Can you really make 💰 with travel blogging?
Issue #107
This issue is brought to you by Stay22.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it travelpreneurs, blogging is not as simple as it used to be. The relentless procession of algorithm updates from Google is making it tough for most bloggers to succeed.
I really wish I had put more effort into blogging when I started back in 2015 instead of just focusing my attention on getting published in magazines. I could have made a lot of money if I had learned the basics of SEO back then.
I was so eager to travel more and getting published was the faster way to land travel sponsorships. Don’t get me wrong, I’m grateful for the experience of having my travel content published and all the amazing brands I’ve worked with!
But, there’s a part of me that wonders where I would be now if I had put my effort into growing my travel blog right from the start… 🤔
Alas, I only really started to focus on my blog about a year and a half ago (yeah, right before all the crazy updates started).
I made an effort to learn everything I could about SEO, affiliate marketing, and travel blogging in general from talented ladies like Nina Clapperton, Shelley Marmor & Laura Peters - seriously - go join their FB Groups, sign up to their email lists, and follow them online, their content is 🔥
And, I’m pleased to say this effort has paid off!
For the first time ever, I’m earning consistent affiliate income from my travel blog! Now, this isn’t life-changing money just yet - but it is increasing every month which I’m so excited about!
I’m getting a few hundred dollars each month from hotel affiliates via Stay22, tours, and car rental affiliates via Travelpayouts, and wellness retreat affiliates via Tripaneer!
Plus, earlier this month my blog got accepted into Journey which is an ad network for smaller publishers offered by Mediavine. This means I’m now earning a combination of ad income and affiliate income via my travel blog.
A few years ago, I didn’t even think that was possible for a blogger in South Africa. Now, I’m more motivated than ever to work on my blog and see what I can accomplish with it before my baby girl arrives in Feb.
So, despite all the craziness happening with Google at the moment, the answer is YES, you can really make money with travel blogging.
But it takes TIME + EFFORT + a bit of EXPERIMENTATION
Next issue, I’ll share more about another one of my income streams as a travel content creator… 😘
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Please do *not* mention me as the person who referred you in your applications and pitch emails. Just because I'm sharing these with you does not mean I am a reference and dropping my name won’t help you get the job :)
👉 Atlas Obscura is a guide to the hidden wonders of the world. Gastro Obscura is their food/drink vertical. They have updated their pitch guidelines. They want articles that are “deeply rooted in our physical world, and have a strong sense of place.” The majority of their commissioned articles are between 800 and 1,500 words. They usually pay around $0.50 per word. For details, refer to their editor-in-chief’s post and their pitching guidelines.
👉 Matador Network is seeking freelance pitches across a broad range of topics. Please spend some time browsing the various categories on our site to see what types of stories and topics we do and do not cover. Rates range from $200 to $300 depending on the depth of research and interviews, writer experience, and photo availability.
👉 Emily Krivograd of Business Insider is looking for golf enthusiasts with a hot take. She’s looking for a writer who loves golf/has a few years of experience playing and prefers to golf in colder/not super summery weather. Rates start at $225 for 600 words.
👉 Paige, Deputy Editor of Business Insider, is looking for “...Americans who left the US after they retired (esp to places like Mexico/Japan) and are very happy or unhappy with their choice.”Rates start at $230 for 600 words. The deadline to get in touch is Oct 12th.
👉 Shift— “the browser that brings it all together” —is currently seeking a Chief Nomad Officer to “get paid $10,000 to travel and show us how you use Shift to streamline everything you do online.”
👉 Join us for an exclusive press trip to Quito, Ecuador, in October 2024! Nestled in the Andes, Quito is a UNESCO World Heritage city bursting with rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes. Don't miss this opportunity to experience Quito's magic firsthand and bring its story to your readers. Spaces are limited—reserve your spot now! Express your interest at media@1gms.com
👉 If you’re looking for steady freelance writing work for a top-tier publication, Islands is looking for a Freelance Travel News Writer.
👉 Heading to Cape Town soon? Discover what it’s like driving in Cape Town according to a local to help you decide about renting a car.
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But recently they released a Newsletter Plan which is free for up to 10,000 subscribers!
This is all the prompting I needed to make the switch! Now, I use Convertkit for all my email marketing needs (except this newsletter - as I don’t think of this as marketing but rather connection).
Consider this your sign that it's finally time to start building your email list — so here is the link to sign up with Converkit for FREE.
👉 Pinterest is hosting Pinterest Presents on October 1st. You can learn how to take your marketing to the next level on the platform, and hopefully use it to drive traffic and sales to your brand.
👉 YouTube and Doritos are launching a competition for a user-generated Super Bowl ad. Submit a 30-second spot to enter. If you win, you get $1M and see your work live at the Super Bowl during the big game, with your plus one!
👉 It’s National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 28th! As a result, all national parks that charge a fee to enter will be free.
👉 Tired of the never-ending pin creation wheel to get any blog traffic from Pinterest? Then you need to try Pin Generator! Pin Generator makes it so easy to batch-create my pins from templates, write titles and descriptions with AI, and schedule them for the month.
👉 Have you grabbed your free stock photos yet? Ivory Mix features tools, templates, graphics, and resources for all your creative projects. This link will score 500 FREE stock photos, too.
👉 SafetyWing – a travel and medical incident insurance built specifically for digital nomads – is looking to onboard affiliates into their program.
💌 Have something you’d like to promote to 4141+ Wildly Successful Travelpreneurs readers? Book an ad slot here!
Love this newsletter? Please share a testimonial here!
Until next week (or the next issue),
Happy pitching!
Daniella
PS. When you’re ready, here are a few ways I can help you:
👉Work with me 1-1 to make your travel dreams come true.
👉 Grab The Pitch Vault to access all the pitch and negotiation templates you could ever need!