Affiliate Marketing Statistics (Top Stats & Facts)

Top Statistics

• The Global Affiliate Marketing Industry is Worth Over $17 Billion. (mhojhosresearch.com)
• With a market share of 39%, the USA is by far the leading country in the affiliate marketing sector. (firstsiteguide.com)
• By 2022, US affiliate marketing spending will reach $8.2 billion. (Statista.com)
• 16% of eCommerce sales in the US and Canada are driven by affiliate marketing. (Influencermarketinghub.com)
• 31% of publishers report that their top revenue source is affiliate marketing. (emarketer.com)
• Around 86% of publishers anticipate that their affiliate marketing revenue will remain stable or rise in the future. (Fetch Profits)
• The top affiliate networks have over 100,000 affiliates. (influencermarketinghub.com)
• Affiliate programs are used by 84% of businesses. (Mediakix.com);
• 8 out of 10 brands run an affiliate marketing program. (influencermarketinghub.com)
• Amazon Associates holds the biggest share of the affiliate marketing business with 45.77%. (Datanyze.com)
• As of 2022, 9% of affiliate marketers earn more than $50,000 per year. (Investopedia)
• 81.2% of affiliate marketers claim to earn above $20,000 each year. (affise.com)

General Statistics

The Global Affiliate Marketing Industry is Worth Over $17 Billion

Affiliate marketing currently accounts for a $17 billion market worldwide. It’s an increase from $13 billion in 2016. More than $6 billion is spent each year in the United States on affiliate marketing.

(Kinsta)

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In the US and Canada, affiliate marketing accounts for 16% of all eCommerce transactions.

15% of the profits from digital marketing channels come from affiliate marketing. It is now one of the most successful forms of digital advertising, rivalling strategies like email marketing, sponsored search, and social media marketing.

Affiliate Marketing is a Top Revenue Source for 31% of Publishers

One of the top three sources of income, according to 31% of publishers, is affiliate marketing. For 9%, it’s their top revenue source.

(E marketer)

The Toy Industry Saw 109% Growth in Affiliate Marketing Last Year

Toys have shown a 109% rise in the past year, making them the fastest growing product category with the affiliate marketing. Following these are software (103%) and home improvement (86%). (Partner with Puzzle master) 

(E marketer)

43% of affiliate marketing revenue is generated by the retail industry

The highest share of affiliate marketing revenue comes from the retail industry, with 43%. Travel comes in second with 16%, followed by communication and media with 24%.

(Knometrix)

59% of Companies use Influencers for Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing and influencer marketing aren’t quite the same. Many influencer marketing campaigns are about promoting brand awareness rather than just sales.

But 59% of brands and marketing agencies also use influencers as affiliates.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

Eight out of ten companies have an affiliate marketing program.

According to the findings of a 2016 poll, 90% of retailers and advertisers believe that affiliate marketing is crucial to their overall marketing plan. More than 80% of those surveyed who use affiliate marketing programs to boost website traffic and boost sales. Additionally, over 80% of advertisers allocate 10% or less of their marketing spend to affiliate marketing.

Establishing an affiliate marketing program can increase sales, lead generation, and brand awareness without incurring significant advertising costs. A successful affiliate marketing program, however, depends on a number of variables, one of which is choosing brand affiliates that are in the same market or target the same customer group. By doing so, the company can find new markets for its goods and services while also reaching its target audiences more quickly.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

88% of consumers say that an influencer has motivated them to make a purchase.

Consumers claim that 88% of their purchasing decisions were influenced by what they saw from an influencer. Both men (83%) and women (89%) in substantial numbers have gone through this.

(Rakuten)

Amazon Associates Has 43% of the Affiliate Market Share

The Amazon Associate Program dominates the affiliate marketing space with a 43% market share. For many affiliates, the Amazon Associate Program is also a lucrative program. It’s cool since you can advertise any of Amazon’s millions of products.

(Knometrix)

The majority of affiliate marketers (81.2%) claim to earn more than $20,000 each year

A STM forum user survey revealed that 81.2% of affiliate marketers earn more than $20,000 annually.

As of 2022, 9% of affiliate marketers earn more than $50,000 per year. At the upper end, affiliate marketers that use affiliate marketing can earn over $70,000 in commissions per year. Low-tier publishers can make an average of $35,000 a year in commissions, however.

According to many publishers, affiliate marketing enables them to make money with little effort. They merely need to generate and post material after enrolling in an affiliate scheme. They receive a commission when website visitors click or buy something after clicking the publisher link. This implies that affiliate marketers can make money while engaging in other activities such as travelling, enjoying a movie, or even sleeping.

(Influencer Marketing Hub) (Investopedia) (Affise)

By 2022, US affiliate marketing spending will total $8.2 billion

The entire amount that customers spend on shopping sprees when making purchases through various affiliate links and discounts is referred to as affiliate marketing spending.

The affiliate marketing era began in 2010, when spending on affiliate marketing programs suddenly increased. In the US alone, affiliate marketing cost $1.6 billion in 2010. In 2016, the sum rose to $4.8 billion, demonstrating clear and considerable industry growth.

The $5.4 billion level in 2017 was widely perceived as the industry’s pinnacle, however the ongoing rise in yearly marketing expenditures disproved this.

By astoundingly surpassing $6.4 billion in the US in 2019, affiliate marketing became one of the most profitable marketing tactics ever.

Next year, these figures are expected to reach new highs. Around $8.2 billion is predicted to be spent overall in 2022, and this growth trend is anticipated to continue in the years to come.

(Statista)

At 69.22%, SEO is the main source of traffic for affiliate marketing.

