Can You Earn Money Writing About Your Travels?
*Collaborative post
Right now, the global travel industry is going through a pretty major reset. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s in danger of becoming obsolete. It does, however, mean that anyone looking to earn money writing about their travels is going to need to be particularly strategic about it. If that sounds like you, then here are some points to consider.
Decide whether or not you’re in it for the long game
If you’re really looking to make a meaningful income, out of travel writing, then it’s generally best to start in a specialist niche. Establish yourself as an authority in this area, then branch out, if you want to.
This doesn’t have to be difficult. It does, however, take time and commitment. Realistically, you’ll probably have to spend quite a bit of money before you start to make money. That’s why it’s the long game.
If, however, you’re happy just to make a bit of extra income from travel writing, then you just need to convince an editor that you can provide a great article. For these kinds of jobs, your qualifications are unlikely to be as important as your pitch and your portfolio. If you have a relevant social media following, then you’ll make yourself even more attractive.
Learn some photography skills
Even relatively basic original photography is likely to be more appealing to an editor than stock photography. What’s more, you don’t need to become a pro (or buy pro-level equipment) to get decent images. This is particularly true if you’re writing for an online publication. These can generally use lower-resolution images.
As a minimum, learn the basics of composition and photography laws/etiquette where you are going and where you are being published. Pretty much anything and everything else can be fixed with editing (if necessary). Focus on establishing authenticity. For example, if you’re writing an article on things to do in Myrtle Beach then make sure it’s clear to the reader that you actually have been to Myrtle Beach!
Remember it’s usually easier to break into “unglamorous markets”
Your dream might be to cover luxury vacations in the Maldives, the Seychelles and Cape Verde. You may even make it come true someday. That day, however, is unlikely to be at the start of your journey as a travel writer. In the beginning, you’re probably going to find it easier to “go where the competition isn’t”.
That could mean literally or figuratively. The good news is, it can still make for some great trips. For example, let’s say you’d like to cover Germany. Major cities like Berlin and Munich have masses of travel articles written about them already.
If you want to add to them, then you’re going to need to find a new angle on them. That can be hard but needn’t be impossible. For example, you could look for one-off, local events.
Alternatively, you could pass on the destinations which are already well-known to tourists and go for business-focused destinations. In Germany, Hannover would be a great example of this. It’s known as a centre of commerce but largely overlooked as a tourist destination.
