Your Location: Tier 2 Countries

Tier 2 countries are usually characterized by a balance of cost versus competition. The tier includes the following countries: Argentina, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bermuda, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Greece, Guam, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Taiwan, Thailand, U.S. Virgin Islands, etc’.

Given that these countries are not as wealthy as tier 1, they also do not have the same level of disposable income as tier 2 countries’ affiliate leads. For example, the average yearly income in Qatar is $78,873.08, whereas the average annual income of someone living in Belgium is about $72,608.94. Perhaps, it would be better to offer them online trading opportunities for stocks or commodities that are more middle of the road than high range indices like NiKKEI or NASDAQ.

However, the latter do offer moderate economic growth, a fair level of technological adoption in everyday life, and less competition over the leads. The cost per lead is also more moderately priced, which is another significant advantage.

More than a Language Barrier

When we discussed tier 1 affiliate leads, we spoke about how while many of them speak English, it may be best to translate your creatives into their mother tongues. Tier 2, on the other hand, is far more culturally diverse. Unlike tier 1, which is heavily influenced by white culture from the United States and Europe, tier 2 countries are a mix of several cultures.

The list is comprised of countries in Africa, the far and Middle East, and Latin America. Each region has a particular connection to its religion and roots. That will also mean an even more considerable disadvantage to the decision not to translate, as many people living in these countries only speak English as a second language.

Religion may also play a much bigger role in tier 2, especially when so many countries are in the EMEA areas. In other words, your target audience may not appreciate things that they may consider to be immodest. The latter could mean anything from gambling to immodest outfits on men or women. You will need to research your GEOs before you begin advertising there to avoid offending them.

Stopped at The Border

In tier 1 countries, the regulatory bodies are not something you would want to mess with. The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, for example, have some of the strictest regulatory guidelines, and their authorities do not tolerate any suspicious activity – as slight as it may be. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission is well-known in the financial verticals for blacklisting brands for mistakes that may seem minor to most affiliates.

“In tier 2 countries, the regulatory situation is a bit of a mixed bag. While the guidelines tend to be more lenient, some countries are stricter than others. ”

France, for one, has a very restrictive approach given their citizen fell victims to online scammers. As a result, they have been more cautious about allowing outsiders to offer their services. In Russia, on the other hand, you get free range as an affiliate marketer. You could take the most aggressive marketing ad copy, and it is still somewhat unlikely that you will get banned for it.

Make sure that you are up to speed on your selected GEOs’ regulatory guidelines before you begin any campaign to avoid getting on their authorities’ bad side.