Generally speaking, surges in online traffic during the pandemic have not translated to commensurate revenue growth for consumer-facing publishers, of whom an overwhelming majority anticipate a decline in digital advertising this year as marketers are forced to cancel, adjust or delay campaigns. While carefully laid plans to pivot to paid content are emerging as a saving grace for some outlets, particularly those that specialize in news, lifestyle brands are seeing a major lift in revenue driven by e-commerce transactions, most often through the use of affiliate links embedded in product recommendation roundups that have come to be known as "commerce content." "Since the world began sheltering in place in mid-March, we saw sales similar to the height of the 2019 holiday season, which is our biggest time of year,” says Emily Silverman, senior director of e-commerce and partnerships at Hearst Magazines. “Every single title across the portfolio has seen an increase in e-commerce-driven product sales." Hearst's brands helped generate approximately one-million product sales in March through commerce content, a 143% increase over March 2019, Silverman says, adding that April sales were pacing 358% ahead of 2019 as of last week. [caption id="attachment_180259" align="alignright" width="297"] A selection of product roundups from Good Housekeeping.[/caption] In particular, e-commerce sales at Good Housekeeping were up 567% over the past six weeks, compared to the same period in... Continue reading at 'Folio Magazine'
[ Folio Magazine | 2020-05-04 19:08:35 UTC ]