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| Mobile Affiliate Marketing - A Complete Guide |
Up until 2007, touchscreen pocket-sized computers were the stuff of science fiction. Today, over 3.5 billion people use these tiny pocket computers in the form of the smartphone.
The mobile phone now dominates our lives. And with so much mobile traffic, there is also a massive opportunity in mobile affiliate marketing.
What Is Mobile Affiliate Marketing?
Mobile affiliate marketing is a form of performance marketing where publishers promote mobile offers and are paid for referring new users or customers. It involves using mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.
It is a bit different from regular affiliate marketing because the tactics, tools, and offers involved are optimized for mobile users. But getting started does not have to be complicated.
For example, Facebook allows you to run adverts on WhatsApp, Instagram, Messenger, etc. Effectively making you a mobile affiliate marketer.
Why Use Mobile Affiliate Marketing?
Mobile devices now account for over 50% of all Internet traffic globally. Emerging economies have played a key role in this change.
Additionally, more searches now happen on mobile devices than desktops in the US. Our affiliate marketing statistics page also shows that mobile devices account for 50% of affiliate-related traffic.
So investing in this form of affiliate marketing is investing in the future as mobile continues to dominate traffic.
Mobile Affiliate Marketing Channels
There are two main channels you can work with:
Free Mobile Traffic
- Acquire traffic through social media
- Send it to a mobile-optimized affiliate offer
Paid Mobile Traffic
- Pay social media platforms to send traffic to your offers
- Usually more effective but comes with a cost
Mobile Advertising Types
Here are some of the main mobile ad types:
In-App Adverts
- Displayed inside mobile apps and games
- Drive installs or lead generation
- Affiliates paid per install or action
App Install Adverts
- Full screen ads urging app installs
- Advertisers pay per install
- Affiliates paid when users install apps
Mobile Web Adverts
- Displayed in mobile websites and web apps
- Text, images, videos ads
- Optimized for mobile
Social Media Adverts
- Sponsored posts on Instagram, Snapchat, etc
- Allow promoters to reach mobile users
- Must comply with platforms' rules
There are also content discovery ad networks like Outbrain and Taboola which show content recommendations.
Making Money with Mobile Affiliate Marketing
It works similarly to other forms of affiliate marketing:
- Promote relevant affiliate offers to warm traffic
- Get paid per action/sale or lead
The difference is offers are designed for mobile users and may pay higher commissions. Networks can offer tempting payouts on mobile offers.
You also have more targeted offers based on users' locations, devices, and app usage.
Pros of Mobile Affiliate Marketing
- Less competition currently
- Huge growth potential as mobile dominates
- More targeted offers and higher payouts
- Lucrative verticals like gaming and finance
Cons of Mobile Affiliate Marketing
- Design and development challenges
- Lack of mobile-centric tools
- Reliance on paid traffic
- Potentially lower ad visibility
So while the opportunity exists, affiliates should exercise caution when getting started. Pick offers carefully and track campaigns closely.
Conclusion
Mobile will continue growing as the dominant online platform. Though just getting started, mobile affiliate marketing represents a major opportunity today and even moreso in the future.
With the right offers, verticals, and traffic sources, it can evolve into a significant source of revenue for digital marketers and affiliates. Just don't expect overnight results - testing and optimization is key.
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