New to Mobile Marketing? Here’s What’s Actually Making Money in 2025

Mobile marketing isn’t just growing—it’s thriving. In 2025, the mobile space continues to dominate digital advertising, with global users spending more time (and money) on their phones than ever before. But for newcomers, diving into this world can feel overwhelming.

Which mobile strategies are worth your time? What campaign examples actually bring in revenue? Let’s break down where real opportunities lie—without the fluff.

We’ll explore top mobile monetization methods, highlight what’s working right now, and offer practical tips you can start using today.

Mobile Monetization

1. Pin Submits

Pin Submits is one of the oldest—and still most effective—mobile tactics. Users enter their phone number and receive a text with a PIN. Once they confirm it, you earn a payout.

It works especially well with MSISDN or 1-click flow offers, which automatically detect the user’s number, removing friction. Because the process is so easy, conversions are typically high.

Pro Tip: Focus on international markets where pin submit offers perform exceptionally well.

2. App Installs

This one’s simple but powerful. A user clicks your ad, lands in the app store, installs the app—you get paid.

Some campaigns skip the app store entirely and allow users to download the file directly from a site. These can offer higher payouts but often require more careful compliance management.

Example: Mobile games or VPN apps are common winners in this category.

3. Pay Per Call

Search-based intent plus mobile equals serious earning potential.

Here’s how it works:

• A user searches for a service on their phone.
• Your ad shows up with a “Call Now” button.
• They tap to call, get connected to a business, and if the call lasts over a set duration (usually 60 seconds), you earn.

Each call is tracked using a unique phone number, making performance easy to monitor. It’s especially effective in service-driven verticals like insurance, home repairs, or travel bookings.

Best practice: Align your campaigns with local search intent to drive high-quality calls.

4. Lead Generation

This method mirrors desktop lead gen but is optimized for mobile.

You drive traffic to a form where users input key info like name, phone number, and email. Once submitted, the lead is sent to the advertiser—and you get paid.

Quality matters. Networks often adjust your payout or cap based on traffic sources and lead conversions.

Hot Tip: Combine lead gen with retargeting or email drip campaigns for long-term ROI.

5. Mobile Sales

Selling directly on mobile is still tricky—manual input of credit card info slows people down. But the tide is turning.

As payment methods like Apple Pay and fingerprint authorization become more common, expect smoother checkouts and better conversions.

Watch this space: Seamless mobile checkout is a trend to bet on.

6. Building a Mailing List

Here’s the long game: build a list and nurture it.

Run mobile traffic to a landing page with a strong opt-in offer—like a free eBook or exclusive deal. Then use automated email sequences to build trust and promote products.

Yes, it takes time to dial in your funnel. But once it’s set, your email list becomes a high-value asset that continues to generate income.

Tools like ActiveCampaign or GetResponse make automation a breeze.

Profitable Mobile Verticals to Watch

Here are some verticals that continue to perform—and show no signs of slowing down:

Utilities

Apps that help users improve phone performance are always in demand.

• Battery savers
• Antivirus apps
• Phone boosters

Simple angles, broad appeal, and easy conversions make this a great starting point.

Dating

Still profitable—but crowded.

Mobile dating apps like Mate1 offer both installs and lead gen. Just note: payouts are typically lower than desktop because mobile leads can be harder to monetize.

Use geo-targeting to find under-served regions where competition is lower.

Sweepstakes

“Win a new iPhone!” – It’s everywhere for a reason.

Sweepstakes offers often use pin submit flows and landers designed to build urgency. But this space is saturated, so success depends heavily on your creatives and funnel optimization.

Gaming

Mobile games = big money.

Most offers here are 1-click installs, making them perfect for high-volume traffic. If you can scale paid traffic while keeping costs low, this can be a highly profitable vertical.

Where to Find Offers That Convert

To get started, sign up with mobile-focused affiliate networks. Check their top-performer lists, and don’t be afraid to reach out for guidance on high-converting campaigns.

Recommended networks:

• YepAds
• ClickDealer
• Mobidea

But don’t stop there. Do your own field research.

Go beyond the basics and test for yourself. Buying secondhand iPhones or Android devices, trying different carriers, and observing which offers appear organically can reveal valuable insights that spy tools might miss.

Mobile marketing doesn’t have to be complicated. By focusing on proven monetization models, testing high-converting verticals, and refining strategies based on traffic performance, affiliates can set themselves up for success.

Want help launching your first campaign or selecting the right vertical? Our team is here to support your growth every step of the way.