Unlocking Success with Travel Affiliate Programmes: Insights from Team SYYCO

Unlocking Success with Travel Affiliate Programmes: Insights from Team SYYCO

Affiliate marketing has long offered brands an exciting and cost-effective way to expand their reach and drive sales in the travel industry. In a world where travellers seek authentic experiences and recommendations, affiliate programmes provide a powerful platform for brands to connect with passionate content creators and influencers. By utilising these partnerships effectively, travel brands can tap into new markets, increase their visibility, and ultimately drive more bookings. 

In this blog, Sarah Webb & Erin Turner, our Senior Partnerships Managers, are sharing their insights on how travel brands can make the most of affiliate programmes to unlock new opportunities and build strong partnerships.

Why Travel Affiliate Programmes Rock

One of the biggest perks of travel affiliate programmes is the cost-effective CPA (Cost-Per-Acquisition) model. As Sarah explains, “The CPA model lets brands control their margins and pay commissions only for actual sales. This way, clients will only pay commissions on sales where travel takes place, not just bookings.” This means marketing budgets are spent wisely, rewarding genuine sales when travel happens.

 

 

travel affiliate programmes
why should you have a travel affiliate programme

Travel bloggers and publishers love these programmes because of the high Average Order Value (AOV) in travel. “Even with a lower CPA, the big commissions from fewer sales make it an attractive opportunity for content creators,” Sarah adds. Many top partners have rich travel content, adding credibility for consumers during their research phase.

Another great advantage is the chance to collaborate with diverse partners, including niche brands and passionate travel advocates. This variety helps travel brands reach new audiences and benefit from authentic endorsements. Tiered commission structures also reward affiliates based on their contribution, encouraging content sites that play a key role in purchase decisions.

Erin recommends utilising seasonality in travel affiliate programmes. Offering discounts and promoting outside of peak seasons can help bolster your travel brand’s performance all year round. Erin also recommends making the most of how flexible affiliate travel programmes are, “because the affiliate marketing model is low risk by nature, it gives brands the ability to test several different models or affiliate types” says Erin.

 

 

Tackling the Challenges of Travel Affiliate Marketing

Of course, affiliate marketing isn’t without its challenges. Issues like unethical practices can arise, particularly given the high AOV of travel bookings. “Travel brands can be targets for less scrupulous publishers driving misleading clicks,” Sarah warns. However, careful management and regular sales analysis can help mitigate this risk.

 

One of the biggest challenges to affiliate marketing is trying to differentiate from competitors in what is a very oversaturated market. One way to overcome this challenge is to ensure travel brands are constantly keeping tabs on their competitors’ activity within the affiliate space. This will allow them to stay competitive in the vast travel affiliate market. 

Long waiting times between sales and commission payouts can also be a turn-off for some publishers. Clear communication about payment timelines helps manage expectations and maintain good relationships. Monitoring Closed User Group (CUG) codes and exclusives is crucial to avoid leakage. “Use unique codes to track and prevent misuse,” Erin advises.

Content and influencer publishers often need support to create great content. Investing in high-quality editorial content pays off in the long run, driving incremental sales and building trust with audiences.

challenges of travel affiliate programmes

Winning Strategies for Travel Affiliate Marketing

To succeed, regular communication with top partners and long-tail affiliates is key. “Keep your messaging, creatives, and offers fresh and engaging,” says Sarah. Analysing data weekly helps spot unusual activity and optimise top affiliates.

Budgeting for key periods, like peak travel seasons, ensures continuous traffic and programme success year-round. Clear, fair commission structures and timely payments build trust and loyalty. “Make your terms and conditions crystal clear to avoid issues,” Erin emphasises. Regularly vetting publisher applications ensures a high-quality affiliate network.

Spicing Up Your Travel Affiliate Programme

Sarah and Erin share some of their tips for diversifying travel affiliate programmes:

  • Brand partnerships: Reach new audiences by teaming up with complementary brands.
  • Tiered commissions: Incentivising top-performing affiliates to promote higher-margin, higher AOV or slower booking destinations depending on your goals
  • Recruitment and gap analysis: Identify and onboard new affiliates working across a range of promotional models
  • Spend and stretch codes: Offer flexible discounts to attract more customers.
  • Closed-User Group codes: Provide exclusive deals to select groups.
  • PR trips for content: Offer trips, experiences, exclusive access or unique content to top partners (as brands do for traditional PR/Press coverage) in exchange for high-quality, influential content.
  • Utilise technology: Enhance tracking, reporting, and overall programme efficiency.

