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How Blogging Has Changed My Life: The Next Step in My Career

02/03/14 ᛫ 24 Comments

I am a big believer in fate. With every bone in my body, I believe that everything happens for a reason, and every now and then I seem to be dealt a hand in life that turns my world upside down. When I first launched The Travelista, I wrote about how a combination of hard work and a stroke of luck took me ‘From Tea Girl to Luxury Travel Blogger’. The post tells my story of how I got a foot in the ever-so-narrow door of print travel writing, which also kicked off my blogging career. The post had an overwhelming response and to this day still receives high traffic and comments. I now want to tell you…’what happened next’, so sit back, read on and consider this ‘part 2’ of my career and blogging story.

After leaving the elusive ‘tea girl’ job behind back in 2011, I met the most valuable contact of my life so far, the editor of a men’s luxury lifestyle publication. I began writing the travel features for his publication on a freelance basis (offering my articles entirely for free at first). In the two years I have worked for him, I’ve travelled to Marrakech, Mauritius, La Reunion, Sardinia and Munich, with further trips to Rome and Zambia also lined up in 2014. These trips allowed me to establish myself as a credible travel writer, with a print portfolio as well as an online blogging outlet to showcase my work.

This new credibility landed me a new job doing digital content for a travel company, working on their blog, social media and website. For one year, I blissfully lived and breathed travel content from the moment I woke up to the moment I went to sleep. At first, blogging for The Travelista went along hand in hand perfectly with my job. I was shortlisted for a Cosmo Blog Award and continued to do press trips in my annual leave. I was thrilled to have to many increasing opportunities to work with different travel brands, but when I realised I wanted to grow my blog by working commercially with other brands, I knew it was time to leave the company.

Coincidently, this was the same time I received a random call from the editor I freelance for, telling me he thinks he has found a perfect opportunity for me down in London and wanted to introduce me to a friend of his. Was I interested? Hell yes I was interested.

With my blog continuing to grow in terms of traffic and followings, as well as financial and travel opportunities, I realised the only way for me to move forward in my career was to become freelance. This way there could be no commercial conflicts. I couldn’t believe my luck when I learned that the new opportunity was a job as a freelance Group Editor for a new luxury publication of a private members club. With features to write on lifestyle, restaurants and luxury travel as well as opportunities to travel (first stop Monaco Grand Prix in May), it was a job I couldn’t even have dreamt up. Needless to say, I made damn sure the job was mine.

Monaco-Grand-Prix

Since starting my role, I have enjoyed some of the most fun-filled, exciting and glamorous weeks of my life. I am meeting so many amazing people, visiting London’s hot spots and ultimately working on new publication that I truly love and believe in. I also keep up the blog in my spare time and am working with travel brands, spas and PRs on a regular basis to keep my content fresh and exciting. I’m self employed now, and whilst I work full time hours in my new job, I have control over when I work and what I work on.

This opportunity came at the perfect time, and I am so glad I stuck to my guns and didn’t give up what I love doing for a company that didn’t believe in me or my blog. Blogging is my #1 passion that has opened up so many doors for me, and I don’t intend to give up for anyone. I never really planned to move back down to London, but I believe you need to let opportunities lead the way. I took a leap of faith and I am absolutely loving it, safe in the knowledge that I can continue to work, blog and travel in perfect harmony!

Have you been in a similar situation juggling work and blogging? If you’ve enjoyed this post, please leave me a comment in the box below. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and make sure I reply to every single one! x

 

24 Comments

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Comments

  1. Katie says

    6th October 2014 at 11:44 am

    I came across your blog on the Cosmo site and I’m so glad you’ve been nominated (& I’m sorry it’s too late for me to vote now)! I’ve just read parts 1 and 2 of your blogging and freelance journey and you’ve really inspired me! It’s exactly what I needed on a rainy Monday morning haha!

    Reply
  2. Andrea says

    8th July 2014 at 10:50 am

    What an inspiring read! It’s so bubbling over with passion and your enthusiasm is infectious – it’s fabulous to see people living out their dreams. Andrea x
    somekindofwanderlust.com

    Reply
  3. mecopybird says

    7th July 2014 at 4:23 pm

    Hi Jess, I’m a travelling bird too and I’ve just set up my new blog site: firstimeworld.wordpress.com

    I would love to be able to grow it like you have done with yours. Do you have any advice about blog linking etc – I’m very new to this. So I’d be VERY grateful for any comments on my blog or advice or shares/linking. If you want to take this offline for advice, my email is mecopybird@gmail.com

    Thanks a MILLION 🙂
    Clairex

    Reply
  4. www.someoneelsesshoesblog.com says

    15th March 2014 at 10:16 am

    It all sounds perfect, lucky you! Great story. That would all be a dream come true for me! Jane x

    Reply
  5. Virginia says

    9th March 2014 at 5:19 pm

    This is so inspiring! Well done to you!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      9th March 2014 at 10:23 pm

      Thanks Virginia, very sweet of you. We should try and arrange a bloggers meet up in London soon 🙂 x

