There’s a seemingly endless collection of variables that affect the performance of an affiliate campaign, but there’s no denying that some of these elements carry more weight than others.

For example, ad content is extremely important, but the popularity of the product’s niche will have an even bigger impact on the success of a campaign. So, as a general rule of thumb, it’s always better to work with popular niches that engage audience members and have a higher chance of success.

That said, choosing the best niche is not easy, especially for affiliates who don’t have experience establishing themselves in new verticals.

At lemonads, we partner with some of the leading advertisers and publishers on the web, so we have access to real-time data about the hottest affiliate marketing niches. Below, we’ll go over the definition of an affiliate niche and discuss the impact of choosing the right vertical. We will also go over the best niches for affiliate marketing that have the highest odds of success in 2022.

What are Affiliate Marketing Niches?

Before going any further, it’s important to understand the definition of an affiliate niche.

For starters, a niche is a specific group or segment within a market that companies and marketers can target. Because niches are much narrower than the broader audience, the content, and techniques used need to be adapted specifically for each segment. But, this is also the reason why niche marketing campaigns have the potential to be extremely profitable.

The same concept can be applied to any industry in the affiliate marketing world. Almost all industries have one or more niche segments in them, so targeting these specific users can exponentially improve the performance of your existing campaign.

The Importance of Choosing the Right Affiliate Marketing Niche for Success

The niche you choose will affect every single aspect of your campaign, from your content creation process right down to your ads’ profitability. Not only this but selecting a niche that you like is also crucial because it’s the difference between loving what you do and experiencing a lack of motivation.

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as a niche that’s perfect for everyone. Instead of looking only at profitability or popularity, you should choose a niche you’re passionate about while making sure that it’s profitable enough to generate enough revenue for you.

Evergreen vs. Seasonal Niches

There are thousands of niches you can work with, but all of these can be divided into either evergreen or seasonal niches.

Evergreen niches are industries that are popular year-round, regardless of the time of year. It’s important to understand that evergreen verticals may still experience performance boosts during holiday seasons, but these remain a good alternative even when there are no celebrations on the calendar.

As the name suggests, seasonal niches are verticals that are heavily influenced by the time of year. Unlike their evergreen counterparts, seasonal niches only allow marketers to produce successful campaigns during holidays and other celebrations.

That said, seasonal niches can be exponentially more profitable than evergreen verticals because of the sudden surge in demand, which has led many affiliates to specialize in these.

Remember, there is no formula to choose the best niche. Your best bet is to evaluate your situation, figure out which niches work best for you, and create a strategy that contains a healthy mix of approaches.

10 Best Affiliate Marketing Niches for Marketers in 2022

Choosing the best niche is an extensive process, but this usually works in favor of affiliates because it gives them enough time to figure out if they really like a vertical before investing in it. Moreover, you also have to know which niches are popular with consumers when you launch your campaign in order to increase your chances of success.

Although 2020 was a rollercoaster year for most industries, 2022 has proven to be more predictable so far. While there is no telling how the pandemic will play out, consumers and companies feel more certainty because they have both learned from last year’s chain of events.

Below, we’ve put together the niches that, according to our observations, have the highest chances of success in 2022.

1. Lifestyle and Mental Well-Being

The wellness and lifestyle industry is a global niche that is worth trillions of dollars. This niche is unique because it mixes elements of the health vertical with more recreational industries in order to help people live more fulfilling lives while achieving the highest possible level of mental well-being. In simple terms, it affects the way we live, play, work, sleep, and conduct other activities in our lives.

2. Electronics and Software Appliances

The electronics niche is an evergreen vertical that includes smartphones, laptops, televisions, and most other digital gadgets. Depending on the affiliate network you partner with, you may also find IoT devices as well as similar products that rely on digital technology.

Smartphones and similar devices also rely on software like utility apps to remain functional. Affiliates can also specialize in promoting anti-viruses and other software solutions that improve the functionality of consumer electronics.

