The affiliate marketing industry is set to gain a major new event later this year with the launch of Affiliate North.
Affiliate North says this represents a new chapter for the well-established Affiliate Gathering event, which was acquired by Manchester-based Rooftree Publishing last year and relocated from York.
The event will take place on Friday 17th October in Manchester.
Following a rebrand and a renewed focus on the B2B market, Affiliate North will bring together affiliate marketers, publishers, agencies, networks and brands looking for the latest insights and new opportunities in the fast-growing affiliate marketing space.
Affiliate marketing is a performance-based marketing strategy where businesses partner with third-party publishers – known as affiliates – to promote their products or services, and has become increasingly important in the wake of changes to search algorithms and the rise of generative Al.
The event will feature keynote sessions from industry leaders, panel discussions and networking opportunities aimed at helping businesses build partnerships and stay ahead of market shifts.
The man behind the event is Rooftree Publishing owner David Prior, the founding editor of B2B title Prolific North and the publisher of local news title Altrincham Today.
“Affiliate North marks an exciting new chapter for affiliate marketing in the UK. Manchester and the wider North have become increasingly important centres for ecommerce and digital marketing, and the region is home to major players in online retail, fashion, homeware and finance, making it a natural hub for affiliate marketing growth,” he said.
“With the digital landscape shifting due to Google’s algorithm updates and the rise of generative Al, businesses need to rethink how they drive traffic and revenue.
“Affiliate marketing is emerging as a crucial channel for brands to build direct partnerships, drive high-intent traffic and increase conversions without being overly reliant on search engines.
“Affiliate North will ensure attendees have the strategies and connections they need to succeed in this evolving industry.”
The full programme is to be announced later in the spring.
Prior said he had jumped at the chance to acquire the business last year after seeing an opportunity for an event that brought the Northern affiliate marketing ecosystem together.
Megan Rafferty, from Manchester Hall, added: “We are thrilled to host Affiliate North at Manchester Hall. As a historic venue at the heart of the city, we pride ourselves on welcoming some of the UK’s most innovative and forward-thinking business events.
“We look forward to welcoming attendees from across the UK and beyond.”