New Affiliate Playbook: Maximize Earnings with the Viator Affiliate Program

Table of Contents:

Step 1: Research and Utilize SEO Keywords

Step 2: Target Travelers Ready to Book

Step 3: Select and Share Experiences That Convert

Step 4: Optimize Your Content for Conversions

Step 5: Understand and Analyze Your Data

Step 6: Keep Your Content Up-to-Date

Summary

Step 1: Research and Utilize SEO Keywords

Why it Matters: SEO (Search Engine Optimization) should be the cornerstone of any strategy to drive organic traffic to your blog. By optimizing your content with the right keywords, you can attract more visitors who are actively searching for the information you provide. More visitors mean more potential sales through your affiliate links, making SEO an essential strategy for successful affiliate blogging. Here’s how to get started.

1. Use SEO Tools:

• • Google Keyword Planner: This free tool from Google is excellent for finding keyword ideas and seeing how they might perform. It provides data on search volume and competition, helping you choose the most effective keywords for your content.
  • Ahrefs: Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that offers detailed insights into keyword difficulty, search volume, and the competitive landscape. It also helps you analyze your competitors’ keywords to find gaps and opportunities.
  • Ubersuggest: Created by Neil Patel, Ubersuggest is a user-friendly tool that provides keyword suggestions, search volume, competition data, and even content ideas based on your chosen keywords.

2. Identify Trending Keywords:

• • High Search Volume, Low Competition: Choose keywords many people search for but don’t return quality results. This increases your chances of ranking higher on search engine results pages (SERPs).
  • Long-Tail Keywords: These are longer, more specific keyword phrases with lower competition. For example, instead of targeting “Punta Cana tours,” you might target “best snorkeling tours in Punta Cana.” Long-tail keywords attract more qualified traffic because they match more specific search intents.

3. Analyze Your Competitors:

• • Keyword Analysis: Using tools like Ahrefs or SEMrush, look at what keywords your competitors rank for. Identify which of these keywords have high search volumes but low competition.
  • Content Gaps: Find topics your competitors haven’t covered or covered well. These gaps represent opportunities to create content that can attract and convert visitors.

4. Integrate Your Keywords:

• • Once you have identified your target keywords, the next step is to integrate them into your content effectively. This means placing keywords in strategic locations such as titles, headers, meta descriptions, and throughout the body of your content.
    1. Title and Headers:
    • Title Tags: Your title tag is the most important place for your keyword. Make sure your main keyword appears naturally in the title.
    • Headers (H1, H2, H3): Use your keywords in headers to structure your content and signal to search engines what your article is about. For example, an H2 header could be “Top Budget Travel Tips for Lisbon.”
    2. Meta Descriptions:
    • Engaging and Keyword-Rich: Your meta description should include your primary keyword and provide a compelling reason for users to click on your link. While meta descriptions don’t directly affect rankings, they influence click-through rates.
    3. Content Body:
    • Natural Placement: Include your keywords naturally within the content. Avoid keyword stuffing, which can hurt readability and SEO. Aim for a keyword density of around 1-2%.
    • LSI Keywords: Use Latent Semantic Indexing (LSI) keywords, which are related terms and phrases that give context to your content. For instance, if your main keyword is “Bahama Shore excursions” LSI keywords could include “Bahamas snorkeling” “Bahamas cruise experiences” and “Bahamas downtown tour”.
    4. Internal and External Links:
    • Internal Linking: Link to other relevant posts on your blog to keep readers engaged and improve SEO. For example, if you have another post about the Bahamas, link to it from your budget travel tips post.
    • External Linking: Link to high-authority sites for additional resources or references (ex: Tripadvisor.com). This can improve the credibility of your content and provide extra value to your readers.

Step 2: Target Travelers Ready to Book

Why it Matters: Travelers who are ready to book are highly motivated, and tailoring your content to meet their needs can lead to more affiliate sales. Engaging an eager to book versus a “just browsing” audience significantly boosts your chances of converting visitors into buyers. 

