Category: In the News

Curated Performance Marketing News – Consumer and Industry Trends-Affiliate Networks, Business Insights and more.

Awin Group Sector Insights Webinar: Travel

Of all the industries affected by the coronavirus pandemic, travel has faced the most profound challenges.

These challenges include travel restrictions, border lockdowns, a slump in consumer demand and existential questions about the industry’s future.

However, as destinations begin to open up again and anticipate welcoming travelers from around the world once more, how will brands, agencies and affiliates need to adapt their marketing strategies? And what will travel consist of in a post-coronavirus environment?

Hear more about the global state of travel advertising right now and what it means for the affiliate industry from Awin’s Joelle Hillman and our panel of experts from the travel sector in this special webinar discussion.

Travel sector experts joining the panel:

Thank you to our wonderful panelists for the expert insights and strategic guidance provided to attendees during this webinar. For more information on our panelists and their companies, including how to partner with them across our platforms, please contact them by clicking on their name above, or email Joelle Hillman.

Interested in gaining exclusive access to Awin Group webinars, events and content such as this? Register your interest here. For other webinar insights, including our global telco & services sector webinar  and our global retail sector webinar, as well as wider information on COVID-19, please visit our information hub.

Please note, on slide 13 of the travel webinar presentation there is a misprint. Domestic bookings are shown in blue, International bookings are shown in grey.

The post Awin Group Sector Insights Webinar: Travel appeared first on ShareASale Blog.

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Affiliate Marketing Resilient as Ad Spend Drops, Study Finds

Despite the sharp decline in ad spend as a result of COVID-19, affiliate publishers have continued “business as usual” throughout the pandemic with 57% seeing stronger performance despite the challenging circumstances.

Rakuten Advertising reached out to affiliate publishers across content, loyalty & rewards and shopping & comparison sites throughout APAC to understand the effects of COVID-19 on their business.

Nearly half (42%) of affiliate publishers reported an increase in site traffic over the past month and a further 34% said traffic had held steady.

61% of respondents stated that growth was organic, and 42% indicated traffic referral from social media had increased, corresponding with the large numbers of people at home increasing their digital interactions.

Promotional offers showing good signs

While investment levels from retailers have been affected during the pandemic across all channels, 58 per cent of affiliate publishers say they are seeing stronger performance from brands that are actively providing offers in the market and promoting these via their affiliate partnerships.

However, affiliate publishers haven’t been relying solely on their retail partners to innovate and appeal to sustain share and drive growth. 42% of those surveyed said they have made changes to their marketing and promotional messaging to adapt to new consumer demands and behaviours.

Steady on inventory

While overall the ad industry has experienced reduced demand and decreased inventory costs, affiliate publishers who traditionally work on performance models have largely kept costs the same, with brands continuing to see demand, conversion and effective ROI via the channel.

66% of respondents said that they have not made changes to the cost of inventory available to affiliate advertisers.

Budget cuts

Not all affiliates have been immune to COVID-19’s impact though with 30% of respondents saying they have been cutting business operation costs where possible, while 24% have reduced their own marketing spends and 19% have been forced to make staff and salary reductions.

Tracking significant and rapid shifts in consumer behaviour, many affiliate publishers have identified an opportunity to reimagine the way they meet customer’s needs, with 27% of affiliate publishers stating they have responded to the crisis with new inventory or campaigns.

In addition, 37% said that they are now providing new services and content to site visitors, while 24% of publishers have invested in different channels to meet new consumer activity.

“This survey shows that there remains clear resilience and opportunity with channels able to pivot nimbly to the changes in consumer behaviour induced by the Coronavirus crisis,” said Stuart McLennan, senior vice president, APAC at Rakuten Advertising.

“The fact that so many of the publishers surveyed have been able to maintain the cost of inventory on their sites is testament to both the strength of the channel and the ability of affiliate publishers to adapt to the increased role of social as consumers look for engagement, information and best deals on the web,” he concluded.

The post Affiliate Marketing Resilient as Ad Spend Drops, Study Finds appeared first on PerformanceIN.

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