The world has seen some major changes over the last 18 months or so. With lockdowns and job losses, people have been keen to explore alternative income streams. This has led many to explore the world of affiliate marketing. This income stream presents what many have been seeking for years: a passive income. Of course, the passive side only comes after the initial work has been put in to set up the necessary platforms.
While there are other industries that are worth exploring in terms of affiliate incomes, iGaming has certainly shown its worth. When you look at industries such as tourism, these have seen trillions wiped off their value during 2021. Conversely, iGaming has seen stunning growth and this makes it particularly attractive to affiliate marketers. We’re going to take a look at some of the best-performing affiliate streams from 2021 and then consider what 2022 has in store.
A look back at 2021
2021 was certainly a year of growth in terms of affiliate marketing. It was a year where affiliates flourished and saw a dramatic increase in their incomes. Here’s a look at some of the best performing affiliate streams from the last 12 months:
iGaming
Online casinos and gambling have seen consistent growth over the last few years. This seems to have accelerated thanks to the impact of Covid. With lockdowns and land-based establishments forced to close, players were left with little choice other than to explore online offerings. This has seen an explosion in popularity and an amazing opportunity for affiliates.
Of course, those who were successful iGaming affiliates in 2021 realized something. They realized that picking a popular niche is crucial to success. Although controversial, search volume tells us there’s still high demand for gambling activities beyond Covid. UK sites have grown during the pandemic and make up a large portion of iGaming affiliate income, making use of promotions like new offers at slot sites.
Amazon Associates
When it comes to market-beating commission payments, it is fair to say that Amazon isn’t the place to look. However, what Amazon offered throughout 2021, was an affiliate program that is perfect for beginners. This is a platform where newcomers to affiliate marketing can enter and go on to achieve great success.
The great part about Amazon is that everyone has heard of it and it sells pretty much everything. Affiliates get to present products to a warm audience and then benefit from Amazon handling the entire sales process. While commission payments may be on the lower side, there is a real chance to achieve volume.
eBay Partner Network
Another affiliate program has provided some great results for its members. The benefits here are that affiliates can tap into the huge name that eBay has created for itself. In a similar vein to Amazon, eBay is well established and known for selling practically anything and everything.
2021 saw people seeking a bargain and eBay was often the place to go to snap one up. This was good news for affiliates who were able to cash in on that demand. This demand is likely to continue into 2022 and beyond.
Will 2022 present any challenges to iGaming affiliates?
While iGaming affiliates have seen great success during 2021, there are challenges on the horizon for 2022. None of these spells the end of this lucrative business model, but they will require affiliates to adapt if they are wanting to continue to thrive. The top challenges posed include:
Restricting third-party cookies
Google Chrome is seen as being the most popular web browser. Figures show that for around two-thirds of internet users, Chrome is the browser of choice. The company has recently announced that it will start to restrict cookies that are used by all websites and third parties. This poses an issue when it comes to tracking affiliate incomes.
While Google had originally said that these changes would be fully implemented by the first half of 2022, it is now likely that this will not be the case until 2023. This gives iGaming affiliates, and others, the chance to adapt and to find alternative ways of tracking sales. A cookieless future will certainly be a challenge but not one that is insurmountable.
A change to rules on Twitch
Those who have seen real success as iGaming affiliates have benefited from the exposure brought about by Twitch. While this platform is still classed as relatively new, it is also seen as a major marketing channel and this is set to grow even more. The issue? There are no restrictions around iGaming.
All is not lost though! Those seeking to drive traffic as iGaming affiliates need to ensure that they are not targeting those who are under age. They also need to show that they are the authority of their subject. Twitch is going nowhere and if affiliates want to experience real success in iGaming it is definitely the place to be.
Why the future remains bright for iGaming affiliates
There is no doubt that there are challenges on the horizon. There is also no doubt that those challenges are very real. However, this doesn’t detract from the opportunities that are presented by being an iGaming affiliate. It is an industry that has seen exponential growth over the last decade or so and one that is experiencing a post-Covid boom.
Online casinos have seen huge developments in recent years. Developers are creating better and better games and the growth in mobile play means that the audience is ever-growing. These developers ensure that mobile compatibility is at the forefront of all that they do.
What else bodes well for iGaming affiliates is that the marketplace is only now really opening up. With countries such as the US and Canada gradually relaxing restrictions, there are fresh gains to be made in marketplaces that, as yet, have not been tapped into. The future of iGaming, as an affiliate stream, remains bright as we venture into 2022. It is also a given that it remains bright way beyond this.