How I made 💰 as a travel creator while I was MIA
Issue #106
This issue is brought to you by the Pinterest Bootcamp for Bloggers & Content Creators.
Hey there, travelpreneur!
One of the most common questions I received in response to my email announcing why I had been MIA for 2+ months was, “How did you make money when you weren’t showing up online?”
And I get it. It’s a valid question. Especially for us travel content creators.
We’ve been told to show up online (not just on one platform but everywhere), be visible, create content consistently, share photos, create videos, write newsletters, blogs, and everything in between.
So it makes to wonder how you can continue to earn an income as a travel content creator even when you desperately need to take a break for your own mental health.
The answer is diversifying your income streams.
*Now I’m going to add a disclaimer here to say that it’s not a simple process. It has taken me years to get to this point and it is still not quite at the point I need it to be. But I’m focusing on it fully for the next few months so that I can actually take maternity leave when my baby girl arrives in February.
I wanted to mention this because you need to know that it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes planning and hard work to create multiple income streams. But it is well worth the effort!
To help you plan your own strategy, I wanted to share some of my own income streams as a travel content creator over the next few weeks.
First up is…
Sponsorships & Paid Partnerships
This used to be my main source of income and the top thing I shared in this newsletter and in the WST Facebook Group.
However, due to some big life changes (becoming a mom, multiple moves, and hubby starting full-time work), we no longer travel as much. Although I still use sponsorships to travel when I do have the chance, it is no longer my focus.
It is the area where I have the most experience and knowledge to share though which is why I’m working to launch something exciting for you soon… 🥳
I’m currently following the insanely useful Calm Launch Formula created by my biz coaches Jason & Caroline Zook which is completely free if you join WAIM UNLIMITED! If you missed the Fall Enrollment, you can still get in with my secret link…🤫
To make the most of this income stream, you need to have travel plans (well in advance if possible) and the ability to pitch and negotiate with travel brands like hotels.
While landing a sponsorship is relatively simple, it takes some effort to negotiate it into a paid partnership.
To do this you need to:
Fully understand the value that you can offer a brand
Do extensive research about the brand you are pitching
Conduct a needs analysis to match your skills with the brand’s needs
Pitch the brand a sponsorship offer first to establish trust
Negotiate (or upsell) a higher-value service/offer that the brand can’t resist
Draft a contract to protect everyone’s interest
Over-deliver, over-deliver, over-deliver
Repeat
Of course, there is a bit more to it - but these are the basic steps.
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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 :)
👉 Eva Sandoval from BBC is currently looking to assign Hispanic Heritage American Month SpeciaList stories. Pitches should focus on timely city and trending/timely SpeciaList stories. The writer cannot be the SpeciaList. Rate: $600+. If interested, send pitches to eva.sandoval.freelance@bbc.com.
👉 For The Love Of Travel is looking to bring on paid trip leaders for the following destinations: Brazil, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, Philippines, Croatia, Portugal, Lapland, Scandinavia (Finland, Sweden, Denmark), Scotland, and Ireland as well as city experts for Amsterdam and London.
👉 Andrew Newey is seeking travel/food writers interested in collaborating on some editorial features.
👉 Foodism / Escapism Toronto is open to pitches! They’re looking for food and travel feature pitches (pays $600 CAD for 1,200-1,500 words) as well as travel guides (pays $0.40 CAD per word for 500+ words). Send pitches to katie.bridges@twentytwomedia.cawith the word PITCH in your subject line.
👉 Discover Banff Pride & the Majestic Beauty of Lake Louise this October (Creator Trip). Experience Banff Pride with Banff & Lake Louise Tourism.
👉 Press Trip Opportunity to Chihuahua, Mexico! Dates: 7-15 Oct 2024. Calling UK and German travel writers! We’re organizing a small group press trip to one of Mexico’s most extraordinary destinations: the state of Chihuahua! For more details and to apply, please email polo@metmie.com
👉 We'd love expressions of interest from travel writers/editors and content creators/influencers to experience the beautiful Cocos Keeling Islands in WA in late Oct/Nov 2024. Please email marketing@cocoskeelingislands.com.au.
👉 Woofz is looking for a hotel inspector to travel with their dog and get paid to evaluate pet-friendly accommodations.
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👉 Travel Guard is looking for the world's unluckiest traveler to win $10,000. Submit your story and be entered to win.
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Until next week,
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!