For the final ten years, I’ve been in a position to journey the world and receives a commission.
Certain, the pandemic has put a dent on my journey plans for the final yr or so, and I’m not the one one.
However with most international locations now open for vacationers and even Australia trying more likely to open its borders within the new yr, I assumed now could be a great time to share with anybody enthusiastic about doing the identical, precisely how I did it.
I’ve no real interest in preserving this data to myself. Actually, I’ll even present you the precise emails I ship to lodges and tourism boards once I need to keep totally free.
As somebody who grew up in a small city and had excessive hopes for travelling the world solo, I’m not solely excited to share with you ways I made journey my full-time job, however really feel a way of obligation to make this form of factor extra accessible.
So with that, right here goes nothing!
I began in 2012
I began my weblog, World of Wanderlust, in 2012.
The web was totally different again then and social media was nonetheless in its early days.
Instagram had been round for 2 years, however solely actually turned in style in April 2012. It was round this time just a few trend bloggers dominated Instagram. Celebrities had barely began utilizing the app, with lots of them not creating accounts till the next yr and past.
This was a time earlier than influencers, as they’re now identified.
There have been a handful of trend bloggers constructing audiences on the app. These included the likes of Tuula Classic, Gary Pepper Woman and The Blonde Salad, to call just a few that come to thoughts. These trend bloggers have been jetting round Europe staying in swanky lodges and attending trend exhibits, in every single place from Milan to Paris. They have been snapping their outfits candidly on the streets by day, attending totally hosted Dior dinners by the night.
However I beloved following these accounts for a distinct purpose. As somebody who grew up in a small city in Tasmania, on the backside of Australia, the glitz and glamour of the style world was past me.
I noticed a chance.
I adopted these trend bloggers journey throughout Europe for trend weeks and summer season holidays, however was extra within the background than the garments they have been sporting.
So I made a decision I might begin my very own Instagram account, specializing in the locations somewhat than Dior.
World of Wanderlust was born
Whereas I began my weblog in December 2012, it didn’t develop into an instantaneous success. Nothing ever does. However the fact is, it in all probability took rather a lot much less time than you’d think about.
For the following yr, I traveled on and off between finishing my final yr at college. I went from being a full time enrolled pupil to turning into a distance training pupil, so I might journey all through the semester. I launched into a handful of journeys that yr – to Vietnam, Bali and Europe.
I paid for my flights to every of those locations, however my lodging was sponsored. Sure! In my first yr as a blogger, I already had resort sponsorships for all of my adventures.
I’m certain you’re questioning, how? Why? Why would anybody need to sponsor a little bit identified blogger (in reality, I’m pretty sure it was simply my family and friends studying my weblog right now).
Three phrases: return on funding.
Every of the lodges that hosted me in my first yr as an beginner author and photographer noticed an ROI (return on funding). As an alternative of asking for one thing from them, I informed them what I might do for them.
I listed my experience in writing and pictures, my experiences touring, and what I would offer for them in return for a free night time at their resort. I might be particular. I might define the variety of images I might take, the size of the weblog submit, and the moment publicity they might acquire by that includes on my Instagram and Fb pages.
They usually mentioned sure.
Certain, plenty of lodges and advertising executives mentioned no. Actually, I’d say just one in 4 lodges even bothered to return my emails. However the ones who did have been encouraging and not less than half of them mentioned sure. It was all I wanted to get my foot within the door.
The early days of journey running a blog and influencers
Quite a bit has modified since then. Journey running a blog and influencing has develop into a full fledged profession.
Again then, it was totally different.
What I used to be doing was thought-about extraordinarily totally different – an actual change to the established order. There have been a handful of journey bloggers already getting paid to journey, however it regarded rather a lot totally different again then. Journey blogs have been extra targeted on prolonged weblog posts, which have been phrase heavy with just a few images dispersed all through the textual content for reference.
So, what did I do in a different way?
I mixed the style bloggers’ strategy to Instagram (lovely images) with a standard journey weblog (characteristic articles) to create an aesthetically pleasing nook of the web that will encourage journey of your individual.
Then I offered this concept to firms – the likes of Apple, GoPro, Samsonite, 4 Seasons lodges, Mandarin Oriental Accommodations, to call just a few.
What did I promote them? A direct hyperlink to my viewers. Reasonably than throwing promoting {dollars} at {a magazine} characteristic, they have been throwing promoting {dollars} at me. This saved me touring longer, which saved me within the recreation of making content material.
It was a triple win state of affairs.
I received to journey the world full time. My readers received to dwell vicariously by way of my adventures to plan their very own. Manufacturers received speedy entry to an engaged viewers.
So the key?
Present firms you’re their means to an finish. Present them what they’ll get from you, somewhat than the opposite approach round. Use information and a fastidiously crafted media package to indicate a return on funding. And don’t be afraid to place your individual pores and skin within the recreation to get began.
If you wish to be part of my full course on turning into a journey blogger, join right here.
If you wish to buy my e-mail templates to strategy lodges, tourism boards and types, you may see them right here.
