Best paid traffic sources for affiliate marketing (pop traffic popunders)

Irina Monade

06 Jan 2025 — 7 min read

Affiliate marketing is a game of precision. To thrive, you need traffic that converts like magic. While organic traffic feels like a dreamy fairy tale, paid traffic is the hustle that gets you results now. So, grab your coffee (or energy drink), and let’s break down the best paid traffic sources for affiliate marketing. These are tried-and-true channels that can supercharge your campaigns if you know how to wield them.

1. Mobile Traffic: The Undisputed King

Welcome to the mobile revolution! Mobile traffic isn’t just a trend—it’s an unstoppable juggernaut redefining affiliate marketing. With billions of people glued to their smartphones, you’re looking at a golden opportunity.

Why Mobile Traffic Rocks

Massive Reach: Smartphones are everywhere, even in developing countries.
High Engagement: Mobile users are glued to their screens, making them easier to engage.
Cost-Effective: Lower ad spends with potentially massive revenues.

Top Mobile Traffic Formats

Popunders: Deliver instant impressions when a user lands on a page.
Redirects: Automatically send users to your landing page.
Push Notifications: Keep users engaged with timely, personalized messages.
Banner Ads: Display ads that grab attention in-app or on websites.

Pro Tips for Mobile Ads

Separate mobile traffic from desktop for accurate performance insights.
Optimize for specific operating systems and carriers.
Test banner placements to ensure proper display across devices.

Mobile traffic isn’t just a play—it’s the main stage. Platforms like Propeller Ads and Adsterra are great places to get started.

2. Push Notifications: The Rising Star

Push notifications are like whispers in your audience’s ear—they’re personal, attention-grabbing, and highly effective.

Why Push Traffic Works

High CTRs: Click-through rates can soar to 30%, depending on the vertical.
Opt-In Audience: Users actively choose to receive notifications, ensuring high-quality traffic.
Customizable Ads: Add emojis, images, and compelling copy to make your notifications pop.

Best Use Cases for Push Ads

Sweepstakes and Coupons
Mobile Content and Apps
Nutra Products
Finance Offers

Platforms for Push Traffic

Propeller Ads
Adcash
MGID
Push.House
TrafficStars

The Best Pop Ads Traffic Sources for Affiliate Marketing: My Firsthand Experience

When I first ventured into affiliate marketing, I underestimated the power of pop ads. They seemed outdated, almost annoying—but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Over time, I realized that pop traffic, when done right, could deliver high volumes of affordable clicks with surprisingly good conversion rates. Here’s what I’ve learned about the best pop ad traffic sources and how to leverage them for affiliate success.

Why Pop Ads Work for Affiliate Marketing

Pop ads, including pop-ups and pop-unders, interrupt the browsing experience by appearing over or under a webpage. This might sound intrusive, but in affiliate marketing, it’s all about numbers. Pop ads generate massive impressions and clicks for pennies on the dollar. With the right targeting, they can drive conversions for niches like adult offers, sweepstakes, dating, and even gaming.

But not all pop traffic sources are created equal. Here’s my take on the best platforms:

1. TrafficJunky: Premium Adult Traffic

My first serious foray into pop ads started with TrafficJunky, and it didn’t disappoint. It’s the go-to network for premium adult traffic, especially if you’re promoting offers in the dating or webcam niche.

What I Like: Their traffic is highly targeted, thanks to partnerships with major adult sites like Pornhub and YouPorn. The CPMs are reasonable for the quality, and their dashboard is easy to use.
Pro Tip: Start small with geo-targeted campaigns. TrafficJunky lets you segment by country, device, and even browser type, which is crucial for testing.

2. PropellerAds: All-Purpose Giant

If you want scale, PropellerAds is your best bet. This platform offers billions of daily impressions across a variety of verticals. I’ve used it to promote sweepstakes and CPI (Cost Per Install) offers with great success.

What I Like: They support advanced targeting options like OS, ISP, and device type, which allows for highly specific campaigns. Their SmartCPA tool helped me find winning combinations faster.
Pro Tip: Keep an eye on frequency caps. Showing the same ad repeatedly can tank your CTR. PropellerAds makes it easy to adjust this setting.

3. ExoClick: The King of Adult Traffic

For affiliates in the adult niche, ExoClick is a household name. I’ve run multiple campaigns here, and the traffic quality is consistently high.

What I Like: Their pop-unders convert exceptionally well for dating and webcam offers. Plus, they allow a lot of creativity with ad formats.
Pro Tip: Use their retargeting feature. This helps you reach users who didn’t convert the first time, which is a game-changer for long-term ROI.

4. Adsterra: Budget-Friendly Pop Traffic

When I was just starting, Adsterra became my go-to for affordable pop traffic. They cater to smaller budgets but still offer good-quality impressions.

What I Like: The interface is beginner-friendly, and the CPMs are among the lowest I’ve seen. It’s great for testing offers without breaking the bank.
Pro Tip: Focus on emerging markets. The competition is lower, and the conversion rates are surprisingly solid.

5. ZeroPark: Optimized Pop Traffic

For advanced campaigns, ZeroPark delivers. I’ve used their traffic for high-payout offers in finance and crypto, and the results were outstanding.