1. Identify Buying Keywords:

• • Buying Phrases: Look for specific phrases that indicate a readiness to buy. These often include terms like “best,” “top,” “cheap,” or “discount.”
  • Search Intent: Focus on the intent behind the search. Keywords like “best tours in Paris” suggest the user is looking for recommendations and is likely to book a tour.

2. Integrate Keywords Naturally:

• • Titles: Make your titles descriptive and keyword-rich. For example, “Top 10 Best Things to Do in Amsterdam” is a compelling title that targets users looking for activity recommendations.
  • Content: Use keywords throughout your article, but ensure they fit naturally within the context. Overstuffing keywords can hurt readability and SEO.

Example Browsing and Buying Keywords:

Step 3: Select and Share Experiences That Convert

Why it Matters: Choosing the right experiences to promote can significantly impact your conversion rates and overall earnings. By recommending highly desirable activities and attractions, you cater to your audience’s interests and increase their likelihood of booking through your affiliate links. Here’s how to effectively select and showcase experiences that convert well.

1. Selector: Recommending Specific Experiences

Personalized Recommendations: One of the most effective ways to convert visitors is to provide tailored recommendations for specific experiences. Use the selector tool to find high-converting experiences that align with your blog’s content and audience preferences.

1. Use Tags to Filter for Excellent and High Converting Experiences:
   • Categories: Filter experiences by categories such as “classes and workshops” or “outdoor activities” to narrow down to the type of experience you’re looking for.
   • Ratings and Reviews: Prioritize experiences with high ratings and numerous positive reviews. These indicators build trust and appeal to potential bookers.
2. Create your Links: Once you’ve found the experience you’d like to recommend, simply click the “create a link” button on the top of your screen
   • You can then place these links wherever you want, and they never expire! 
   • Our cookies will follow travelers who come in through your links for 30 days, so you’ll earn commission on anything they book on Viator. And if they click another one of your links, the 30 days resets!

2. Widgets: Recommending Multiple Experiences

Incorporating Viator widgets into your blog allows you to showcase multiple experiences dynamically. These widgets update automatically based on Viator’s latest data, ensuring your content remains current and relevant.

1. Benefits of Using Widgets:
   • Visual Appeal: Widgets pull in photos from Viator’s site, making your blog post more visually engaging. High-quality images can entice readers to click and book.
   • Updated Content: The widgets are constantly updated with the latest data from Viator, including availability and pricing, which keeps your recommendations accurate and timely.
   • Diverse Options: Displaying multiple experiences provides your readers with a variety of choices, increasing the chances that they’ll find something they’re interested in booking.

3. Viator Shop: Organize ALL Your Recommendations

Centralized Discovery: The Viator Shop feature allows you to create a personalized recommendations page on Viator. This page can serve as a central hub for all your suggested experiences, making it easier for your audience to explore and book.

1. Benefits of Viator Shop:
   • Easy Navigation: Your audience can browse all your curated recommendations in one place, simplifying their decision-making process.
   • Personal Branding: Customize your Viator Shop to reflect your niche and categorize experiences by destinations you specialize in or common categories of experiences you recommend.
   • Social sharing optimization: Share your shop link via social media, newsletters, email signatures and more! With a single link you open up a world of possibilities for your audience to book.

Step 4: Optimize Your Content for Conversions

Why it Matters: Even with high traffic, your efforts are meaningless without conversions. Engaging and well-optimized content is key to turning visitors into buyers. Here’s how to make your content work harder for you:

Make Your Links Stand Out

Affiliate links are the bridges to your earnings, so it’s essential they stand out. Here are some effective strategies:

1. Bold or Underline Links:

1. • Bold Text: Bolding your affiliate links makes them more prominent within your content. This helps them stand out from the rest of the text, grabbing the reader’s attention.
   • Underline Links: Underlined text is universally recognized as a clickable link, making it clear to your readers that the highlighted text is something they can interact with.
2. Create Link Buttons:
   • Visual Appeal: Buttons are visually more appealing than regular text links. They can draw the reader’s eye and invite more clicks.
   • Call to Action (CTA): Use compelling CTAs like “Shop Now,” “Find Out More,” or “Book Here” on your buttons to encourage immediate action.
   • Customization: Design buttons that match your site’s aesthetic for a seamless integration. Use contrasting colors to make them pop without clashing with your overall design.

