What started as a forced shift in consumer behavior in direct response to the worldwide stay-in-place orders that spanned the globe, could now very well be the new reality. Online shopping has experienced a boom so large, it will likely never retreat to pre-quarantine levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For this reason, there\u2019s no time like the present to shine a spotlight on e-commerce in performance marketing. As shopping behaviors are redefined, there\u2019s a growing need for both affiliate partners and marketers to fill in this vertical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inevitably, with a vertical as broad and all-encompassing as e-commerce, certain sectors have felt the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic more than others. Yet as a whole, e-commerce statistics are proving that online shopping is becoming the heavily adopted new norm. According to an Adobe study1<\/sup> on COVID-19 and the digital economy, as of March 2020 overall e-commerce in the US was up by 25%, and in the UK it was up 33%, when compared to the same time period last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the panic buying phase, certain e-commerce categories saw unprecedented growth, with the virus-protection segment (hand sanitizers, gloves, masks, and anti-bacterial sprays) surging by 807%! And while many theorized that as initial panic buying came to an end, e-commerce purchase rates would settle back down to normal – that\u2019s not yet the case, and very well may never be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In affiliate marketing, we\u2019re seeing from first-hand experience just how explosive this e-commerce growth has been. Overall, our network and agency have seen a 197% increase in ad spend for the e-commerce vertical between March and April 2020. Be it tactical supplies for increased outdoor excursions or doomsday prep (up 148% MoM), or subscription boxes that remove the risk of in-person shopping (up 37% MoM), consumers are shifting what buying power they have right now to online sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Society was already moving to a more digital lifestyle before COVID-19, with e-commerce steadily taking up a larger share of overall retail sales every year. While many consumers increased their use of e-commerce out of necessity, the reality is these stay-at-home orders have acted more like a catalyst for the inevitable, rather than creating a one-time anomaly in e-commerce spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the majority of affiliate e-commerce sectors, we\u2019ve seen more days of month over month growth than decline, proving that as other marketing options prove too risky, performance marketing has acted as a marketing sanctuary for brands. Its ability to not only promote action, but safeguard marketer\u2019s advertising ROI by only requiring payment for actual sales is why affiliate marketing e-commerce opportunities continue to see increased ad spend in a pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As demand surges in many e-commerce categories, marketers can lean on affiliates<\/a> to help engage consumers through their target audience expertise and drive these consumers to place online orders. Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Performance Marketing Opportunity<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re an online retailer looking to start or reinvigorate your affiliate e-commerce program, or an affiliate partner with traffic looking to buy, our team is ready to help. Apply to be one of our marketers<\/a> or affilaite partners<\/a> to take advantage of today\u2019s peak demand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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