Are you a new or aspiring travel blogger? When I first started blogging I was clueless.
Okay, I’m still clueless about blogging, but I love doing it so much I’m never going to stop learning. I’d always heard “do what you love ad the money will follow,” and “find your passion,” etcetera, and I really thought I was happy with my career choice, but it wasn’t until I began blogging that I finally understood what they meant.
I enjoyed being a teacher. I love working in gardens. I liked owning a poetry cafe. And I truly found satisfaction for several years through Americorp Vista helping people to buy their first homes.
But I absolutely love blogging. I could do it all day every day. In fact, I do! I sometimes begin blogging in bed where I have a lap table. Often my laptop is on and open to my website where I fell asleep working on it the night before.
Right now I’m mostly using one hand to type because I have trigger finger and need surgery. But I can’t stop typing! Well, that’s only half true. I’m about to go on a 2-week cruise so I’m not able to schedule the surgery until I get back. I should stop typing for now, but I really do love writing about my trips and travel (and dating) experiences and just don’t want to wait. Perhaps this will finally inspire me to begin using video.
Anyway, I’ve been thinking about all of the ways my blogging skills have improved and what I’ve been learning the past few years, and what I wish I’d known when I started. I came up with a list of networks and associations that have helped me tremendously in my blogging career.
The first one, hands down, has transformed me as a blogger. Travel Blog Success is not just a place you can take online courses to help you become a professional travel blogger, but where I have benefitted the most is through their private facebook group for members. Here, you can ask questions, and get support, guidance, and advice from bloggers who are well known in the blogging world. I have unofficial mentors who steer me in the right direction and calm me down when I’m freaking out and overwhelmed.
I’m like a star-struck groupie sometimes, but I’m thrilled when people like Matt (Nomadic Matt), Kate (Adventurous Kate), and Gary (Gary Arndt) comment when I’ve asked the group a question. Seriously, I’m like a 16-year-old waiting backstage to get an autograph from Beyonce or Adele. But I LOVE these guys!! And having access to their expertise makes the decision to sign up for TBS a no-brainer. I wish I hadn’t been so reluctant to join. I couldn’t imagine spending a few hundred bucks that I really needed to be able to buy my next flight on a school when I figured I could just read about blogging online. But I wasted at least a year. One of my biggest mistakes as a blogger was to wait to sign up with TBS. Even if you don’t read any further, my advice is to sign up asap.
TRAVEL BLOG SUCCESS
https://travelblogsuccess.com/
My next mandatory event; TBEX. This travel blogger conference is a must for bloggers at all levels, in my opinion. These conferences are held several times a year in different locations. Find out when the next one is and attend!
TBEX
http://tbexcon.com/
The list below are all networks that have helped in one way or the other. Some have meetings or conferences, some are groups you can join to network. Check them out and see what you think.
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
http://london.wtm.com/
ITB BERLIN
http://www.itb-berlin.de/en/
TRIP HOBO
https://www.triphobo.com/
NOMAD SOULMATES
https://nomadsoulmates.com/
SHESWANDERFUL
TRAVEL MASSIVE
https://travelmassive.com
NY TRAVEL FEST
THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WRITER’S ALLIANCE
http://www.internationaltravelwritersalliance.com/
DIGITAL NOMADS
http://digitalnomadsforum.com/
SERIOUS BLOGGERS ONLY
NYC YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
https://www.youngtravelprofessionals.com/new-york/
WOMEN IN TRAVEL
PINK PANGEA
http://www.pinkpangea.com/
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
http://london.wtm.com/
TRAVEL + SOCIAL GOOD
WOMEN’S TRAVEL FEST
NY TIMES TRAVEL SHOW
http://nyttravelshow.com/
BLOGHER
http://www.blogher.com/