As an affiliate marketer, diversifying into new verticals is essential for long-term growth and stability. One niche that has been generating solid results for affiliates, year in and year out is lead generation, or "leadgen" for short. Leadgen involves generating qualified leads for businesses in various industries and getting paid for each lead delivered. It's a win-win: businesses get a steady stream of potential customers, and affiliates get rewarded for connecting them.
While leadgen campaigns can be run in almost any country, the two most developed markets are the United States and United Kingdom. These geos have a high concentration of lead buyers across multiple verticals and tend to pay the highest prices for quality leads. Breaking into the US and UK leadgen market can seem daunting for affiliates who are used to other geos or verticals, but with the right approach it can be an incredibly lucrative opportunity.
In this in-depth guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to start running profitable leadgen campaigns in the US and UK, even if you have no prior experience in this vertical. We'll cover the key components of the leadgen ecosystem, the top verticals to focus on, pricing and payout models, compliance guidelines, media buying strategies, and more. By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap for how to launch and scale lead-generation campaigns that can take your affiliate business to the next level.
Understanding the Leadgen ecosystem
The leadgen ecosystem can be broadly divided into five main markets:
Insurance and home improvement tend to have the largest market share in terms of investment capital and diversity of lead buyers. The legal and finance verticals are more heavily regulated, so they can be harder to enter but often reward affiliates with higher payouts and large budgets from advertisers. Home services is a sub-market of home improvement that also overlaps with e-commerce.
Within this ecosystem, there are three main types of leads that affiliates can generate:
The key players in the ecosystem
Here are the key players you'll be interacting with:
1. Lead Buyers
These are the businesses that are looking to acquire new customers and are willing to pay for leads. There are several distinct tiers of buyers:
2. Publishers/ Affiliates
On the other side of the equation are the affiliates (also known as publishers) who are responsible for generating the leads. Most leadgen affiliates fall into one of three categories:
The key to success as a leadgen affiliate is building strong relationships with quality buyers and providing them with a steady stream of compliant, converting leads at scale. Let's take a closer look at the structure of a typical leadgen campaign to see how all the pieces fit together.
Anatomy of a leadgen campaign
While the specific components of a leadgen campaign can vary depending on the vertical, traffic source, and lead type, most campaigns follow a similar basic structure:
One of the unique aspects of leadgen is that you can get paid for a lead as soon as it's generated, without having to wait for the final conversion like you would in a traditional CPA campaign. However, lead buyers will closely monitor the quality of the leads you're sending and will stop buying from you if they don't convert.
Unlike other verticals where you might be able to get away with borderline-compliant practices or aggressive marketing tactics, leadgen is a heavily regulated space where playing by the rules isn't optional if you want to succeed long-term. With great power (and payouts) comes great responsibility.
Now that you have a high-level overview of the leadgen ecosystem, let's zoom in on the US and UK markets specifically to see what makes them unique.
The US and UK Leadgen markets
The United States and United Kingdom are two of the most mature, highly-developed leadgen markets in the world. Due to a combination of large populations, high consumer spending power, and a cultural openness to engaging with businesses online, the US and UK have always been at the forefront of online lead generation.
Some key facts and figures:
Despite the higher barriers to entry, the US and UK markets also offer major advantages for leadgen affiliates:
Of course, these advantages are a double-edged sword. The fact that leadgen is so widespread in the US/UK means that buyers have high expectations for the leads they're receiving. Sending junk leads might fly in markets where leadgen is a newer concept, but it will get you blacklisted quickly in the US/UK.
To succeed in such competitive markets, affiliates need to take a highly professional approach that emphasizes compliance, quality, and long-term relationship building.
Let's take a closer look at some of the key aspects of running leadgen campaigns in the US/UK markets.
Top US/UK leadgen verticals
One of the first decisions you'll need to make as a leadgen affiliate is which vertical(s) to focus on. There's no one "best" vertical that's guaranteed to be profitable - it depends on a combination of factors like your traffic sources, budget, risk tolerance, and marketing skills.
