What matters more in affiliate marketing: performance or partnerships? At first glance, the answer seems obvious. But in reality, one rarely exists without the other. Sustainable growth is built on trust, transparent communication, and a shared commitment to moving forward together.

In this new edition of N1 Faces, Polina Bogatko, Affiliate Manager at N1 Partners, shares how she quickly found her place in the industry, why stress management remains one of the most underrated skills in affiliate marketing, and what truly separates a strong partnership from just good cooperation.

How did you get into affiliate marketing, and when did you realise this was the industry you wanted to grow in?

I entered affiliate marketing from an Account Manager position. It was a completely new industry for me, so I set myself an ambitious goal: to dive in as quickly as possible and understand how everything worked.

I spent a lot of time diving into industry content, watching interviews, talking to colleagues, and absorbing new knowledge every day. Within just a month, I had grown into the Affiliate Manager role.

That was the moment I realised I had found the right industry for me. I enjoy the combination of analytics and communication, the challenge of solving complex problems, and the opportunity to work with different people. I’ve also always loved starting from scratch and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone – those challenges are what keep me motivated.

What brought you to N1 Partners, and why did the opportunity seem so attractive?

I’ve always been drawn to companies where you’re not just completing tasks but continuously learning and growing. When the opportunity to join N1 Partners came up, I was immediately impressed by the strength of the team, the business scale, and the company’s reputation within the industry.

What stood out most was the culture. Initiative, expertise, and professional growth are genuinely valued here, and that’s exactly the kind of environment where I wanted to build a long-term career.

Looking back at the start of your career, what turned out to be completely different from your expectations? And what advice would you give yourself during your first month on the job?

At the beginning, I assumed affiliate marketing was all about moving fast and seeing results quickly if you worked hard enough.

In reality, every meaningful achievement is backed by consistent, systematic work. It takes time to fully understand a product, build trust with affiliates, and develop a real feel for the market.

If I could go back to my first month, I would tell myself one simple thing: don’t rush and don’t stress if everything doesn’t click immediately. Success in this industry isn’t about quick wins — it’s about consistency, patience, and showing up every day. The more comfortable you are with the learning process, the faster you’ll get where you want to be.

What changes in affiliate marketing do you consider the most significant over the past few years?

In iGaming, one of the biggest shifts has been the impact of AI on advertising platforms and on the way traffic moderation works

Facebook and Google have become much more precise in analysing user behaviour, creatives, and campaign setups, which has significantly affected both PPC and Facebook traffic acquisition.

A few years ago, scaling campaigns through proven approaches and rapid testing was relatively straightforward. Today, algorithms identify risky patterns much faster, accounts face stricter restrictions, and moderation standards continue to tighten.

As a result, traffic acquisition has become more expensive, while finding stable, scalable campaign setups requires far more resources and expertise.

On one hand, this has made life more challenging for affiliates. On the other hand, the industry has become more mature and professional. Today, the biggest winners are those who can analyse data deeply, test hypotheses methodically, and build long-term strategies rather than simply chasing volume.

What separates a truly strong partnership from simply good cooperation?

A strong affiliate partnership isn’t just about everything running smoothly. It’s about both sides being genuinely invested in achieving a shared outcome.

A great affiliate manager doesn’t simply reply to messages — they understand what’s happening with the traffic, identify growth opportunities, and help solve challenges when they arise. At the same time, successful affiliates don’t jump between offers every few days; they give campaigns enough time to optimise and reach their full potential.

Trust, commitment, and ongoing collaboration are the foundations of any lasting partnership.

Has there been a person, case study, or experience that significantly influenced the way you work with partners?

For me, that person was my first team lead, Vlad Chernov, Deputy Head of Affiliates.

He laid the foundation for how I approach affiliate management today.

One of the most valuable lessons he taught me was to evaluate traffic objectively, without emotions or bias, and rely on data and logic instead.

His communication style also had a huge impact on me. He always emphasised providing structured, actionable feedback rather than opinions or gut feelings.

