Evaluating Partners in Q1 2026 - What's Your Bar?

Morning everyone, Been thinking a lot lately about how we all evaluate potential affiliate partners. Seems like the landscape shifts so fast, especially with new regulations popping up all the time. I've been doing this for years, mostly focused on organic traffic and technical SEO for my sites. For me, beyond the obvious commission structure, I'm really digging into the conversion rates reported by other affiliates if I can find that data. A high commission is useless if no one converts, right? Also, checking their player retention stats is key - shows they're not just a churn-and-burn operation. I also do a quick audit of their own site's SEO. If their site is a mess, makes me wonder how serious they are about long-term traffic and quality. It's a red flag if they can't even get their own house in order. I've learned this the hard way more than once. What are your must-haves when you're looking at a new partner? Any specific metrics or 'gut feelings' you rely on these days? Or anything you've started prioritizing more in 2026?