Building Affiliate Sites for the AI Era: Branding, Data & Community First with Valentina Diaco

In this episode of the Affiliate BI Podcast, John Wright sits down with Valentina Diaco, founder of Profit Matches and creator of the tech-and-marketing newsletter VidDay Lens. Valentina introduces the concept of Search AI Optimization (SAIO) — a term she coined to describe how brands can position themselves to be referenced in AI-generated responses, not just traditional search results. The conversation dives into how affiliates can adapt to AI-driven search, avoid being filtered out, and embrace strategies that blend data aggregation, branding, and user-first content. Valentina shares actionable insights for affiliates and B2B SaaS companies on leveraging first-party data, building micro-products, and transforming content teams using AI. She emphasizes the need for intentional marketing, product-led growth, and the shift from traffic to smarter traffic through ecosystem thinking. Together, they explore ideas like creating community-driven tools, podcasting for reach, and using chatbots to personalize user experiences. From positioning to personalization, and from BI integration to AI content workflows, this episode is a must-listen for marketers, affiliates, and founders looking to stand out in a noisy, fast-changing landscape.