Hey travelpreneur!
I hope you had a good weekend?
It was a long weekend here and after I had a mini burnout-related breakdown (being a mom + entrepreneur is tough) last Wednesday, I decided I needed to take Thursday through Monday off to recover.
Although I did some editing work for clients, posted to socials went I felt like it, and curated this collection of links for you, I made a real effort to step away from my computer screen.
I spent most of my time in bed, cuddling with my baby boy, while reading a new book from one of my favorite historical fiction authors, and watching the wintery sea mist creep in turning my garden into a beautifully hazy and magical landscape.
As I write this, I feel better but don’t think I’ve completed recovered yet - I may just return to bed. But it has me thinking that we really need to focus on the needle-moving activities in our business instead of just “busy work” if we want to avoid burnout.
So, since our theme for this month is affiliate marketing monetization, I wanted to share my personal tips for making more money through affiliate marketing with less effort:
Apply for and promote affiliate programs with a high commission rate or ones that offer recurring commissions. Ideally, opt for programs that offer 25% or higher. I wasted time with Amazon and other low-paying affiliates for years and wondered why affiliate marketing never worked for me. Have you taken a course that you loved? Join the affiliate program and promote it. Most course creators offer a generous 25% - 50% commission rate. I realized this when I first became an affiliate for Ultimate Bundles and benefited from their 40% commission rate.
Join an affiliate network that focuses on affiliate programs for travel creators such as Travelpayouts. I joined Travelpayouts a while back and found it so much simpler to join than other networks (looking at you CJ, Shareasale, AWIN), especially as a South African. Plus, I didn’t have to waste time searching for relevant or appropriate affiliate programs to join - you can easily join all the top travel affiliate programs through Travelpayouts.
Make use of the available tools to streamline and automate the process of affiliate marketing as much as possible - otherwise, it’s just a time-consuming hassle with little payoff. I’ve recently tried 2 different programs to manage my affiliate links. So far my favorite is Lasso which is a WordPress plugin designed to help increase your affiliate income. This plugin manages your links, gives you no-code product displays, and notifies you of ways to increase your affiliate revenue. You can try a 14-day free trial to see how it works!
Over the next few weeks will delve deeper into affiliate marketing specifically for travel blogs so feel free to reply and ask me any questions you’d like answered or just leave a comment!
The Good Stuff 🔥
Curious Find 🔮
👉 Kindred - a members-only home swapping network that seems like a great option for anyone who travels for a living.
Freebies 🆓
👉 30-Day Business Plan Summit! A FREE event to help bloggers and online sellers develop a plan to break through $1K months by selling low-content digital products. It started yesterday but there is still time for you to join.
👉 Kill it with Quizzes. Kicking off tomorrow, Wednesday 4th May - you'll learn everything you need to get your quiz out of your head and into the world.
Paid & Sponsored Opportunities 🤑
👉 Andante Travels and Brightwater Holidays are open to requests for press trips, for tours departing over the next four or five months. They would like to secure coverage in national newspapers and magazines, or travel sites with a broad readership. Tours available for Andante Travels – an award-winning archaeological tour operator with trips led by expert guides – include:
• Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania
• Egypt - Highlights & Discoveries
• Crete & Santorini
• Classical Sicily
Holidays for Brightwater Holidays – an award-winning coach holiday company that specializes in Scotland and garden tours – include:
• Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides
• Gardens of Kent & Sussex
• RHS Chelsea Flower Show & Classic English Gardens (departs in May)
• Highgrove & the Cotswolds
If you're interested, please email martha@specialistjourneys.com to discuss potential coverage and angles.
👉 Travel + Leisure Commerce Writer. Travel + Leisure is looking for a writer who will write and update travel-related product roundups and reviews. The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is passionate about travel. They are looking for someone who can create quality content and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
👉 Pitch Hidden Compass ($200-300). Freelance Writing Opportunity! Hidden Compass is an award-winning online publication that showcases the frontiers of human exploration and knowledge through powerful storytelling. If you have an original, compelling, and true story — told in words, photos, artwork, or a combination of media — consider submitting it to Hidden Compass. Have an idea for a story? Research their database & published articles, check out the editorial guidelines.
BONUS: 85 Publications That Pay Writers (Travel Edition)
Interesting Reads... 📰
👉 The Italian government is introducing visas that allow foreigners to spend a year working in Italy. In an attempt to diversify the nation’s economy, the Italian government has launched a bid for “highly specialized” professionals to rebase for 12 months.
👉 Is Friday the new Saturday? Europe eyes a 4-day week. An exploration of the growing consensus that the future of work is working less, and how European policymakers are translating this idea into action.
👉 I'm a Travel Writer, but I Don't Fly — Here's Why. As a travel writer with intense aviophobia, each flight is a mental challenge for me so I completely understand her reasoning. Although, South Africa is so far from everything that it’s tough to choose only train or car travel unless I stick to local destinations. Maybe I could try this one day when we live in Europe…
Bonus Content 🤩
👉 The National Geographic Traveller Travel Writing Competition 2022 is open for entries. Are you an aspiring travel writer? Submit your 500-word entry before 24 July to be in the running to win an 11-day cruise to Greenland, courtesy of National Geographic Expeditions — plus, the chance to kick-start your travel writing career.
👉 Have you checked out the latest AppSumo freebies? Grab free tools and resources that can help grow your travel blog's traffic, community, and income while simplifying your workflow.
👉 Have you grabbed your free stock photos yet? Ivory Mix features loads of tools, templates, graphics, and resources for all your creative projects. This link will score you 500 FREE stock photos, too!
💌 Have something you’d like to promote to Wildly Successful Travelpreneurs 1470+ readers? Purchase ad or sponsorships space. Learn more here!
Until next week…
With love,
Daniella
PS. If you want to become a travelpreneur, here are 3 ways I can help you:
✈️ Grab one of my FREE courses, books, or templates for travel bloggers: https://payhip.com/OurSoulfulT...
🌎 Invest in one of my paid courses, books, templates, or bundles: https://payhip.com/OurSoulfulT...
✨ Work with me privately to make your travelpreneur dreams come true: https://payhip.com/b/wXeEV
How your travel blog can make more money with affiliate marketing
I'm a successful mystery/thriller writer but have begun a subscription travel blog on Substack, looking to maximize it. You've got some great ideas so I'm signing up! Collab ftw!