3. Financial Services

Financial services range from stock markets and currency convertors to cryptocurrency exchanges and everything in between. While 2021 was a rough year for the financial services and the finance industry as a whole, global markets have bounced back relatively quickly. This has set up 2022 to be a great year for financial services and the affiliates that specialize in this niche.

4. Pet Care

There are billions of pets around the world and countless owners who are willing to invest money into their loyal companions. This phenomenon has been highlighted by the global health crisis, which has prompted hundreds of governments to declare lockdowns and forced people to stay at home most of the time.

5. Home Fitness

Like the pet care industry, the home fitness space has experienced a significant boom since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With gyms and public exercise areas closed in many countries, people are starting to purchase home exercise equipment ranging from simple dumbbells to treadmills and other complex machines. Affiliates can capitalize on this phenomenon and promote home fitness equipment from a health benefits perspective.

6. Home Security

Home security has always been a major focus for homeowners. But, many individuals are starting to invest in more advanced methods due to the potential of increased crime, which is a direct effect of the economic downturn. However, this has boosted the demand for home security cameras, alarm systems, and apps that allow people to monitor their houses at a distance.

7. Gaming

The gaming industry experienced a huge boost in sales in 2021, even when most other verticals saw a sharp decline in profitability. Remember, the gaming niche consists of PC, console, and mobile, all of which have their own sets of pros and cons. The best options depend on your skills and knowledge level, just remember that console and PC gaming affiliate programs require an in-depth understanding of the product being promoted.

8. Streaming Services

We’re all familiar with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and other large streaming platforms. That said, new advertisers enter the industry regularly because this niche is still relatively new. This translates to great opportunities for affiliates in 2022, mainly because consumers are waiting for new content releases and streaming service providers are battling to get more attention.

9. Online Gambling and Sports Betting

There’s a handful of niches that actually experienced a boost during the global health crisis, like online gambling. Online casinos and similar establishments have benefited from the fact that consumers have more time to spend on their phones and laptops, which makes them great options in terms of the best affiliate marketing niches in 2022.

The global health crisis caused many industries to crash and not all of them have recovered. Sports betting is among the niches that have made a huge comeback, fueled by the resumption of top sports leagues around the world.

10. Nutraceuticals

The nutraceuticals industry consists of a variety of smaller affiliate marketing niches, but all of them revolve around helping consumers live a healthier lifestyle. Some of the products that are commonly promoted through Nutra campaigns include natural supplements, alternative medicine products, and all-natural goods.

What About Coronavirus-Related Industries?

There is no doubt that COVID-19 has changed the way many consumers behave. But, the global health crisis has also given birth to a variety of niches that are specific to COVID-19, and these are projected to still be profitable in 2022 and beyond. Just keep in mind that you should not participate in unethical programs that attempt to make huge profits from goods that are currently necessary, like facemasks and hand sanitizer.

Although there are many niches, the three most important types of COVID-19 industries are:

Work From Home

Despite the fact that there was already a small movement encouraging companies to give employees the ability to work from home, this practice has become a reality for most office workers in 2022. This means that the work from home products industry is now more profitable than ever before. Examples of work from home products include computer stands, blue light glasses, ergonomic seating, and other goods designed to improve the home working experience.

Lockdown-Related Niches

We briefly discussed home fitness, but the truth is that there are several lockdown-specific niches that have either gained popularity or come into existence because of the global health crisis. These include remote education, home entertainment, board games, and food delivery, just to name a few.

Mainstream Verticals with Good Performance During COVID-19

Besides the COVID-19 affiliate marketing niches listed above, other mainstream industries that have performed well during the pandemic include:

• Surveys
• Sweepstakes
• Beauty products
• Ecommerce (except for flights, hotel accommodation, and other travel-related verticals)
• Dating
• Meal Kit Delivery

Want to Access the Best Affiliate Programs? Contact lemonads Today

Want to find out more about the best affiliate marketing niches or track down the best programs? Contact our affiliate network today and our team will be glad to help.