      Reply
      • Virginia says

        9th March 2014 at 10:25 pm

        Yes definitely – I’m living in Madrid for a couple of months at the moment but I’m back in London from time to time and would love to meet up! x

        Reply
        • thetravelistablog says

          9th March 2014 at 10:27 pm

          Wow! Madrid, how is it? Are you studying out there? Would love a guest post on Madrid if you fancy doing a blog exchange. My email is jessicagibson@live.co.uk if you want to discuss x

          Reply
  6. Anna Roberts says

    9th March 2014 at 2:04 pm

    Ahh this is such a great story! You’re an inspiration to many. And good on you for keeping your blog going. Looking forward to reading about your future travels x

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      9th March 2014 at 10:24 pm

      Thanks for your kind comment Anna! It’s so nice to get feedback like this from my personal stories. Please visit the blog again soon 🙂 x

      Reply
  7. katiecharlotteblogs says

    4th March 2014 at 12:21 am

    This is such an inspirational post, thank you for sharing your story. It just proves that a bit of self-belief and hard work pays off in the end. 🙂

    Kate x

    Katiecharlotteblogs.co.uk

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      5th March 2014 at 8:42 am

      Hi Kate! Thank you for your comment. Glad to provide a bit of inspiration for you. Self-belief is essential in this game, as is persistence! Keep up what you’re doing. I love your blog and am now following 🙂 Looking forward to reading more of your posts

      Jess x

      Reply
  8. citiesandpalmtrees says

    3rd March 2014 at 2:26 pm

    Woah. I can’t believe that company asked you to shut your blog down! Are they insane??! Obviously they didn’t know how lucky they were to have you onboard. God, I’d love to earn an income with travel writing… got quite an archive with travelettes.net & BBMLive.com now so just need to figure out how to take the first step…

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      5th March 2014 at 8:40 am

      Hey hun! Thanks for your comment. Glad it’s not just me that thought they were insane. I wondered if I had done the right thing when I walked away, but now there isn’t a doubt in my mind! Sounds like you’re doing all the right things by building up an online portfolio. Keep it up and I am sure your lucky break will come along soon. Just take every opportunity that comes! 🙂 x

      Reply
  9. lruthnum says

    3rd March 2014 at 9:52 am

    Congratulations! And what a wonderful opportunity. So happy you didn’t give up your blog – it really is one that I love and has inspired me to move into travel blogging next year when I go travelling. Wish you all the best for the future x

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      3rd March 2014 at 12:55 pm

      Thanks Lucy! I am so pleased I didn’t give it up either, not that I ever even considered it. So happy to inspire you, how exciting about your travels! Please keep reading, there will be plenty more inspo to come x

      Reply
  10. awayfaringamerican says

    2nd March 2014 at 11:42 pm

    Your new job sounds amazing! I’m so glad you kept this blog up! Hard work and a little luck work wonders.

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      3rd March 2014 at 12:53 pm

      I’m so glad too! Best decision I ever made. Thanks for your comment 🙂 x

      Reply
  11. SKEdaddle says

    2nd March 2014 at 10:58 pm

    Congratulations to you and continued success in your career.

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      2nd March 2014 at 11:07 pm

      Thank you for your comment SKEdaddle. Wishing you all the best in your ventures too x

      Reply
  12. Nicola says

    2nd March 2014 at 10:58 pm

    Congratulations! What an amazing opportunity. I love hearing about the opportunities and success from travel blogging – goes to show how the world is changing, we can create jobs now!
    Can’t wait to follow on and get travel and blogging inspiration!!

    Reply
    • thetravelistablog says

      2nd March 2014 at 11:07 pm

      Hi Nicola! Thank you for your kind comment. The opportunities may not jump out at you at first, but if you persevere and show passion and love for the industry, your hard work will pay off. We can create our own destiny 🙂

      Jess x

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. 17 great luxury travel blogs. - DISCOVER GREAT PLACES says:
    30th September 2015 at 1:17 pm

    […] How Blogging Has Changed My Life: The Next Step in My Career […]

    Reply
  2. Nominate The Travelista in the Cosmo Blog Awards 2014 | The Travelista says:
    11th May 2014 at 8:57 am

    […] year on and my blog has transformed my career, taken me away on travels and most importantly,  I have built up a loyal readership and following […]

    Reply

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Jess is an an award-winning travel blogger based in Yorkshire, navigating the world as a new Mum to baby Theo. Blogging about adventures both local and global.

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Ad 💭A few thoughts on cruising as a way to trav Ad 💭A few thoughts on cruising as a way to travel 💭

We spent a total of 6 hours in Bruges, and got to see and experience all of this! 6 hours may sound like a very short amount of time, but it was just enough time to sample the city and get a feel for it. 

I think the word ‘sample’ is key when it comes to going on a cruise. Cruising is a very unique, and at first different, way to travel. To truly get the best out of it, I think you need to see it as an opportunity to sample lots of different places, rather than doing just one place in depth. That way, you can leave at peace with the fact that that you’ve probably not seen and ‘done’ everything in each place. 

Instead, you pick the highlights. You see it as a chance to get a taster of places you may not necessarily plan a dedicated holiday to. 

