Seasonality map: When and where the best campaign launch

In affiliate marketing, timing can be just as important as the offer itself. It is crucial to know when to launch a specific campaign during the year, because seasonality affects many different aspects of user behavior and performance.

At TrafficStars, we’ve analyzed the offers launched on our platform during the past year to identify clear patterns and share valuable insights with you.

Webcam Offers: A Year-Round Leader

From our research, one vertical clearly stands out: webcam offers perform strongly at any time of the year. No matter the season, cams remain a reliable source of conversions and consistent traffic. They were the hands-down leader in our data, proving that affiliates can confidently run webcam campaigns throughout the year without worrying about seasonal dips. Other vertical results showed more variation depending on timing and traffic source. To highlight these differences, we’ve separated the performance data for xHamster and non-xHamster sources.

Betting & Casino: Always a Strong Bet

Another vertical that continues to trend well on TrafficStars is betting and casino. It’s always a good idea to launch these offers with us, as they attract consistent demand and interest.

To take performance even further, we recommend planning campaigns around key sporting events. By sharing a calendar of tournaments, matches, or competitions that are relevant to your offer, you enable us to secure traffic more effectively and prepare targeted funnels in advance.

This approach allows affiliates to align creatives and promotions with moments of high user intent, ultimately improving conversion rates.

General Seasonal Trends in Affiliate Marketing

Beyond vertical-specific patterns, there are several seasonal spikes and dips that appear year after year across multiple niches. Being aware of them helps affiliates plan better and avoid wasted budgets.

Winter Holidays (Christmas & New Year)

• People spend more time indoors, have more free time, and browse more.
•  Adult dating and webcam offers usually experience higher traffic and conversions.
•  Many advertisers also increase payouts during this period to capture the surge in demand.
  

Valentine’s Day

• A peak season for dating, hookup, and gift-related offers.
•  Singles and couples alike look for entertainment, novelty, and ways to celebrate.
•  Creatives that tap into romance and connection usually see stronger engagement.
  

Summer Dip

• Many affiliates report lower conversion rates in summer.
•  People spend more time outdoors, traveling, or on vacation, and are less likely to stay online for long sessions.
•  This can affect verticals like dating, where engagement may temporarily decrease.
  

Sports Events

• Events such as the UEFA Champions League, major cricket tournaments, or the NBA season can make a huge difference for betting and casino offers.
•  During these events, it makes sense to increase traffic from certain GEOs, since user intent spikes and conversions are often significantly higher.

How to Maximize Your Results

At the end of the day, seasonality is an important factor, but success depends on how you prepare for it. To get the best results, follow these simple principles:

• Study your offer in detail – understand the product, its timing, and the audience it attracts.
• Plan your promotions in advance – map campaigns to holidays, seasonal events, and industry-specific opportunities.
• Assess performance regularly – monitor campaign data, identify what works best, and adjust strategies accordingly.
  

Conclusion

Affiliate marketing is not only about finding the right offer, but also about launching it at the right moment. While webcam campaigns provide reliable, year-round performance, betting/casino and other verticals can be amplified by aligning with holidays, seasons, and global events.

 By studying your offer carefully, planning ahead, and tracking performance, you can stay ahead of seasonal shifts and make the most out of every campaign you launch on TrafficStars.