The 6.18 Shopping Festival—also known as the Mid-Year Sale—has evolved into one of the most significant global e-commerce events outside of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Originally launched as a regional retail promotion, 6.18 is now a massive mid-year revenue driver embraced by international brands and platforms.

For advertisers, it’s a golden opportunity to amplify brand visibility, engage new audiences, and drive conversions through affiliate marketing. In this article, we’ll explore key industry trends, highlight market insights, and share practical strategies for maximizing affiliate program performance with LinkHaitao, a global affiliate marketing sub-network.

Mid-Year Shopping Trends in 2025

1. Consumers are shopping smarter

A growing number of shoppers plan their purchases around big sale events. According to Salesforce, over 60% of global consumers say they wait for major discounts before making purchases—especially in categories like electronics, fashion, and home goods.

2. Affiliate marketing drives measurable impact

A report by the Performance Marketing Association found that affiliate marketing drives approximately 16% of all e-commerce sales in the U.S., comparable to paid search. Globally, advertisers are increasing investments in affiliates as a cost-effective, performance-based strategy for reaching high-intent consumers.

3. Mobile and social dominate shopping journeys

Data from Statista shows that over 70% of e-commerce traffic now comes from mobile devices. Social platforms—especially those with short-form video—play a growing role in influencing purchasing decisions, reinforcing the importance of creator-driven affiliate campaigns.

4. Influencer and content partnerships outperform traditional ads

Influencer Marketing Hub reports that influencer marketing delivers an average ROI of $5.78 per dollar spent. When paired with affiliate tracking, content creators offer both reach and measurable sales performance, making them essential partners during peak shopping periods like 6.18.

Strategies for Advertisers to Maximize 6.18 Performance

1. Launch globally appealing offers

 Value remains a key driver. Offer sitewide discounts, limited-time bundles, or exclusive promo codes that resonate across markets. Tailor your promotions to local preferences through insights from publisher partners in the LinkHaitao network.

2. Activate content creators early

Creator-led content builds momentum and trust. Provide affiliates and influencers with campaign assets and product samples 2–3 weeks before the event to seed engagement across blogs, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
 

3. Optimize mobile and app user flows

Ensure your landing pages, checkout process, and affiliate links are fully optimized for mobile. Use deep links that drive users directly to product pages or app destinations, which have been shown to improve conversion rates across all device types.

4. Diversify affiliate types

Balance your strategy across coupon sites, cashback platforms, loyalty partners, and creator affiliates. This multi-channel approach helps reach consumers at every stage of the funnel—from deal discovery to decision-making.

5. Use 6.18 as a testing ground

Test creative variations, publisher placements, commission structures, and landing pages. The insights gained from 6.18 performance can inform your strategies for the upcoming back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons.
 

Why Partner with LinkHaitao for 6.18?
 

LinkHaitao is a global affiliate marketing sub-network that helps advertisers connect with a diverse ecosystem of performance-driven publishers, content creators, and media partners. We provide:
 

• Localized support across multiple regions
• Campaign optimization tools and tracking solutions
• Access to high-converting publishers across multiple verticals
• Strategic guidance for promotional planning and activation

Whether you're scaling your affiliate program or looking to break into new markets, LinkHaitao offers the reach, tools, and expertise to help you succeed during high-impact events like 6.18.

The 6.18 Mid-Year Sale is more than just a retail promotion—it’s a strategic opportunity to refine your affiliate marketing efforts, deepen consumer engagement, and drive measurable ROI. By aligning with current trends and executing a thoughtful partner strategy, advertisers can unlock serious growth during this key shopping period.

Ready to make the most of the next 6.18 sale? Reach out to LinkHaitao to explore how our affiliate solutions can power your performance.