Since 2010, affiliate marketing has steadily grown in acceptance and use, as we’ve already discussed. Over the past ten years, it has swiftly evolved and pushed the frontiers of business. Naturally, there has been an increase in interest in the affiliate marketing sector.

Let’s look at some facts that demonstrate the current relevance of affiliate marketing. SEO drives 69.22% of affiliate marketing traffic, followed by social networks (64.38%), email marketing (41.47%), and then social networks. Although pay per click falls short of these top three sources, it is nevertheless important because it accounts for a respectable 34.28% of traffic.

Given that the top three traffic sources are social networks, blogs, and SEO, it is clear that affiliate marketing is essential for all organizations.

(Hostingtribunal.com)

81% of companies use affiliate marketing partnerships.

It’s important to mention that 81% of brands understand the value of affiliate marketing techniques and the unquestionably beneficial outcomes that these strategies can deliver to them. 

(Rakuten advertising)

Affiliate marketing is considered a must-have skill by 40% of marketers.

40% of marketers around the world believe that having knowledge and skills in affiliate marketing is crucial for anyone interested in the digital world and seeking to start a career in this sector. Mobile marketing knowledge and expertise in digital strategy are additional essential skills.

(Blogging X)

Amazon Associates hold the biggest share of the affiliate marketing business with 45.77%.

There are thousands of active affiliates at some of the largest affiliate network organizations. As the best affiliate network in the entire world, Amazon Associates is by far the most prosperous business in this industry. CJ Affiliate and Rakuten Affiliate Network are the next two, making these three businesses the top performers internationally.

With 45.77% of the market, Amazon Associates dominates the competition, followed closely by CJ Affiliate, Rakuten Affiliate Network, and ShareASale with 8.12%, 7.83%, and 7.05% of the market share, respectively. VigLink is in last place with 4.81% of the market, while many smaller companies account for the remaining 26.42%.

(Datanyze)

Fashion holds the first spot with 18.70% of all affiliate programs.

Businesses using affiliate programs and marketing strategies can be organized into categories depending on their industry. Out of 550 top affiliate programs, 486—or about 88.4%—can be grouped into 20 main categories sponsored by affiliate networks.

There are some categories where affiliate marketing is more common than others. With 18.70%, the fashion sector easily takes the top spot, followed by the sports and outdoor recreation sector at 14.60%. Travel comes in at number four with 8.60%, followed by home and garden at 7.40%, and health and wellness at third with 11.10%.

Health and wellnes brands we promote: (Xtend, Cellucor)

Other significant categories include computers and electronics, education and training, business, finances, and insurance.

(Am Navigator)

The top affiliate networks have over 100,000 affiliates.

Affiliate marketing can help small businesses and startup brands reach more customers without spending huge amount of money on advertising. A specific audience is served by the hundreds of thousands of brand affiliates in affiliate networks.

Likewise, joining affiliate networks can help bloggers and influencers who want to monetize website traffic and make a lot of money by promoting a partner merchant’s goods or services. The affiliate networks with the most merchant and publisher partners are listed below.

• AWIN has 100,000 publications and more than 15,000 advertisers.
• Over 4,000 merchants use ShareASale, of which more than 1,000 are exclusive.
• Over 4,000 merchants and 70,000 publishers are part of CJ Affiliate.
• Globally, Amazon Associates has over 900,000 members.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

Web hosting is one of the most popular and most lucrative affiliate marketing programs.

A host would be necessary for new bloggers, influencers, and brand owners to set up their websites. Publishers use web hosting affiliate networks because they may earn money for each referral for a small charge.

One of the highest-paying web hosting affiliate programs is offered by Bluehost, which recently paid out over $5 million in commission in a single year. Publishers can get between $65 and $130 from each sale of the web hosting service and other goods offered by Bluehost.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

Websites optimized for mobile are at an advantage

One in two internet users claim to be likely to make a purchase using a mobile device. Publishers and brand affiliates must have their websites mobile-friendly as users can buy things using their smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Mobile-friendly websites make it easier for customers to browse online pages, which enhances their overall shopping experience.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

The majority of affiliate marketers use blogs to boost website traffic.

According to 65% of publishers, quality content increases website traffic. Customers are more likely to make a purchase if they view their blogs to be interesting, pertinent, and informative. Many of the top affiliate marketers also assert that publishing helpful material increased their earnings by up to 240%.

Because blogging is less expensive than posting adverts, it is a popular alternative among content producers and marketers. Similar to advertising, data on blogging reveal that blogs can produce up to three times as many leads.

(Influencer Marketing Hub)

More than 65% of publishers reach out to potential clients via social media.

There are more than 2 billion users of Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram combined. More than 200 million people use Twitter regularly. It makes sense that affiliate marketers would use social media to reach niche groups given the size of the numbers involved.

Blogging is how 64.48% of affiliate marketers drive traffic. (Awin Blogging X)

59% of Companies use Influencers for Affiliate Marketing. (Influencer Marketing Hub)

94% of content creators use several affiliate marketing programs. (First site guide)

83% of marketers use affiliate marketing to increase their brand awareness. (Get cake)

Instances of affiliate marketing fraud will reach more than 9%.

The affiliate marketing sector is presently thought to be home to about 9% of occurrences of fraud, but that isn’t even the scariest part. Future fraud rates could be significantly higher than 9%, which would add to the many negative effects that affiliate program partners presently bear due to digital fraud and cybercrime.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is reasonable to conclude that affiliate marketing will flourish. As a simple and economical method of boosting sales and generating cash, affiliate programs are being used by more and more businesses, and their numbers are growing daily.