It’s not just about the paychecks. Being a travel writer is a fantastic job for someone who loves to travel. You get to do what you love while getting paid to tell other people about your travels. What’s not to love?
The catch is that in order to get started, you need to have done some research into the topic. If you’re not familiar with the subject matter, then it’s almost certain that the travel publisher you’ve applied to will not be impressed with your lack of knowledge.
If you’re serious about pursuing a career in writing, then it’s probably time to consider focusing on a topic that you’re passionate about. There is a wealth of topics out there, and if you can become an expert in one area, then it’ll make your job search much easier. Remember: becoming an expert is a lot easier said than done, however, so it’s important to take your time with this step.
Find Your Passion
Before you start looking for a travel writing job, it’s important to identify what you’re passionate about. For some, the answer is easily locational. If you’re based in London, then you might want to consider looking at opportunities in London. If you have a true passion for photography, then you might want to consider looking for a job in photo-documentation or even selling your photos online.
Whatever it may be, don’t try and shoehorn yourself into doing something which you’re not passionate about. You might end up hating the job, and that’s not what you want out of a career. The more you’re interested in, the more perks you’re likely to get. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an expert to start with. Many travel writing gigs will require very little knowledge in the beginning. All you need to do is be able to draft a simple press release on a given subject matter. The more you know, the better you can pitch your abilities to potential employers. Knowing how to write a press release is a great skill to have.
Learn General Web Writing
While you’re at it, you might as well learn some web writing as well. Even if you’re not planning on pursuing a career in writing, a basic understanding of HTML and CSS will come in handy. There is a wealth of information online which you can learn, and even better, there are a number of free tutorials that can be accessed online. Don’t worry, you don’t have to know everything at once, so take your time and learn whatever you can. Many individuals find that learning web writing is much easier than learning to write, since much of what you have to learn is based on a formula. Once you’ve mastered that, you can move on to the next step.
Develop Your Platform
Now that you have your topic, it’s time to develop your platform. This includes everything from the blog you’ll use to publish your work to the social media accounts you’ll use to advertise your blog. The platform you choose will greatly determine the success of your blog and the amount of work you’ll be able to produce. If you’re looking for a job, then develop a blog around a popular or controversial topic. The more eyeballs your blog attracts, the more likely you are to be considered for a job.
Choose a platform that allows you to easily reach a wide audience. If possible, develop a niche platform with a focused audience. For example, if you have a special interest in fashion, then start a blog focused on fashion trends. Developing a fashion blog will make you accessible to fashion-related businesses which are interested in advertising on your platform. When you have a large amount of experience in a niche area, it’s much easier to pitch your skills to potential employers in that area. They’re more likely to appreciate the niche knowledge you have when compared to a blind application to any agency.
Pitch Your Blog To Employers
The next step is to pitch your blog to employers. Even if you’ve already developed your platform, it’s still necessary to do this step. While many travel writers start their blog with the intention of just using it to share their experiences, many others see the potential for a much larger audience. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make money, then consider creating a blog in a highly lucrative niche. If you can become the go-to source for information on your chosen topic, then expect to make a lot of money through affiliate marketing alone. The more you know, the better you can choose your niche. If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, it’s a way of earning money from other people’s websites which you’ve promoted.
Choosing a lucrative niche doesn’t mean that you have to limit yourself to that one topic. If you can become an expert on a single subject, then do so. By doing so, you increase your marketability and make yourself much more desirable as a candidate for employment. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to make money, then consider developing a blog in a lucrative niche.
While you’re at it, be sure to pitch your blog to other bloggers. If you can become a go-to source for information on your chosen topic, then expect to make a lot of money through affiliate marketing alone. If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, it’s a way of earning money from other people’s websites which you’ve promoted.
The best part of this step is that you get to choose the topics you’ll write about. If you can become an expert on a single subject, then do so. By doing so, you increase your marketability and make yourself much more desirable as a candidate for employment. If you’re not familiar with affiliate marketing, it’s a way of earning money from other people’s websites which you’ve promoted.
Choosing your own topic and then pitching your blog to employers is a great way to kickstart your career as a travel writer. Doing so will not only make you stand out from the crowd, but it also gives you full control over your work. Furthermore, you get to connect with an audience that’s interested in your area of expertise, which, in turn, makes you much more likely to be considered for a job.