That said, here are some of the most popular and lucrative leadgen verticals in the US/UK markets right now:
1. Insurance
2. Home services
3. Legal
4. Financial services
These are just a few examples of the many leadgen verticals that are popular in the US/UK markets. Others include auto warranty, timeshares, tax debt relief, structured settlements, satellite TV, solar panels, business funding, addiction treatment, online education, senior care, and more.
The key is to choose a vertical that aligns with your strengths as a marketer and that you can generate consistent, compliant leads for. Don't try to be everything to everyone - it's better to go deep on a few core verticals than to spread yourself too thin across a dozen of them.
Once you've identified your target vertical(s), the next step is to determine which types of leads you'll generate and how you'll price them.
Leadgen pricing & payout models
There are two main factors that influence how much money you can make as a leadgen affiliate in the US/UK market:
Both are important. A sky-high payout isn't much good if you can only generate a trickle of leads that meet the campaign requirements. Conversely, a low payout can still be profitable if you're able to drive massive volume and your costs are low too.
In general, payouts for US/UK leads are significantly higher than other markets. It's not unusual to see payouts of $50, $100, or even $200+ per lead in some verticals (usually the ones that have a high customer lifetime value, like insurance or home services). But competition for these leads is also fierce, and you'll need to be able to deliver quality at scale to tap into those big-money campaigns.
Leadgen payouts in the US/UK market are structured in a few different ways:
This is the simplest payout model - you receive a fixed amount for each qualified lead, regardless of what happens after the lead is sold. Fixed price campaigns tend to have more stable, predictable payouts but may have lower caps on volume. They're a good fit for affiliates who are just starting out in leadgen or who want to diversify their payout risk. The typical payout range is $30-120 per lead depending on the vertical.
Example: A home security company pays affiliates $50 for each qualified lead (homeowner, credit score above 600, etc.) that's delivered via a realtime ping post.
In a revenue share (revshare) payout model, affiliates receive a percentage of whatever revenue the buyer generates from the leads. Revshare offers can be lucrative since they give affiliates a piece of the back-end action, but they're also riskier since payouts are variable and often have a long attribution window (30-90 days is common).
Example: A mortgage broker pays affiliates 10% of the commission they collect on each funded loan for leads delivered within the last 60 days.
Some leadgen campaigns use a hybrid payout model that combines fixed and revshare payouts. Usually this takes the form of a smaller upfront payout per lead, plus a percentage of closed deals on the back end. Payouts can range widely from $1-$90.
Example: A pest control company pays affiliates $10 per qualified lead, plus a 5% revshare on any leads that convert into a paid service.
Another variant of leadgen payouts is a tiered model where affiliates can earn higher payouts by meeting certain quality or conversion benchmarks. This incentivizes affiliates to send better leads and helps buyers scale their acquisition while maintaining their ROI.
Example: An auto insurance carrier pays $3 per lead by default, but bumps the payout to $5 for affiliates who maintain a 10% average close rate.
Ultimately, the best payout model for you will depend on your specific vertical, risk tolerance, cash flow needs, and relationship with the buyer. Many affiliates like to have a mix of payout models in their portfolio to balance risk and reward.
In addition to payout, you'll also need to consider the payment terms of your leadgen campaigns. Unlike traditional e-commerce where transactions are settled in a matter of days, leadgen payments can often take 30-60 days to account for quality checks, return windows, and revshare lookbacks. Make sure you factor this into your cash flow projections.
Now that we've covered the different ways you can get paid for leads, let's talk about how you can go about finding buyers for your US/UK leadgen traffic.
Finding buyers For your US/UK Leads
Leadgen is a relationship business. Finding reliable, high-paying buyers is one of the most important keys to success as a leadgen affiliate in the US/UK market. Here are some of the main ways to go about it:
1. Affiliate networks
Many affiliates who are new to leadgen start by working with CPA networks that have a variety of leadgen offers. Some of the biggest networks in the US/UK market that specialize in leadgen include MaxBounty, Perform[cb], and ROI Collective.