 

syyco travel affiliate programmes

In conclusion, travel affiliate programmes offer fantastic opportunities for brands to grow and drive sales. By tackling challenges and implementing smart strategies, travel brands can build robust affiliate programmes that deliver significant results. Embrace the potential of affiliate marketing to navigate the dynamic travel industry landscape successfully.

If this blog has got you considering your travel affiliate marketing programme and if it is optimised, you can read our blog on Why Work With An Affiliate Marketing Agency. If you would like to find out how SYYCO can help you with your affiliate & influencer marketing needs, click here to book a FREE programme review

You can also read our blogs on The Benefits of Social Media In Affiliate Marketing & Performance Influencer Partnerships here.

The Benefits Of Social Media In Affiliate Marketing

The Benefits Of Social Media In Affiliate Marketing

In this digital age, where social media platforms dominate our online interactions, it’s no surprise that businesses are increasingly turning to these platforms to enhance their marketing efforts. Among the various marketing strategies, affiliate marketing stands out as an effective way for businesses to expand their reach and drive sales. A study by Rakuten/Forrester Research found that around 80% of brands use affiliate marketing programs. When combined with the power of social media, affiliate marketing can become an even more potent tool for businesses looking to grow their online presence and boost revenue.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the role of social media in affiliate marketing and how businesses in the UK can use its power to achieve their marketing goals.

Enhancing Engagement and Interactivity 

At the heart of social media lies a community of engagement and interactivity. From likes and comments to shares and direct messages, social media facilitates meaningful interactions between businesses, affiliates, and consumers. By fostering a sense of community and dialogue, affiliates can nurture relationships with their audience, soliciting feedback, addressing concerns, and fostering brand advocacy. This two-way communication not only strengthens brand loyalty but also provides businesses with invaluable insights into consumer preferences and behaviours.

 

benefits of social media in affiliate marketing
social media applications

Expanding Reach and Visibility

Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have become virtual marketplaces bustling with activity. According to Smart Insights, in January 2024, over 5.04 billion people were active on social media – an 8% growth YoY. Based on statistics like this, social media platforms offer businesses an expansive audience to tap into. 

By partnering with publishers and content creators who have a presence on these platforms, businesses can extend their reach far beyond traditional marketing channels. Whether it’s through captivating visuals, engaging stories, or informative posts, affiliates and content creators can seamlessly integrate promotional content into their social media feeds, exposing brands to new audiences and driving traffic to their websites.

Building Trust and Credibility

In the competitive landscape of the UK market, trust and credibility are paramount. Consumers crave authenticity and rely on recommendations from trusted sources when making purchasing decisions. A study conducted by GlobalWebIndex found that 54% of internet users in the UK have used social media to research products before making a purchase. 

 

Social media provides the perfect avenue for affiliates to establish genuine connections with their followers, sharing firsthand experiences, honest reviews, and insightful recommendations. By fostering a transparent and authentic dialogue, affiliates can cultivate trust and credibility, transforming casual followers into loyal customers.

Driving Traffic and Conversions

One of the most tangible benefits of social media in affiliate marketing is its ability to drive targeted traffic and conversions. The main way that this is done is through influencers. With features like clickable links, swipe-up stories, and integrated shopping functionalities, influencers can seamlessly guide their followers from discovery to purchase with just a few clicks. 

Furthermore, In 2022, approximately a quarter of consumers surveyed in the United Kingdom said that social media influencers had completely or somewhat influenced their buying decisions. This was predominantly within Gen Z, followed by Millennials. By strategically placing affiliate links within engaging content, affiliates can drive qualified traffic to businesses’ websites, resulting in increased visibility, higher conversion rates, and ultimately, greater revenue generation. It can also be a great way to tap into difficult-to-reach audiences, like Gen Z.

social media affiliate challenges

Challenges of Social Media in Affiliates 

Social media is a constantly evolving landscape, with trends and algorithms shaping the way content is discovered, consumed, and shared. To remain relevant and effective, businesses and affiliates must stay attuned to the ever-changing dynamics of social media platforms. For example, new research from 2023 suggests that TikTok is now the most-shopped social channel, overtaking Facebook and Instagram. 

