Earlier this year I had the pleasure of being interviewed for the Zero to Travel podcast to share my tips on getting paid to travel as a freelance writer (if you missed it, you can take a listen here). Talking travel with Zero to Travel host and founder, Jason Moore, was a real treat because in the three years since I’ve launched The Pin the Map Project, I hadn’t sat down and discussed in detail with anyone the whirlwind adventure of going from launching a blog to traveling on assignment and earning money from my writing.
Since the podcast aired, I have been flooded with supportive notes, compliments and, of course, questions. They are questions I receive often from readers: How did you become a travel writer? How can I become a travel writer? How do I earn a living off of travel writing? All questions I have asked other bloggers many times as I waded through the waters of the blog-o-sphere, determined to carve a name for myself and The Pin the Map Project.
When I began this site, it was with the promise of being utterly candid with my readers about how I would get from a 9-5 job to becoming a travel writer & blogger. Knowing the feeling of wistfully scrolling through wanderlust inducing imagery while at work on a Monday morning, I remember the mix of frustration and admiration for people who had managed to become full-time travel bloggers and writers. How did they do it? I would ask myself the question repeatedly, would scour blogs and travel sites for the secret formula on how to turn a passionate side hobby into a career. As I embarked on the greatest journey of all-turning The Pin the Map Project into a reality-I learned from many bloggers how to be successful in my travel blogging; as well as learned from my own trials and errors. When asked how I earn money as a travel writer/blogger, I explain that my income comes from three different buckets:
- Website advertising
- Freelance Writing & Temp Work
- Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship
Below I share an honest guide on how I earn money, in hopes of answering some of the questions I’ve received.
Advertising
It’s no secret that advertising generates money for a website. With my career background in digital advertising, I am all too familiar with website advertising and putting together media recommendations for global brands with budgets of over a million dollars. So, when it came to The Pin the Map Project, I knew that banners were necessary to make money off my website. As of this year, The Pin the Map Project is part of the Mode Media Lifestyle Network (a network of top bloggers around the world), so many of the ads you see on my website are placed by MODE and the clients they represent. To break it down, when an advertiser wants to work with bloggers they will rarely approach a blogger directly but rather will approach companies, such as MODE, that represent a network of bloggers. Joining MODE has allowed me to not only run quality advertising on site but also connect me to advertiser campaigns and other money making opportunities.
In addition to MODE, I use Passionfruit Ads to sell direct advertising to any brands or bloggers interested in promoting their site. In short, Passionfruit Ads allows you to create an ad store where you can create ad spots for advertisers or sponsors to purchase directly from your page. The beauty of this is you:
- Have complete control over who runs advertising on your site.
- Enjoy a seamless payout process with a price that you set.
- You can include additional opportunities for advertisers to purchase, such as blog consultation, social media mentions, sponsored posts, etc.
Freelance Writing & Temp Work
On the Zero to Travel podcast I was asked what is the difference between a travel writer and travel blogger. I often introduce myself as both and sometimes people question whether there is a distinction between the two; the answer is yes. In my opinion, to say I am a freelance travel writer means I create content on behalf of another publication. Usually my stories and photography are paid for and always subject to the approval and changes of the editorial staff at whatever website the article is contributed to.
On the other hand, travel blogging means I am a blogger for my own online property where I am essentially editor-in-chief. I have the creative freedom to write what I want, when I want as well as manage the social media promotion. When I approach brands for potential partnerships, I always say I am both a travel blogger and freelance travel writer because this tells them that I can secure editorial coverage on other publications with larger followings (although ultimately up to that editor’s discretion) as well as coverage on The Pin the Map Project.
Freelance Writing
Payment for freelance writing varies from publication to publication-some pay $25 per story, others $1000, others $500; some pay their writers immediately while others will mail a check five months after publishing. The ugly truth is that to land paid writing gigs, you need to have been published on other sites, which means you’ll likely be writing for free right off the bat. When I first started, I wrote for Thought Catalog (for free), Elite Daily (for free), Vagabondish (for free) and other sites that really helped me build my following and portfolio. Eventually, those unpaid stories led me to paying assignments with FOOD & WINE, Matador, The Daily Meal, VICE and more. For tips on pitching editors, check out my guide to Breaking into Travel Writing.