The advantage of working with a network is that they give you instant access to a wide range of buyers and verticals. Most have self-serve platforms that let you browse offers, generate tracking links, and get paid on a consolidated basis. They also typically have dedicated affiliate managers who can help you optimize campaigns and resolve issues.
The downside is that networks will take a cut of your earnings (usually 10-20%) and may not always have the highest payouts or most exclusive offers. Still, they can be a great way to get your feet wet in leadgen and start building initial revenue.
2. Direct partnerships
The next level up from networks is working directly with lead buyers. This could be a specific advertiser in your vertical, a lead aggregator that specializes in that niche, or even a fellow affiliate who's looking to outsource some of their generation.
Going direct gives you more control over your leadgen campaigns and allows you to form deeper relationships with buyers. You may be able to negotiate higher payouts, unlock custom campaign terms, and collaborate on strategic initiatives. Direct partnerships tend to be most viable for affiliates with proven track records who can drive significant lead volume. We wrote about this in detail in this article.
The challenge with direct partnerships is that they take more time and effort to establish. You'll need to do outreach, hop on calls, navigate contracts, and handle billing/tracking/quality control yourself. There's also more risk involved since you're putting more eggs in fewer baskets.
If you're interested in pursuing direct partnerships, a good place to start is by attending leadgen industry conferences and events. These are often great opportunities to meet potential partners face-to-face and start building connections.
Another option is to join online communities and forums where leadgen professionals congregate. Places like the Affiliate World Forum, Afflift, and the Facebook groups for specific verticals can be goldmines for networking And uncovering partnership opportunities.
3. Marketplaces
In recent years, a number of leadgen marketplaces have emerged to help connect buyers and sellers. These platforms aim to simplify the process of finding and transacting with partners, similar to how Airbnb does for vacation rentals or Uber does for transportation.
The advantage of using a marketplace is efficiency. You can quickly get your leads in front of a large pool of potential buyers without having to build those relationships from scratch. Marketplaces also add a layer of trust and protection, since they typically vet participants and help mediate any disputes.
The downside is that you may have less ability to differentiate yourself or command premium pricing. Marketplaces tend to commodify leads to some extent, so you'll need to make sure your quality and volume are strong to stand out.
4. Consultants & brokers
Another way to find buyers for your leads is to work with a consultant or broker who specializes in your vertical. These are typically seasoned professionals who have deep rolodexes of buyer contacts and can help connect you with the right partners based on your traffic and goals.
Consultants and brokers can be especially helpful if you're trying to break into a new vertical or are struggling to find buyers on your own. They can also help you navigate compliance issues, optimize your campaigns, and troubleshoot quality problems.
Of course, these services come at a cost. Consultants and brokers will typically charge a flat fee or take a percentage of your earnings. But for some affiliates, the time and hassle savings can be well worth it.
Whichever approach you choose, remember that building a strong network of lead buyers is an ongoing process. Don't get discouraged if it takes some time to find the right partners - the leadgen industry is built on relationships, and those take time to develop.
As you start to generate leads and earn revenue, you'll also want to reinvest some of those profits into tools and systems that can help you optimize your campaigns and streamline your operations. Things like lead tracking software, fraud detection tools, and CRM systems can all be valuable investments as you scale your leadgen business.
Media buying tips for US/UK leadgen campaigns
Now that you know how to find buyers and structure payouts for your leads, let's talk about how to actually generate those leads through paid media. Media buying is one of the most common ways that affiliates drive leadgen traffic at scale, but it comes with its own set of challenges and best practices.
Here are some key considerations for running paid leadgen campaigns in the US/UK market:
Traffic sources: Some of the top performing traffic sources for leadgen include:
Optimize your campaigns based on call center hours: Optimizing for call center hours is crucial and can make or break a campaign. Some buyers have 24/7 call centers, while others only operate during business hours. Manage your bids and ad scheduling carefully based on call center availability to avoid wasting spend on after-hours leads.
