How To Make Money Traveling
I always advise my friends and readers to travel whenever possible. After all, it’s a great way to meet new friends and acquire valuable experience. The downside, however, is that traveling is an expensive hobby. While there are ways of minimizing expenses, you can’t do away with them completely.
So how do you finance your travels? One way to do it is by setting a part of your income as travel funds. Or, if you really want to make the most out of your travels, you can turn your trips into earning opportunities. Sounds too good to be true? Well, let me show you how to make money while traveling.
What You Need
There are a lot of ways to earn while you travel, but I’m confining this tutorial to the most convenient ones. If you want to earn without making changes to your itinerary, you would need these three things:
Camera
A high-quality camera, preferably, DSLR is ideal for travel photography. But you don’t have to shell out bucks if you don’t have a DSLR. A high-quality camera phone should also do the trick, especially if you’re active on social media sites like Twitter and Instagram.
Laptop
Whether you’re planning to blog on the go or blog after every trip, a trusted laptop is your friend. If you’re planning on selling your travel photos or doing some travel blogging, then you would need photo editing software installed, as well.
On the other hand, if you want to get your hands on vlogging (video blogging), then you would also need video editing software. A word processor will also come in handy for making drafts of travel articles.
Internet Connection
Whether you intend to be a traveling freelancer or a travel blogger, a reliable internet connection is indispensable. Not only will it allow you to stay connected to potential clients, but it will also keep you posted about discounts and other earning opportunities.
5 Simple Steps – How To Make Money Traveling
Now that I’ve enumerated the things you will need to make money while traveling, here are the steps you should follow:
Step 1: Document Your Travel
Documenting all your travels is not only a great way of preserving memories, it is also a great way of gathering materials for travel-related jobs. Using a high-res camera or a smartphone with a good camera, take as many pictures as possible.
If you haven’t decided yet how to use your photos to make money, it’s best to take different types of photos. Take panoramic shots and lots of scenery pictures. Take pictures of local delicacies and popular activities, as well. And no need to shy away from selfies! They can be useful in social media accounts.
Wherever you go, try to capture the essence of everyday life there in your pictures. Take photos of famous landmarks, but don’t shy away from side streets and small eateries that showcase the place’s raw beauty. This way, you’ll be able to get unique shots and footage!
Step 2: Sell Your Travel Photos
A lot of websites and, sometimes, even magazines will willingly pay for high-quality travel shots. If you have the eye and the talent for capturing photos, then you might as well make money out of them. Start by building an online portfolio of your best shots to showcase your talent.
Include different types of photos in your portfolio. Make sure to include unique shots, especially those which you wouldn’t normally find online or in postcards. You can edit your photos to improve them, but try to keep your edits to a minimum. The point is to enhance your photos, not change them.
Pro Tips
To keep your photos from being stolen, add a watermark to your photos before posting them. Also, make sure to leave your contact information on your website so interested clients can easily contact you. A separate email address would be a good way to keep your transactions in order.
Step 3: Blog About Your Travel Experiences
Blogging has been very popular in recent years not only because millennials enjoy sharing their experiences, but also because it is quite a profitable venture. Setting up a blog and turning it into a reputable site in the travel niche is not easy, but it is definitely not impossible.
Of course, you don’t have to purchase a domain right away and build your own website. Blogging platforms like Blogger, WordPress, and Tumblr are actually great starting points. Comment on other travel blogs and make sure you interact with other travel bloggers and enthusiasts to gain followers.
For travel websites, it is ideal to include as many photos in your posts as possible. Once you’ve built a name for your website, you can start hosting ads. If your website is particularly popular, you might even start receiving offers to endorse certain products.
Step 4: Take a Freelance Job
If you love writing in general, then a freelance writing job is something you can do while traveling. You can opt to only write travel articles or you can take various writing jobs. Freelance writing is a great way to earn money during commutes or during your downtimes.
Editors, proofreaders, and copywriters can also take advantage of long commutes to earn some bucks while traveling. Since you wouldn’t need to be in a fixed location to finish these projects, you can just take your work with you and finish them in your free time.
Pro Tips
Accept only projects with flexible deadlines. This way, you wouldn’t feel pressured during your vacation.
Step 5: Take Up Video Blogging
For the videographers and video editors out there, vlogging might be the best option for you! Unlike the first three options, vlogging is more tedious. You have to shoot, edit videos, and then upload them online. You can upload it to sites that host ads, but there’s no guarantee of a fixed income.
Once you’ve gained a following, however, you will start generating a more steady income. You might even land a couple of sponsorships. But again, note that this method is not a surefire way to earn.
The upside to vlogging, however, does not only do you make a name for yourself, but you also get to advertise your videography and editing skills. If you also plan on doing some video editing work on the side, this is a good way to showcase your talents.
