Does Travel Blogging still work in 2020?
If you have seen this video, you will know that I initially launched my online career by selling other people’s products through my blog as an affiliate (affiliate marketing).
However, we’re in the “20’s” now… I launched my blog back in 2013. I was not on Instagram at all, and Facebook ads where cheaper than you could ever imagine!
I could write a simple post on how to start a blog or how to save money on your travels and share them on Facebook. Affiliate links were attached to products I used and recommended, so I would earn a small % in commission on products sold.
Back then, Advertising costs were so cheap that I would advertise those posts from my “World Nate” Facebook page and could spend $20 and make $30 back.
Rinse and repeat; I scaled this strategy until I would spend thousands of dollars each day in ads.
There were so many benefits in doing this:
- I earned enough money to live out my dream of full-time travel. While times we’re sometimes tight, we made it work by traveling slower, spending up to a few months in one location before moving onto the next.
- My credit rating skyrocketed. In NZ, our credit number system is not rated exactly like the US, but as a reference, my credit rating shot over 800+ in just a couple of months.
- My audience grew like crazy. From having people read my posts and see my page, naturally, a small percent would go looking at my social media accounts, and over time my fanbase grew to now over 200k+ on FB and 90k+ on the gram.
- The opportunity came a-knocking. Companies wanted me to advertise for them, hotels wanted me to shoot videos for them, individuals wanted to learn from me, and we got invited on press trips as “influencers” …I didn’t even know what that was back then!
But what about now?
Can I copy what you did, follow your path, and have the same success?
Simply put, no.
Unfortunately, (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), social advertising costs have skyrocketed.
Where I once would spend $20 to make $30, I was now making $10.
I was forced to change multiple times. To adapt and learn more about advertising and evolve with the fast-paced times we’re in.
I made new ads with shorter videos, found companies that would pay a higher commission on products sold.
Then sold my own products going directly from a supplier to the customer to yield more profit.
Constant adaptation is how I have managed to grow and keep “World Nate” alive into the ’20s. And you will have to do the same.
Here are a couple of points/ideas that could help you find success into the ’20s;
#1. Start A Business FIRST.
People are OBSESSED with social media. They see the audience I have built and think they need to grow a large following first, then companies will want to make brand deals and pay them to post photos or videos with their products.
This works. But, it would be best if you had a vast and engaged audience. And unless you have some way to produce a large audience elsewhere, say a movie or TV show, or sports professional, then you likely do NOT have an audience broad enough for companies to want to partner with you.
Start a business first… Sell something! “Likes” & “Followers” do not pay the bills.
Storytellers don’t make their money simply by telling stories, they make their money by selling books with their stories inside.
As you sell products, you will soon realize that paying to showcase your products to the people who will want to buy them is essential. And with Facebook, Google, Snapchat, Linkedin, & Pinterest’s insane advertising platforms, you can do just that.
As your business grows, so will your advertising spend. As you spend more on ads and more people see your “stuff” your fanbase will grow accordingly.
Grow a business first — not a following.
#2. Subscription-based, Consumables, or High-Profit Margin
This is worth considering. As mentioned above, advertising costs are increasing. So choosing a business model that will yield a high Lifetime Customer Value can be very rewarding.
Lifetime Customer Value = The average amount of $ each customer is worth to your business during their lifetime of purchases with you.
My little brother sells glass cleaner online. What is great about this is that when people run out, they need more. Every repeat customer increases the average LCV. Because the product is “consumable,” many people come back to buy more.
Netflix is a subscription-based model. Each month someone stays subscribed, their LCV increases.
I’m getting married soon [wohoo!]. We want a marquee that would fit 100 guests, and found a company on Instagram that does very stylish ones!
Once we locked in the marquee, they up-sold us. Tables, chairs, lights, you name it. They made it a no-brainer for us because while they are there setting up the marquee, they can set the rest up for us!
We paid a little more than if we had gone elsewhere and done everything ourselves. But they made it too easy for us, and almost doubled our initial purchase with up-sells. WIN for them, WIN for us!
Think about your business model before going into business.
#3. Sell Products Of Your Own.
Working with companies as an affiliate can be a great way to leverage other people’s products, audiences and earn money without having to start a business of your own.
But I recommend selling products of your own asap.
Why? – Most companies pay anywhere from 1% – 25% on physical products and up to 50% on information type products. If done well, you can earn a great living selling products as an affiliate, as I did many years ago.
But with rising advertising costs and more competition, it doesn’t make sense to be advertising someone else’s product and brand when you could start your own.
Sure, if you find great products you love and recommend, share it! I often partner with the companies I love. But leading with your own products is usually much more lucrative.
#4. Build a website. But MAKE it BASIC.
Is having a website still essential with so many social platforms to advertise on?
YES.
Social Media will not be around forever. Seven years ago, all I did was advertise on Facebook.
I would get messages every day wondering how I grew to 30,000 fans on my Facebook page. Now, I have over 200k fans, and nobody would know if I didn’t mention it. Now I get messages almost daily, asking how I grew my Instagram to 90k+… People’s priorities change, and so does social media.
Having a website means you own and are in full control of the content. Nobody can change an algorithm on your site and block people from seeing it as they did with Facebook fan pages.
Your website is the HUB of your business. And social media is an advertising tool that drives visitors to your website.
In saying that, simple is best. Most people nowadays will view your site on their phones. Keep your site clean and simple. People don’t sit on desktop computers and browse like they used to. They go from social media –> to an article (on your site) –> then back to social media.
Follow THIS GUIDE if you want to start a blog. This is the cheapest (less than $3/m) and best way possible to build a website while maintaining full control of your content.
#5. Use Your Skills As Your Side Hussle.
Once I learned Facebook advertising, this became a great side hustle for me, especially when months were slow.
I would run ads for companies as I would myself, often getting paid on the sales I produce. Nowadays, this has almost become my full-time gig! I have stepped back from social media a lot and prefer to work more behind the scenes, helping grow interesting companies.
#6. Riches are in the niches.
This will never get old. Building an audience within a specific niche will make it much easier selling products to that audience. While having your own product is essential, partnering with the “competition” to sell their products, can add to your LCV.
#7. Collaborate, Don’t Compete.
The internet is different from traditional businesses. What some might see as competition, you should see as collaboration.
People online follow multiple accounts in the same niche. For example, I follow multiple surfers, not just one. I also purchase different boards from different shapers.
If you give your competition praises online, they will often give it back. The result will not “take” from your audience; it will only “add” to theirs. When they return the favor, the opposite will happen.
Try it. Share the love of all in your niche. People will recognize you like no other.
#8. Sell products people LOVE
Lastly, you WILL FAIL in the ’20s if you sell crappy products. Period. The 20s will be all about quality and results.
Results meaning: Your products/services delivering the exact outcome as expected and advertised to the consumer.
No tricks or gimmicks or crappy products in the ’20s reviews will spill all and you will not be around for long. Aim to add value, and deliver top quality products to your customers.
I hope this guide helps you out. Extra-Effort will be required to succeed in the ’20s 👌
Nate – [@World_Nate]
If you’re interested, you can listen in to our next FREE training session held online. We’ll be sharing how to Create a Brand, Gain Influence, and Build a Business you will love.
Registration is here: https://wiredcreatives.com/p/web-class
Once you have chosen which session you’d like to join, register, and I will send out an email about 15minutes before we start.
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