Most importantly, he taught me not to be influenced by promises or pressure and to stay focused on actual performance.

What do you consider the most underrated part of an affiliate manager’s job?

Stress management. From the outside, the role may seem like a combination of chats and calls, but in reality, you’re constantly balancing the interests of partners, products, and internal performance expectations.

The industry moves incredibly fast, and maintaining a clear head during periods of pressure or fluctuating KPIs is essential.

This is one of those professions where long-term success depends not only on knowledge and experience but also on your ability to stay mentally resilient.

What mistakes most often prevent long-term relationships from developing?

One of the most common mistakes is avoiding difficult conversations.

Instead of discussing challenges openly and finding solutions together, people often stay silent with frustration building over time.

In long-term partnerships, that’s especially dangerous. Any uncertainty or lack of transparency quickly turns into distrust.

It’s always more effective to address issues openly, even when the conversation is uncomfortable, and work toward a solution together.

What helps you stay energised and avoid burnout in an industry that changes every single day?

Energetic affiliates give me a lot of motivation.

There are partners I regularly speak with through calls and chats, and those conversations are always dynamic and engaging.

We can laugh about industry situations, get frustrated by market challenges together, and then switch straight into problem-solving mode.

That combination of genuine human connection and shared focus on results helps me maintain momentum and avoid burnout.

If you had to describe your job in affiliate marketing without using the words “traffic”, “affiliate”, or “conversion”, what would you say?

I’d say it’s about turning chaos into a structured system. You communicate, analyze behavior, test different approaches, and identify what drives results.

It’s a mix of fast decision-making, constant interaction, and the ongoing belief that every process can be improved by optimizing the right details.

If you weren’t in iGaming…?

I would probably move into events or project management. I enjoy fast-paced environments where you have to bring people, tasks, and deadlines together into a system that works. Events offer excitement and constant decision-making in real time, while project management provides more structure and process control — but both come with the same sense of ownership and responsibility for the final outcome. What attracts me in both fields is the combination of organization, accountability, and measurable results.

TOP-3 

Which qualities do you value most in partners?

1. Deep expertise
2. Flexibility
3. Responsiveness

Which skills are most important for an Affiliate Manager today?

1. Analytical thinking
2. Ability to adapt to new rules and changing conditions
3. Negotiation skills

Which tools or habits can you not imagine your workday without?

1. A calculator 🙂
2. My personal Telegram notes chat where I keep everything important
3. Affiliate launch pings!

Blitz 

New affiliate or growing with an existing one?

Growing and scaling existing partnerships.

Intuition or analytics?

Analytics.

Calls or messages?

Messages every day, calls once a week.

High volume or predictable results?

High volume with controlled quality.

Cooperate with N1 Partners!

For affiliates who value transparent communication, long-term collaboration, and hands-on support, strong partnerships start with a team that is genuinely invested in your growth.

Whether you’re looking for new scaling opportunities, tailored commercial terms, or a high-converting offer to test, Polina would be happy to discuss a potential partnership.

Become a partner

N1 Partners is a multi-brand affiliate platform and direct advertiser that brings together more than 14 casino and sportsbook brands. The company operates across Tier-1 markets and offers competitive commercial terms, including CPA payouts of up to €700 and RevShare of up to 55%.

With more than 14,000 affiliates worldwide, N1 Partners is trusted for its transparency, flexibility, and partnership-first approach. Long-term relationships, quality communication, and a shared focus on performance remain at the core of cooperating with the company.

N1 Partners is launching N1 Sport Promo, a promo campaign for affiliates driving Sports Betting and Prediction Markets traffic.

The promotion covers the biggest sporting and esports events of the season, including the FIFA World Cup 2026, Wimbledon, Formula 1, UFC Freedom 250, and many other major events. The promo runs from June 10 to July 20, 2026.

During the campaign, affiliates can increase their CPA payouts based on the volume of qualified FTDs they deliver. The more quality players a partner brings, the higher his rate and total earnings become.

