You can share Viator experiences anywhere and everywhere, whether you’ve experienced them or not. But the best content comes from personal experience. In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to choose the right experience to make content, how to optimize your experience for content, and how to ultimately share your experience with your audience. Whether you’re making a TikTok about your experience, writing a blog post, or simply posting a link in your bio, we’ll give you some tips and ideas on how to turn your experiences into future commission.
Finding and booking the right experience
When it comes to finding the right experience, it really comes down to two things: 1: What do you want to do? — And 2: What does your audience want to do? Both are important, so it’s best to find an experience that fits both. At the end of the day, you should be doing an activity that you enjoy because it’ll be much easier to create content about it. But don’t forget the end goal: getting your audience to book through your links. Stay tuned in to what your audience might like. For example, if you know there are a lot of foodies who follow you and your content, it might make sense to do a food tour and show them the full experience. If you’re unsure what your audience is into, it might make sense to try out an experience you think most people would enjoy (i.e… maybe not skydiving).
You also might pick the experience based on where you’re traveling (or not traveling!). You can find an incredible variety of experiences no matter where you’re in the world, whether you’re halfway across the globe or right at home in your hometown or local city. If you’re traveling to New York City, you might want to take a tour of the Statue of Liberty or go to the Top of the Rock. You’ll want to choose an experience that’s popular, highly rated, and top-converting.
The real key to finding the perfect experience is using Viator Selector, an all-in-one tool for finding activities, filtering down to the most popular experiences, and creating affiliate links to share on your blog, website, or social media channels. On selector.viator.com, enter your destination and your travel dates to find experiences. Then, select the Excellent quality and Best conversion filters to find experiences your audience will be the most likely to book.
Once you’ve selected an experience, here are a few things to look out for on the experience page:
What’s Included & What to Expect
Make sure that the experience is everything you expect. Make sure you feel like the experience will allow you to create the kind of content you’re looking for.
Traveler Reviews
Wondering if this experience is a hit? No need to guess—check out the reviews! Viator has 1,000,000+ traveler reviews covering all kinds of adventures. Take a closer look at a few and see if the reviewers’ experience matches the experience description.
Free Cancellation and Reserve Now & Pay Later
Booking and payment flexibility are important for travelers, so make sure they would be able to secure their spot while staying flexible.
Traveler Photos
Look at the photos travelers have added from their experience. Does it align with the type of content you’re looking to create?
Once you’ve decided on the experience, create a link for the experience, navigate to the link, and complete your booking. Some content creators prefer to travel solo, but having a friend, family member, or fellow creator come along can be incredibly valuable when it comes to creating content. That way, you can be in the photos/videos instead of being the person taking all of them. Plus, bringing someone along who can focus on the camera can help you experience the tour or activity to the fullest – so you can create even better content when the time comes.
Preparing for the experience
Before embarking on your booked experience, ensure all of the equipment you want to bring is ready. Then, it’s useful to make a plan for the content you’ll be creating. This can be as simple or complex as you want, but you should think about the following and hatch a plan for what content you want to have by the end of the experience.
Decide what story you’re going to tell.
When thinking of how to structure a travel video, think of what’s trending, but be creative! Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Voice-Over Travel Diary: Videos with a voice-over give you an opportunity to add a unique twist to your content. Additionally, it allows you to connect with your audience and adds educational value to your account.
- A Sneak Peek Into Cultural Differences: There are many reasons why people travel (or want to do so). One of them is discovering cultural differences – that’s why TikTok is full of videos of people trying new and different things.
- A Spectacular View: If there’s a standout moment or breathtaking scenery during your tour or activity, plan to capture it in a grand reveal. Surprise your audience with a stunning “reveal” shot of the scenic overlook or the panoramic view from a skyscraper.
How can you tell that story?
- What format will you share the story on? Through what channels (Instagram, Reels, TikTok, Youtube, Pinterest)?
- What video clips or photos will you need to tell your story?
- Will you take notes during the experience? What do you want to make sure you take notes on?
- Will you talk to other people during the experience? If there’s a tour guide, what questions will you ask?
Create a plan based on your answers to these questions so you can make sure your experience isn’t wasted!
During the experience
As you dive into the experience, strike a balance between creating content and living in the moment.
For photo/video content:
Capture as much of the experience as you can, and remember the power of B-Roll footage. These additional shots added to your storytelling during the editing process can provide context and depth. Experiment with angles and perspectives, and make sure you’re capturing an in-depth look at the experience. Remember: the more content you can capture, the better – you can always cut it down during editing!
For written content:
During the experience, you want to jot down as many notes as possible. We recommend jotting down specific details that might be easily forgotten. It could be a quirky detail about a place, an interesting conversation snippet, or even a fun fact about the place you’re visiting.
After the experience
Once the experience is over, it’s time to reflect and get started creating your content. Here are some tips on what to include when creating your content:
For Social Media:
- Start with a hook: Grab your audience’s attention from the beginning. Try sharing a shocking moment or a surprising detail about the experience.
- Use trending sounds: Stay current and engage with the latest trends by incorporating popular music or audio clips.
- Focus on storytelling: Share your experience in a compelling and relatable way. Try narrating the story behind each photo or video with a voiceover.
- Editing software: Enhance your content with basic editing tools. Trim, cut, and add filters to make your visuals more engaging.
- Follow trends but adjust them to your audience: Be aware of trends but tailor them to your unique style. Put your own spin on popular challenges or formats.
- Engage with your audience: Respond to comments, ask questions, and encourage your followers to share their thoughts and experiences related to the content.
For Bloggers
- Choose a unique angle: Set your blog apart with a distinct focus or perspective, whether it’s exploring a niche attraction, focusing on eco-friendliness, or delving into the local cuisine.
- Use descriptive language: Paint a vivid picture with words. Capture the essence of your experiences by incorporating sensory details like smells, sounds, and tastes.
- Include photos and videos: Provide a visual representation of your travels and use high-quality visuals that complement your written content.
- Provide practical information: Help fellow travelers with useful details. Include recommendations for accommodations, transportation, and must-see attractions.
- Be authentic: Write from your perspective and voice. Authenticity resonates with readers!
- Post across multiple platforms: Attract new followers through various channels like Instagram & Twitter. Try sharing snippets of your experiences in real time through stories and tweets.
Sharing your content
Once you’ve created your content and you’re ready to post it, make sure you provide a way for your audience to book that experience. Because you’re usually only able to share one link in the bio of your social media profiles, we recommend using a tool like Linktree. Linktree allows you to create a personalized page that houses all the links that you want to share with your audience. It can be used on social platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Twitch, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn, and more. Here are a few quick tips on how to maximize bookings through your Linktree:
- Write concise and clear descriptions for each link to show your audience why they should click on them. It can be helpful to add a picture or similar messaging to the video or content you’ve produced so it’s clear how they can book the experience you’ve shared in your content.
- Keep your Linktree simple and focused by selecting 5-10 essential links.
- Use strong calls to action to guide your audience on what to do after clicking on the links.
- Track performance through Linktree analytics to identify popular links and those with lower engagement.
Don’t forget that you’re the expert on the experiences you’ve had – so don’t be afraid to tell your story.
Get a headstart on creating content with our sweepstakes! For partners who haven’t earned a booking yet, you’re automatically entered to win once you’ve received your first booking by March 31, 2024. See official details for more information.