What I Like: Their real-time bidding system ensures I only pay for the traffic I need. Plus, their support team is incredibly responsive.
Pro Tip: Experiment with keyword campaigns to tap into highly targeted audiences.

My Final Thoughts

Pop ads might not have the flashiness of native or social ads, but they get the job done. These platforms—TrafficJunky, PropellerAds, ExoClick, Adsterra, and ZeroPark—offer affordable, scalable solutions for affiliate marketers in various niches. Start small, test thoroughly, and scale when you find a winning formula. It’s a grind, but the payoff is worth it.

Pro Tip: Fresh audiences convert better. Focus on users who haven’t been bombarded with notifications.

3. Search Traffic: A Conversion Magnet

Search traffic, whether organic or paid, remains the holy grail for conversions. When users search, they’re already interested—your job is just to seal the deal.

Paid Search Ads (PPC)

Platform: Google Ads dominates but don’t sleep on Bing and Yandex.
Targeting: Nail down specific keywords that align with your offers.
Ad Rank Matters: High-quality scores lower CPCs, giving you more bang for your buck.

Why Organic Search Beats Paid Ads

Organic listings scream credibility.
Conversion rates can be up to 7x higher than PPC traffic.

But paid search traffic is no slouch. It’s precise, scalable, and incredibly effective when paired with killer landing pages.

Social media isn’t just for selfies and memes—it’s a playground for affiliates who know how to target.

Facebook: Pinpoint targeting based on demographics, interests, and behaviors.
Instagram: Perfect for visually striking offers.
LinkedIn: Ideal for B2B campaigns.
Snapchat & TikTok: Youth-oriented platforms for trendy products.

Precision Targeting: Hone in on specific user profiles.
Massive Scale: Billions of active users ensure endless opportunities.
Actionable Insights: Platforms like Facebook provide granular analytics.

Pro Tip: Use the Facebook Pixel to track and optimize conversions.

5. Native Ads: The Chameleon of Advertising

Native ads blend seamlessly with content, making them less intrusive and more engaging. Think of them as the subtle seduction of advertising.

Why Go Native?

Higher Retention Rates: Users are more likely to engage with native ads.
Better ROI: Cheap CPCs and high engagement rates make native ads profitable.
Wide Reach: Platforms like Taboola and Outbrain offer massive audiences.

Top Vertical for Native Ads

Health and Wellness
E-commerce
Finance
Travel

Pro Tip: Avoid clickbait. Misleading banners can hurt your campaign and reputation.

6. PPV Traffic: Volume Meets Value

Pay-per-view (PPV) traffic is a volume game. Your ad shows up as a pop-up or interstitial, and you only pay for views.

Why PPV Rocks

Cheap and Scalable: Get loads of impressions for pennies.
Simple Setup: No need for complex creatives.
High Visibility: Forces users to see your offer.

Best PPV Networks

LeadImpact
AdMaven
Clickadu

Pro Tip: PPV works best for broad-interest offers like sweepstakes or giveaways.

7. Display Ads: The Classics Never Die

Display ads are the OGs of online advertising. Whether you’re running banners on websites or videos on YouTube, display ads remain a staple.

Why Display Still Works

Wide Reach: Perfect for building brand awareness.
Visual Appeal: Use images and videos to capture attention.
Retargeting Goldmine: Bring back users who didn’t convert the first time.

Best Practices

Use striking visuals to grab attention.
Keep your messaging clear and concise.
Leverage retargeting to maximize ROI.

8. Email Traffic: Old but Gold

Email might feel ancient in the fast-moving digital world, but it’s still one of the most effective traffic sources for affiliates.

Why Email Wins

Direct Access: Communicate straight to your audience’s inbox.
High ROI: Email marketing generates $42 for every $1 spent.
Customizable Campaigns: Personalize messages for specific segments.

Pro Tip: Build your email list through lead magnets and nurture it with valuable content before pitching offers.

9. Video Ads: The Engager Extraordinaire

Video ads are the ultimate attention-grabbers. Whether it’s a YouTube pre-roll or a TikTok ad, video content is king.

Why Video Ads Work

High Engagement: People are more likely to watch than read.
Storytelling Potential: Perfect for explaining complex offers.
Viral Opportunity: A great video ad can snowball into free exposure.

How to Choose the Right Traffic Source

Picking the right traffic source isn’t just about budgets—it’s about strategy. Here’s how to choose:

Know Your Audience: Understand where your ideal customers hang out.
Test, Test, Test: Run small campaigns on multiple platforms before scaling.
Optimize Creatives: Different traffic sources demand different ad styles.
Monitor ROI: Keep a close eye on performance and adjust accordingly.

Final Thoughts

Paid traffic is a wild ride, but with the right strategies and platforms, it can yield incredible results for affiliate marketers. Whether it’s the precision of search traffic, the scale of social media, or the subtlety of native ads, the key is to test, optimize, and scale.

The world of paid traffic is ever-changing. Dive in, experiment, and watch your affiliate marketing campaigns soar!

Best paid traffic sources for affiliate marketing and pop ads sellers