People are always asking me, “How did you become a travel blogger?” Well, it’s not like you apply for it. For the most part, travel bloggers are self-starters, entrepreneurs, self-made. We came up with a blog name, bought a domain, started traveling and writing and worked hard – really hard. My friends always joke that I “don’t have a job” but little do they know that I actually work very, very hard. So here is what it takes and what you can expect when you become a travel blogger:
1. No Shame
Remember that girl you’ve probably made fun of who has absolutely no shame in taking multiple selfies in public? Well, that is now you! Welcome to your life of shamelessly taking selfies and bystanders probably making fun of you behind your back.
2. Early Mornings & Late Nights
When you are on a press trip (FAM trip), your days will be long…very long. Activities start early (especially if there are sunrises involved) and the days run late into the evening. Expect to be up by 6am at the latest. Evening usually end around 10 or 11pm and then I start editing/organizing photos and going through any footage.
3. No More Paid Sick Days
If you think that you are going to work less, you are clearly mistaken. You are your own boss now. You can’t call in sick – there are no paid sick days. As with any job, how hard you work determines how well you do.
4. You Aren’t JUST a Blogger
As a travel blogger, you will need to have a ton of different skills sets. You are a writer, a photographer, a social media manager, and a total tech dork. Yes, you are going to need to became a ninja when it comes to computers, technology and everything of that sort. Unless, you want to hire someone to do it for you.
5. FOMO
Ever heard of FOMO? That stands for “Fear Of Missing Out” and you better get used to it. You don’t always have the luxury of partying all weekend with your friends, hitting happy hour once everyone is off work, or going out to dinner on the regular. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely make time for this but when you work for yourself, you will work longer hours. I often spend my days running around taking photos and doing activities, so when 5pm rolls around, it’s time to sit down at the computer and work.
6. Unpleasant Climates
While it may look like I’m calmly enjoying the sunrise, I’m actually freezing my ass off and pretty miserable. (I had jean shorts on…idiot!) Safe to say… I’m tired, cold and hungry. It’s about 5am and the chill coming off the lake is freezing. But hey, whatever it takes to get that sunrise photo!
7. Annoying Your Friends & Family
When you see something really cool or want to take a picture of food, trust me…your friends and family are going to get annoyed because you want to get the right shot – and it takes time. If they aren’t bloggers or photographers, they won’t get it and you will undoubtedly get some huffs and puffs as they impatiently wait.
8. Traveling for Work vs. Vacation
When you are a travel blogger, it is important to keep in mind that when you are working with companies that you are there to promote their destination, property and/or service. It is important to keep a level of professionalism as you would with any job. Yes, you are having a ton of fun and getting to experience amazing destinations but it is important to remember that you are not just on a free vacation. You are there for work.
9. Disappointment
No, you will not always get that writing gig you want, or the sponsorship you’ve been trying for months on end. Things will not always work out the way you want and you will get discouraged. The most important thing is to never give up. The harder you work, the more it will pay off. You will often feel like you are working so incredibly hard, but it will ultimately pay off in the end.
10. The Best Job in the World
Certainly no argument there. Being a travel blogger is one of the best jobs in the world. You get to experience amazing destinations and cultures, make friends all over the world and live a life that one can only dream of. I’m eternally grateful for the adventures I’ve experienced so far and the many more to come.
Hello Krista,
Thank you for sharing a realistic article! Even though we are not massive bloggers (not yet!), we could relate to your points! We believe that with hard work and passion anything is possible! Your post reinforced what we think so thank you! Well done for an awesome blog! We also regularly enjoy looking at your awesome Instagram gallery! January 2017, we are taking a year off and we will probably spend 6 months in South America then we will probably go to Europe. We will probably have to follow your ‘tip number 1’ so many times during that trip (no shame in taking selfies in public!). Keep up the great work Krista 🙂
Patrick and Cecile from http://www.travel4lifeblog.com
Hey Patrick and Cecile! Thank you so much for stopping by the blog and your kinds words about my Instagram. While I don’t blog full time yet (one day hopefully!!), I can’t agree more with you that with hard work anything is possible. I’ll be sure to check out your guys blog and hope to see you out there on the road sometime. Happy travels and keep in touch 🙂