Behind-the-scenes of a travel blogger

I frequently get the question of friends and outsiders how I have created my dream job. My first tip, create an excellent website! Today it is not so hard to build a website, but it is useful to know where to start.

My website is created in WordPress, and I’m very satisfied with it. There are nowadays many ways to promote yourself online, but it first starts with an idea. Then you can claim a name, and you register it. Do not forget at the same time to establish all your social media accounts. Then the party can start 🙂 Do you want to know how I approach that, read it all here …

Inspiration

Since years, I have been a fan of Pinterest, and I catch myself every morning getting inspiration of enviable images of interiors and beautiful travel destinations. They make me always very happy! For years I was dreaming away with all the great spots and fabulous resorts in the most tropical destinations, till I came with the idea of doing something with it. Because dreams are there to come true.

A friend of mine recently gave me a compliment that I had an eye for aesthetic beauty. I did not see that of myself, but she was right! My website reflects exactly where aesthetic stands for: chic, elegant, beautiful and stylish. It all started with a design that I found very attractive and then Stylish Travel Tips was born.

Create your dream

What I would like to say with this is, that you have to create something that is just right for YOU. Instinctively I’ve created something that fits me and with which I want to accomplish MY dreams. For Stylish Travel Tips, I stay from the very first day in the most amazing spots in exchange for exposure and a beautiful blog. And a beautiful blog should, of course, have beautiful pictures.

Unfortunately, my friend Vincent (who is not a professional photographer yet) is sometimes getting crazy of the amount of pictures that I am taking, but it is part of the job, especially when you are invited somewhere to stay. So it is very hard work, however, on the most tropical places 😉

Dreaming, Daring, Doing

So I had a dream (to travel and visit exclusive places), and have created my work out of that by building a website (daring). Then I started to send out emails like crazy (doing).

This was the moment that I had to sell myself and my website. Very exciting of course. If you believe in something, and stand behind your concept, it will almost go on its own. While working for Stylish Travel tips, I am primarily engaged online. However, the success of my website takes mostly place offline.

Networking is a must

What do I mean by this? Networking is primarily about people (so offline). I prefer to meet people face to face first and then get in touch via my network with the right people. So head off and visit different events, bring your business cards, think of a pitch and then go networking.

I am very good at remembering faces and it is important for me to meet as many people as possible in my field of business. So do not go to all those bloggers events where all bloggers go to -and who all want the same as you- but set off yourself and follow your own plan.

Create your network

Sometimes you meet someone where you bond with, but who cannot do something specific for you right now. It is important to keep such contact warm and to make sure that you’re on the “top of mind” of that person. In case something pops up, your contact will think again of you.

Maintain your contacts

A very simple way to reach the attention of your contacts is to send them a card. That may be a custom-made card with your own logo on it or a personal card with a personalized picture and text. Be creatively and give it a personal touch.

I recently made 40! custom made cards using Webprint. You can also choose to order, via their website “World of Cards”, badges of 10 cards that you can personalize all by yourself. Super convenient. I took so many beautiful pictures during my trips this year that I wanted to thank everyone individually with a personal note to show them my appreciation for the collaboration. 

Go travelling!

If you want to become a travel blogger, you obviously need to have a passion for travelling. As a little girl, I always dreamed away in front of a world map, and I had only one wish: to see as much as possible of the world! During my studies and for my work, I have always traveled a lot. However, after several years, I did not feel myself home anymore in a business environment and then decided to follow my heart. All very exciting, and I can highly recommend it. You need to be 100% sure though about your decision.

If you choose to start as a travel blogger, you will need in the beginning, to invest much time and money to be able to travel while working simultaneously on your website. At the start of this year, I traveled three months through Asia and a long trip is already being planned for the end of the year.

I still dream away with all those great pictures we’ve made and therefore the quote “Travel is the only thing you buy; that makes you richer”  fits me like a glove!