Affiliate marketing is facing constant change — from the rise of AI and stricter compliance rules to shifting traffic sources and emerging markets. To explore how affiliates and advertisers can adapt and succeed, we spoke with Bobby Abe Cherian, Managing Partner at Affnext, a platform that connects affiliates with trusted CPA networks, advertisers, and thousands of offers.
Together with Tatiana, AdOperator’s Marketing Manager, we discussed Affnext's journey, market trends, the most promising niches and GEOs, as well as Bobby’s personal perspective on work, life, and the future of the industry.
What Is Affnext? From Idea to Global Affiliate Hub.
Tatiana: Please introduce yourself and your company. Tell us when and how Affnext.com was founded, and what your role is in this project. How was this idea born?
Bobby Abe Cherian: My name is Bobby Abe Cherian, and I’m the managing partner at Affnext.com, where I also lead marketing and advertising. I’ve been in online marketing since the year 2000, back when banner exchanges and email newsletters were the big trend. Over time, I found my true niche in affiliate marketing and have been deeply involved in the affiliate and network space for more than 10 years.
Affnext was born out of a simple observation: affiliate marketers often waste hours hopping from one site to another, trying to discover the right networks, programs, or traffic sources. I wanted to create one trusted place where they could find all of it.
Today, Affnext is exactly that, a hub where affiliates can partner with the best-rated CPA networks, affiliate networks, network marketing companies, make-money programs, and traffic sources — all in one place.
I’ve always believed in building ecosystems that actually serve people rather than just being another listing site. That philosophy is what shaped Affnext.
Tatiana: Who came first to your website — advertisers or affiliates? How do you attract the audience?
Bobby: Interestingly, it started with affiliates. Our early days were all about publishing helpful information for CPA affiliate marketers. Then something unexpected happened: advertisers and networks began reaching out, asking if they could sponsor listings and gain more visibility. That’s when Affnext shifted gears and developed into the advertiser platform it is today.
As for attracting audiences, we rely on a healthy mix of search engine traffic, which continues to grow thanks to our content strategy, plus our newsletter publications and daily email campaigns that go out to tens of thousands of affiliates. Social media is another key channel, affiliates love engaging with quick updates, reviews, and opportunities we post there. Over time, we’ve built credibility as a go-to source, and that makes our traffic more organic and sustainable.
Affnext in Numbers: Networks, Offers, and Community.
Tatiana: Describe Affnext in numbers — advertisers, users, countries, offers, and community.
Bobby: We like to let the numbers speak:
— 1,254 affiliate networks, CPA networks, and direct advertisers are listed.
— 240+ sponsors who advertise at a deeper level through banners, recommended listings, newsletter publications, and more.
— 20,000+ unique affiliates visit Affnext every month, from literally all over the world.
— Our newsletter has 44,000+ active subscribers, most of whom are working affiliate marketers.
— Our Offer Engine currently lists over 26,000 CPA/CPL/RevShare offers from 240+ networks, updated constantly by the networks themselves.
Beyond the numbers, what keeps everything alive is the community. Affiliates and networks that engage through our newsletters, offer mailings, and ongoing interactions.
Tatiana: How big is your team? Do you work remotely or in the office?
Bobby: We’re a small but mighty team of five full-time members, supported by several content providers and distributors.
One thing I really love is that we’re spread out across the globe… Austin, Texas (where I’m based), New York, Florida, India, and Pakistan. We all primarily work from our home offices, which gives us flexibility and allows us to move faster. It also means we’ve been “remote-first” long before it became the trend.
Tatiana: What was the biggest challenge for your project?
Bobby: The toughest challenge is keeping pace with the ever-changing search engine landscape. What works today in SEO may quickly change tomorrow. We’re fortunate to have someone on the team who specializes in SEO and stays on top of the changes, but it’s still a constant race. If you run a content-driven platform like ours, you know search visibility can make or break growth.
Affnext Insights: Affiliate Marketing Trends and Niches.
Tatiana: Can you share your opinion on the advertising market as you see it? How is it evolving?
