We are, of course, talking about travel writing, which is a niche market and one that you can penetrate if you can create quality content for the online mags. Imagine having a Zoom call with the GM of a luxury Thai wellness resort to discuss your up-and-coming trip when you will stay as a guest and write about the experience. The deal is a simple one; you get the full treatment and in return, you create excellent content that is very plus the resort! Most upmarket spa and wellness resorts use this as a form of marketing, the articles are posted on top-rated websites and with carefully crafted links, the reader is taken directly to the resort’s landing page.
Equipment
You’re going to need a good SLR camera with a selection of lenses and filters (images are part of the deal), a powerful laptop and your writing skills. Three or four days might be the package, with free use of the many services such a venue has on offer and your work might be 4-5 pages with images. Flights would usually be included in the package and if you write great content, everyone is happy! You might as well film when you take stills; the content will come in handy in the future; you need gigabytes of drive space to save your content and backup often.
You could even do a travel series where you stay abroad in one location for a handful of months to see what it is like to live there. Spain, Amsterdam, France, Germany, etc., all of these places are filled with history and experiences, which you can write about in your blog. Traveling and writing is a lot of fun, but if you want to stay in one area for a while, then why not keep the writing going, you don’t have to stop. You can use sites such as HousingAnywhere for instance, to find flats, or rooms to rent so you have a base to write your articles and blog posts in, rather than sitting on a train or in a car trying to type away.
Content agencies
These are the people you need to connect with, as they can offer you many assignments as a blogger; who knows, you might get to review the latest bullet vibrator! If you have a talent for blogging, you can make decent money. Of course, you will be writing about many different topics as a web content writer and working freelance for several agencies is the way to go. Be your own boss and do as much as you wish and you get paid monthly via PayPal.
Developing a writing style
Of course, we all have our unique ways of communicating and humour is never a bad thing when blogging; try to develop a style that people can identify with
Document your travelling
You are probably subscribed to a few YouTube travel channels and while it might take a couple of years and a lot of work, you could end up with a popular travel channel. This is a time to let your personality shine and aim for creative content that engages the viewer. When you get 1,000 subscribers, your channel becomes monetized and if you can make it to 30k subscribers in one year, that is regarded as good going.
Long train journeys
The US is a huge landmass and you could spend a lot of time travelling on the best trains, New York to Los Angeles, or down the East Coast to Florida, there are so many routes. If you are IT savvy and can network, this should open some doors; social media is a very powerful marketing aid when used correctly. Being a travel blogger/vlogger is hard work and you have to be prepared to travel at short notice.
Airlines
It can be difficult to get an intro into the air hospitality circle; a number of lucky writers/journalists are selected to experience their premium class travel packages. Of course, you would be the envy of all your friends; not that many people get to experience 7-star air travel and there’s nothing wrong with aiming high. Emirates are always looking for creative ideas to showcase their first-class service; you could email but we don’t think that will cut it! Follow the right people on X and that could give you an angle for contact.
Mexico & Hawaii
The US foreign tourism sector is heavy in parts of Mexico and the Hawaiian Islands, so you could be going there several times a year! If you can speak Spanish that would be a plus and if you can land a big hotel chain contract, you are at the top of the tree.
Create an exciting portfolio
Much like an artist or graphic designer, you should keep your best work in a digital portfolio, which you can present to a potential client; if you become knowledgeable on many topics, you can write with some confidence. If you don’t know how to market yourself, Google can find you a business coach and the professional can develop your marketing skills.
Indigenous peoples
Why not venture off the beaten track and contact remote communities? This is very interesting content and while it would be a significant investment to put yourself in their world for a few days, you have gold in your hands. Southeast Asia and, of course, the Amazon basin in South America are both good regions to look for local communities; you could include their natural remedies for illness, diet and how they are in harmony with nature.
Taxes
Only 3 things are certain in this life, birth, death and taxes; you will have to register with the US government and IRS. There are many ways that you can claim on your taxes; talk to a business accountant and follow their advice.
Public liability insurance
The last thing you want is someone filing a lawsuit because of something you did and for a few dollars a year, you can be covered for all lawsuits. You can find out more by searching for the government website on self-employment; keep all receipts and record all transactions, as your bookkeeper will want to see them all.
So, there you have it, a detailed guide on how you can make an impression with your travel writing, plus a few optional avenues you could take. Networking is what is needed when you enter a new sector and the more people you know, the more connections you can make.
If you have the desire and you believe that your writing is up to scratch, there is every reason to expect to make a living doing what you love!
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