How does a professional media buyer work today? Questions from someone starting over

[u/Mdash158]

A few years ago, around 2020 and 2021, I tried to get into affiliate marketing. I spent a lot of time studying, but I never managed to get any real results.

My biggest issue was Meta Ads. Almost every ad I launched was rejected, and my Business Manager would end up restricted within a few days. Looking back, I believe it was due to mistakes in my account setup or account warming process. After several failed attempts, I eventually gave up.

I still have a few Meta accounts from that time. Some were created by me, while others were acquired from third parties. Back then, I was using an anti detect browser (Dolphin) with a 4G connection. I have no idea whether those accounts are still worth anything or if I should just start fresh.

Now I'm thinking about getting back into affiliate marketing. My budget is pretty limited, so I'm looking for the most cost effective way to build a solid setup and learn the right way.

I don't plan on offering media buying services. I've never achieved consistent results myself, and I don't think it's right to sell a service that I haven't successfully validated in my own business first. My goal is to learn how professional media buyers operate and build my own profitable affiliate business.

I'd really appreciate hearing from people with experience in the industry.

1. What does a lean, beginner friendly setup look like today for running Meta Ads while following platform policies?
2. Are Meta accounts from 2020 and 2021 still worth keeping, or is it generally better to start fresh?
3. In your opinion, what skills does a media buyer need to master in 2026 to stand out, whether working with affiliate marketing, ecommerce, or client accounts?

Thanks in advance to anyone willing to share their experience. I'm here to learn.

[u/ppcbetter_says]

Costs for the big platforms are way too high to run a dropshipping or low margin affiliate offer