The web is littered with blogs and more blogs these days. Whenever you surf, you’ll come across various contents (sponsored or not) scattered all over social media or all corners of the web. What started as a hobby, most blogs have evolved to become money-making machines and a lucrative career for those gifted enough with the knack for writing and creating engaging content. It is a great source of income that you actually like doing. It’s not like you are exerting physical effort in making these blogs, but of course, you have to make sure you know what you are doing if you plan of milking money from your hobby.
One of the most popular types of blogs these days is a travel blog. At a time when chaos seems to hit certain parts of the world and the threat of terror attacks are just around the corner, there is still a strong sense of wanderlust that many people actually do pack their bags and explore every nooks and crannies of the world. And with the popularity of the Internet, budget travels are now a reality. Fortunately, you don’t have to go bankrupt just to check all those far-off places off your bucket list.
The idea of “quitting your job and traveling the world” is not as easy as it sounds. My advice is to be practical and think strategically. For most people, it’s not realistic to amass $30,000 in savings and embark on this marvelous journey, so don’t think that’s the only solution.
Think about your passions and hobbies, how you can turn them into profitable ventures, and put in the hours to make it happen. Could you transition your current job to being remote (even if the duties and salary would change)? Can you replace nights out drinking with staying in and doing the work (creating your website, booking small clients, working on your personal branding, etc.)? Also, always take risks. Know that every single person that you see out there doing something similar to what you want to do took risks and left their comfort zones. Success doesn’t happen overnight and patience is key to living your dream life.
It may seem like an easy thing to do but it actually isn’t. Making money from a travel blog takes time and careful planning. It does not just happen overnight. Many are actually still dubious about a career in blogging considering it used to be an unheard of concept several years ago. But truth be told, many millennials are living luxuriously because their travel blogs make more money than traditional 9-5 jobs. Best of all, they get to travel the world for free. How good can it possibly get?
One beautiful thing about life in 2016? Traveling the world and sharing gorgeous photos on Instagram is now a career path for some people. The five travelers featured below have become travel bloggers, influencers and experts in globe-trotting. Whether it’s showcasing a tourist destination or providing sponsored content for brands, these adventurers often have a professional purpose for journeying to faraway paradises.
Brands flock to these social-media savvy travelers as their reach on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and even Tumblr grows to five or six figures. In addition to sharing breathtaking photos, they dish out travel tips that can help save money, time or even lives—Kate McCulley shared a cautionary tale of a boat trip in Indonesia without proper life jackets or lifeboats that ended in a shipwreck.
Many of the popular travel bloggers right now carry their name as their brands. Sponsors flock to them so their products or services get featured during one of their travels or blogs and capture the attention of the thousands (to even millions) of their followers. It’s really the most rewarding career if you just know how to market your brand right and showcase the best content that will earn you all the likes, comments and shares from people.
Kate McCulley has traversed the globe for almost six years, picking up76,000 followers on Instagram along the way. An inspiration to independent and adventurous women, she focuses on solo female travel. During her journeys, she often promotes products, but she said in a blog post on her site that she tries to travel on her own dime and her own terms in order to avoid being tied down by sponsors. By choosing the products and destinations she wants to promote, McCulley sets a standard for her brand.
Like any other career, travel blogging isn’t for everyone but it is nice to know that there are other opportunities today aside from the usual professions you take up in college. The older generation may frown upon these unconventional careers but hey, they rack up money fast and you also have a good time making it. After all, not everyone is given the opportunity to explore the world for leisure and without shelling out personal money at all just by writing about your experience or showing people glimpses of these otherworldly travels for all your followers to see.