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May 16, 2023

Why Shopping Sites Are The Unsung Hero’s of Affiliate

We’ve come here today to discuss the elephant in the room. They’re the biggest affiliates there are but no one likes to talk about them. Throughout over a decade specifically dedicated to working with affiliates we have yet to hear a client come in with the same enthusiasm for shopping sites as they have for content publishers. Yes, it’s cool to be on Buzzfeed’s summer shopping guide, but it’s also cool to be smack dab on the homepage of RetailMeNot and here’s a little secret for you… the latter will bring about 10x the conversions the first does. Shopping and loyalty sites get branded as “cheap” and invaluable when the reality is the exact opposite. To understand this we need to understand how consumers make purchasing decisions. Thousands of people start their shopping journey on one of these shopping sites looking for deals on new products to try and countless people say they wouldn’t have tried the product without the discount. Promotion is one of the best ways to get people through the door initially and keep them coming back.

First, let’s start with the basics. If you’re not familiar, shopping and loyalty sites are websites that offer cash back, rewards, or points to shoppers who make purchases through their links. Some of the more well-known of these affiliates are Rakuten Rewards, Honey, and RetailMeNot. Through an affiliate agency, you can partner with these sites and reach millions of users, giving them a special incentive to purchase your product. This is where the magic happens.

By partnering with these types of sites you are able to tap into a new audience of potential customers who are actively looking for discounts and rewards. These consumers are further along on the purchasing funnel because they have expressed interest in the product category and are looking to deals to help guide their decision between which brand to buy from. 

Here’s where it gets even better: you can also use these sites to your advantage in your affiliate marketing efforts. Having an attractive promotion or not can sway consumers one way or another so it is extremely important to do your research before. See what your competitors are offering on these sites to inform your strategic positioning. By offering higher cash back or rewards on your products, you can incentivize shoppers to choose your product over your competitors. And since shopping and loyalty sites often have large user bases, this can lead to a significant boost in traffic and sales for your business.

Of course, like any marketing strategy, there are some best practices to keep in mind. For example, you’ll want to make sure that your promotions are competitive and appealing to shoppers’ needs and interests. You’ll also want to track your results and adjust your offers as needed to maximize your ROI. And don’t forget to leverage the data and insights provided by these sites to better understand your audience and optimize your marketing efforts! 

Long story short, shopping and loyalty sites can be powerful allies in your affiliate marketing arsenal. They let you reach untapped audiences and increase sales by driving low cost conversions. They might get a bad rep because you’re “cheapening your product” to sell it, but as long as the percent lost from the incentive is less than the growth you see as a result of the promotion then all is fair in deals and sales. So, what are you waiting for? Start exploring your options and see how you can leverage these sites to your advantage today.

Are you getting started in affiliate marketing or looking to improve your current program?

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