According to Pat Flynn, “affiliate marketing is the process of earning a commission by promoting other people’s (or company’s) products”. This definition is very straight forward, but it still gives a good insight into the discipline of affiliate marketing. This is a discipline which continues to change slightly, as the times change, just like all other areas of marketing. It is also an area of marketing which has been affected by COVID-19, but not all of the effects of COVID-19 have been negative. Affiliate marketing has managed to survive, and even thrive, during these difficult times. Let us, therefore, briefly explore how affiliate marketing has been affected by COVID-19.
Affiliate marketing has survived during the pandemic because many affiliates are versatile. This means that they have been able to transition their marketing strategies towards goods and services that are currently under high demand. Many affiliates have, for example, shifted their interest towards the domain of online retail, in order to ensure that they continue to gain commission whenever a consumer decides to buy.
This method of marketing has survived because the message towards consumers has been one with which they connect. People who are involved in the world of affiliate marketing have done their best to connect with their audiences during these difficult times, which has meant that they’ve still been able to make money. Their strategies would’ve been no good if they had been cold hearted, even if they were marketing products that are currently being sought after.
In essence, affiliate marketing has remained somewhat strong due to the flexibility of people involved in the discipline. This is a lesson that many affiliate marketers can learn from for the future, which should hopefully boost their chances of future success.
