Do you reckon to be a skillful storyteller with a lot to say and advice? Are you also fond of traveling and exploring hidden spots in remote places? If yes, a travel writing job may be the realization of your dreams.
But what is a travel writer? How do you become successful in your endeavors when competition in the industry is incredibly tough? A staggering number of people become digital nomads and dedicate themselves to freelance writing while touring the world. As a result, the attempts to get your name acclaimed in the media and work on brand-building can often prove challenging.
Savvy travelers agree that researching before setting off on a trip is critical. Assessing online resources and opinions of seasoned travelers can also ease their line of work. Many talented writers rely heavily on free flights and hotel stays offered by providers ready to sponsor bloggers with large audiences.
With experiences valued more than ever, the demand for travel writing has skyrocketed, and the profession enjoys massive popularity. However, only a few attain success because the job requires a lot of sacrifices and hard work. After all, travel writers aren’t always on holiday and need unique skills to curate landscape photos to perfection and write blogs that move the readers. Here are a few tips to help you balance work and play while exploring the world.
Develop the Right Mindset
Before you become an explorer who writes for a living, reconsider your mindset. This step can prove time-consuming for a traditional soul used to getting paid the same amount at the end of each month. As a freelance travel writer, you aim to achieve something that didn’t provide substantial pay a decade ago.
Climbing the writer’s ladder will be an uphill journey. But if you’re persistent and take the necessary steps, you won’t regret it. Moreover, skilled professionals take travel as education since you learn unimaginable things along the way. The more places you discover, the more aware you are of different cultures, traditions, and systems. You become a citizen of the world.
Have faith in your storytelling capacity, and work hard to perfect your writing skills. Blogging requires you to keep learning and developing talents with every step taken. Yet, making a game plan and ensuring you have the essential tools to begin is vital before you start turning your experiences into stories.
Read as Much as You Can
Get tons of travelogues and start investigating what’s trending and how experienced writers grab attention. Travel books, guides, and magazines like National Geographic and Lonely Planet are perfect ideas to find your roots. Other reads worth your time include personal blogs and social media posts.
To do so, sign up for renowned industry newsletters. Read articles by writing experts at Edusson to hone your craft. Finally, check what market segments are already saturated and find a gap where you won’t copy anyone’s work.
Once you feel you’re knowledgeable enough, pick a specific niche for your travel blog. Keep learning about the genre you specialize in and aim to become an expert. Popular niches include adventure, culinary, or budget travel.
Stop Procrastinating and Start Writing
Delaying the moment you put pen to paper won’t make you a better writer. Constant writing will. The sooner you begin drafting accounts of your travels, the faster you enter the media landscape. Hence, forget about describing mesmerizing beaches and lush rainforests you’ve never visited. Write about your experiences regardless of how insignificant they may seem at first.
Also, don’t expect the first posts on your travel blog to win the trust of the audience. The path you need to complete to acclamation is thorny and requires many unpublished drafts, rewrites, and edits until you find your tone of voice.
Start Knocking on Doors
Besides contributing to your blog and building a solid readership, you’ll need to find renowned publishers and sponsors. For example, when you finish a feature, consider sending it to local newspapers, lifestyle magazines, and travel agencies. Offer to include their brand in the article as a referral in return for a page in their newsletter.
Don’t expect to get the nod after the first attempt. Many doors will close, but it’s crucial to keep trying and calling prospective partners. Don’t look at refusals as a negative thing because you’re forging new contacts in the process. Connecting with established peers in the travel industry will also help you start on the right foot.
Travel Blogs, Content, and Social Media Marketing
In this digital era, keen travelers rely on travel blogs and social media to get inspiration for their next adventure. As a result, travel content writers with excellent narration and social skills build their audiences faster. The more you cooperate and engage with your readers, the more recommendations and positive reviews you’ll get.
Developing a robust social media presence is vital for your success. For example, update your Instagram with recent shots and highlights every week. Also, don’t underestimate new channels like TikTok when sharing trip stories with your followers.
Take Better Photos and Videos
Since photo and video-centered social media are on the rise, a few gorgeous pictures can often bring you sky-high success. So, if you want to be a top-notch travel writer, ensure you produce quality visual content that accompanies your blogs.
More specifically, learn how to use a DSLR or phone camera correctly. Take online courses about photography and video recording with special effects. Useful platforms include Skillshare, Udemy, and Coursera. Finally, invest in the necessary equipment and avoid over-editing your work.
Finale
Now you know what it takes to be a travel writer. Consider the hacks we shared to fulfill your dream of becoming a traveler and a writer able to make a living out of an adventure.
And while travel writing has proven to be a lucrative job, you can’t neglect the importance of creative thinking. Moreover, beginners should avoid clichés and well-known places. Instead, gather firsthand information on less visited natural wonders and build your stories around some breathtaking photos.
Finally, pay attention to every detail since you need to satisfy various tastes. Look from several perspectives and try to cater to the broader masses. And don’t forget that your spelling and grammar must be impeccable.