Freelance Temp Work
Freelance is a renegade world where paychecks can be inconsistent, work can prove sporadic and sometimes the pressure of not having enough money can weigh down on you. Despite best efforts and good intentions, sometimes you need to take up a temp job to pay those pesky student loans and other bills. When I first went freelance, I had felt disheartened when a month later I had to trudge back into an office for a temporary job to help make ends meet; but there is absolutely no shame in hustling for your dream. In a city like New York, I am always coming across artists, photographers, comedians, writers and other creatives who hold a day job, temp job or side job to support their blossoming craft. I am no different. With a background in advertising, I will often pick up brief advertising gigs to earn money while in between travels. I going freelance, check out my post: The Mistakes I Made When Going Freelance (and How I Fixed Them).
Brand Partnerships & Sponsorship
The third bucket from where my income comes from is partnerships between brands and The Pin the Map Project. Sometimes these partnerships are paid, sometimes they allow me to host giveaways to increase readership and other times they are in exchange for free travel, a hotel stay, etc. In my experience, I secure brand partnerships and sponsorship by either approaching a brand that I admire directly, having a brand or brand’s PR agency reach out to me or being connected to brand campaign opportunities via MODE.
I recommend creating a page on your blog that outlines how your site and a brand can work together and the capabilities you can offer. As your website grows, you’ll notice that brands will reach out to you more and more in hopes of working together, securing sponsored content on your site or seeking advertising space. When selecting a brand to work with, just make sure that you are maintaining the integrity of your website by choosing a brand that resonates with your content (for example, I wouldn’t work with an auto brand as this would be left field for a site focused on food and travel).
The Takeaway
When it comes to my freelance writing and blog, I make a living from a mix of advertising, freelance/temp work and brand partnerships. There are a slew of other creative ways to make money from a blog, such as e-commerce, video channels, affiliate networks and more but these three buckets are how I am currently making money. Unfortunately there is no “magic formula” to living off your blog other than hard work, perseverance and patience. Money will come once you grow your blog following and engagement , which does take time but CAN happen!
It’s your turn! Have you found creative ways to earn money from your blog and writing? Share your comments, thoughts and questions below!
Thank you for this supplemental post to your interview with Jason. As a result, I’ve began writing for Examiner.com like you suggested and have also broadened my knowledge of how to get started and where to look to submit my work. You are proof that I, or anyone, can make this happen. I appreciate your detailed candidness in regard to breaking out in this industry.
I love this comment! It brings such a smile to my face to know that I have both inspired someone and shown them that becoming a travel blogger simply takes passion and dedication. Make sure to check out the blog tips section of the site, which has some great info on starting a travel blog and taking it to the next level:
Best of luck!
Glad you enjoyed the post! Passionfruit ads is great-cannot recommend it enough!
Sarah Y. says
As someone who is VERY new to the world of travel writing/blogging, I can’t thank you enough for offering such detailed advice! There are a lot of resources out there, but I’ve found that the info you’ve provided throughout TPTMP is some of the most honest and thorough! Thanks again Nikki!
Thanks for your comment, Sarah! It is my hope to be as honest and candid with my readers about the world of travel writing and blogging to both inspire them and make it seem more attainable. I’m so glad you found this post helpful!
Nikki
Melinda DiOrio says
Thank you so much for the follow-up post! I loved hearing what you had to say on Jason’s podcast, and this post really broke down all the details. After listening to that episode, you inspired me to enroll in Matador U’s travel writing program, and to reach out to some websites for (unpaid) writing opportunities. I have a personal blog, but ultimately I’m looking to expand into freelance writing, and I think the suggestion to write for free is a smart one. I did have a question for you. You mentioned on the podcast that your college background was in journalism… do you think someone needs a journalism degree to pursue this path? I went to a liberal arts school, but my degree and all my experience is in fashion design. Writing (combined with photography) is just a hobby, but one I’d like to turn into a career. Would you recommend professional journalism schooling over programs like the Matador U and just good old practice? Realistically, I won’t be forking over big digits to go for a Masters, I’m just curious what your thoughts are.
Hi Melinda,
Thank you for your comment! I am so glad that my podcast has inspired you to enroll in MatadorU and pursue freelance writing. To answer your question, while I do have a background in journalism if you are pursuing freelance writing I don’t think it is necessary to have a journalism degree. If you were looking to become an editor at a large publication, a journalism degree would likely be key but for freelance it really just comes down to your portfolio of published work (Which it sounds like you are building up!). As for a Master’s in journalism, I actually had considered going to get my Master’s in London but ultimately decided against it because rather than spend thousands of dollars on a Master’s degree in journalism, I truly believe that what I am doing now-freelancing, networking, taking on assignments, etc.-is doing more for my career than sitting in a classroom would.
