Affiliate Marketing Blog by Shawn Collins

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… for affiliates. Christmas 2006 is in the books and it was the best year ever for E-Commerce.

Online retail saw $23.11 billion in holiday sales this year, which represents a 26 percent increase over 2005, according to data released by comScore Networks.

comScore also reported that in the five weekdays leading up to Christmas (12/18 – 12/22), consumer online non-travel (retail) spending was up 38% from last year.

E-Commerce also increased by 24% during the rest of 2006 over the previous year. Internet retail sales from January to October increased from $62.6 billion in 2005 to $77.5 billion this year, according to comScore.

“That online retail consumer spending for the year-to-date has surpassed the $100 billion mark is a testament to the continued growth and strength of the online marketplace,” commented Gian Fulgoni, chairman of comScore Networks.

The top retail Web sites, ranked by dollars spent (excluding auction sites, large corporate purchases and travel) for the 2006 holiday season (Nov. 1 – Dec. 26) were as follows, according to comScore Networks:

1. Amazon.com

2. Dell.com
3. Yahoo.com
4. Walmart.com
5. Ticketmaster.com
6. JCPenney.com
7. Apple.com
8. Bestbuy.com
9. Victoriassecret.com
10. Circuitcity.com

So affiliate programs are all over the list of top retail sites.

That fact, combined with the impressive year over year growth in sales, should confirm to anybody that there are lots of opportunities, even for newcomers, in affiliate marketing.

Here’s to shattering the sales records again in 2007!

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