Place Links Strategically

Strategic placement of affiliate links can significantly impact conversion rates. Here are some tips on where to place your links for maximum effect:

1. Top of the Article:
   • Immediate Access: Some readers come to your site with the intention of making a quick purchase. Placing affiliate links at the top of your article provides immediate access for these ready-to-buy visitors.
2. Within the Content:
   • Contextual Relevance: Place links within the body of your article where they naturally fit. For example, if discussing the best hotels in Paris, embed your affiliate link within that specific section.
   • Natural Integration: Ensure your links appear organic and relevant to the surrounding content. This prevents them from feeling forced or salesy, which can deter clicks.
3. At the End of the Article:
   • Lasting Impression: Readers who make it to the end of your post are often highly engaged. Including affiliate links here can capture those who have consumed all the information and are ready to act.
   • Summary Links: Use the end of your article to summarize key points and include affiliate links as part of the conclusion. This reinforces your recommendations and prompts action.

Step 5: Understanding and Analyzing Your Data

Why it Matters: By regularly examining performance trends and key metrics, you gain valuable insights into what drives traffic and conversions on your blog. Understanding these trends helps you refine your content strategy, ensuring that you’re meeting the needs and interests of your audience effectively.

To get a complete view of your Viator data, head to your Performance Trends Dashboard. This report offers a detailed breakdown of your earnings, giving you a clear picture of your traffic and booking performance. 

Key Metrics

1. Gross Commission:
   • Definition: Reflects your maximum gross earnings based on bookings made within a specific period.
   • Purpose: Helps identify which links, experiences, or content are contributing the most to your earnings.
2. Visitors:
   • Definition: The total number of unique visits to an experience page through your link.
   • Purpose: Indicates the reach and effectiveness of your promotional efforts.
3. Gross Bookings:
   • Definition: The total number of bookings made through your links, widgets, and banners across all content.
   • Purpose: Measures the overall success of your affiliate marketing efforts.
4. Visitor Conversion Rate:
   • Definition: The ratio of bookings to visits, calculated as bookings divided by visits.
     • Purpose: Quantifies how effectively you convert user interactions into actual bookings.

*All metrics above are dynamic based on your pre-selected timeframe and filters.

How to Use Performance Trends to Analyze Your Data

Step 1: Filtering Your Reports

Narrow your focus to understand specific aspects of your affiliate efforts.

• • By Destination: Analyze performance in specific locations (country, city, region).
  • By Source Type: Identify which tools (API, Banners, Links, Widgets) generate your metrics.
  • By Campaign: Track the performance of specific links you’ve grouped together.
  • Pro Tip: Use campaign tracking with unique names for easy performance analysis.

Step 2: Time-Based Analysis

Breaking down your performance data into smaller units of time helps you spot trends and patterns.

• • Monthly, Weekly, or Daily Basis: Analyze your performance on different time scales to identify trends and adjust your strategy.
  • Best Practices:
    • Use default time period options (last week, last month) for quick comparisons.
    • Look for Year-over-Year (YoY) data to spot patterns.
    • Identify recurring patterns and seasonality in your data.

Step 3: Analyzing Performance Trends

Identify patterns and insights by examining your data over time.

• Traffic Trends:
• Spot seasonal variations to adjust your content strategy.
• Compare content performance to see which attracts the most visitors.
• Engagement Trends:
• Analyze user behavior with metrics like average time on page.
• Identify high-engagement content to replicate success.
• Conversion Trends:
• Determine which pages convert best and analyze their elements.
• Track high-performing products or experiences for focused promotion.

Step 6: Keep Your Content Up-to-Date

Why it Matters: Regularly updated content maintains relevance and trust with your audience, leading to higher conversion rates. When readers see that your blog is current and accurate, they are more likely to engage with your content and click on your affiliate links. Here’s how to keep your content fresh and engaging:

To get a complete view of your Viator data, head to your Performance Trends Dashboard. This report offers a detailed breakdown of your earnings, giving you a clear picture of your traffic and booking performance. 

