Travel Blogging: A Realistic Job or a Bunch of Hot Air? (2.5)

Ask enough people in Bangkok what they do for a living, and one
will eventually say "travel blogging". On this episode of the
podcast, we break down some of the myths and mystique surrounding
that title.

(Direct download .mp3)


Evo recently traveled to Manila in the Philippines to
deliver the opening keynote at TBEX Asia Pacific 2016. It's a
travel blogging conference, catering to, well… travel bloggers.
Which are legion. Coupled with the service providers, tourism
councils, and hospitality companies; and there's sizeable
market. Travel blogging means different things: Some
make a full time living traveling from place to place writing
content for their blogs. Some are local experts writing content
on their blog for people traveling to their city. And some don't
even have a blog at all, doing all of their posting on social
media or publishing content on third-party sites.
For all their diversity, travel bloggers aren't universally
loved. Cynics say that DMOs (destination marketing organizations)
shower these people with gifts, swag, free food, and more simply
to gain overly-positive views that lack real substance. Is that a
valid concern? Are the benefits provided by these so-called
influencers just self promotional crap? Or are the two parties --
the blogger and the client -- reaping real benefits of the
partnership? There's a third element: the audience.
It's the smart travel blogger who provides his/her audience with
the content their audience wants to read. They aren't, by and
large, journalists, guides, or critics. Still, travel bloggers
have the freedom to choose what to blog about, some of which can
be a little harsh. Have you read the internet? So
should you quit your job, start a travel blog, and start
attending travel blogging conferences like TBEX? Well… you'll
have to listen to find out our thoughts on that.