The affiliate marketing industry has experienced considerable growth over the last couple of years, as more and more people are beginning to search for alternative ways of making money. The post-pandemic world has witnessed a surge in 9-5 employees looking to make a passive income stream on the side for themselves or even switch their full-time jobs for flexible working hours.
For those looking for a quick way to make money online and also have a knack for promotion, affiliate marketing may be your calling. However, deciding to become an affiliate marketer is only the beginning. You should also do your research before starting, decide on a product, and, most importantly, pick a relevant and profitable niche. But worry not! The latter is exactly what we’re here to help you with today, so read on to learn more about choosing the right affiliate marketing niche and playing the affiliate marketing game right.
How to Choose the Best Niche For Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is pretty straightforward. You apply to a company’s affiliate program, they provide you with a custom URL, and you use that custom URL to promote the product or service on various mediums - websites, forums, etc. The company is then able to track which referrals come from your promotional efforts using the custom referral link, and you receive a commission for every new sign-up. The more new users you refer, the more money you make.
But as we mentioned above, that’s only part of the picture. Since your end goal is to refer as many users as possible, there is no point in choosing a niche that is losing its relevance or something you are not interested in learning about.
For some, the main priority is choosing a niche they are knowledgeable and passionate about (e.g., gamers choosing the gaming niche). For others, the key deciding factor is profit. But if you ask us, the best approach is a combination of both. Ideally, you should be choosing a niche you have some prior knowledge about or are interested in learning more about while also paying attention to relevancy and profitability.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at some of the most profitable affiliate niches for 2022 and see if any of them inspire you to choose your own calling in the affiliate marketing game.
Top Niches For Affiliate Marketers
SaaS (Software as a Service)
The rise of technological innovation in the 21st century has birthed a category of valuable programs to make life just a little bit easier. These smart solutions are known as SaaS solutions (software as a service) and offer various resources, including cloud storage platforms, website builders, communication tools, and even streaming services. Due to the sheer size of this niche and the wide variety of services on the market, it’s a great option to consider if you want to get into affiliate marketing but are unsure of what to focus on initially.
Chances are you have already used some of these SaaS solutions yourself. Maybe you’re already a Ucraft user, and you’re reading this article right now because you got a notification for it. In case you’re unaware, we have our own affiliate program in place with a 25% recurring commission rate. Every time you refer a new user to our platform and they sign up for a package, you are paid 25% of their chosen package price, which you will continue to receive every time they renew their subscription.
The best part? Not only are you inspiring people to chase their dreams and open their online platforms, but you are also offering them an easy solution that doesn’t require any coding or design skills.
Cryptocurrency
This one comes as no surprise. At this point, everyone and their mothers know how big cryptocurrency has become over the past few years, with many outlets now accepting crypto as a valid form of payment. Nowadays, the word “cryptocurrency” is not just associated with Bitcoin but rather with a large number of different coins. It looks like a different currency is coming out every day, and one of these coins could be the next big thing.
However, we would recommend educating yourself on this sphere and how it works before trying your hand at promoting currencies or crypto-wallets since you need to know what you’re talking about if you’re about to recommend it to someone else. And the same goes for NFTs (non-fungible tokens) if you want to try your hand at that.
Overall, a lot is happening in this space right now, so if you know a thing or two about cryptocurrency, NFTs, or both - this is your time to shine as an affiliate marketer! To get started, consider joining an exchange company’s affiliate program, such as Coinbase, and promote their services on your website or blog.
Wellness & Productivity
Self-care has also become a significant part of peoples’ lives, as many of us strive to do better and take care of ourselves on a day-to-day basis. This means incorporating various routines, supplements, and apps into our lives to help us feel better, both mentally and physically, and increase our productivity.
In this day and age, there is literally an app or program for everything; sleep cycle trackers, workout planners, meal-prep services, meditation apps, online therapy services, goal planners - to name a few. With such an abundance of options, it would be a shame not to make the most of the niche and find which wellness category speaks to you. For example, suppose you are more interested in diet and exercise. In that case, you could begin your wellness affiliate marketing journey by joining a program like HelloFresh - a company that sends fresh ingredients to customers’ doors, accompanied by the recipes.
It’s also worth noting that you are helping others get their lives together by becoming a wellness affiliate, which can only be applauded - as long as you choose the right program and avoid scammers.
Skincare
The days of heavy makeup are now behind us, as many people are opting to take care of their skin instead of covering it up with layers of foundation. Skincare is the “it” niche right now, inspired by the stay-at-home lifestyle we lived through during the first year of the pandemic. Since people were not going out that much, the makeup products we knew and loved were cut down and replaced with hydrating and cleansing serums, purifying face masks, under-eye patches, acne treatments, and firming toners.
If skincare is something you are passionate about or even know a thing or two about, this niche might be for you. Personal care and beauty stores such as Sephora have great affiliate programs in place, so give the skincare niche a chance and see how it goes for you.
Home Security
Home is where the heart is, and also where you should feel the most at peace - ideally, that is. In reality, break-ins and robberies are still a concern for many, and, depending on the location, this is still a huge issue for some people. Feeling safe in your own home isn’t a trend or fad that can go out of style - it’s a basic human requirement. Many people, even those with pre-installed home security systems, don’t mind going the extra mile (or even paying the extra dollar) to increase their home security level.
If you are looking for a stable niche that is relatively easy to promote, home security is one of your best bets. Plus, there’s a wide variety of home security systems available on the market, allowing you to choose from many companies and options. Consider giving iSmartSafe a try - it’s one of the most popular home security affiliate programs on the web right now.
Gaming
Gaming is not only a separate industry; it’s also a completely separate career path at this point. With many people choosing to monetize their hobbies in this day and age, especially among the younger generation, gaming is one of the most profitable affiliate niches you can think of right now.
Not only that, but it’s also a great alternative for aspiring affiliate marketers who are not that interested in the corporate world or intelligent solutions. If you are considering this niche, chances are you are already a gamer yourself and know a thing or two about the gaming world, so consider monetizing your own hobby and making some money on the side while you help other gamers stay entertained - and, who knows, maybe even kick-start their own careers.
If you’re unsure where to begin, consider streaming platforms like Twitch - they’re only growing in popularity and could be a good start for your gaming affiliate career.
Online Learning
We’re going to wrap up this list by giving an honorable mention to one more niche that has exploded over the last couple of years - online learning. It comes as no surprise that many people either don’t want to get into student debt, find online learning to be more productive, or simply want to learn a skill without paying for in-person classes. Regardless of the reason, we see more and more people of all ages and professions seeking out educational options online.
This is where you come in as an affiliate marketer. Online learning platforms such as Skillshare offer hundreds of different courses for a reasonable price, which is a helpful, affordable option for many. So knowing how popular this niche is, it’s definitely worth a try.
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That’s a wrap!
We hope you consider affiliate marketing as a viable option for making some money on the side and even turning it into a full-time job in the future if it ends up being your calling. If you feel like you need some further assistance, check out our affiliate marketing guide for some valuable tips and guidelines. Aside from that, remember to be as informative as possible when recommending a product or service, and avoid using too much salesy jargon.
All that being said, don’t hesitate to give the Ucraft affiliate program a try, and good luck on your journey!