Global Affiliate Orders Soar in Q4

Recent years have taught the industry to prepare for anything, whether it be a behavioural shift to content commerce or the resurgence of advertiser verticals to pre-pandemic levels.

To support our advertisers and publisher partners in planning for the unexpected, our experts have analysed our network data from throughout 2021 to uncover new and changing patterns in consumer behaviour.

Consumers love content

With people worldwide in lockdown, 2020 saw content publishers work with brands to replace the lack of in-store experience. Across our global networks, 2021 saw this trend continue with the content vertical experiencing double-digit growth (triple in Germany at 131% YoY!).

This shift in behaviour and the demand for content consumption have led media houses and content partners to further monetise their offering. Publishers in the content space have now integrated shoppable content tools that enable consumers to transact at the point of inspiration directly. Additionally, influencers are monetising live streaming activity as a new way to showcase brands products or services.

The evolution of the content vertical means advertisers can work more strategically with partners to meet specific KPIs like new customer acquisition or the promotion of a particular product. Gone are the days when content is viewed solely as an upper-funnel branding strategy.

The resurgence of travel  

It goes without saying that the travel industry was hit hard by the pandemic. Despite new variants, consumers were optimistic about travel in 2021. As lockdown restrictions lifted across regions, consumer confidence grew, and travellers started to book their next adventure.

Our US network saw the travel vertical grow 56% YoY throughout 2021, with sales increasing 78% in the fourth quarter.  Consumers were just as optimistic about travel in the UK and Canada, with sales rising 99% and 103% YoY, respectively.

In Asia-Pacific, where travel bubbles between specific countries in the region opened, sales in the travel vertical increased more than 200% YoY, revealing a healthy appetite for exploration.

Affiliate orders soar in Q4 

The flexibility of the affiliate channel combined with the low-risk, low-cost model has allowed brands to react to market changes and continue driving performance aligned to their campaign goals. For this reason, affiliate marketing has taken centre stage as a strategic digital channel, and November of 2021 demonstrated just how powerful it can be.

Across North America, Europe, LATAM and APAC, Q4 orders from same-store clients surpassed 2020 and 2019 levels. The growth in orders from 2019 reveals that consumers are, or rather have, returned to pre-pandemic purchasing levels. And they’re increasing their purchasing via affiliate partners who enhance their experience, whether through product reviews, vouchers or incentivising loyalty with cashback.

Drilling down to November, a key retail month globally, we can see how each network grew:

• APAC 42%
• Brazil 48%
• Canada 16%
• France 28%
• Germany 169%
• UK 88%
• US 35%

The strength and flexibility of the affiliate channel gives advertisers and publishers a unique opportunity to adjust to shifting patterns and engage their consumers. When the unexpected happens, affiliate data reveal new behaviours, allowing strategies to be adjusted and successful campaigns to be delivered.

To keep up to date with insights from Rakuten Advertising, please do subscribe to our blog via the link to the right of the page.