Featured Panel at POMA Annual Meeting Announced

The POMA Annual Meeting, hosted by Destination Toledo, will feature a panel discussion on affiliate marketing in the outdoor industry. Panelists include Chuck Hamrick, affiliate team lead with AvantLink, Tim Brant, owner of Murray Road Agency, Bill Brod, publisher/CEO of Outdoor Specialty Media Group, along with an affiliate marketer who utilizes the service on social media.

Affiliate marketing in the outdoor industry harnesses the vast power of the internet with digital and SEO techniques. It’s emerging as a powerful strategy for brands looking to enhance their visibility and drive sales. This model leverages partnerships with influencers, content creators and outdoor enthusiasts who promote products through their platforms and earn commissions from resulting sales.

Why Brands Should Build an Affiliate Marketing Program

For brands, this session will explore why affiliate marketing isn’t just a trend – it’s a smart, scalable business move. Attendees will learn how to:

• Select content creators who understand SEO and know how to drive organic web traffic.
• Build partnerships that spark long-term product conversations and authentic brand storytelling.
• Protect minimum advertised price (MAP) and distribution pricing through clear affiliate agreements and strategic partnerships.
• Avoid common pitfalls such as a poor customer checkout process or user-unfriendly websites, which can undercut conversion rates.

Affiliate marketing allows brands to increase reach and engagement by tapping into passionate audiences. It’s also cost-effective and performance-based, meaning you only pay for results. Plus, it scales easily as your company grows.

How Content Creators Can Evolve with Affiliate Marketing

For creators, this panel will outline the shifts happening in affiliate marketing – and how to stay ahead of the curve. Topics include:

• Exploring new opportunities to utilize your expertise. Affiliate marketing allows content creators to partner with platforms that have an existing audience, monetizing their passion while providing valuable recommendations to their audience. This creates a win-win scenario for both parties.
• How to evolve your technical writing and media skills to focus on SEO and organic search performance.
• Using your platform to influence – not just report – and become a go-to voice that brands want to work with.
• Finding new ways to monetize your expertise by building affiliate relationships with gear, services and travel brands your audience already trusts.

Affiliate marketing opens new doors for monetization and collaboration, especially for those who can position themselves as both storytellers and marketers in today’s digital landscape.

You won’t want to miss this timely and insightful discussion. You can find more information and register for POMA’s Annual Meeting here. POMA membership isn’t required to attend.