As a travel blogger and writer I am often asked the same question over and over again: how do I afford to travel and how did I become a freelance travel journalist and blogger? It is a good question with a multi-layered answer and in the world of travel writing/blogging there is no clear projectory to success-there is only trial and error.
Recently, I was interviewed by Jason of the Zero to Travel podcast for an episode on how one gets paid to freelance write and how to start a travel blog. If you have ever pondered these questions yourself, than take a listen to this episode where I not only share my experiences but also my secrets to getting paid to see the world, reviewing hotels and running The Pin the Map Project.
In this episode of the podcast, you’ll learn:
- The three things you need to quit your job and get paid to travel.
- What inspired me to start a travel blog in the first place.
- WhyI gave myself three months of travel blogging before I decided to invest in The Pin the Map Project.
- Why I was frustrated with the travel blogging niche and how my frustration led to me filling a gap in the market.
- The three ways I makes money from travel writing.
- The importance of website design for freelance writers.
- How to drive traffic to your blog.
- How to associate yourself with other travel bloggers to grow your blog following.
- The distinction between being a travel blogger and a freelance travel journalist.
- How to build your portfolio so that you can get your articles published on big, online publications.
- The online tools I use to find travel writing jobs.
- The difference between PR and advertising and how this affects the ethics of travel journalism.
- How to review hotels and restaurants that don’t impress you.
- How to balance traveling for work with traveling for yourself.
Listen to my Zero to Travel podcast here!
Sarah Y. says
I just want to start by saying THANK YOU! I listened to this podcast a couple days ago and found it so informative. I’m in the very early stages of building my site and I just can’t thank you enough for being so open with resources and suggestions for starting from the ground up. You’ve obviously made tremendous strides in a short period of time and it is truly inspiring, especially for a newbie like myself!
So happy that you found this to be helpful! Thanks for listening 🙂
Caitlin Basilio says
Hi Nikki! Great podcast, I loved listening 🙂 Quick question: I recently signed up with Matador U, but in order to get access to the job opportunities on the Access board, do I need to enroll in a class? Please get back to me when you can. Thank you!
Hi Caitlin,
I believe you do need to enroll in a class. I had enrolled in the fundamentals of Travel Writing (great course and awesome instructors who give tailored feedback) and would highly recommend it. That was almost a year ago and I still actively use the access board a few times a week!
Caitlin Basilio says
Great, thank you! I will definitely think about it. I recently got accepted to journalism grad school so I’m not sure if I will be able to balance the two, but maybe I will look into it for this summer before I start. Thanks again 🙂