Troon Scotland
Sponsored post revenue seems to be the holy grail of travel blogging monetizing.
Toss in a few comped rooms and sponsored trips and you have a travel blogger’s dream.
But…..not so fast, you budding travel bloggers.
Trying to make money through sponsored posts as a travel blogger may feel frustrating in the beginning because who wants to pay for advertising in front of a few disinterested readers?
I do not blame businesses for not wanting to pay money to advertise their venture in front of 7 lukewarm readers a day.
Been there guys. I wondered when sponsored opportunities would find me.
Eventually I made some coin through sponsored posts.
Note: sponsored content opportunities are permanently closed on Blogging From Paradise.
I want to share how I did it so you can do it too.
One important note; I never joined networks – affiliate or otherwise – of bloggers and advertisers for matching sponsored opportunities with bloggers. The main problem with these networks; travel bloggers with the posture of earthworms ignoring core exercises tend to jump through hoops for advertisers, selling ad space and sponsored posts for peanuts, making little money, on said networks.
Again I said “tend to.” Established travel bloggers with posture make sweet coin on these networks but only after following the steps below in most cases.
Peep this guys: the following tips are the money making tips. Most sponsored post profits build by following these steps with an abundant, generous energy. Pitching or negotiating makes up a small part of the revenue generating process.
What I am saying is this: once you drive a heavy volume of highly targeted blog traffic businesses either pay your rates or hit the road. Everything hinges on the volume, quality and overall targeted nature of your travel blog traffic.
Point blank: you will make steady money as a travel blogger if a high volume of clearly targeted readers visit your blog.
Let’s dive in.
Tip A1: Position Yourself as The Hunted Not The Hunter
Generously and patiently build your content store and blogger friend network. Allow opportunities to flow to you, versus desperately pitching tour companies, restaurants, hotels and hostels your blog and advertising opportunities.
- Shift from fear of loss to love of serving to stop Hunting and to start being Hunted. This is attraction marketing.
Have posture. Be patient. Believe in you. Trust in the process. Money loves posturing travel bloggers and avoids desperate travel bloggers.
I never joined a sponsored post network for these opportunities. Every sponsored post flowed to me organically from:
- business owners (restaurant owners, tour operators, hostel owners, etc)
- fellow travel bloggers placing links or posts for clients
Attract. Don’t chase.
1: Create Helpful Content
Helpful content magnetizes your blog to advertising opportunities. Like bees to money (I live by prosperity conscious bees). Or like me to Thai sweet snacks.
See your blog through the eyes of a traveler. Write helpful guides. Or toss in a wild travel story or 2 like me. Inform, or entertain, but just be helpful to attract business owners who want to advertise on your blog.
Publish SEO-optimized, long form content spanning 1200-1500 words to rank on Google. Long form blog posts also drive steady organic traffic through a wide range of online channels outside of Google because if it is detailed, practical content the post gains momentum through referral marketing.
2: Build Meaningful Connections by Helping *Other* Bloggers
This is where everything popped for me. I befriended a ton of travel bloggers. A handful of these travel bloggers servicing clients sought me out for advertising opportunities.
But to make friends, ya gotta be a friend. Meaning you want to act like a friend.
Follow these tips:
- promote other bloggers on social media
- comment genuinely on high profile travel blogs
- feature travel bloggers on your blog
- open your blog to guest posting
Being generous attracts friends to you. Buddies who trust you reach out to you on a client’s behalf for sponsored post opportunities.
Blogging teamwork makes the dream work.
Before any travel blogger scoffs at that notion think about the power of 5, 10 or 30 travel blogging buddies sharing your latest post through:
alone.
Never mind travel blogging friends who drop backlinks to your blog through their respected travel blogs, even if it is based on allegedly being sexy.
3: Triple P It
Be Passionate.
Be Patient.
Be Persistent.
Get so busy having fun helping folks that you become naturally patient and persistent in creating and connecting. Sponsored post revenue will eventually flow in.
Don’t panic if months pass without seeing opportunities. Money will arrive.
The secret is to trust in yourself and in your blog.
Be posturing.
Allow your high quality, targeted blog traffic to grow slowly and steadily.
See the journey through to raise blogging income through sponsored posts.
4: Accept Sponsored Posts Matching Your Rate
Agree to place sponsored posts matching your rate.
Release on every other opportunity.
I see myself like a doctor or lawyer who spent well over a decade of my life becoming highly skilled and building up a valuable blog, a trusted resource; not some lilly livered travel blogging puss who barters with folks terrified to spend money.
Been there, done that, lesson learned. This is why I no longer negotiate or barter with people who fear losing money.
Agree to place sponsored posts matching your rate. Let go every other opportunity.
Ideas for Sponsored Post or Advertising Rates
After you built up a solid content store and loyal friend network, busting your tail and generously serving folks for 6-12 months, you can set prospering advertising rates. Ballpark numbers guys, but to give you an idea:
- $250 to $500 and up for a sponsored post
These prices are based on posturing blogger rates; not the rates of fear-based advertisers justifying their fear by saying they are staying in their budget by quoting numbers on a screen.
Remember guys; you built your blog into valuable, in-demand real estate. Set rates reflecting its value. Do business with serious people who respect your rates and see the value in your blog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What About Bartering?
Some travel bloggers barter with clients to agree on a rate.
Take that route if it feels fun to you.
But resist bartering because you fear losing money on sponsored content.
Have posture!
Media Kit?
I never bothered to set up a media kit because I built Blogging From Paradise to the point where sponsors pitched me regularly.
Building a blog based on posture has its benefits.
However, if you want to learn how to build a blogging media kit check out this post.
Do You Need a Massive Following?
No.
Inactive followers are meaningless to businesses.
Brands may monitor your blog following through social media but want to know whether people who follow your blog:
- read your posts
- trust you
- buy into your recommendations
- engage through your blog and/or social media
Highly engaged, smallish blog followings boost sponsored post revenue.
Open blog comments. End posts with questions. Read and reply to all blog comments. Reply to followers in Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.
Engagement counts most.
