Networking by the Lake: Key Takeaways from Affiliate Expo 2025 at Lago Maggiore

Lago Maggiore is justly considered to be one of the most picturesque locations in the world: situated between Italy and Switzerland, it is known for its serene beauty. Naturally, people come here to wallow in soothing environment, enjoy holistic therapies, or try gentle activities like boating, hiking, or riding, but this year the situation has been changed: affiliate marketing has come into play.

Affiliate Expo, a previously all-Italian conference has recently shifted its priorities. The organizers invited both Italian and worldwide affiliates who could exchange opinions, share ideas, and network with a breathtaking view not many places could provide. Let’s sum things up — and see how the industry has evolved.

New Approach

Affiliates like hitting the floor. To prove this statement, one simply has to look through the schedule of adjoining events: party, party, party, party, dinner, party, party, party... You know that, right? There’s absolutely nothing bad about people wanting to get loose, but what if there’s another way of networking, previously unheard of?..

Affiliate Expo 2025 was brought to one of the most beautiful places on earth, and the steady rhythm with no hurry became the centerpiece of the event. While it was indeed an activity — affiliates were still surrounded by experts and experienced professionals — they could take a break and breathe in the fresh air of the lake. We cannot quite call the conference a recreational event, not yet, but it certainly provided more inner peace and equilibrium that any other conference of the kind. One should not think that parties are going to be discarded any time soon; but Affiliate Expo certainly introduced a new trend that combined active networking and a full-scale relaxation, unperturbed by loud music coming from a neighboring club.

Impressive Lineup

It’s hard to astound a mature affiliate these days: they’ve seen everything and attended every event. Been there, done that. However, the stellar lineup left many attendees speechless. All guests could enrich their experiences, explore practical, real-world strategies, and outline their own techniques based on the insights. Among the renowned speakers were Craig Campbell, a highly respected SEO expert and digital marketing strategies, known for his no-nonsense approach to organic growth and online visibility; Kasra Dash, a prominent SEO consultant and podcaster; Anna Gita, CEO of MaxWeb, who shared her thoughts on management and performance marketing, Stefan Muehlbauer, the affiliate marketing veteran, AffPal representative, and many others — we’re purposefully not divulging all secrets so you want to visit the event next time. The speakers tackled a wide range of hot topics — from eCommerce conversions and lead generation funnels to native traffic, SEO evolution, sweepstakes, Nutra offers, and the shifting dynamics of media buying.

Mastermind Sessions

A true highlight of Affiliate Expo 2025 was the dedicated day of exclusive mastermind sessions — a premium opportunity for attendees to learn directly from some of the industry's most successful media buyers and strategists. These sessions were designed not as lectures, but as interactive discussions packed with insights, behind-the-scenes breakdowns, and real campaign case studies.

Throughout the day, elite media buyers — many of whom are running monthly ad budgets in the high six- and seven-figure range — opened up their playbooks. They shared tested and proven strategies for scaling ad campaigns on Meta (Facebook and Instagram), Google, YouTube, and TikTok, offering tactical guidance tailored to today's ad ecosystem. Particular attention was given to high-converting verticals such as Nutra, Cash on Delivery products, sweepstakes, lead generation, and eCommerce funnels.

By the way, the Know-Your-Roots principle was still there: Italian affiliates who did not speak English could join their own mastermind session. It featured local experts including Rossario Cicero, Massimo Giacchino, Sahib Singh, and Christian Mancini — all of whom brought deep experience and a laser focus on the Italian and broader European markets.

Wrapping Up

Affiliate Expo 2025 was more than just a conference — it was a convergence of knowledge, strategy, meaningful connection, and the peaceful energy inspired by its stunning lakeside setting. As the industry continues to evolve, and this new approach picked by the organizers of the conference only corroborates a quiet statement: modern affiliates are growing tired from constant background noise, and currently they’re looking for an event that meets their professional and aesthetic requirements. It’s hard to say whether the pundits of the industry embrace the trend, but it’s already obvious that Affiliate Expo 2025 has delivered a unique experience for everyone who visited.