Of course it sounds exciting… You hear about people receiving trips across the globe where they get to explore new cultures, try new food, experience exciting destinations. “I love to travel,” you think, “and I would write about it if someone else would pay for it!”
Ahhh, the lure of travel blogging. But what does it take to really be a travel blogger? More — much more — than many people realize.
Photo op: High Cross at Clonmacnoise, County Offaly, Ireland
What Makes You Different?
I stumbled into travel blogging waaayyyy back in 2004. As a new mom, who had no idea how to travel with an infant, I searched the world-wide-web for ideas. And found Disney Vacations and Family Resort Packages. But no tips. So I began sharing what I learned, as I learned it, on my personal blog. Response was huge. I responded by creating my first family travel site, Have Kid Will Travel (which is now Family Rambling). By 2008 there were only a handful of family travel blogs. Now, in 2012, there are hundreds. It’s a small niche, actually, when compared to no-niche travel blogs, which number in the high thousands.
The first question you have to ask is, What’s my niche? How will I stand out? What will make my travel blog different?
After you think you have that figured out, do a search. Use Google, Bing and Yahoo. Then ask yourself, “How much competition do I have? Is my idea original? Who am I writing for?”
My very small niche: Ireland with Kids
Real life example: By 2010, the family travel blog numbers had nearly tripled from 2008. And while I loved my site Family Rambling, I felt that even the ‘family travel’ niche was growing too large. Thankfully I had a passion: family travel in Ireland. In 2011, I launched Ireland with Kids, which is the only site entirely devoted to family travel in Ireland. Of course it is a very narrow market, but one that I serve with great passion.
How Hard Are You Willing to Work?
The thing about travel blogging is that it involves travel. You need to experience your destination, share the smells, tastes and sounds with your words, your photos and your videos.
Travel blogging changes how you travel. No longer will you travel purely for enjoyment — and forget about relaxation. Your thoughts will be on the best photo angles, interviewing the guides or locals, shooting a fun video or two and wishing other tourists would just get out of your shot for a minute.
Then comes the hard part- editing photos and video, actually sharing your story with words and getting people to read what you’ve written. Hours upon hours of work go into one single post. Also- when will you write? Will you post from the road- which is harder than you may imagine- or wait until you return home? And what will be happening on your site while you’re traveling? Months of planning and work take place before each trip you take. It’s tiring, really.
Working on the road can be tough…
Real life example: Of course one trip can yield dozens of posts. Our 10 day trip to Ireland this past summer will keep me writing until early next year.
How Much Are You Willing to Pay?
Beyond the start up costs for a website, travel blogging is a ‘cash-up-front’ business. I’ve not met one travel blogger who put up a blog and had offers for “free” travel appear before they had proven themselves. And, once you begin receiving trip offers, you’ll find out that not everything is free. You may have to provide your own transportation to the destination. Or, at the very least, to the airport, where you’ll probably have to pay to park. What about child care while you’re gone? Or pet care? And, the big questions lately, is the wifi free? If real-time social media is requested is your coverage sufficient? If you need extra coverage, who is paying for that?
And don’t forget about disclosure- who paid for your trip and what was expected of you? And taxes- how much would that trip have cost if you paid for it? That cost is now considered income and you are required to pay taxes on it.
Real life example: I, personally, accept very few press trips. I write about traveling with kids and, if the press trip doesn’t include kids, I have no story. Also, press trips are usually highly escorted and feel rather like you are being herded. Not really my favorite way to travel. I often contact destinations we are planning to travel to and arrange experiences. In my mind, this is more authentic for my readers and my stories are better for it. Of course, the cash outlay is much greater.
What Are You Going to Write About When You’re Not Traveling?
So many travel sites begin with the thought of easily sharing a trip with friends and family. But what happens when that trip ends? Will your site sit dormant- as most do? Will you seek out guest posts? Will you begin planning another adventure? What will you share with your readers when you have no trip information?
Remember that travel doesn’t have to take you far- it just has to fit in the niche you have chosen
Real life example: Think about your niche. Since I can’t always be in Ireland (oh how I wish I could) I also share Irish culture to be found stateside, Ireland travel tips, and guest posts.
If You Still Want to Be a Travel Blogger
Travel is your passion, and you want to share it. Great! Travel blogging is a lot of fun and the community is a welcoming one. Here’s how to get noticed:
- Know your competition- and make friends with them. Have conversations, offer guest posts, join Facebook and LinkedIn groups and contribute.
- Know your keywords- and use them wisely.
- Alt tag your photos to rank higher in search engines (it’s amazing how many people still don’t do this!)
- Link, tag and @ destinations if you mention them.
Family Rambling is always open to guest posts!
