Digital marketing isn’t dying. Affiliate marketing isn’t outdated. And the sky isn’t falling unless you’re still clinging to 2012-style IM (Internet Marketing) tactics while the rest of the world has moved into DM (Digital Marketing).
The truth is, marketing didn’t die; it evolved. The problem is that many internet marketers never evolved with it. The money didn’t disappear; it just changed form, and if you’re not seeing it, you’re probably still looking for it in the wrong place.
Follow the Money
Here’s the reality.
• Global digital marketing spend hit roughly $410 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach $1.18 trillion by 2033, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 11.2% (Source: CropIn, 2025).
• The affiliate marketing industry was valued around $18.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to surpass $31 billion by 2031 (Source: Hostinger, 2025).
• In the U.S., affiliate marketing spend is growing at double-digit rates and is forecast to exceed $13.2 billion by 2026 (Source: eMarketer, 2025).
If you’re still hearing people say affiliate marketing is dead, that’s because they’ve stopped evolving. The opportunity didn’t vanish; it got smarter.
The Language Barrier: IM vs DM
If you’ve been in the game for years, this might sting a little, but it’s the truth. The words have changed; the approach has changed; the audience has definitely changed.
Old IM Term → Modern DM Term
Publisher / Vendor / Product Owner → Creator / Seller
Affiliate → Influencer / Partner / Promoter
Affiliate Marketing → Creator Collaboration / Revenue Share / Partner Promotion
Affiliate Network → Creator Marketplace
If you’re still talking “JV page” to someone who calls it a “collab request,” you’re speaking MySpace in a TikTok world.
From Funnels to Full Journeys
For years, IM marketers lived and died by the funnel. It was the online version of “Would you like fries with that?”
But somewhere along the way, those fries, the drink, the ketchup, and even the bun became separate upsells, and buyers got tired of it.
Consumers today want interactive journeys. They want the burger as advertised, a QUIZ to determine if fries or onion rings suit them better today, and a PEER GROUP to determine what milkshake flavor is the most tasty. You get where I’m going here?!
If you don’t, you’re not paying attention, and chances are, you falsely believe the market is dying.
It’s not. It’s evolving. And it’s better.
Buyers now expect products that work out of the gate. No gimmicks, no “instant results while you sleep.” They expect personalization, interaction, and an experience that actually feels designed for them.
Data backs it up:
• Personalization can boost conversions by 5–15% and cut acquisition costs by up to 50% (Source: McKinsey, 2024).
• Interactive content like quizzes can lift conversion rates 30–100% among engaged users (Source: Outgrow, 2024).
From Hype to Proof
We all saw those sales pages that claimed, “Your 10-year-old could make $300 while they sleep.” That kind of hype is exactly what gave Internet Marketing a bad reputation, and it’s what modern consumers won’t tolerate anymore.
Today, credibility wins. Transparency wins. Actual results win.
Regulators like the FTC are clear about false scarcity and exaggerated claims (Source: FTC, 2024). At JVZoo, we hold firm to those standards. No fake timers, no false guarantees, no “too-good-to-be-true” promises.
Proof, not hype, is what sells in 2025.
From Flash Launches to Evergreen Growth
The IM model was built on launches: one week of chaos, leaderboard contests, and quick cash.
That’s fine; it’s just not sustainable.
Digital Marketing (DM) in recent years has been about long-term growth, not just big launches:
• Evergreen products that stay relevant.
• Partner recruitment that never stops.
• Predictable, repeatable income.
• Incentivizing affiliate partners by paying them throughout the entire customer journey, including high-ticket webinars and phone sales, so they continue promoting.
• Keeping affiliates engaged with competitions not just for launch week, but periodically throughout the year to keep the product top of mind for both partners and potential consumers.
• Combining smart ad tactics (Google, YouTube, Meta, and TikTok) with affiliates to continually get the product in front of potential customers, strengthen brand recall, and gain maximum exposure without shouldering all the ad costs alone.
Launch fireworks are exciting; evergreen revenue is freedom. JVZoo will always support launches, but our focus now is on the creators building businesses, not just products.
When Words and Positioning Change, Everything Changes
Sometimes success isn’t about creating something new; it’s about presenting something old in a way that fits today’s market. One of the clearest examples of this evolution is what used to be called PLR (Private Label Rights) content.
PLR used to be an Internet Marketing buzzword, often dismissed or devalued by buyers who associated it with low quality or recycled products. But the same concept—repurposed, rebranded, and reframed, has exploded under new positioning.
Creators like Ashley Kemp have rebranded PLR into PDF Farming, and it’s thriving. He didn’t reinvent the wheel; he simply named it better, marketed it smarter, and aligned it with modern digital buyer psychology.
The difference wasn’t the product; it was the perception. The IM crowd is still selling “PLR bundles.” The digital marketers seeing success now are selling “content licensing systems” or “PDF businesses.” Same thing, new language, modern framing, and wildly different results.
This is the perfect example of why language, positioning, and customer experience matter more than ever.
What Marketplaces Actually Do
Let’s clear up some confusion, because this comes up often.
Marketplaces ARE responsible for:
• Ensuring sales pages are legally compliant where they’re sold.
• Confirming that there’s a real product behind the page.
• Making sure the product gets delivered once purchased.
Marketplaces ARE NOT responsible for:
• Teaching every seller how to market.
• Keeping users current on the latest tactics.
• Running your promotions or updating your funnel for you.
JVZoo sets standards. We don’t allow false scarcity, exaggerated earnings claims, or misleading language. However, we do allow flexibility — whether that’s a $7 PDF or a $997 course — as long as it’s compliant and delivers what it promises.
The Modern Marketer’s Playbook
- Update your language.
Speak “creator,” “partner,” “collab.” Retire “publisher,” “JV,” “IM launch.”2. Serve the burger first.
Deliver the core product as promised. No hidden ingredients behind a paywall.3. Make it interactive.
Include a quiz, a community, a peer element. Let customers participate.4. Enable your partners.
Provide compliance-ready creatives, accurate data, and real incentives.5. Think evergreen.
Stop living launch-to-launch. Build consistent revenue.6. Keep learning.
The best marketers don’t complain that the rules changed; they master the new ones.
The Bottom Line
Digital marketing hasn’t died; it just grew up.
Affiliate marketing didn’t fade away; it evolved into the creator economy—driven by collaboration, transparency, and customer experience.
The winners today are the ones who deliver real value, build immersive customer journeys, and partner strategically.
That’s exactly where JVZoo thrives.
We’re not clinging to the past; we’re shaping what comes next.
If you’re ready to move from outdated IM tactics to modern DM success, JVZoo is the marketplace built for you.