By monitoring engagement metrics, analyzing audience demographics, and experimenting with emerging trends, businesses can adapt their affiliate marketing strategies to stay ahead of the curve and capitalise on new opportunities for growth and innovation.

While social media presents numerous opportunities for businesses engaging in affiliate marketing, it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Changes in algorithms can impact the visibility of affiliate content, making it harder for affiliates to reach their target audience organically. 

Additionally, strict advertising policies and regulations imposed by platforms can limit the types of content affiliates can promote, requiring careful navigation of guidelines to avoid penalties or account suspensions. Furthermore, it’s also important to consider the implications of the affiliate payment model when working with influencers, where publishers are left waiting 2-3 months before they will receive any commission. According to Digiday, more influencers prefer to work with brands directly to have more control over payment terms. Therefore, it’s crucial to consider this lag in payment when planning influencer activity and incentives.

By monitoring engagement metrics, analyzing audience demographics, and experimenting with emerging trends, businesses can adapt their affiliate marketing strategies to stay ahead of the curve and capitalise on new opportunities for growth and innovation.

 

social media in partnerships marketing

While there are challenges to overcome, the synergy between social media and affiliate marketing presents a wealth of opportunities for businesses in the UK market. By using social media platforms to expand reach, foster trust, drive traffic, enhance engagement, and adapt to trends, businesses can bring their affiliate marketing efforts to new heights of success. 

If you would like to find out how SYYCO can help you with your affiliate & influencer marketing needs, click here to book a FREE programme review

You can also read our blog on Performance Influencer Partnerships here

SYYCO’s 2024 Affiliate Marketing Predictions

SYYCO’s 2024 Affiliate Marketing Predictions

Affiliate Marketing 2024 Trends

Looking Beyond Last Click

It’s no secret that the affiliate marketing industry has been talking about the need to look beyond last click for quite some time. The need to understand the role that affiliate marketing plays in a consumer journey is certainly nothing new. A shift in the affiliate marketing landscape this year is expected with the emergence of GA4 last year, combined with Google’s planned 3rd party cookie phase-out and this has intensified the need for change. Brands who understand affiliate contribution and reward their partners accordingly will have a clear advantage as we head into 2024.

Navigating the Surge of AI

Amidst the surge in AI adoption across the marketing spectrum, the heightened sophistication of technology is reshaping not just affiliate marketing, but the entire marketing landscape. Jas Ryatt, our Head of Partnerships notes that ” the key stakeholders in the industry that will stay ahead will be the ones that genuinely understand the technology and tools that can enhance their businesses. Productive AI applications will help with speed, 

affiliate marketing trends

accuracy and more importantly with enhanced personalisation and targeting – offering scope in the industry for new and unique partnership opportunities.

In this era of advanced technology, brands face a critical time to up their game, particularly when it comes to fraud prevention in 2024. Sarah Webb, Senior Partnership Manager at SYYCO,  highlights the need for a united front against affiliate fraud, expanding the conversation beyond rogue publishers. “There should be a collective responsibility, whereby agencies, networks, publishers and brands engage in more open and frequent communication. The evolving landscape demands a proactive stance, and prevention is more important than a cure.

The call is clear: with the rising tide of AI, the affiliate industry must unite to establish robust preventative measures and ensure a more secure marketing ecosystem for all stakeholders.

affiliate marketing & ai

Economic Landscape

Coming out of a challenging 2023 which was marked by interest rate fluctuations and political turmoil 2024 continues to look uncertain with a General Election on the horizon. Based on the consumer trends we’ve observed, we expect companies leveraging effective routes to market, especially through affiliates, to thrive in 2024. With a shift towards more informed purchasing decisions and a decrease in impulsive buying, ensuring that your business is offering a competitive proposition is ever more important. As Clare Grist, our Head of Client Services, notes, “Coming into 2024 we are advising clients to ensure that they are keeping a keen eye on competitor offerings and are adapting and adjusting with the changing retail landscape. Customers are spending an increasing amount of time researching before purchase and need to feel that they are well-informed and are getting the best deal possible to get the sales conversion over the line.