If you’re not sure you want to be a ‘full on’ travel blogger, but still want to share your adventures, ask your favorite travel blog if you can guest post. They will probably be thankful you did! In fact, I invite you to send me a pitch about your family vacation!
Photo credit: Jody Halsted; © Family Rambling® Travel Media 2012
How To Become a Travel Blogger : Honest Tips and What This "Dream Job" is Really Like,
Jody Halsted is a family travel authority with a strong affinity for the Midwest and Ireland. You'll find her family's travel adventures at FamilyRambling.com, while her love of family travel in Ireland inspired her to begin the only website dedicated entirely to family travel in the Emerald Isle- IrelandWithKids.com. Jody is currently living the dream in Iowa while dreaming of living in Ireland.
Jendi
Love this! I talked to a travel blogger at TypeA in 2011 and he said the same thing about not being able to take vacations any more.
Thanks for the great info.
Jody
Glad you enjoyed it! It’s funny how, when you look at those “dream jobs” from the inside, they are really much more involved than you imagine!
ConnieFoggles
I’m a contributing writer on a travel blog. The most difficult thing for me is coming up with post ideas when I’m not traveling as you mentioned. It helps to have a team to get advice from. Thanks for writing about this. It helps to know the real deal.
Jody
I’m happy you enjoyed the ‘behind the scenes’ look at full time travel blogging, Connie!
Des @StressFreeBaby
I contribute to a travel blog network and also write about travel on my own site and agree that often you have to take your own trip (paying out of pocket) to get the “real” experience. I actually took a press trip once and ended up bringing my family back on my own dime so that I could write about the family perspective…those articles were ten times better than what I tried to write on the press trip. By the way–I also adore Ireland and may some day disappear to that lovely little isle. Some of my favorite content from my own articles came from a trip I took there with my mom, son and daughter.
Jody
Thanks for your comment, Des! Ireland is my true passion, so I love hearing stories from others who adore it as I do! If you ever want to guest post, or share images at Ireland with Kids, please let me know!
TerriAnn @ Cookies & Clogs
I really enjoyed this well-rounded look at travel bloggers. My blog falls into the category of ‘no-niche travel blogs’ (ie write travel posts among other things) but I put just as much work into a post. It seems that many travel bloggers are just constantly traveling and I have no idea how they afford to do so with families, especially when one parent has a full-time secular job. You seemed to put it all in perspective though. It’s somewhat comforting to get an idea of the thought and research you put into your blog. I am definitely going to implement many of your wonderful suggestions! Thank you and I wish you all the best from this point forward
Colleen Lanin
Great tips, Jody! I love that blogging allows me to share my passions for travel, writing and parenting but, you're right, it certainly isn't always easy!
Kim-Marie Evans
Great post Jody. I love the part about the hardest aspect being the editing of video, photos, writing, it takes hours and hours to do just the smallest post if you want to do it well. Also, my husband says anything that isn't profitable according to the IRS is a "hobby", so I'm working toward it becoming a "job" but for now, it is a fabulous hobby. It's true that I paid for a lot of my travel in the beginning and now receive a lot of comped travel. But not enough to bring four kids, which is why I'm doing this. Really, really great post.
Jody L Halsted
Your husband is right- if it's not profitable it is a hobby. But you have to remember that the IRS considers that comped travel to be income and it is subject to tax. (This is according to my accountant who spent hours on the phone with the IRS for a blog conference presentation.)
Leigh Hines Sight
Such a great post, Jody. Photographs take forever for me. Hours and Hours of time is right on the money. And now that I've been doing this for just over a year, I am nodding my head with everything you say.
I write travel full-time for Skimbaco Lifestyle, and do it part-time on my personal blog.
Eric Wagnon
I got a notice that TBEX is having a conference in Toronto… now that you are getting more serious about this, you should go.
Jody L Halsted
I second Eric Wagnon . I attended TBEX in New York and bought my ticket for Toronto the minute they became available. Ironically, travel kept me from the Vancouver and Denver TBEX events.
Katie Wood Dillon
Great tips! It isn't always easy and it isn't always free–I hate that people think that. It's taxes, incidentals, airfare (not always comped for 3 people, and I'm a family travel writer, too). We like to choose our own itinerary so there's fees and meals. I do it because it helps me trave with the familyl for less, not for free. Plus the time it takes to write and edit—oy. And feeling like I have to lug my DSLR everywhere.
Jessie Voigts
Great tips – and YES, this changes the way we travel, for sure. Travel is no longer a vacation, lol! We also founded the Family Travel Bloggers Association, and there's a great facebook group for family travel bloggers – it's an excellent and supportive community.
Claudia Laroye
A great read and sage advice – thanks for sharing.. Looking forward to meeting in person at TBEX in Toronto next year.
Sandra Foyt
Well done! Like any career, the rewards come at a cost. Good job outlining what those costs are.