Bobby: The affiliate advertising market is stronger than ever, but success now requires a more strategic and tech-savvy approach. The days of spamming low-effort blogs and getting easy wins are gone. Today, those who thrive are the ones who:
— Embrace authenticity: Affiliates who build real trust with their audience (think micro-influencers) are winning long-term.
— Diversify channels: It’s risky to depend on one traffic source. Smart affiliates balance SEO, email marketing, social media, blogs, and video.
— Use AI wisely: AI is a great tool for efficiency and insight, but human creativity and expertise still need to drive the story.
— Prioritize mobile and video: That’s where audiences spend their time. If you’re not optimizing for those, you’re missing out on key audiences.
— Stay compliant and agile: Privacy laws, tracking changes, fraud prevention — it’s a moving target, and you have to adapt quickly.
Tatiana: What do you expect next year in the industry?
Bobby: I expect continued rapid growth, but the shape of that growth is shifting. A few things I see coming:
— AI integration everywhere: from smarter analytics to AI-driven content creation.
— Mobile-first dominance: most affiliate-driven traffic is mobile now. If you’re not mobile-optimized, you’re invisible in search and user engagement.
— Influencer + affiliate hybrid strategies: influencer trust combined with affiliate tracking is becoming a standard.
— Emerging niches: wellness, spirituality, green products, fintech, and beyond. Affiliates who catch these waves early will benefit.
— First-party data becomes critical: with third-party cookies fading, brands and affiliates need to own their data.
— Geographic expansion: Asia-Pacific and Latin America are heating up with huge growth opportunities.
For affiliates, the message is clear: adapt, diversify, and stay ahead of the curve.
Tatiana: According to your data, which niches are the most converting now? What are the top GEOs?
Bobby: Right now, iGaming, Nutra, Gambling, and Dating are top-converting niches on Affnext. In terms of GEOs, we’re seeing strong growth in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Southeast Asia. The U.S. and Canada remain stable and valuable, but the real surge is happening in emerging markets where digital adoption is exploding.
Life Beyond Work and Ads.
Tatiana: Where are you from? How did you come to the affiliate industry?
Bobby: I’m an Indian-American based in Austin, Texas. I used to live in New York but eventually moved south, partly for business opportunities and, honestly, to get away from the snow. Ironically, I now find myself complaining about the Texas heat — so you can never win!
I got into affiliate marketing after years in online marketing in general. Around 2010, I saw that the affiliate industry had this unique mix of creativity, technology, and entrepreneurship, and I knew it was where I belonged.
Tatiana: At what conferences can we meet the AffNext team?
Bobby: We usually attend North American affiliate conferences like Affiliate Summit and Affiliate World. This year, travel was a bit limited for us, but we always stay plugged into industry happenings and look forward to being back in person at upcoming events.
Tatiana: What inspires you outside of work?
Bobby: A lot of my inspiration comes from spirituality and family. I write about spirituality, I practice meditation and yoga, and I love spending time with my wife and four children. I also really enjoy creating content on social media, not just business-related, but personal reflections too. Helping people in any way I can is something that keeps me energized and grounded.
Tatiana: When you’re browsing online for yourself, do you catch yourself noticing ads? Which ones usually grab your attention?
Bobby: Oh yes, absolutely. After decades in advertising, it’s impossible not to notice. What stands out to me are ads that feel authentic, well-targeted, and creative.
What works now in marketing isn’t necessarily what worked five years ago. Today it’s about:
— AI-powered personalization that shows me something I actually care about.
— Privacy-first approaches that don’t feel intrusive.
— Short-form video ads on TikTok and Instagram — they’re quick, engaging, and hard to ignore.
— Immersive experiences with AR/VR that make me stop and explore.
— Social commerce, where I can see something in a post and buy it instantly.
At the same time, I’ve noticed that banner blindness is real. If an ad message doesn’t stand out in digital or feels fake, users scroll right past without engagement.
"Thanks to the AdOperator team for having me. It’s always great to share what we’re building at Affnext and talk about the bigger picture of affiliate marketing."Bobby Abe Cherian, Managing Partner at Affnext.com
