Push Traffic for Affiliates in 2025: How Push Ads Work

Some ad formats come and go. Push traffic and push ads? They’ve proven they’re here to stay relevant regardless of the situation in the affiliate market. Even in 2025, they continue to deliver clicks, conversions, and scale for affiliates who know how to use them.

Remarkably, push ads continue to prove their relevance. Even with new ad formats competing for attention, push remains a strong and reliable traffic source. In this article, we’ll look at the strengths and weaknesses of push advertising, how it fits into different conversion flows, and a few practical tips to make your campaigns more effective.

Key Takeaways

• Push traffic for affiliates remains effective in 2025, offering strong reach across both desktop and mobile.
• Best verticals: dating, sweepstakes, e-commerce, finance, utilities, and betting.
• Strengths: simple opt-in, retargeting potential, customizable creatives, and high engagement when done right
• Challenges: ad fatigue, small creative space, and blocked notifications on some devices.
• Optimization tips: bid smart, test creatives often, use advanced CPC models, and avoid oversaturation.
• Campaign flows: push can work as a direct funnel (ad → page → conversion) or as part of a layered strategy with warm-up landers and retargeting.

Table of Contents

• Main Features of Push Ads
• Strengths of Push Advertising
• Limitations of Push Traffic
• Best Affiliate Verticals for Push Traffic
• How Push Campaign Flows Work in 2025
• Tips for Running Profitable Push Ad Campaigns
• Final Thoughts on Push Traffic in 2025
• FAQs

Main Features of Push Ads

Push may not be the newest format anymore, but it has stood the test of time. It started with simple mobile push notifications (lock screen, in-app, or messenger) and expanded into browsers. They’re short, eye-catching, and take up very little space — which makes them hard to ignore without being too intrusive.

Image Source: Yep Ads

Strengths of Push Advertising

• Quick and simple opt-in process — one click is usually enough.
• Notifications can include a headline, short text, image, and link. Some browsers allow rich push with larger visuals and action buttons.
• Works across both desktop and mobile, making retargeting easier.
• Effective for user retention — a reminder often brings people back to your site or app.
• Highly adaptable: suitable for different verticals and audiences.

Limitations of Push Traffic

• Many desktop users block push notifications automatically.
• Limited space for messaging — headlines and creatives need to deliver impact fast.

Best Affiliate Verticals for Push Traffic

Push works particularly well for:

• Games, software, and utilities
• Subscription or deposit-based offers (casino, betting, e-commerce with frequent purchases)
• Sweepstakes, finance, and dating

Verticals like dating, sweepstakes, and e-commerce often convert more easily because actions are simple or low-cost. In contrast, gambling, apps, and higher-ticket products may need more persuasion due to deposits, multiple transactions, or higher prices.

It’s also important to note the difference between SOI (single opt-in) and DOI (double opt-in). DOI usually costs more but brings higher-quality leads, especially in demanding verticals with bigger payouts.

How Push Campaign Flows Work in 2025

The traditional funnel is straightforward: a user sees your notification, clicks, lands on your page, and completes an action. This flow is still widely used in 2025.

Push can also play a role in more layered strategies. For example, some affiliates send users from push to messengers or social channels, where warm-up content builds trust before the conversion. Others use push as a support channel for existing campaigns — attracting users with a banner, nurturing them with an advertorial, and later re-engaging them with push notifications.

Tips for Running Profitable Push Ad Campaigns

• Bid smart: don’t stick to the bare minimum. Low bids often bring low-quality traffic.
• Use advanced models: Smart CPC and automated bidding help optimize in real time.
• Test creatives: different images, headlines, and angles can dramatically change performance.
• Focus on clickability: a strong headline plus an engaging image is essential.
• Mind your timing: test to see when your audience responds best.
• Target fresh subscribers: they’re more likely to engage than older ones.
• Avoid oversaturation: too many notifications can drive users to unsubscribe.

Final Thoughts on Push Traffic in 2025

Push ads may look simple, but when combined with the right targeting and creative strategy, they remain a powerful tool in 2025. They can attract new users, retarget existing ones, and support your overall conversion flow. The key is balance: keep campaigns personal, well-timed, and optimized, and push will continue to deliver strong results.

FAQs
What is push traffic in affiliate marketing?
Push traffic refers to users reached via push notifications on mobile or desktop devices. Affiliates use it to promote offers by delivering short, clickable ads directly to a subscriber’s device.

Which verticals perform best with push ads in 2025?
Dating, sweepstakes, utilities, e-commerce, finance, and betting are still among the top verticals for push ads.

Are push ads still effective in 2025?
Yes. Despite competition from newer formats, push ads remain cost-effective, scalable, and versatile when paired with the right targeting and creatives.