Affiliate marketing has grown quickly since its inception. The e-commerce website, viewed as a marketing toy in the early days of the web, became an integrated part of the overall business plan and in some cases grew to a bigger business than the existing offline business.

 

 

According to E-consultancy

 

 

2005

2006

Value of UK sales generated from the affiliate channel

£1.35 billion

£2.16 billion

 

 

 

 

Commissions and fees paid out to U.K affiliate networks

 

 

2005

2006

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Payments for both networks and affiliates

 

£83 million

£133 million

Payment for Networks

£15 million

£18 million

 

 

 

 

According to Marketing Sherpa's research team, in 2006

(Includes retail, personal finance, gaming and gambling, travel, telecom, 'Net marketing' education offers, subscription sites, and other lead generation)

 

Payments for affiliates worldwide

$6.5 billion

 

Estimated payments for Networks (5%)

$325 Million