Affiliate programs generate between 15-30% of all sales for advertisers. Your business needs to be aware of current marketing trends to set achievable targets and goals for your marketing team to increase traffic and sales. 

What are the current trends in affiliate marketing? Read on to learn about the future challenges regarding affiliate marketing and the potential areas for growth in 2022. 

Top 6 Trends For Affiliate Marketing In 2022

From growth in the pet industry to more competitive ranking for keywords using SEO marketing, here are the top trends to look for as we move into 2022.

More Competitive Ranking For Keywords

As expected, it is becoming increasingly difficult to get a high ranking for keywords. The difficulty will only increase as time goes on. The number of domains and backlinks for specific keywords will increase, as will the authority of the websites that rank highly for those keywords. 

So, how can you alter your approach to deal with the competitive ranking for keywords? There are some routes you can take to ensure you get a high ranking:

• Look for low-volume keywords with lower competition, and choose those with higher purchase intent.
• Focus on user experience – making your website mobile-friendly, ensuring fast loading speed, and removing intrusive pop-ups can make your webpage more appealing and help you retain the user’s attention.
• Take advantage of the instant answers functions provided by Google – try to include frequently asked questions in your content.

There are ways to rank highly for SEO keywords despite the increased competitiveness, and you can navigate this by performing additional research and using new techniques.

Cookie-Based Tracking

To provide more anonymity for user data and move towards less intrusive practices, Google is seeking to phase out third-party cookies by 2023. Google’s Sandbox Privacy Initiative will provide more anonymity to users when they browse. User data will be moved into the browser to be stored and processed, and cookies will be replaced by anonymized signals allowing access to user browsing habits.

If you use first-party cookies for affiliate marketing, you may continue as usual despite the changes to third-party cookies. However, be on the lookout for any changes to first-party cookies coming up in this new privacy endeavor.

Increased Impact Of Influencers

Moving into 2022, we will likely see more affiliate marketing campaigns using micro and nano influencers. Micro and nano influencers are defined as follows:

• Nano influencers generally have between 5,000 to 10,0000 followers.

• Micro-influencers generally have between 10,000 to 25,000 followers.

One of the main reasons affiliate marketers are leaning towards the micro-influencer niche is affordability. Since these micro-influencers are successful but not overly successful in their field, they will not be overwhelmed with advertising campaigns and sponsorships offers, which means that you can obtain their services for a lower value.

The best platforms to look for micro-influencers include TikTok and Instagram Reels. Micro-influencers tend to be more niche and have more authority in their area. Macro influencers can be more costly and may not offer as much.

Voice Search SEO

Siri, Cortana, Echo, Alexa, and Google Assistant are popular voice-enabled assistants that allow users to search the web using voice commands. With this technology comes the opportunity for voice search SEO.

The highest-ranked answers for voice search SEO are usually the best answer to the question, and long-tail keywords can help you rank highly for voice search SEO. Some ways you can facilitate users who are searching via voice commands are:

• They use questions and answers in your content – since most voice-enabled searches are questions.

• Use FAQs to find the precise keywords and phrases people use in their searches – voice commands tend to be more specific than traditional searches.

• Make sure your content stands out on mobile devices – voice-enabled searches tend to be performed using mobile devices.

Crypto Will Become More Mainstream

Governments and banks may soon adopt cryptocurrencies, bringing crypto into the mainstream currency. Crypto marketing affiliates and advertisers partner up and maximize their profits in the coming year.

Growth In The Pet Industry

The pet space is enormous in affiliate marketing, with more growth expected in 2022. With the lockdowns and remote working, the consumers’ focus has moved towards the household and pets.

Doron Wolffberg, Head of Growth at Cliverse and owner of successful affiliate site All About Cats, notes the growth in the pet industry, stating:

“There is a notable shift towards opting for more premium-quality pet food purchases, and people are spending more than they used to on accessories. As a result, beds, crates, carriers, harnesses, collars, toys, treats, and grooming products have all seen a significant increase.”

Pet nutrients and pet accessories will continue to be a profitable industry in 2022, and pets themselves will continue to be sought after.

Summary

In 2022, ranking for keywords using SEO will become increasingly more challenging. However, using strategies like voice search SEO and smarter keyword choices, affiliate marketers should navigate these challenges. In the coming year, look out for growth in the crypto and pet sectors, and consider adopting the micro-influencer niche in your advertising campaigns.