The affiliate marketing sector is growing at a rate of about 10 percent per year. Last year, the market generated around $17 billion worldwide, of which approximately half was in the US. Affiliate marketing is a popular strategy across a wide cross-section of product and service areas, but the personalized gift niche can be particularly lucrative and is,, therefore,, a thriving area of specialization.
There are several reasons for this. First and foremost, everyone buys gifts from time to time. As this is a purchase that is made for someone else, gift shopping is an area in which people are more likely to seek advice or inspiration. This makes it a fertile hunting ground for influencers and affiliate marketers.
Also, purchasing gifts tends to bring out the generosity and liberality in the buyer’s nature. In other words, gift buyers think less about price, and whether a purchase represents good value, so there are opportunities for wider profit margins than in other niches.
All this adds up to a great choice of affiliate programs in the gifting niche. As an affiliate, you can afford to be choosy about which one you join. Here are some of the most important factors to consider.
Evaluate the Affiliate Terms on the Offer
Narrowing down the best affiliate programs in the US personalized gifts sector is not just a question of choosing those that offer the best commission. But it is certainly a factor. Commission rates vary according to the niche, but a good gift affiliate program is likely to offer about 10 percent on direct sales.
It’s natural that this will be the first thing you look at, but don’t just choose the biggest number without considering the context. An extremely well-established program might offer a lower commission but be more likely to generate sales.
On the other hand, an unknown brand offering 30 percent might sound generous, but tread carefully – after all, 10 percent of 1000 is far better than 30 percent of 100.
Align Yourself with the Target Audience/Demographic
It’s one thing to say that everyone buys gifts. But if your blog or website is aimed at teenage gamers, they represent a very different segment of the gift-giving public than retired knitting enthusiasts. Sure, these are extremes, but the point is you need to think about your site’s visitor demographics when choosing your affiliate program.
Some programs are more specialized than others. For example, fashion related gifts or promotional gifts aimed at businesses have a very niche target audience. On the other hand, personalized handmade gifts such as pen sets and leather wallets are of more universal interest.
Only Associate Yourself with Quality Products
Back in 2017, author and entrepreneur Tony Neumeyer coined the phrase “affiliate whore” for those who are willing to endorse anything for a quick buck. That’s a quick way of losing credibility, traffic, and, ultimately, revenue. Affiliate marketing works because people trust the reviews of the influencers and bloggers they follow.
Their endorsements are tantamount to a personal recommendation from a friend. That level of trust is precious, and if you lose it, it is hard to regain. So, for long-term success, the most important tip is to join a gift affiliate program only if you are sure you can genuinely and sincerely recommend its products without those recommendations coming back to haunt you.