As marketing has evolved into a fascinating global industry with multiple, newer facets that have emerged over the last two decades, the internet has provided the foundation for affiliate marketing and other types of digital marketing to flourish.
Aside from the obvious candidates, such as SEO marketing and social media posts, both of which are multibillion-dollar markets in their own right, the emergence of social media influencers and their appeal has significantly expanded the scope of affiliate marketing.
Some of the world’s most recognisable YouTubers use their platforms as affiliate marketing hubs. There are also people with a few hundred subscribers to their channel who are looking to do the same thing and onboard, perhaps, half a dozen or so people they know.
Scale is not a definitive characteristic of affiliate marketing. As long as someone follows the instructions of an online source, enters a code or clicks a link that registers the affiliate and the sale, it falls under the definition.
Therefore, dozens of niches have become effective over the last few years, and today we’re going to explore some of the best ones.
Top 3 Best Affiliate Marketing Niches Worth Exploring
1. Gaming Affiliate Marketing
Although the gaming industry contains a colossal marketing industry, it’s the niches that have flourished within it since the beginning of the decade that have piqued interest among gamers and marketers alike.
By adopting the latest technologies, such as AI, which is now becoming a necessity in workplaces, these affiliate marketing niches have evolved from e-sports influencers selling personally branded items on their social media channels to casino gaming companies partnering with influential figures in the gambling industry to promote their brands.
As with any form of marketing, though, it’s crucial to do your due diligence regarding the source of the advertisement and find out what it is they get out of it.
For instance, casinos selected by AskGamblers are reviewed by delving into every aspect of the market, examining what online slots platforms have to offer, the quality of their gaming library and how their consumer reputation influences the perception of their marketing strategies in the broader industry.
In truth, though, gaming encompasses so many niches that there are hundreds of online communities loyal to brands and developers, which stay active within their digital communities.
Twitch has the best-known affiliate marketing program within the gaming world, but it ranges from YouTubers with millions of followers all the way down to individuals who sit in their spare rooms and play NFL Madden or FIFA with an audience of just a dozen people.
By leveraging these marketing ideas and codes, you can receive anything from gaming discounts and casino gaming free spins to brand-new, free products, such as in-game skins, expansions or early releases.
2. Travel and Tourism
Social media is awash with people who claim to be travel influencers, and while not to disparage them too bluntly, there are genuine travel influencers and those who are simply pursuing it as a hobby.
For those who spend enough time, have sufficient resources and are committed to making their social media channel their full-time job, affiliate marketing is one of the fastest ways to turn this dream into a reality.
A recent survey revealed that nearly 60% of Gen Zers aspire to be influencers. Although this encompasses a wide range of genres and ideas, there are plenty who want to travel to a faraway land and receive their just rewards for doing so.
Affiliate marketers who have successfully cracked this industry use their platforms to advertise a variety of marketing ideas. Some will use their platforms to encourage people to sign up for travel-related deals, such as cheap flights, or sell digital nomad courses.
They may also advertise restaurants, hotels and hostels where they stay, and instruct their subscribers to book their stay using a code that links it to their brand.
3. Health and Wellbeing
Despite travel and tourism being colossal industries that aim to capture the positivity of life, no industry attempts to capitalise on positivity in the way the health and well-being sectors do.
This can range from those who have a personal trainer channel, to those who use yoga, diet plans, therapy apps and everything else you can think of that’s designed to create a sense of calmness and boost your physical and mental well-being.
Within this niche, there are a variety of different diet plans, new exercise fads and supplements and vitamins that affiliate marketers will channel into.
They’ll use their platform to get as many people to sign up as possible, and because this is the primary goal of their approach, it is crucial to do your own research before you decide to get involved with these schemes or lifestyle changes.
As the Keto diet showcased, despite its popularity, there are academic studies that highlight there are serious risks involved for those who have underlying conditions, which is why when you explore these niches and marketing ideas, it is imperative to ensure you do sufficient research so that you know how it will impact you directly.
Summary
Health and wellbeing, travel and tourism, and gaming might not all sound like niche ideas. In fact, they are some of the most prominent industries for affiliate marketing, but it’s because of this prominence that there’s such a demand for these growing niches.
As is often the case with any industry, emerging popularity attracts a crowd of people seeking to capitalise on the growing number of eyeballs. Affiliate marketing is a magnet for people because it covers a lot of bases.
For social media influencers and those looking to turn their channels into their main job, it’s a way to generate income, grow their subscriber base, and develop working relationships and sponsorships with products and services that share the same mutual interests as their brand.
Affiliate codes and links ensure a clear log of each new customer they bring in and how they monetise their influence. However, because of the scope of the online world, there are plenty of niches and plenty of companies who are willing to pay money to rise to the top within their industry.
Herein lies opportunity, which is why it’s always a good idea to explore the markets so that you can find deals and promotions that are best suited to the things you most enjoy.
