Is affiliate marketing still in demand? Absolutely. While some may doubt the effectiveness of advertising that’s “guaranteed to work or it’s free,” affiliate marketing has proven to be a successful strategy for marketers of all kinds. Despite fluctuations in the online advertising world, affiliate marketing has continued to grow steadily. Skeptics argue that its low cost may lower the bar for online advertising, but the reality is that it works. In fact, affiliate marketing has become a dependable source of sales for many marketers today.
Affiliate marketing has come a long way since its inception, with some predicting its dominance in the online advertising industry and others forecasting its demise. Today, it has become a refined channel that contributes a significant chunk – ranging from 5 to 25% – of global online sales for major brands.
Most multi-channel marketers today have an affiliate program, but these programs are no longer one-size-fits-all. Gone are the days of unlimited affiliates; now, marketers must customize their programs to achieve their goals. While affiliates are generally seen as beneficial to online marketing, the program must align with the marketer’s objectives.
Affiliate marketing didn’t replace pricier online advertising methods. Instead, it proved its effectiveness by providing cost-efficient sales through a pay-per-performance system. This success opened doors for other performance-based ads like CPA-based search and portal advertising to gain popularity among direct marketers. As affiliates and marketers grew more advanced, affiliate marketing also evolved and integrated with other online marketing strategies.
