Online Affiliate Conversions Outpaced E-mail and Search in First Half of 2006

Customer referrals from online affiliates converted at 3.2 percent and 3.4 percent respectively in the first and second quarters of 2006, according to a survey of 63 online merchants conducted by Internet marketing firm Performics and research firm ComScore Networks. This compares to 4.3 percent and 4.4 percent conversion for direct traffic to merchant sites and 2.3 percent each quarter for other referrals, such as paid search and e-mail campaigns. Other data revealed by the survey: