I have a confession to make. I’m a fraud. Not the kind of fraud who hacks your bank account and jets off for a month in St Tropez. But over the past few months a few people have got the impression I am a full time blogger. Not the case. Yes, I am a travel blogger. Yes, I am a freelance travel writer for a luxury publication. Yes, I get sent on some rather fabulous press trips. But I also have a 9-5 job. (9-5.30 if we’re going to be precise).
The reason I want to share this all with you is because a lot of people get a false impression that all travel bloggers make a living purely from jetting off around the world and writing about it. Whilst, for a select few, this is the reality, most of us also work a secure job to ensure we bring home some dough every month. I think it’s important for any aspiring travel writers to realise this.
But it’s not all bad. In fact, it’s pretty damn marvellous. Because I love my full time job as much as I love freelancing and running The Travelista (well, almost). I work as a Digital Content Executive for a British travel company which is part of the Cox and Kings group. My job includes writing for the company blog, managing the social media channels, writing inspiring content for the website and generally thinking up exciting ways to inspire people to book a holiday!
Working in travel has allowed me to see places and have experiences around the world I never even dreamt of – here’s me about to drive a Sea Kart in Mauritius
Working for a travel company has incredible perks, and I often get to travel through my full time job as well as through my blog and freelancing work. I get sent on familiarisation trips (known as ‘fam trips’ in the biz) to experience one of our hotels or products. My next fam trip is to Northern Ireland where I will spend a week doing crazy adventure activities such as whale watching, shark angling and learning to surf – wet suit permitting! (I know I couldn’t quite believe all that was possible in Ireland either when I found out – but I’m excited!). I’m also going to Amsterdam to present and shoot a city guide for our You Tube channel and website. But as well as all this excitement, I also spend a lot time in the office chained to my desk, just like millions of other people in the world. Being a travel writer still requires you to put in the man hours and actually produce the content you’re sent on these trips for.
In amongst all that, I run my dear little bloggy wog The Travelista. Everything I write for The Travelista is unique content for my lovely readers, all of which is written in my spare time. When I jet off on a freelance press trip, I write an article about it for a print magazine publication and will also write about my travel experience on this ‘ere blog. Going on a press trip means I have to take annual leave from my full time job, so I am essentially taking time off from one job to do another! But the travel experiences are incredible and are a great way to meet fellow travel journos – we always have a great time! My next press trip is to Sardinia at the end of August.
You can read my story about how I got into freelance travel writing here
Here’s me (right) and my lovely fellow journos on a press trip to La Reunion in the Indian Ocean after a 3 hour trek!
So for those wanting to get into travel writing full time, I would wholeheartedly suggest working for a travel company to begin with along side running your blog (read my tips on how to start a travel blog here). Try to set up your blog before you go for a job with a travel company as it will be a huge attribute to your CV and will demonstrate your passion for the industry. I say this because we recently hired a girl into our Digital Content team and she pipped her other candidates as she had set up her own travel blog and showed initiative by bringing some sample blog posts to her interview. She is now my colleague!
Try and find a creative / marketing / writing role within the company. It’s amazing how much you will learn about the travel industry and you’ll pick up some great contacts along the way. Heck, you might even get sent on fam trips too like me, which will provide you with some awesome content for your blog. All easier said than done but the jobs are out there, and somebody’s got to do them! Why shouldn’t it be you?
So a day in the life of this little travel blogger is pretty crazy. I often find it hard to switch off and I am constantly drafting up new blog posts in my head on my commute to work or in the gym. I’m pretty addicted to my iPhone, my laptop and my blog. With my finger in so many different pies, I often spend over 50 hours a week working and writing, glued to the monitor of a PC or my laptop. It’s a lot of hard work, but it also the perks in travel are indescribable and worth every moment of overtime. I wake up thinking about travel and I go to sleep thinking about travel –but why wouldn’t I? It’s my passion, and if you love what you do, work often doesn’t feel like work at all. So I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Once a blogger – always a blogger! I am forever taking photos, writing notes and questioning locals about the places I visit – even when I am actually on HOLIDAY !
Are you an aspiring travel writer? Are you a current travel blogger who also works full time? If this post has inspired you or you can relate in some way, leave me a comment in the box below! I would love to hear from you x
And Just in case you were wondering…
What is a ‘Press Trip’? A press trip usually coordinated by the PR Company of a hotel or tourist board. The PR agency invites journalists to experience the hotel / destination, all free of charge. The journalist then writes an article about their experience for their relevant publication, providing publicity for the hotel or tourist board.
What is a ‘familiarisation trip’? A familiarisation trip is when members of a travel company or agency are invited to experience a hotel or product that that company sells. Whilst Press Trips are to ensure publicity, fam trips are to ensure travel professionals are clued up a particular product, with the belief that if you can talk about something personally you are more likely to be able to sell it to a customer.