It’s also a chance to venture to slightly more intrepid destinations with peace of mind, knowing you are visiting with expert guidance, organisation and route planning (I’m dreaming of a cruise around Japan now, somewhere I’ve always wanted to go🌸).

I think this is a strange concept to get your head around, especially for seasoned travellers, who want to travel authentically and really get under the skin of their destinations. 

But whatever the route of your cruise, if you visit somewhere you love, you’ll know you can always return. So I’m all for ‘sampling’ as many places as I can around the world. 🌎 

Would you ever consider a cruise? Let’s start a debate 💬 

I visited Bruges as part of my cruise with @princesscruises
#EnchantedPrincess
#DiscoverWithPrincess
Ad Formal night on board Enchanted Princess 💫 Ad Formal night on board Enchanted Princess 💫

It’s tradition that on every Princess cruise there is at least one formal night, where guests get to dress to impress. There are live bands, dancing, indulgent dinners and lots of fun people watching. I loved seeing how much effort everyone made, with their sparkles, sequins, tuxedos and bow ties. 

TIP: So if you’re heading on a cruise be sure to pack at least one fancy outfit to look the part! 

Did you know about this cruising tradition? It’s such a fun excuse to get dressed up. A nice change to my usual uniform of leggings and a jumper 🤣

@princesscruises 
@traverseevents 
#discoverwithprincess 
#enchantedprincess
Ad I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a cool mom Ad I’m not like a regular mom, I’m a cool mom ✌🏼

Yesterday we hopped off the ship at Rotterdam and spent the day in Amsterdam on a shore excursion with a river cruise and 3 hours free time. We also found the best kept secret in Amsterdam, especially for foodies. Head to my stories to see what we got up to ⚓️

If you’re curious about any aspect of cruising leave a question as a comment and i’ll let you know! 💓

@princesscruises 
@traverseevents 
#discoverwithprincess 
#enchantedprincess
Ad On board and ready to roll! I’m cruising on E Ad On board and ready to roll! I’m cruising on Enchanted Princess for the next 5 nights and will be exploring Bruges, Amsterdam and Guernsey. 

Follow my trip on stories and see what I’ve been up to so far. ☺️⚓️

@princesscruises 
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Hi guys 👋🏼 I’m so excited to share that th Hi guys 👋🏼 I’m so excited to share that this Sunday I’ll be setting sail with @princesscruises for my second ever cruise.

Some of you may remember I experienced a cruise for the first time back in 2018 with Princess Cruises, embarking on an epic 10 day adventure around Russia and Scandinavia (swipe right for throwback photos). 

This time our 5 day cruise will be departing from Southampton and calling at Rotterdam, Bruges and Guernsey. 3 new entirely destinations for me to explore and share. I’m especially excited to see Rotterdam as it’s my Grandma’s home town and the place of my Dutch roots. 🇳🇱 

We also get a “sea day” which gives us time to enjoy all the luxurious facilities on board our ship, #EnchantedPrincess.

I’ll be travelling with some fabulous fellow content creators including @kirstyleannetravels @charliepauly @laurenacliffe @bonnierakhit @joshuanueva. Be sure to give them all a follow to see the same trip from different perspectives. 

Have you ever thought of doing a cruise or are you already a cruise covert? Hope you can all follow along 🚢 💫

(1st photo from my recent Abu Dhabi trip, taken at @beirutsurmer) 

This upcoming trip is a paid campaign so all posts / stories during the trip will be marked as ad. This post is not part of the campaign.
(Ad - press invite) Me and my boy 💓 I hope ever (Ad - press invite) Me and my boy 💓 I hope everyone had a lovely early May bank holiday. Ours has included an incredible meal at @billsrestaurant in York to try out their brand new menu. Swipe for some serious #foodporn 👉🏼

I took Theo and my parents so we were able to sample lots of different dishes (as well as the kids menu) and we were all so impressed with both the quality of the food and also the service. 

The menu is a very international so you can pretty much eat your eat around the world in three courses (or stick to one type of cuisine). But either way there’s definitely something to appeal to everyone around the table

Here are my recommendations from Bill’s new menu;

Starters
✔️ Cheese and truffle fondue with sour dough bread - hands down the best of the 3! Ridiculously good
✔️ Burrata and chargrilled red peppers - insane creaminess in the Burrata, my Dad loved it
✔️ Crispy calamari with roast garlic and basil aioli - a staple starter for me! You cannot go wrong 
✔️ Bill’s sticky duck salad - so light, fresh and flavoursome 

Mains 
✔️ Bill’s sea bass thali - What I ordered. An Indian feast on one plate with so many elements. Loved it!
✔️ Halloumi shawarma - a strong choice from my Mum, I kept stealing her halloumi 
✔️ Miso salmon and aubergine - My Dad raved about this. I was also tempted to order it

Dessert 
✔️ Chocolate and salted caramel tart 
✔️ Eton colada 

The kids menu was also great at £5.95 for two courses and a side, and lots of great / tasty / healthy options beyond the classic kids menu dishes.

Thanks to the team at York Bill’s for such a great experience ✨

Which of the above dishes sound like a bit of you? 🤤🍽

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