In 2024, traffic arbitrage faces new challenges and opportunities. Traditional sources, such as Facebook and Google, remain in demand, but arbitrageurs are increasingly turning to alternative platforms. TikTok and YouTube Shorts, as well as other short video platforms, have become some of the fastest growing in this segment. These channels offer unique ways to engage the audience, effective advertising formats, and a wide reach. In this article, we will look at how to work with alternative traffic sources and what features you need to consider to achieve success.
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Why TikTok and YouTube Shorts?
TikTok and YouTube Shorts – are short video platforms that have quickly captured the attention of millions of users around the world. In 2024, they continue to grow due to their simplicity, speed of content consumption, and powerful recommendation algorithms.
Why this is important for arbitration:
- High coverage: A huge audience covering users of all ages, with a special focus on the younger generation (Gen Z and Millenials)
- Low cost of advertising: Compared to more traditional platforms, advertising campaigns on TikTok and YouTube Shorts are often cheaper, especially in the beginning.
- Algorithms: Both TikTok and YouTube Shorts use powerful recommendation algorithms, which allows your content to quickly gain popularity even without a large startup budget.
TikTok: features of working with the platform
Audience and content
TikTok stands out for its unique audience, dominated by users under 35. Young people on this platform appreciate creative and entertaining content, often with elements of humor, challenges, and memes.
How to work with traffic on TikTok:
- Creativity in advertising: TikTok uses non-standard advertising that is organically integrated into users’ feeds. The creative should be not only eye-catching, but also engaging, preferably with engaging elements (challenges, polls, sweepstakes).
- Collaborations with influencers: TikTok influencers play a key role in product promotion. Even microbloggers with a relatively small audience can be very effective for conversion.
- Taking into account algorithms: TikTok promotes content based on engagement (likes, comments, reposts), so it’s important to create videos that stimulate user interaction.
Examples of successful offers:
- Applications for games, creative services, educational programs
- Products from the categories of health, beauty and fashion.
- E-commerce (express goods, household goods and hobbies).
YouTube Shorts: how to use this platform
YouTube Shorts – is a relatively new feature on YouTube, created as a response to the popularity of short TikTok videos. The platform offers unique opportunities due to the huge existing YouTube user base.
How to work with traffic on YouTube Shorts:
- Organic traffic: Use Shorts to generate organic traffic by promoting content that can then be scaled through standard YouTube ads.
- Integration with YouTube: One of the main advantages is the ability to organically connect short videos with long ones, which allows you to build more complex sales funnels. Videos in the Shorts format can attract attention and encourage users to watch longer videos, where you can promote the product more deeply.
- Partnership with YouTubers: Working with YouTube content creators can help in creating quality, engaging content to promote through Shorts.
Examples of successful offers:
- Educational courses, training, culinary and lifestyle content.
- Home and DIY (do-it-yourself) products.
- Digital products and subscriptions.
Other alternative platforms
1. Reddit
Reddit is a unique platform for arbitrageurs where discussions are built around thematic subreddits. This is a great opportunity to target a highly specialized audience with specific interests.
- Examples of verticals: Software, Finance, Gaming, Cryptocurrency
- Tip: Reddit requires a special approach to advertising. Direct advertising is not always effective here, so it is better to use native methods of promotion through organic posts and comments.
2. Pinterest
Pinterest continues to be a relevant platform for visual content and is especially effective for arbitrage in the categories of home, beauty, fashion, and DIY products.
- Examples of verticals: E-commerce, Handicrafts, Interior Design, Recipes
- Tip: Focus on high-quality images and value-added content that encourages users to take action (e.g., purchase through product links).
3. Snapchat
Snapchat continues to be popular among teens and young adults, offering unique opportunities for arbitrageurs through filters, augmented reality effects, and original ad formats.
- Examples of verticals: Mobile games, apps, products for young users.
- Tip: Advertising campaigns on Snapchat should be creative and in line with the spirit of the platform – light, fast, and visually striking.
Practical tips for working with alternative traffic sources
Test your content
Alternative platforms require constant testing and adaptation to the audience. Use A/B testing to determine the most effective creatives, formats, and offers.
Adapt your offers
Each platform has its own unique audience, and the approach to advertising on TikTok can be significantly different from that on Reddit or Pinterest. Make sure that the offer matches the preferences of the audience of a particular platform.
Use native ads
An important aspect of alternative platforms is organic content. Direct advertising is not always perceived positively, so strive for native content: advertising materials should look like they are a natural part of the user’s feed.
Follow the trends
Trends often appear on TikTok and YouTube Shorts that can increase the engagement of content. A quick reaction to new challenges, popular songs, or memes can help to get viral.
Conclusion
Alternative traffic arbitrage platforms such as TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Reddit, Pinterest, and Snapchat are opening up new horizons for arbitrageurs in 2024. These channels offer not only fresh opportunities for working with the audience, but also require flexibility, creativity, and willingness to experiment. Success in arbitrage through alternative traffic sources lies in adapting content to the unique features of each platform and constantly testing new approaches