your speech highlights and confirms many of my thoughts and experiences I have had about travel blogging as I continue my efforts on Stay Adventurous. But the one thing that energizes me the most – this is all brand new. Travel Blogging, Social Media… it’s new. We are creating the rules, why not create them in our favor. I know I am.

stay adventurous, Craig

I’m always wondering about that first group — the small handful of full time travelbloggers who aren’t 20 something travelers. Those making their living of a mash up of selling technique to other bloggers, traveling on other people’s budgets, ad dollars…

I think these folks are the exception in travel. I know a few writers who do all right as bloggers, but they’re running freelance careers in parallel with their blog efforts. The full time folks, well, I’m always casting a questioning eye their way. What’s REALLY going on there? It seems to me that I could make a go as a full time blogger if I a) had married differently b) gave up having a nice place to live or c) had chosen a different tech start up as an employer in 1999.

Those things? Also not a business plan.

Back to the business of blogging, adding to your v thought provoking comments-yes, I am one of those who started blogging as an innocent hobby but now beginning to contemplate the opportunites of making a living from it.

My other significant half is self employed too so we are in the same boat of swimming against the tide…..I have a part-time day job which pays well but my contract ends soon so I am keen to see where I go from here.

I think travel bloggers are playing a big role in helping raise awareness of travel brands-with decreasing marketing budgets- we are more attractive, cost effective and offer great exposure.

Problem is that most travel brands are clueless about how to engage best bloggers- this is where we need to have more 2 way conversations. That’s why Travel Blog Camp, your speech Andy, the thoughts of the travel companies there- their thoughts-was a priceless event.

I think monetising your blog-its tough to make a living alone from that.

What it does give you is credibility and thats what we bloggers must maximise and use to our advantage.

Bloggers must learn to value themselves more-whatever their motive.

We are a very special set of people-quite tech savvy- take videos, do podcasts and also are SEO savvy-so we offer a range of skills that are highly valued.

Remember that when you speak next to any travel company- the lure of press trips is great fun but your time has value, your blog has a targetted readership which has value, your multimedia skillset has value- so sell yourself high not low.

I hate writing and posting while on the road, unless I don’t have a fixed return date. Then I can use my time more freely…which is the dream after all 🙂