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Affiliate Summit West 2025: Performance Marketing Conference Guide

TestParty
TestParty
April 1, 2025

Last Updated: November 2025


Affiliate Summit West is the performance marketing industry's flagship gathering. With 6,000+ attendees at the Paris Las Vegas, it's where DTC brands meet the publishers, networks, and partners who can drive measurable revenue growth.

For growth marketers exploring affiliate channels, partnership managers building programs, and DTC founders seeking performance-based acquisition, Affiliate Summit provides concentrated access to the affiliate ecosystem.


Table of Contents

  1. Event Overview
  2. Who Should Attend
  3. Agenda Highlights
  4. Networking Strategy
  5. For Affiliate Beginners
  6. Vegas Navigation
  7. Accessibility Considerations
  8. Frequently Asked Questions

Event Overview

Affiliate Summit West combines education with intensive networking in the affiliate marketing space.

Event Details

  • Dates: January (check affiliatesummit.com for exact dates)
  • Location: Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino
  • Format: 3-day conference with expo hall and extensive networking
  • Attendance: 6,000+ affiliate marketing professionals

Registration

Register at Affiliate Summit's registration page. Badge types include:

  • Affiliate/Publisher: For content creators and publishers
  • Merchant/Advertiser: For brands and retailers
  • Network/Platform: For affiliate networks and technology
  • Agency: For marketing agencies

Badge pricing varies by type and timing. Early registration provides discounts.


Who Should Attend

Ideal Attendees

  • Growth marketers exploring affiliate as acquisition channel
  • Partnership managers building or scaling affiliate programs
  • DTC founders seeking performance-based marketing
  • Content publishers monetizing through affiliate relationships

Affiliate Program Stage

Affiliate Summit serves brands at different stages:

  • Starting out: Learn fundamentals and meet networks
  • Scaling programs: Recruit publishers and optimize performance
  • Mature programs: Advanced strategies and partner diversification

Agenda Highlights

Check the Affiliate Summit agenda for current programming.

Keynote Sessions

Industry-wide perspectives:

  • State of affiliate: Industry trends and forecasts
  • Platform updates: Major network announcements
  • Success stories: Brand case studies

Track Programming

Specialized sessions by audience:

  • Merchant track: For brands and advertisers
  • Affiliate track: For publishers and content creators
  • Advanced strategies: For experienced practitioners

Meet Market

Expo hall and meeting opportunities:

  • Network booths: Major affiliate networks showcase programs
  • Technology vendors: Tracking, attribution, and optimization tools
  • Publisher recruitment: Direct connection with content creators

Networking Strategy

Scheduled Meetings

Maximize structured networking:

  • Pre-event outreach: Contact networks and publishers before arriving
  • Meeting scheduler: Use Affiliate Summit's meeting tools
  • Specific asks: Know exactly what partnerships you're seeking

Meet Market Navigation

Expo hall strategy:

  • Network prioritization: Identify target affiliate networks first
  • Publisher discovery: Find relevant content verticals for your brand
  • Technology evaluation: Assess tracking and attribution solutions

After-Hours Events

Evening networking is essential at Affiliate Summit:

  • Official parties: Affiliate Summit-organized networking events
  • Network dinners: Major networks host publisher and merchant gatherings
  • Industry meetups: Vertical-specific group dinners

Building Relationships

Affiliate marketing is relationship-driven:

  • Face-to-face value: In-person meetings accelerate partnerships
  • Long-term approach: Focus on relationship building, not just transactions
  • Follow-up commitment: Relationships require post-event nurturing

For Affiliate Beginners

Getting Started with Affiliate

If you're new to affiliate marketing:

  • Understand the model: Commission-based performance marketing
  • Know the players: Merchants, affiliates, networks, and platforms
  • Set realistic expectations: Affiliate programs take time to build

Beginner Sessions

Affiliate Summit offers foundational content:

  • 101 sessions: Basic affiliate marketing education
  • Network introductions: Understanding different network models
  • Program setup: Building your first affiliate program

Choosing Networks

Questions to ask when evaluating networks:

  • Vertical fit: Does the network have relevant publishers?
  • Tracking technology: Attribution and reporting capabilities
  • Service level: Support for program management
  • Fee structure: Network costs and commission models

Vegas Navigation

Paris Las Vegas

Conference location tips:

  • Stay on-site: Paris provides direct conference access
  • Backup options: Bally's (connected) or Horseshoe nearby
  • Meeting logistics: Paris restaurants work for scheduled meetings

Vegas Pacing

Multi-day conference survival:

  • Hydration: Vegas is dry, conference floors are demanding
  • Sleep discipline: Evening networking shouldn't mean no sleep
  • Meal planning: Schedule lunch—don't skip meals for meetings

Dining for Meetings

For partner dinners and meetings:

  • Mon Ami Gabi: Paris Las Vegas, convenient for conference
  • Carbone: Aria, excellent for important dinners
  • Bavette's: Palazzo, steakhouse option for groups

Accessibility Considerations

As you build affiliate partnerships at Affiliate Summit, ensure your site supports the traffic affiliates will send. With ADA lawsuits targeting online retailers at record rates, ensuring your store meets WCAG 2.2 compliance standards protects both your brand and your affiliate partners.

Affiliate Landing Pages

Traffic from affiliates needs accessible destinations:

  • Landing page compliance: Accessibility for affiliate-driven traffic
  • Conversion optimization: Accessible sites convert more visitors
  • Partner relationships: Accessibility issues reflect on affiliate partners

Program Considerations

Include accessibility in affiliate program planning:

  • Creative assets: Provide accessible promotional materials
  • Landing page options: Accessible destination pages for affiliates
  • Compliance communication: Keep affiliates informed of accessibility standards

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Affiliate Summit West?

Affiliate Summit West is a 3-day affiliate marketing conference at Paris Las Vegas each January. With 6,000+ attendees, it's the industry's largest gathering of merchants, affiliates, networks, and technology providers.

Is Affiliate Summit relevant if I don't have an affiliate program?

Yes. Affiliate Summit is ideal for brands considering affiliate marketing. You'll learn fundamentals, meet networks that can launch your program, and understand the ecosystem before committing.

How do I find the right affiliate partners at the conference?

Use the meeting scheduler to book time with relevant networks, attend vertical-specific sessions, and be specific about your target customer and product category when networking. Networks can recommend appropriate publishers.

What's the difference between Affiliate Summit West and East?

West (Las Vegas, January) is larger and considered the flagship event. East (New York, typically summer) is smaller but still valuable. Most serious affiliate marketers attend both.

How can I ensure my site is ready for affiliate traffic?

Use TestParty's free scan to identify accessibility gaps before launching affiliate partnerships. Accessible sites convert better—TestParty fixes WCAG compliance issues at the code level.


Prepare Your Site for Affiliate Traffic

Before launching affiliate partnerships, ensure your site converts the traffic affiliates will send.

Book a Demo →

See how TestParty optimizes conversion through accessibility—sites that work for everyone convert better.

Get Your Free Scan →

Identify accessibility issues before affiliate launch—protect your conversion rates.


Last updated: November 2025



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