1. Use our Link Alert feature to find and replace broken links.
   • Link alert will notify you via email as well as on your Viator dashboard when you are generating sessions to inactive experiences. Don’t worry, in the meantime we direct your site visitors to similar experiences, and you still make commission on any booking

2. Add New Tours and Products:
   • New Additions: Whenever new experiences become available, incorporate them into your content. Viator is always adding new experiences and travelers are often looking for unique things to do. 
   • Regular Checks: Set a schedule to review and update your content regularly. This could be monthly, quarterly, or biannually, depending on your niche and bandwidth. 
3. Update Existing Information:
   • Pricing Changes: Update any information related to costs, such as admission fees or tour rates. Accurate pricing ensures you don’t mislead your readers.
   • Quality and Reviews: If you find relevant tips in the reviews on the product page update your content to give your readers the inside scoop on the experience.
4. Reflect Social Content Virality:
   • Trending Topics: Stay abreast of what’s trending on social media in your niche. If a particular destination, attraction, or activity is going viral, highlight it in your content.
   • Leverage User-Generated Content: If your audience shares their experiences or photos related to your recommendations, consider featuring this user-generated content in your posts (with their permission). This adds social proof and freshens up your content.

Summary: Viator Affiliate Program Playbook

Step 1: Research and Utilize SEO Keywords

Why it Matters: SEO drives organic traffic to your blog, leading to more potential sales through affiliate links.

• • Use SEO Tools: Google Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, and Ubersuggest, to find high-search-volume, low-competition keywords.
  • Identify Trending Keywords: Focus on keywords with high search volume and low competition, including long-tail keywords for more specific search intents.
  • Analyze Competitors: Use tools like Ahrefs and SEMrush to find gaps and opportunities by analyzing your competitors’ keywords.
  • Optimize Your Content: Integrate keywords into titles, headers, meta descriptions, and throughout your content naturally.

Step 2: Target Travelers Ready to Book

Why it Matters: Tailoring your content to travelers ready to book increases affiliate sales.

• • Identify Buying Keywords: Use specific phrases indicating readiness to buy, focusing on search intent.
  • Integrate Keywords Naturally: Use descriptive and keyword-rich titles and ensure natural keyword placement within the content.
  • Example Buying Keywords: “Best tours in [place]”, “Itinerary for [place]”.

Step 3: Select and Share Experiences that Convert

Why it Matters: Choosing the right experiences to promote can significantly impact your conversion rates and overall earnings.

• • Recommend Specific Experiences: Use the selector tool to find high-converting experiences that align with your blog’s content and audience preferences.
  • Recommend Multiple Experiences: Incorporate Viator widgets into your blog to showcase multiple experiences dynamically.
  • Organize Your Recommendations: Use Viator Shop to consolidate and manage all of your suggested experiences.

Step 4: Optimize Your Content for Conversions

Why it Matters: High traffic needs to convert to sales; engaging content is key.

• • Make Your Links Stand Out: Bold or underline links, create visually appealing link buttons with CTAs.
  • Place Links Strategically: Place links at the top, within the content, and at the end of articles for maximum effect.

Step 5: Understand and Analyze Your Data

Why it Matters: Understanding trends helps you refine your content strategy and ensure that it meets the needs and interests of your audience.

• • Familiarize yourself with key metrics, including Gross Commission, Visitors, Gross Bookings, and Visitor Conversion Rate.
  • Identify patterns and insights by examining your data over different timeframes.

Step 6: Keep Your Content Up-to-Date

Why it Matters: Regular updates maintain relevance and trust, leading to higher conversion rates.

• • Replace Broken Links: Use the Link Alert feature to find and replace broken links to maintain SEO and user experience.
  • Add New Tours and Products: Regularly incorporate new experiences into your content and update existing information.
  • Reflect Social Content Virality: Highlight trending topics and leverage user-generated content to keep your posts fresh and engaging.

By following these steps, you’ll enhance your blog’s visibility, attract targeted traffic, and increase your affiliate earnings. Happy blogging!