Escape the 9-to-5: Become a Jet-Setting Wordsmith and Earn Money as a Travel Writer

Statistics from Glassdoor, an online anonymous forum on employment issues, show that the average annual salary for freelance travel writers is $ 54,285. As a result, it is conceivable to make a career as a travel writer.

Travel writing is a popular niche in the world of digital nomads, freelancers, and aspiring writers, especially if you’re wondering how to become a freelance writer.

You can develop articles with a travel bent in freelance writing by widening your bounds within the areas of “travel” and “writing” and writing about travel and culture. You can also experiment with themes like wine, beer, and food.

Oftentimes, adventure seekers and enthusiastic storytellers find fascinating prospects in the world of travel writing. Consider turning your wanderlust into a profession as a travel writer if you enjoy visiting new places, immersing yourself in diverse cultures, and sharing your experiences.

There are several ways to monetize your travel writing skills in today’s internet age. This article will walk you through six viable ways to make money as a travel writer, from traditional print publications to the vast web realm. So grab your bags and join me on this wonderful excursion. But first, consider the dilemmas you might face as a travel writer.

The Difficult Side of Travel Writing No One Tells You About

While travel writing might pay well, getting into a comfortable wage bracket often requires a lot of hard work, grit, and patience.

While finding reliable clients who will give you writing jobs frequently and pay you promptly is possible, it isn’t easy to get consistent, well-paying gigs.

One reason is that, unlike other niches, such as technical or finance writing, travel writing does not require any additional technical expertise other than the ability to write well.

Anyone who can string an exquisite sentence into a paragraph or two and make the sentences cohesive, detailed, and flowing can make a fortune writing in this style.

And with travel being such a popular topic, finding unique and fresh angles can be difficult. It requires creativity and a keen eye for discovering untold stories or lesser-known destinations.

Still, that’s hardly a reason to abandon a hobby. Many writers, including Bill Bryson and Roy Stevenson, have tremendously succeeded with travel writing.

One of the most common misconceptions about travel writing is that you must constantly go from one exotic area to the next.

Most people anticipate globe-trotting on business class, hopping from one exotic island to the next, and eating food prepared by some of the world’s best chefs – without paying a dollar for this enviable life. Well, not quite.

It takes time to make money as a travel writer. As a result, it’s critical to have another steady source of income before embarking on this adventure.

Since I began, a lot has changed for travel writers.

Over the years, I’ve navigated the industry’s sometimes troubled waters, jet lag, and changing itineraries. This has helped in shaping my career in travel writing.

So, how do you make a decent living as a travel writer and hit the six-figure mark?

“Writing Your Way Around the Globe: The Ultimate Guide to Making Money as a Travel Writer”

Here are six ways you can make money as a travel writer:

1. Freelance Writing

Freelance writing is an excellent way to keep your toes in the realm of travel writing while still getting paid for it. Several travel websites, journals, and blogs are looking for new and compelling travel content.

All you have to do now is establish your specialty as a travel writer. Perhaps it’s writing about inexpensive overseas trips, luxury resorts, cruise ship living, eco-tourism, or adventure travel.

When you start, you may find yourself bouncing around writing about travel-related topics for clients. However, having a core specialty or skill in one area will get you more business with less effort.

Why? Clients are often looking for specific writers on Google. They’ll probably look for a “medical tourism” writer instead of just a “travel writer.”

Once you’ve established your expertise, you can develop enticing article pitches and build a portfolio demonstrating your travel writing skills.

As you build your expertise and connections, you’ll start landing paid freelancing projects and earning money while sharing your travel stories with the rest of the world.

Most of the freelance jobs I’ve landed were not for publishing companies’ channels. They were for company blogs or websites like Gore-Tex, BedandBreakfast.com, and Viator. The majority of these sites pay higher rates and on time.

2. Travel Blogging

Whereas traditional travel publications struggle to maintain subscribers, travel blogs are growing in popularity with each passing quarter. The top 50 global travel blogs get at least 80,000 unique readers every month.

To make it as a travel blogger, you should consider starting your blog and attracting a similar following. Travel blogging is similar to having your internet corner where you can share your travel experiences, suggestions, and stories.

Begin by identifying a niche or theme corresponding to your interests and expertise. Then, establish a fantastic blog with a unique domain name and eye-catching design. Building a successful travel blog takes time and effort, but the long-term financial rewards are enormous.

Once you’ve established your blog, it’s time to monetize it. Ad networks such as Google AdSense and Mediavine can be used to display adverts on your site.

Consider working with travel brands on sponsored posts and earn a commission by promoting affiliate products or services. The opportunities are limitless, and as your blog expands, so will your ability to create a steady income.

However, you must diversify beyond creating travel-related articles to reach the six-figure mark.

Profit from your social media following or sell self-published e-books. You’ll discover that the method creates a virtuous circle in the process. The book supports the blog, which supports the freelancing, which supports the book, and media appearances benefit all three.

3. Writing Travel Guidebooks

Writing a travel guidebook is more involving and time-consuming, but it can be gratifying. Therefore, if you are a leading expert in a particular area or region, guidebook publishers always look for exceptional travel writers like you.

All you need to do is conduct thorough research and pitch your unique guidebook concept.

Once accepted, you can begin researching, exploring, and documenting detailed information on your chosen destination. This is a fantastic opportunity to establish oneself as a travel expert while still earning a consistent income.

4. Social Media Influence

Why not become a social media influencer if you enjoy taking beautiful travel images and sharing your trips with the world?

Social networking is a place of limitless opportunities! Platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok provide fantastic opportunities to display travel experiences and establish a dedicated audience.

On the other hand, brands are constantly looking for influencers to promote their products or places. So, get creative, share great content, work with sponsors, and watch the money come in.

5. Travel Photography

A picture is worth a thousand words. If you have a knack for photography, why not combine your photography skills with your travel writing?

You can sell your vacation photos on stock photography websites or create an online store to sell prints and licenses.

You can also work with travel magazines and websites that need compelling pictures to accompany their writing. It’s an excellent opportunity to supplement your income while documenting the globe’s beauty.

6. Travel Writing Workshops and Courses

Are you enthusiastic about passing on your experience and assisting aspiring writers? On the other hand, hosting travel writing seminars or online courses could be exactly up your alley!

Teach others how to develop a successful travel blog, effective pitching tactics, or the art of travel storytelling. It’s a rewarding way to share knowledge, interact with other writers, and make money doing what you love. It’s also a terrific way to learn from your participants and create a supportive community.

In Closing,

In previous years, magazines used to be the bread and butter for travel writers. However, this is changing.

If you want to earn a living as a travel writer, check out TravelWriting2.com or research and pitch some old standbys like BBC, Lonely Planet, or Perceptive Travel.

Most importantly, if you genuinely want to make it as a travel writer, don’t expect to spend most of your time sipping margaritas, flying first class, and making a fortune.

Instead, buy your ticket to success as a travel writer by doing the following:

• Identify a niche that you can claim and even dominate. Finding your niche in our long-tail-keyword-niche environment might be far more profitable than jumping from one topic to the next each month.
• Learn how to do more than just write. Many freelance travel writing jobs now involve images, videos, or social network posts. If you can incorporate these in your writing, your travel blog will be very profitable.
• Approach non-traditional work venues. You can start by pitching to tourism boards, brands you admire, or tour firms without content on their website.
• Increase the number of self-directed income streams in your portfolio. To be a successful travel writer, you must wear multiple hats. Consider starting a blog, self-publishing a book, teaching a course, or offering consultancy services directly.