Why join N1 Sport Promo?

Every major sporting event attracts new audiences to the betting vertical, and summer 2026 offers multiple powerful growth drivers for affiliates.

• Peak sports season.
  The biggest sporting events of the year are perfect for scaling traffic and testing new funnels.
• Growing payouts.
  The more FTDs you generate, the higher your active CPA rate becomes.
• Tier-1 GEOs.
  The promo is available across Tier-1 markets with high potential and quality sports traffic.

N1 Partners team has compiled a guide covering key sporting events, June promotions, and expert recommendations for monetising Tier-1 sports traffic to help affiliates prepare for the upcoming sports season.

How does N1 Sport Promo work?

The mechanics are simple: the more quality FTDs an affiliate generates, the higher their CPA rate becomes.

SEO and PPC

Affiliates working with SEO and PPC traffic can increase their CPA rate with no limits.

Every 10 FTDs add an extra €50 to your current rate. There is no cap on CPA growth.

Example:

FB, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email and SMS

A separate payout structure applies to affiliates working with Facebook, In-App, UAC, ASO, Email, and SMS traffic.

Every 30 FTDs increase your current CPA rate by €10. The maximum increase is €100 on top of the base rate.

Accordingly, the more successfully a campaign scales, the higher the final payout becomes.

Example:

N1 Sport Promo terms

Registered N1 Partners affiliates are eligible to participate in N1 Sport Promo. Please contact your affiliate manager to join the promotion.

Not working with N1 Partners yet? Get in touch with the LeadGen team and join the promotion during the biggest sports period of the summer.

Main terms:

• Sports betting and Prediction Markets traffic is allowed.
• GEOs: Tier-1 (the list of available countries is provided by your manager).
• CAP: 50 FTDs at campaign launch.
• At least 60% of acquired players must place sports bets.
• Traffic to crash games must not exceed 30% of total volume.
• Incentivised traffic, fraud, and non-target GEOs are not eligible for the promotion.
• N1 Partners reserves the right to recalculate or cancel FTDs in cases of fraudulent activity or violations of the promotion terms.
• Payouts are processed according to the company’s standard payment schedule.

Detailed participation terms are available via the link.

Join N1 Sport Promo and turn the 2026 sports season into record-breaking results!

Join N1 Partners:

• 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep 
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners

Be number one with N1!

N1 Partners has been shortlisted for the G Gate Awards 2026 in three categories. Following the first round of voting, N1 Partners remains in the race for victory in the following nominations:

• iGaming Advertiser of the Year

• PR Campaign of the Year

• Event of the Year

Reaching the final stage of the G Gate Awards 2026 reflects N1 Partners’ key achievements over the past year, including the growth of its affiliate program and product portfolio, the launch of the N1 Puzzle Promo with a €500,000 prize pool, and the organisation of the “Because We Can” Grand Final during iGB Affiliate Barcelona.

The second and final voting round is now open and will run until June 22. The winners of the awards will be determined at this stage, and every vote counts.

How to Vote for N1 Partners

Supporting N1 Partners in the final round takes just a few clicks:

1. Visit the G Gate Awards website.
2. Select N1 Partners in the following categories:
   • iGaming Advertiser of the Year
   • PR Campaign of the Year
   • Event of the Year
3. Click the “Vote” button.
4. Enter your phone number.
5. Confirm your vote via the incoming call or Telegram verification code.

Support N1 Partners at the G Gate Awards!

Each of these nominations reflects the work of the N1 Partners team, the trust of our partners, and the support of a community that continues to grow alongside the company.

There is not much time left until the final voting stage closes.

Your vote is very important — thank you for the support!

Why work with N1 Partners: 

• 14+ casino and sportsbook brands with high Reg2Dep 
• 10+ Tier-1 GEOs
• CPA up to €700 and RevShare up to 55% + NNCO for top partners

Be number one with N1!