150 Affiliate Marketing Statistics, Growth, Success & New Frontiers

It was found that the affiliate marketing global spend in 2017 was $8.6 billion, with the $5.4 billion US spend making up a large chunk of that. Whether you’re a brand looking for new affiliate partners (or wanting to see who your competitors partner with), or a blogger, influencer or publisher looking for new brands to represent, Similarweb can help. Forbes states that thinking about at least one value https://www.xcritical.com/ that makes your affiliate program a great choice for your partners is essential. For example, if you are good at paying your partners promptly, you should ensure you can get that point across.

The top affiliate networks have over 150,000 affiliates.

Here, we will discuss the biggest affiliate marketing trends everyone should know. As even more US companies worked to expand their online sales after the pandemic, 31% of survey respondents said eCommerce would be their top revenue source in 2021. Almost one-third Decentralized finance said affiliate marketing was one of their top three revenue earners.

28% of affiliate marketers use blogs to promote affiliate links

Virtual products are also expected to generate substantial revenue, further diversifying opportunities within the affiliate space. The trust factor plays a critical role in the success of influencer affiliate marketing. Consumers are more likely to engage with and act on content from influencers they most profitable affiliate programs trust, with 23% of people inclined to purchase after seeing a trusted influencer’s recommendation.

Drive affiliate growth with 5 reporting strategies

affiliate marketing industry report

Regular benchmarking reveals whether you’re leading or lagging in crucial metrics that matter to partners. For example, credit card issuers can track applications from initiation to approval, while subscription services can monitor trial-to-paid conversion rates. In making such adjustments, I’ve noticed a virtuous circle of growth is developing within the industry that points to a more expansive future. In 2000, my company launched into what was effectively a cottage industry. The sector was small and nascent but packed with talented, passionate people.

affiliate marketing industry report

Future Trends and Challenges in Influencer Affiliate Marketing

Whether you’re just starting or looking to refine your approach, these statistics guide you toward informed decisions and successful campaigns. Yes, affiliates must adhere to legal requirements, such as disclosing their affiliate relationships to their audience in a transparent manner. This is crucial for maintaining trust and complying with regulations like the FTC’s guidelines in the United States. Affiliates looking to stay ahead should consider diversifying into emerging niches and capitalizing on these consumer trends. Online Dating Sites Pay as much as 80% CommissionOver 40 million Americans use on-line courting merchandise. And many affiliate entrepreneurs do properly financially consequently of this.

According to a report from Forrester, the expected annual growth rate of the U.S. affiliate marketing spend is 10%. The report predicted the value to grow to more than $6.8 billion between 2015 and 2020. The digital industry remains one of the industries that benefit massively from affiliate marketing. While advertising provides a bulk of the revenue generated by publishers, about 15% of their total revenue still comes from affiliate marketing.

Regularly reviewing these metrics is essential for understanding what’s working and what needs improvement. Your potential as an affiliate marketer is enormous, with emerging trends and technologies offering more avenues for growth than ever before. The landscape constantly evolves from the rise of mobile to the dominance of content strategies. On the innovation front, voice search and blockchain technology are poised to play a larger role, providing new opportunities for affiliates.

Additionally, a shift from flat-rate commissions to revenue-sharing models will encourage performance-based strategies, with native advertising becoming a dominant promotional method. Influencer affiliate marketing is experiencing robust growth, with a 35% increase year-over-year, showing no signs of slowing down. Instagram leads as the top platform, hosting nearly half of these campaigns, while TikTok’s exponential growth reflects the rising popularity of short-form video content for affiliate marketing. Brands can harness this global expansion by entering new markets, and affiliates can seek high-growth regions for new opportunities. The impressive ROI of $6.50 per dollar spent underscores why affiliate marketing continues to be a key strategy for businesses of all sizes. This continued in 2021, when US customers looked for ”internet online affiliate marketing” 1,305,226 instances.

To be successful at this, one has to generate search interest to create a demand for the product they are marketing. According to Viglink, publishers with less than 5,000 monthly unique views make affiliate marketing their primary source of generating revenue. However, Viglink also points out that around 64% of publishers say they fail to meet their affiliate revenue targets. In addition, about 77% of publishers confirmed that the income made from affiliate marketing programs between 2015 to 2016 either increased or remained consistent. The 2016 report may be a few years old, but it is reasonable to imagine today’s metrics are similar.

  • Social media is a natural channel considering 67% of affiliates already used top platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to grow and connect with their own audiences.
  • It was found that the affiliate marketing global spend in 2017 was $8.6 billion, with the $5.4 billion US spend making up a large chunk of that.
  • Clearly, increased numbers of people working from home have been looking for new sources of income.
  • Affiliate networks have hundreds of thousands of brand affiliates that cater to a specific audience.
  • A big chunk of the digital media industry’s revenue comes from affiliate marketing, while it traditionally has relied heavily on advertising.
  • Well, the largest group of publishers, 18.8%, earn less than $20k annually, but the other 80+% are making decent profits.

9% predicted affiliate marketing would be their top revenue earning source. According to Google Trends, the keyword search for “affiliate marketing” worldwide has increased every year for the past five years. Experts say it’s due to the growth of eCommerce businesses as they move away from traditional store fronts and look to sell more online. The influencer marketing area grew from $1.7 billion in 2016 to $16.4 billion in 2022, and it’s expected to keep growing with more short video content on social platforms. Marketers are also able to earn a decent living by making affiliate sales. 10% of marketers make up to $75k a year, while nearly 60% make under $10k.

affiliate marketing industry report

Content creators are also diversifying across multiple affiliate networks, demonstrating the importance of expanding their reach to maximize earning potential. With a firm grasp of these statistics, affiliate marketers can refine their strategies, improve conversion rates, and maintain a competitive edge. Whether optimizing ad spend, selecting high-performing partners, or fine-tuning content strategies, accurate insights ensure that every decision is data-driven and aligned with business goals. These data points serve as the foundation for strategic planning, enabling marketers to optimize their efforts, enhance ROI, and stay ahead of emerging trends.

Unsurprisingly, eCommerce topped this list, with 36% of publishers naming it their top online revenue source and 62% placing it in the top three. Second place went to Subscriptions and memberships (29% top source, 58% in the top three). Affiliate marketing, however, was also popular, and although only 9% of respondents named it their highest revenue source, 31% placed it in their top three. Through brand affiliates, brands can reach out to consumers without being too intrusive. Since brand affiliates have followers who trust their content, it can be easier for them to influence or convince people to buy products from brands they endorse. Affiliate marketing is set for significant growth over the next decade, with an estimated $12 billion market value by 2026 and a 10% annual growth rate.

It’s important to use the most recent ones, and the newest forecasts are crucial, especially if you’ll be using these affiliate marketing industry statistics for strategic decision-making. Latest affiliate marketing statistics reveal that the affiliate industry has surged to $15.7 billion in 2023, with market analysis projecting remarkable expansion to $36.9 billion by 2030. From a merchant’s perspective, social media reviews and engagement from content creators are excellent ways to build social proof.