In the travel sector, we have seen more consistency with sales and we anticipate that it will continue to maintain its robust performance. The outlook for the retail sector appears more uncertain, with consumers expected to tighten their spending. The relevance of influencer and content-driven strategies will continue to be paramount in 2024 across both retail and travel sectors.

Our team understands the necessity for all businesses, regardless of sector, to move away from a perpetual “on-sale” approach. Through 2024 we need to be protecting our clients’ margin. 

Overall Affiliate Marketing

Our Managing Director, Jon Weatherall, believes that despite economic unrest and markets being largely unpredictable in 2024, affiliate marketing will continue to be a crucial route to market. Affiliates running on a CPA basis is more cost-effective than other marketing channels. 

Affiliate agencies continue to demonstrate cost-effectiveness at a time when business expenses are reaching unprecedented highs and increasingly are a popular solution over in-house management.

Jon highlights this shift, stating, “In the current economic landscape, businesses recognise the financial benefits of outsourcing affiliates to agencies. The cost-effectiveness, combined with the ability to streamline affiliate programmes and retain top partners through meticulous management, positions agencies as strategic allies in optimising efficiency.

The SYYCO team continues to see that strong publisher relationships are the key to a successful affiliate programme. Affiliate partnerships continue to deliver large amounts of brand exposure at a relatively low cost making it very budget-friendly. 

To read more on why you should work with an affiliate marketing agency, click here. If you are already considering working with an affiliate agency and want to know how to make the right choice, click here

affiliate marketing in 2024

SYYCO’s 2023 Highlights

SYYCO’s 2023 Highlights

Developing New & Existing Publisher Relationships

The importance of robust partnerships in affiliate marketing cannot be overstated. Throughout 2023, SYYCO actively engaged in a series of strategic publisher meetings, a key pillar of our commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends and fostering collaborative relationships.

We have had the privilege of developing new – as well as building on existing – publisher relationships this year. We met with the likes of: Top Cashback, Quidco, BravoVoucher, Savoo, MyVoucherCodes, Vouchercodes.co.uk, Blue Light Card, EasyFundraising, Genie, Kelkoo, UpSellit, Intently, Salesfire, Revolut, Metapic, Skimlinks, News UK & many more!

syyco affiliate marketing highlights

Celebrating Business Growth

In the realm of affiliate marketing, 2023 was a year of success for SYYCO. The journey of business growth unfolded as a result of strategic initiatives, client-focused solutions, and a commitment to delivering exceptional results.

A pivotal moment in our growth journey was the welcoming of five new hires to our team. Stacey, Alex and Natalie joined our Client Management team, working with our clients to develop bespoke affiliate strategies. While Kelly and Danielle joined our Partnerships Management team, building on our existing publisher relationships and negotiating exposure opportunities for our clients.

We are delighted to have welcomed these new members to the SYYCO team in 2023 to support our onboarding of new clients – it’s a true testament to how much our agency has grown in such a short time.

Attending Affiliate Industry Events

Throughout the year, we actively engaged with the affiliate industry, attending key events to stay ahead of emerging trends. Notable events we attended include PI LIve, Performance Marketing Awards, Affiliate Huddle, Awin’s Think Tank, Intently Live and The Salesfire conference.

 

syyco 2023 business highlights
syyco new website

Unveiling Our Revamped Website

In the fast-paced world of affiliate marketing, staying ahead of the curve is not just a goal but a necessity. Which is why we unveiled our brand-new website in August 2023. Our website was well overdue an overhaul and now looks much more sleek and modern (if we do say so ourselves!). This new website allows our clients and partners to explore our services seamlessly and stay on top of the latest industry trends.

We think that our website now reflects our brand identity but also facilitates a more user-friendly interface for our clients, partners, and industry enthusiasts.

As we reflect on the journey of 2023, we’re filled with gratitude for the support of our clients, the dedication of our team, and the opportunities that lie ahead. Stay tuned as we continue to help our clients achieve their affiliate marketing marketing goals.

Cheers to a year of triumphs and the exciting adventures that await us in the years ahead!

To read our 2024 affiliate marketing predictions, please click here.