It is no longer a surprise that if you want to develop a successful blog or social media presence for your travel adventures and earn income or sponsorships, you need to build an online presence.
If you want your audience to find you, building a strong online presence and personal brand is essential. Recognized Travel influencers earn money by growing their social media following and monetizing their online content—all while exploring the globe.
What is a Travel Influencer?
Travel influencers are people who create and share travel-related content on social media. They have large, active followings and make money by partnering with brands and earning from their content. Similarly, content creators who don’t have significant influence or a large online presence usually have smaller followings.
They might focus on one platform, like Instagram or TikTok, or manage several social media accounts. Influencers can also earn money through YouTube channels or travel blogs.
Image credit: Te lensFix
What is a Travel Blogger?
Travel blogger writes and shares detailed articles and stories about their travel experiences. They often include tips, recommendations, and personal insights on their blog or website. Travel bloggers aim to inspire and inform their readers about destinations, activities, and travel tips, while also potentially earning income through advertising, sponsored content, and affiliate marketing.
Likewise, A Content Creator produces and shares various types of content, such as videos, images, articles, or social media posts, to engage and inform their audience. They use platforms like YouTube, Instagram, or blogs to share their work and build a following. Content creators as well often monetize their content through ads, sponsorships, and partnerships.
How to Become a Travel Influencer, Blogger, Content Creator and Earn Income
Let’s begin with the basics—everyone has to start somewhere.
1. Choose Your Username Wisely
Pick a username that reflects your travel blog’s name and personality. If your blog or Social Media already has a name, use it for consistency across platforms. If you’re choosing a new username, make sure it’s unique and intriguing to capture attention and reflect your professional style. A great username helps set the tone for your content and makes it easier for your audience to find you.
2. Pick a Niche
Find a specific focus within the travel space to stand out. Whether it’s landscape photography, travel food, or another area, a clear niche helps attract the right audience and makes your blog memorable. Stick to your niche but keep your content diverse and creative to engage your followers.
3. Gain Travel Experience
Share genuine experiences from your travels to build credibility and connect with your audience. Your content will be more engaging if you have firsthand knowledge and can offer real insights. Consider partnering with travel brands such as Trip.com and Klook to help cover travel costs and gain more opportunities.
4. Create an Engaging Bio
Your Instagram bio should be clear and captivating, showcasing your personality and what your blog is about. Use short, impactful sentences, relevant keywords, and emojis to grab attention. Include links to your other social media or blog to increase visibility.
5. Use Hashtags Effectively
Boost your posts’ visibility by using relevant hashtags. While although you can use up to 30, it is best to keep it below 10. Focus on those that are popular and specific to your content. Regional hashtags can also help attract local followers or those interested in specific locations.
6. Leverage Geotags
Add location tags to your posts to make them easier to discover by those searching for content from specific places. Geotags can also help you connect with local businesses and audiences interested in particular destinations.
7. Learn Basic Photography
High-quality visuals are key on Instagram. Improve your photography skills to create eye-catching content and maintain a cohesive feed. Use editing tools to enhance your photos and ensure they look professional.
8. Engage with Your Audience
Interact with other influencers, tag relevant accounts, and participate in contests or giveaways to increase your visibility. Engaging with businesses and tagging them can also lead to features and wider exposure.
9. Utilize Instagram Reel
Create visually appealing videos to offer a behind-the-scenes look or share detailed travel experiences. Use this format to showcase your personality and connect with your audience in a more personal way.
10. Stay Consistent
Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and helps build a loyal following. Stick to a posting schedule and interact with your followers to maintain their interest and trust. Consistency also improves your chances of being featured on Instagram’s explore page.
So, what are the top Instagram hashtags for travel?
It’s good to stick to using general tags like #travel, #[continent], #[country], #[city], official tourist board hashtags, and our own custom tags like #sgfoodwanderers and #behindthevlog when fitting.
Insiders have also revealed it’s good to keep using popular travel tags such as #IGTravelThursday, #feedfeed for food photos, and #travelstoke. Additionally, at times you could include #bbctravel and #lonelyplanet, as these can sometimes lead to re-grams from Matador Network, BBC Travel, and Lonely Planet.
For more specific tags, you could use tracking tools like Iconosquare to discover new ones. For instance, recent searches for Malaysia with terms like “Msia” and “Malaysia” revealed tags like #malaysiagram, #travelmalaysia, and #malaysiafood, which have 29,000 – 300,000 images in each. While these tags might not drastically boost engagement, they could help us reach a more targeted audience that might follow you in return.
Image credit: Riccardo
How many followers do you need to be a Travel influencer?
You don’t need a massive following to succeed as a travel influencer. In fact, creators with as few as 1,000 engaging followers can start earning income. While larger influencers generally command higher fees, many travel brands actually prefer collaborating with micro-influencers due to their dedicated audiences and strong engagement.
How can you earn money as a Travel Blogger?
- Build an email list
- Write sponsored product reviews
- Sell advertising placements/Google Ad Sense
- Join Affiliate marketing program
- Offer services such as Guest Blogging
- Sell digital products
- Sell physical products
- Create a membership community
Turn your online presence into a way to earn money
Transform your online presence into a profitable venture! Not sure where to start? Our training program is designed to help you hit the ground running. This Training Programme does not promise quick wealth or overnight success. We advocate for hard work, integrity, and skill development to improve your financial situation through Personal Branding and Content Creation.
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