As a travel blogger, you are passionate about exploring the world around you. Luckily, starting a travel blog is easier than ever today (check this out DreamHost Guide on how to start a blog). Pick a domain and host, choose a beautiful travel-inspired template, and start writing.
However, while launching a blog is easy enough, using your blog as a base for traveling the world is not.
Take a look at some of them best travel bloggers and you will see some similarities; that is, it takes consistency and dedication before you can enjoy some of the more beneficial “freebies” associated with travel influencers.
It takes effort, and the results don’t happen overnight. But as you grow your blog, there are ways you can take advantage of it to keep traveling and expanding your brand.
Here’s how:
Press Travel
For many bloggers, press travel is the heart of their travel business—at least to begin with. During press trips, travel bloggers and influencers are invited to join events at specific destinations or hotels to gain first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to be there.
While most press trips are invite-only, there are ways to put your blog in an advantageous position. For example, Walkers Daily offers a press trip program and encourages travel bloggers to sign up for opportunities to learn about new open press trips and how they can get involved.
It is important to understand that press visits are not just free visits. The press trip actually works—you’ve been assigned to join on the basis that you’ll be offering the hotel or tourism board some type of benefit.
You’ll be asked to sign an agreement binding you to submit some content along the way, and you’ll need to keep your word if you want to score free press trips in the future.
Manual Hotel Outreach
When you are still in the early stages of your blog, you will find yourself doing a lot of manual outreach to hotels and organizations to help reduce the cost of those trips. This is completely normal, and it’s a tactic that many travel bloggers employ. Remember: you have nothing to lose by reaching out, and rejection is normal—even for popular bloggers.
For example, if you are planning a trip to Bangkok, you will contact several hotels in Bangkok to introduce yourself. The newer the hotel, the more likely you are to get a “yes” answer. During your initial pitch, be sure to say what your blog is about, what you can do for them, and mention any awards or important statistics.
If your readership is still low, focus on growing. Maybe in the last year, your readership increased 100% for example. To find a suitable contact, look for the “public relations” page at the bottom of the company’s website. If not, you can call the general contact.
Affiliate Marketing
you can use affiliate marketing to make money of the product you suggest. This is achieved by including trackable links to your content. Remember that you shouldn’t simply overload your blog with links to affiliate products.
This not only looks visually unappealing, but it will reduce credibility among your readers. Instead, focus on showcasing products and brands you already know, like, and trust. Have a backpack you like? Go ahead and link.
Contact the Local Tourism Board
Local tourism boards can prove useful for bloggers who need an early introduction to a city or town. Even without a blog, there are often some freebies you can get from your local tourism office. But by reaching and showcasing your blog, you can earn a lot more.
Tell them why you are interested in their city, and how you plan to promote your experience on your website. For example, you may be able to get free tourist tickets that take you to local attractions and sightseeing arrangements. While these things may seem minor, they can offset the costs you normally face.
Become a Social Influencer
Social media and blogging content go hand in hand in today’s digitally driven world. In addition to launching a blog, you’ll need to set up social channels across multiple platforms. Since Instagram and Pinterest are visual, focus on those to begin with. The good thing about Instagram is that you don’t have to travel all over the world to take beautiful photos that other people will appreciate.
Oftentimes, you’ll be surprised by the myriad of local photography opportunities that exist. You might offer to record a local hotel for free to get the shareable content going (and build a relationship with management in the process). Wherever you travel, take your camera with you. In addition, the process of editing photos must be important to you.
If you’re not tech-savvy, you can hire freelancers on sites like Upwork or Fiverr to handle your editing for just a few dollars.
