In affiliate marketing, transparency matters more than volume. You don’t need to be loud to be trusted. But you do need to be consistent.
That’s something Sebastian Mihai knows well. As an Affiliate Manager at Strong Affiliates, he’s focused on building things that last: trust, transparency, and partnerships that actually feel like partnerships.
We sat down with Sebastian to talk about what fairness looks like in real affiliate work, how to spot brands that walk the talk, and why sometimes the quiet stuff matters more than the pitch.
Q: When it comes to promoting brands, how do you personally make sure they’re really fair and transparent, beyond just saying they are?
Sebastian:
You learn quickly in this space that words like “fair” and “transparent” are easy to use but harder to prove. So I start simple. I use the product. That means registering, depositing, playing. I want to experience what players go through, without filters.
I also ask around. Feedback from customers and partners tells you a lot, especially when it doesn’t come from a polished campaign. And I always check for things like clear terms and working responsible gaming tools. No one should need a microscope or a lawyer to figure out bonus rules or withdrawals.
If something feels off at that level, I won’t promote it. It’s that straightforward.
Q: So once you know a brand is solid, how do you help affiliates communicate that to their audience?
Sebastian:
Most of the time, it’s about clarity. I help affiliates break down complex terms into clean talking points, so they’re not just copying bonus text, they’re actually explaining what makes the offer trustworthy.
We also talk a lot about tone. If a brand is fair, it shouldn’t sound defensive or pushy. It should feel confident, clean, and easy to engage with. That’s what we aim to help affiliates convey in their messaging, too.
Q: What does Strong Affiliates do as a company to keep these standards high across the board?
Sebastian:
There’s a whole system behind the scenes. Every brand we work with goes through multiple rounds of testing. That includes compliance, UX, bonus logic, payout clarity, and even how their support team handles edge cases.
After launch, we stay in the loop. Feedback loops from both players and affiliates are essential. If we see recurring friction points, maybe bonus terms are misunderstood or support is slow, we escalate fast and work on fixes.
Our approach is rooted in affiliate marketing transparency, from the way we test brands to how we respond to feedback.
It’s not about catching mistakes. It’s about staying accountable.
Q: What’s the smartest or most creative way you’ve seen affiliates communicate a brand’s integrity?
Sebastian:
There was one campaign that still sticks with me. An affiliate did a full “test run” of the product and recorded the entire experience. Not just the good parts, but the hiccups too.
They framed it like a challenge: “Can this brand live up to its promises?” and walked viewers through sign-up, play, support, withdrawal. It was honest, funny, and surprisingly effective. That kind of real-time storytelling builds way more trust than banners ever will.
Q: Quick switch to a lighter note. Funniest moment you’ve had while working remotely?
Sebastian:
Oh, easy. I had a video call with a partner who was stuck in traffic and refused to reschedule. So he took the meeting parked on a hill, in the car, with hazard lights on, and still somehow managed to share screen and talk strategy while honking at someone to pass.
We got everything done, and I’ll be honest, it was one of the most productive and hilarious calls I’ve had. The determination was next level.
Q: Final thoughts. If someone’s on the fence about joining Strong Affiliates, what would you want them to know?
Sebastian:
We don’t overpromise. If you want flashy slides and vague guarantees, we’re probably not your style. But if you want a team that listens, solves problems, and respects the relationship, then I think you’ll feel at home here.
We’re here to build something real, not just for show.