Affiliate Marketing on Mobile Browsers

If statistics are to be believed, then e-Marketer, an internet research firm states that the current numbers of mobile internet users across the globe are 450 million. With the trend of mobile commerce catching up in the internet space, it is acclaimed that Mobile Browsing will become the next big thing in the coming years and the number of users shall approximately double in the next 4 years. The constant innovation in the mobile manufacturing arena with devices and features such as PDA, camera, email, internet browsers, MP3 players etc. offer a great opportunity for affiliates to tap into the mobile space.

Photo Credit: Wink

The increasing number of WAP users who prefer quick solutions to their problems presents a scope for affiliates to tap into three major mobile channels. Namely,

• Mobile Messaging – Advertising opportunities via SMS or MMS for text advertisements, splash pages and animated images.
• Mobile Web – Advertising opportunities on the mobile web involves banner advertising, text ads and branded mobile websites which work on a CPC or CPM approach.
• Mobile Video – Mobile video includes specifically branded videos which are live, podcasts or downloaded. The advertisements here can be on the basis of pre-, post- or mid-roll adverts.

There is a major opportunity for affiliates to build on the mobile version of their successful sites in order to guarantee newer audiences and increasing the market potential. But, the pace with which the mobile browsing has been adopted by affiliates is disheartening as companies such as Commission Junction and LinkShare have been very slow in adopting it. On the contrary, Las Vegas based  XY7 Network has made an innovative move by announcing that they are the only affiliates which possess dedicated division of WAP deals and other mobile-ad inventory for their mobile phone portal-owners and publishers.

The future success of affiliate’s lies in recognizing the fact that increase in number of mobile internet users will help develop affiliate marketing in an innovative way. Bango, a mobile payments and services company states that the mobile web will soon become the key medium of generating sale and earning revenue for mobile services and applications.

The challenge here lies in creating and implementing successful mobile affiliate marketing platforms which would change the way affiliate marketing is implemented in the mobile space. Companies such as Mobpartner and Jamster proudly boast of one of the best mobile platforms today by focusing on a particular niche of mobile payment settlements with merchants and mobile casino respectively. Belboon and MediaPlazza are also big players in the mobile browsing market offering scope to thousands of affiliates via the mobile web. Affiliates can also look into various adult affiliate marketing programs on the mobile which are also worth giving a shot, but are never safe as they most often get caught in filters. Admob is another very famous site which specializes in serving ads on the mobile version of sites and blogs.

The tremendous innovation in the mobile browsing has helped mobiles become something more than a fundamental communication device. Affiliate marketing programs on the mobile web have emerged as the next most viable mobile business model which for sure is here to stay. These mobile affiliate platforms can be further used as a particular functional strategy among broad marketing strategies such as CRM, Branding, Direct Sales and Direct Marketing implemented by companies.  The projected forecasts suggesting increment in adoption rates are indicative enough for smart affiliates to know the fact that neglecting the mobile arena as part of broader internet marketing strategies will have a negative impact on their business model and revenues.