I just found your blog and am really enjoying your advice! I recently started meaningofmomentum.com in hopes of creating my own portfolio and hopefully breaking into a communications career eventually. I still have a long way to go and a lot to learn! Thanks for the inspiration!
Music to my ears! I’m a freelance write, single mum and brand new travel writer/blogger. I am OBSESSED with my blog: travelcandy.net
It is my baby, but I am finding it hard to switch off, esp as it’s a new kid on the travel block and I’m building an audience.
If it wasn’t for gin, I don’t know how I’d cope 😉
Cxx
Thanks for your comment! Great to hear you’ve got a real passion for your blog, many don’t understand how it can become an obsession before they throw themselves into it. I couldn’t imagine life without mine! Keep up the good work as it’s slow to get traffic coming in at first. Try to see it purely as a hobby at first as that’s the way you’ll get genuine followers. Going to follow you now! 🙂 XX
THANK YOU!!!! I am a massive admirer of your work and blog, so feel bloody honoured that you’ll follow me!!! Big blog-to-blog high five!
Ps: any shout outs – as my 12-year-old calls them – on twitter, etc will be hugely appreciated too! Will buy you a G&T one day 🙂
Cxx
Hey Jess! I just started following your blog and it is a really great read 🙂 I have just launched my travel blog and I also work a 9-5 job in telecommunications which is hella boring but pays the bills! Its pretty exhuasting getting home from work and then working on the blog but seeing my articles come to life is so worth it. http://www.dirtypawsblog.com
I am really over whelmed with your blogs seriously and I wish I can make a career just like yours its a dream of mine. For this I would need your guidance.
Hi Akilme – thank you for your comment. I am so pleased that you like my blogs. I write posts like this to inspire people like you to do the same and set up your own blog! This can be the first step to pursuing a career in travel writing. So take that leap of faith and go for it ! 🙂
Hey Jess, thanks again for the inspiration. I have made a first start about my travel stories. Please do check out my blog about a recent travel to Hongkong. I was really excited about this story and wanted to share it with you. Please do come up with suggestions as they would really be valuable for me. http://akilme.wordpress.com/
Hi Travelogue Asia – you’re very welcome! Just checked out your post about HongKong – amazing story! Just a little tip – you’ve got some incredible photos in your blog but they’re all very small and aligned to the left of your post. Make the more of your photos by making them larger and centralising them. Photos can add so much to a blog post, especially ones as good as yours! Keep blogging and I’ll keep reading 🙂
Jess x
Hey Jess thanks so much for taking time to read it. It’s definitely inspiring to see your comments. I am gonna take a note of the tips and implement them in my next posts. Thanks so much
You’re very welcome 🙂
I’ve got to agree– as a travel blogger, it’s definitely hard to switch off sometimes!
It is indeed Beth! Thanks for your comment. How do you manage to switch off ? If you’re anything like me, you’re on blogger mode even when you’re actually on holiday! Can’t complain though as I do love it 🙂
Thank you so much for this great post! I’m currently working full-time, writing for my own travel blog and about to start studying for my NCTJ part-time, so it’s pretty full on. I’m trying to get into a similar line of work to you, so fingers crossed it will all be worth it 🙂
Your motivation to make all 3 – blog, freelance and 9-5 job – succeed really shows. I blame my full time job on me not doing “what I really want to do” i.e. write, but you’ve just proved me wrong! Thanks for the advice x
Thanks for your comment hunnie! I am very grateful for my opportunities! Though I have to admit it can be hard finding the time to juggle my blog along side my full time job, but I often find it quite therapeutic to come home and write a blog post – although I always try and avoid blogging late at night as it makes it harder to switch off and sleep! Hope you continue to follow The Travelista, 🙂 Jess x
Thanks for this post. I’m in the same boat as you – working the 9-5 job (sadly not travel related) and then travel blogging in my spare time. It’s full on, but I agree, it’s fun when you’re writing about something you love. I’m sure Sardinia will be amazing – enjoy!
Hey lovely, how are you?! Thanks for stopping by again and leaving a comment. Seems like we have lots in common then, and glad you can relate to this post. If I was blogging about anything else I probably would have given up in the first week – but it’s my love of travel that means I have endless topics to talk about! We must stay in touch 🙂 – Look out for lots on Sardinia coming soon! x
What a job! And I do enjoy your blog, even if you are only a part timer like me! 🙂
So pleased to hear you enjoy my blog 🙂 Full time + part time = overtime, but I do love my job! 🙂
Thank you for such an informative post. I’m an aspiring travel writer and as I’m just about to start my third year at university, your advice is invaluable. I’d love a role within any company that allows me to write but obviously a travel company is what I’m aiming for, I’ve actually just started my travel blog. Thanks again!
Hi Kirstie, you’re so welcome. I write these posts exactly for people like you! Very glad to share my advice with you. Keep up your travel blog during your final year of studies and I promise you it will massively help you secure that first writing job in travel! Good luck with everything and stay in touch x Jess