Adult Vertical is a part of Dating vertical in affiliate marketing that encompasses a wide range of subcategories, including adult entertainment, adult dating websites and apps, sex toys, lingerie, and so on.

Adult Vertical Meaning

Adult vertical is a niche with 18+ offers. But not all 18+ products and services refer to this vertical. Instead, Adult encompasses offers in this or that way related to sex: sex games, creams or potency drugs, sex toys, video content etc.

The Adult vertical holds the top position in terms of overall revenue. While its competitors have made significant progress in narrowing the gap, they are still striving to catch up. However, the Adult vertical experiences the highest level of competition in the field of affiliate marketing. There are ample opportunities for financial success in this industry, and there is a substantial number of affiliates interested in raising their income on those opportunities.

Limitations in Adult Vertical

When it comes to affiliate marketing, there are several important factors for affiliates to consider. First, it is vital to collaborate with a reputable CPA network that cooperates with direct advertisers. But remember that not all affiliate platforms in the sphere work in Adult vertical.

Secondly, the adult vertical is subject to specific legal restrictions and regulations in many jurisdictions. Affiliate marketers operating in this vertical must ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, such as age verification requirements and content restrictions, to avoid potential legal issues.

Despite the restrictions and limitations, the Adult vertical still is in high demand thanks to high payouts, popularity of adult content and products all over the globe and at any time of the year.

Sub-categories in Adult Vertical

Within the Adult vertical, there are some sub-verticals that align with affiliates interests. It can be a strategic move in affiliate marketing to focus on something special:

  • Adult Content: Affiliates can tap into this sub-vertical by promoting photos, videos, live webcam platforms, where models interact with viewers in real-time, providing a personalized and engaging experience;
  • Adult Nutra: This category is related with such intimate preferences as enlargement remedies, regulators of sexual intercourse duration, potency products, etc.; 
  • Adult eCommerce: These are sex toys, lingerie, perfume, games, clothes and other products. In Adult CPA networks, affiliates earn on promotion of everything that is sold in intimates online stores;
  • Adult Dating: This niche revolves around fostering connections. The growth of the larger online dating services market indicates substantial potential for affiliates to promote adult dating platforms and earn commissions for successful referrals;
  • Adult Video Games: With a growing audience seeking engaging experiences, promoting adult video games can be both profitable and engaging. Affiliates can partner with game developers or platforms to promote adult-themed video games and earn commissions from game sales or in-game purchases.

By selecting a sub-vertical that aligns with your interests, understanding the target audience, and implementing effective marketing strategies, you can maximize your success as an affiliate marketer in the Adult niche. Remember to stay updated with industry trends, monitor performance, and adapt your approach to achieve optimal results.

How much Affiliates can Earn with the Adult Vertical?

In this vertical, affiliates can earn through various commission structures, such as Cost Per Acquisition (CPA), RevShare, or Cost Per Lead (CPL). The commission rates can range from $1-2 to $100 and more per conversion, depending on the specific offer and the value of the desired action.

The Adult vertical is highly competitive, and success is often driven by factors like traffic quality, conversion rates, and the ability to target and engage the right audience. Affiliates who are skilled at driving targeted traffic, optimizing their campaigns, and leveraging their understanding of the adult audience can potentially achieve significant earnings.

It’s important to approach the Adult vertical with a realistic understanding of the challenges and complexities involved. Success in this niche requires ongoing offers testing. If you want to find the best Adult CPA offers with high-converting offers, look through the list of “Top 10 Adult CPA Networks”.

Traffic Sources for Adult Vertical Promotion

The majority of traffic channels have strict limitations regarding adult ads that could prove to be a big hurdle for marketers. However, it’s possible to advertise adult offers where they are forbidden. Below, we take a look at popular channels for promoting 18+ offers in detail and describe their pros and cons.

1. Google Ads

Adult advertising is allowed by Google but with major limitations that can be strong or moderate. Images of intimate body parts on creatives and 18+ dating offers fall under the first restriction category. In this case, ads can be shown to those users who looking for sexual content themselves. Regardless of restriction types, adult ads must not contradict local laws and users’ SafeSearch settings.

In light of the very strict requirements for adult vertical, sexually explicit content such as hardcore pornography isn’t allowed to advertise. 

2. Social networks

Advertisers can target the most relevant audience on social networks. Due to wide targeting options, ads can be displayed to users based on their interests, age and gender. However, social networks have multiple restrictions.

2.1 Facebook and Instagram

Adult advertising is prohibited on both Meta platforms. According to Meta’s advertising policy, nudity is considered insulting, as well as individual body parts in ads. The only exception is for ads associated with medicine and health care. In addition, Instagram allows posting for family planning, contraception and 18+ dating services.

When making adult creatives advertisers have to think outside the box, because sexual content can only be approved if its context isn’t explicit. 

2.2 Twitter and TikTok 

Adult advertising on TikTok is even tougher than on Google or Facebook. These social networks prohibit any content with sexual context. The content policy of TikTok also covers adult nutra offers and entertainments like strip clubs or adult streaming. On Twitter, violation of the content policy will be considered advertising of hostess clubs and mail-order bride services.

3. Ad Networks

Ad networks are platforms that connect advertisers and publishers in one place while meeting the needs of both sides. Thus, advertisers don’t have to contact each publisher they are going to collaborate with, because ad networks have already done it for them. Similar platforms usually have a ready database of proven publishers and systems for analyzing traffic quality. 

Many ad networks offer a huge amount of traffic, which is already divided into adult and mainstream sources. Thus, advertisers don’t have to test all traffic on the platform. Moreover, the ad networks can provide users with ready-made whitelists for each vertical they work with. There is the chance to run the adult campaign on most converting sources at once.