Blogging is replacing good old-fashioned print media as one of the most accessible ways to tell incredibly engaging stories about everything from fashion and culture, to politics and travel. Travel blogging in particular, is a rapidly expanding industry that shows no signs of slowing down. Now, it’s an all too familiar story; an individual becomes disenchanted with their work grind and decides there is more to life than the 9-5. The birth of the modern travel blogger begins once they’ve quit their day job and packed up all their worldly belongings, ready to start their own digital, nomadic journey.
With more and more people being infected with the travel bug, blogs are becoming even more relevant by giving potential wanderlusters an unbiased and highly personalized view of their dream destination. And because blogs are easier to keep up to date (when compared with the average Lonely Planet guide) the information inside them is likely to be more handy for researching specific locations – like this totally rad blog that gives you real-time footage of the best surf locations across the world. Plus, who wouldn’t want to travel the globe taking envy-stirring Instagram photos, capturing awesome, candid experiences and becoming a permanent nomad, all whilst earning money?
But be warned, starting a career as a blogger is not going to guarantee you an income. Your best chance at a good steady cash flow is authentic, insightful and professional writing that features exciting destinations (epic pictures will help too!). The most highly paid bloggers would have found a niche that works for them, like solo travel guides tailored to women or the best hiking destinations for thrill seekers, and built a highly engaged and targeted audience around it. Once they have the traffic flowing through to their blog, they can watch the money start rolling in. The most common ways to make money from a blog are by selling advertising space on their site or featuring particular products that bigger brands will pay extremely well for.
Becoming a Travel Blogger – The Basics
If you think you may be ready to take the plunge into the diverse world of blogging, there are a few things you will need to figure out first.
Cash is king (at least until you’re a pro)
Whilst quitting your job immediately and booking a one-way ticket to Tahiti may seem like a grand idea now, just remember your trip won’t be free. You’ll need to have enough cash to keep you going for at least a few months (think food, accommodation, flights, excursions and clothing), not to mention extensive travel and health insurance and emergency funds for anything unexpected (like a ticket home). You’ll also need to invest in some travel/tech essentials to fuel your new passion. We recommend bringing along a good mobile phone, camera/video recorder and a laptop on all your journeys. For our pick of the best travel-friendly gadgets to invest in check out this piece or this post for some great tips to making your travel time as comfortable as possible.
Blog your audience away
You’ll need to think very carefully about who you’re writing for, what niche you’d like to target and what type of audience you’d ideally like to attract. Think about what you’d enjoy most whilst travelling, whether that’s food, extreme sports or just awe-inspiring locations – take a look at these top luxury travel blogs if you need some ideas. Try and give your blog a memorable name and one that’s available as a domain and across all the major social media sites (like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Snapchat and Periscope). Writing really authentic and engaging posts will help boost your visibility online, so make sure you plan your posts ahead. If you’re not sure where to begin, these tips from the blogging pros will help. Do lots of research ahead of time and make sure you take plenty of photos and videos whilst you’re traveling – this will give you great ammo for your social media accounts (which are an essential means for getting your blog noticed).
Get your blog out there!
It’s no good having amazing posts on the wonders of the world you’ve stumbled upon unless people are actually reading it. Seasoned blogger, Melissa Giroux (aka @abrokenbackpack) has shared her top tips for increasing the exposure and traffic to your blog here. Apart from content, one of the most important things you’ll need to promote your blog is a reliable and fast internet connection, to make sure you can update your posts on the go. Thankfully Tep has a travel-sized companion that’s perfect for bloggers, it’s a portable pocket sized wifi device that gives you access to unlimited internet for a fixed fee of $9.95 per day. This means you’ll never have to worry about crazy data roaming charges or dodgy internet connections in the middle of the jungle, as Tep works in over 80 countries worldwide! Don’t just take our word for it, read why this awesome travel blogging family love’s using Tep on their travels here.
Finally Tep’s affiliate program is one way for bloggers to generate income from their website and we already have a few on board such us Travel with Bender, Gypsynester, TravelingMom and Traveling Well for Less.
We hope this post gives you some insight into the exciting world of travel bloggers. Whilst blogging may not suit everyone, it can be an extremely rewarding and fulfilling experience if you do have a flair for creative writing and want to get paid for a permanent holiday!