Target audience: In general, the sweet spot for leadgen is ages 45+ for insurance/financial and 55+ for home services, since this is when people have the means and motivation to make these buying decisions. Precise zip code and credit score targeting can make a big difference in lead quality and pricing as well.
Starting budgets: While payouts are high, leadgen is a more labor-intensive vertical that requires higher budgets and longer testing cycles than something like nutra or e-commerce. You need at least $2-3k to run a proper test. Don't expect overnight results - succeeding in leadgen is a marathon, not a sprint. But if you invest the time to understand the ecosystem, develop great partnerships, and run compliant traffic, leadgen can become an incredibly stable and scalable pillar of your affiliate portfolio.
Compliance considerations for US/UK Leadgen
One of the biggest challenges of running leadgen campaigns in the US/UK market is navigating the complex web of laws and regulations that govern the collection, use, and sale of consumer data.
Failure to comply with these rules can result in hefty fines, legal action, and damage to your reputation as an affiliate. It's crucial to educate yourself on the compliance landscape and take steps to ensure that your campaigns are fully above-board.
Here are some of the key compliance considerations:
1. GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a set of rules that governs the collection and use of personal data from individuals in the European Union (EU), including the UK.
Under GDPR, you must have a legal basis for collecting and processing personal data, such as explicit consent from the individual. You must also provide clear information about how the data will be used, give individuals the right to access and delete their data, and report any data breaches to the relevant authorities.
If you're running leadgen campaigns that target individuals in the UK or EU, you must comply with GDPR regardless of where your business is based. This means you'll need to update your privacy policies, obtain explicit consent from leads, and put processes in place to handle data requests and breaches.
2. TCPA
The Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) is a US law that regulates telemarketing and the use of automated dialing systems.
Under TCPA, you must obtain prior express written consent before calling or texting a consumer for sales or marketing purposes. You must also provide clear opt-out instructions and honor any requests to be added to a do-not-call list.
If you're generating leads for buyers who will be contacting those leads by phone or SMS, you need to make sure you have the proper consent in place. This means including TCPA-compliant language in your lead forms and disclosures.
3. CCPA
The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) is a state law that gives California residents certain rights over their personal data, including the right to know what data is being collected, the right to delete that data, and the right to opt-out of the sale of their data.
If you're collecting leads from individuals in California (which is likely if you're running US-focused campaigns), you need to comply with CCPA. This means updating your privacy policies to include CCPA-specific disclosures, providing a clear opt-out mechanism, and being prepared to handle data requests from California consumers.
4. Industry-specific regulations
In addition to these general data privacy laws, there are also industry-specific regulations that may apply to your leadgen campaigns depending on your vertical.
For example, if you're generating leads for financial services products like loans or credit cards, you may need to comply with the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and other federal and state lending laws.
If you're generating leads for insurance products, you may need to comply with state insurance licensing and marketing rules, as well as the TCPA rules around autodialing.
If you're generating leads for the healthcare industry, you may need to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which has strict rules around the handling of personal health information.
The bottom line is that compliance is a complex and ever-evolving area, and it's your responsibility as an affiliate to stay on top of the rules and regulations that apply to your campaigns.
Some best practices for staying compliant with leadgen include:
While compliance can seem like a complicated and burdensome aspect of leadgen, it's an essential part of doing business in the US/UK market. By making compliance a priority from the outset, you can avoid costly mistakes and build a sustainable, long-term business.
Conclusion
Leadgen is a challenging but rewarding vertical for affiliates looking to break into the US/UK market. With high payouts, diverse verticals, and a growing demand for quality leads, there are plenty of opportunities for savvy marketers to build profitable campaigns.
However, success in leadgen requires a combination of skills, strategies, and mindsets. You need to be able to:
By following the tips and best practices outlined in this guide, and by plugging into the right resources and communities, you can set yourself up for success in the US/UK leadgen market.
To fast-track your entry into the US and UK leadgen market, consider partnering with an affiliate network that specializes in this vertical. They can give you access to an extensive roster of trusted advertisers across multiple verticals and provide guidance on best practices for traffic and compliance.