The Roar of the Crowd. Photo by: Ralph Arvesen
It’s thrilling to get published for the first time, and rewarding to build upon your successes. When I first started out as a travel writer, I learned a lot by trial and error. If I were starting now, I’d follow these Seven Steps to Success:
Identify Your Beats
- What are your main areas of travel expertise? Destinations and activities, too. Focus on places and subjects you know know best and can write about with authority – you’ll land paying work sooner.
Survey the Market
- Travel content fits into plenty of markets, from magazines to eBooks and corporate content marketing campaigns. Keep on top of emerging content platforms and look to fill niche content needs. The Writer’s Market is a good place to find leads.
Get Social
- Build an audience on social media and you’ll have fans and customers alike. Share your content across multiple channels like for Pinterest and Instagram, where some Influencers are growing huge audiences. With social media you can manage and monetize your own publicity machine.
Launch A Travel Site
- Boost your claims of subject matter expertise by launching a niche travel site focused on some core beats. Blog about local travel, airline miles or whatever you know best. Monetize your site with affiliate marketing or offer products for sale via Shopify.
Network!
- Tap your network for content creation opportunities. Let people know you’re up for more assignments, ask questions, and provide favors when you can. You’ll go farther, faster, when collaborating with friends and colleagues.
Hit the Road and Write About It
- Take a local road trip once a month, and write four stories about it: One feature, one roundup, one how-to piece and one short profile of something unique. Do this for three months, and you’ll have a dozen travel articles to share or sell.
Photography, Podcast & Video
- Travel content is highly visual, so spend some time working on your photography skills. Extend your brand by hosting a podcast and YouTube channel, where you’ll reach engaged audiences and show your range of digital media skills.
By focusing on your core subject areas and targeting markets you’ll increase you’re chances of finding fits for your travel story ideas. Through networking and social media, you can share your experiences and grow the brand of you.
To your success!