Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonny Palta.
Sonny, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
My parents immigrated to the States from India in the 60’s. While we started out in New York, we moved from coast to coast before settling in the midwest. While the Midwest was a fine place to grow up, I had the itch to be near the ocean and be in a bigger city.
I moved from Indiana to Miami in 2005 to go to school at The U (I bleed Orange & Green). From there, I graduated in 2009 with degrees in Entrepreneurship and Economics. My first job out of college was in the music industry and was a real eye-opener. Eventually, I was fired for not being able to show up on time (even though the start time was 10 am) and my boss told me point-blank that I was likely better off working for myself, rather than trying to hack it in an office environment. Those words stuck with me over the years.
The next year, I started The Affiliati Network which was a one-man shop. One of the things we are most proud of is the fact the entire operation has been bootstrapped – we have never taken any sort of outside funding. I’d like to give a special shout-out to American Express for giving a 22-year-old a $20k credit line, which we leveraged into bridging the gap between our payables and receivables in the early days. Year after year since 2011, we realized a 100% annualized growth and added more people to the team. Today we happily employ 20 people with offices in Chicago, Miami, and Santa Barbara.
In short, we are the people behind the ads in your Facebook/Instagram feeds, and the creative force behind many of the products you purchase online. Performance marketing has shown incredible growth as an industry, and we quickly realized we could fill a void in the marketplace offering professionalism and clear communication in a rather young sector.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
As with any new business, we have encountered our fair share of issues along the way. From non-paying clients to banking issues resulting in held funds, professional obstacles always can derail a business. However, with a great team and amazing clients who have lifted us up when we’ve been knocked down, along with a very stubborn level of perseverance, we’ve been able to continue our growth trajectory into our 8th year of operations.
Furthermore, there’s that little thing called life that happens while you’re trying to build a company. Since opening the doors at The Affiliati Network, I’ve gotten married and have my third child on the way. While it can be extremely tiring it is also incredibly rewarding. The days can be a 10 hour workday along with a 6 hour family day and little downtime. However, that’s the level of dedication it has taken to put our family and the company in a position to succeed.
The Affiliati Network – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
In short, we are a performance marketing company. Where other marketing efforts don’t provide tangible 1:1 value on your advertising dollar – with performance marketing you can see the true ROI of your advertising dollar. Our clients only pay for sales/leads/installs/any metric we negotiate to be commissionable in our contract. Our network of affiliates and advertisers provide each member of our deal flow exclusive relationships and quality customers. It is more than generating new leads, it is about building lasting relationships and replicable, scalable businesses. We are a key conduit in the pursuit of that endeavor.
By being an ‘outsourced sales force’ of sorts, we allow our customers to focus on their core competencies. The Affiliati Network strives to bridge the gap between advertisers who seek high-quality leads and sales and affiliates who deliver high-quality traffic. This symbiotic relationship results in a profitable & scalable model for all partners in the supply chain.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success is a word that changes the definition for people over time. When I started the company, it was merely about hitting financial goals. Over the years, that definition has evolved into being able to positively impact as many people as possible. Whether that’s employing great team members and helping them achieve their goals, or positively impacting a client’s business – that’s what really revs my engines these days.
Outside of those professional goals – I simply define success as the number of hours I have to spend with my family and friends. The older I get (currently 31, going on 60) – the more I realize that I just want to be present for my children as they grow older, and that is my main priority.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.AffiliatiNetwork.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheAffiliatiNetwork/
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