Some might disagree with this, but I think if you have a grasp on AP-style writing (MatadorU can help fine tune your writing) and a passion for the topic then you will be fine!
Good luck!
Nikki
Lizzie @ Wanderful World says
Love this post Nikki! I always enjoy reading honest breakdowns of how travel writers and bloggers earn money. It’s a huge inspiration for me as someone in a similar boat! At the moment I make the vast majority of my income from blogging and copywriting for other brands, but this year I want to branch out and monetise my blog as well as start writing for some big travel publications. Aim high, an’ all!
Glad you loved the post! It is interesting to me too to learn how travel writers and bloggers make their money as it is often in very creative and unique ways. Some have shops, other offer services (i.e blog design, consulting, etc) and some earn money from brand partnerships. I am looking to launch a travel shop of items from my travels so that may be a new way to monetize my blog as well! It’s always a work-in-progress 🙂
Melinda DiOrio says
Thanks for the quick reply Nikki! That’s really helpful info! I’m going to give the MatadorU class a try first. 🙂
So many great tips! Thank you so much for sharing this! I’ll check out Mode right now and also think about starting some freelance writing work!
Loved your post, it’s filled with so much knowledge and actionable tips! I knew only about a few, but haven’t really started implementing any. Thank you for the amazing insight and encouragement!
Happy you found it helpful! 🙂
Yes, I definitely recommend MODE (but know you have to apply to join their network and reach a certain amount of traffic). Freelance writing is great also to not only earn some income but also help grow your following & credibility as a writer.
Thank you so so much for all the tips! This world is all so new for me, so thank you a lot! I will definetly try the freelance writing!!
https://pandaonavespa.wordpress.com/
Style in Sri Lanka says
Great article, thank you. I’ve been focusing on growing my Instagram following (3.5K since launching 6 months ago) but really need to develop readership on my blog now.
http://www.styleinsrilanka.com
Ana says
Great article, Nikki!
I am also a blogger in attempt 😀 and was wondering how to get ads on my site… So thisss Passionfruit company ( I reckon there is many of them)… You just approach them and ask if they could sell ads/banners for you/your blog?
Hi Nikki!
I just got connected to your project through Ed2010 and was bummed to hear that you already hired your contributing writer. I will watch your page for any new openings there 🙂 But in addition to just taking a moment to praise you for going after a passion, I also wanted to pass along to any of your readers a REALLY great site for finding freelance jobs. This has literally changed my life. Like you, I’m sitting in a job in corporate America, every day wondering how i can make a bigger difference in not only my life but the lives of others. I’ve started obtaining more freelance clients (been freelancing steadily since 2009, pretty local to Iowa) so that I can make the switch to freelancing full time very soon. From there it would be great to work on my true passion and do just as you’ve done here. Even bigger for my adventures are that I’m in the process of selling my house in Iowa, so you may see me in NY very soon 🙂 Here is the site, I highly recommend this for anyone looking for freelance jobs (and some are really not bad in terms of good rates, pay). I get this newsletter every week day and I can honestly say that I find at least one job I’m qualified for, but more realistic is that I find 3-5 and that’s AMAZING for freelance work. I think it’s out there, just a matter of finding it. This would be a great start for anyone 🙂 Hope this helps!
http://www.freelancewriting.com/newsletters/morning-coffee-freelance-writing-jobs.php
Shawnna
Hi Shawnna,
Thanks for sharing this with us! I’m sure it’ll come in handy to many. Definitely keep checking the job listings as I’m still hiring a few roles. Good luck!
Hi Ana, you can just sign up for passion fruit ads! You should find all the information you need here: https://app.passionfruitads.com/
I have been focusing on my Instagram as well and everytime you post something to your blog, just push it out on your Instagram so you can start to transfer some of those followers to your site!
Happy to help!
Olga Bulkina says
Hi Nikki! Thanks, for great post!
I too have travel blog. Few years ago I started to work with globelink company. They pay height commission rate. I really lovey to work with them.
Hey Olga, glad you enjoyed the post! What is the Globelink company? Sounds interesting!