Affiliate Marketing Roundup for Week of June 3

Getting Creative with Commerce

Did you know that the average person is estimated to encounter between 6,000 and 10,000 brand advertisements every single day? Standing out in the crowded ecommerce landscape is getting harder by the minute. But, it’s not impossible. Total Retail contributor Emily Fontana says the answer lies in “creative ecommerce experiences that evoke emotion and put power into the hands of the consumer.” Sure, that’s maybe easier said than done! Still, she provides some solid tips.

Frightening Ad Fraud Numbers

The latest data surrounding the extent of affiliate fraud is in, and the news is not good. In 2020, nearly 10% of traffic coming from affiliate marketing programs was fake. Now, in 2022, that number has almost doubled (17%). The industry is expected to lose over $3.4 billion in fraud this year. Guy Tytunovich, Founder and CEO of CHEQ, a cybersecurity firm says,"It's no longer a question of 'do I have fraud', it's only a question of how much.” Ooof, thankfully we've developed tools to mitigate and prevent ad fraud for our clients. 

Dark Side of Affiliate Marketing

If you were wondering about all the different types of ad fraud in the affiliate channel, this Martech Series article does a good job of breaking them down. Contributor Jacob Loveless calls fraud the “dark side” of affiliate marketing—and his sentiment is not wrong: “It’s been said that sunlight is the best disinfectant. This also goes for affiliate marketing fraud. The more marketers know about what it is and how ‘bad actors’ operate, the better chance they’ll have at detecting fraud–and stopping it.”

The Good and Bad of Shared Brand Experiences

Data reveals that 90% of people are much more likely to trust a recommended brand, even if the recommendation is from strangers. No surprise, then, that influencer marketing and the creator economy is booming! This Forbes article digs even deeper, providing an interesting look at word-of-mouth marketing—using the origins of Dropbox as an example. However, it’s important to remember that the pendulum swings both ways: 26% of people will completely avoid a brand if their friend or family member tells them about a negative experience.

Just for Fun: 10 Awesome Summer Festivals You Don't Want to Miss

Summer is almost here and there's plenty of festivals around the country just waiting for you to attend! Whether you want to cavort with cats at CatCon or eat some wicked cool Maine Lobstah, there's something for everyone!