure opportunities they can offer us.
Truly Free Home
This brand has an impressive line of products and a strong affiliate program that we’re eager to join.
Hearst
With a vast network of news sites, TV channels, and radio stations, Hearst offers nationwide exposure. We’re exploring strategic ways to integrate our brands.
Fetch
We’re excited to partner with this cashback platform—perfect timing, as they have a major Super Bowl commercial coming up that’s expected to bring in a wave of new users.
New York Post
Meeting with the NY Post team is always a highlight. They’re flexible, collaborative, and open to creative partnerships. We explored ways to work together, including leveraging Today’s Business’ network of athletes and influencers.
Warner Bros. Discovery
Our discussion centered on working with HGTV to showcase home and garden products available at FOCO.com. We’re excited to get them in the FOCO affiliate program!
This is just a snapshot of our meetings—ASW 2025 was packed with valuable conversations and insights! Head to our affiliate marketing page to learn more about Today’s Business affiliate management services!