This is a sponsored post, however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. You can read more about sponsorships and collaborations in my disclaimer here.
If you’re a brand looking to work with travel bloggers but you don’t know where to begin then don’t worry, you have definitely come to the right place.
Navigating the world of bloggers and influencers can be incredibly difficult, especially if you don’t have any experience in the area. From contracts and fees to declarations and regulations, there’s a lot more that goes into a collaboration than you may think.
Luckily, I’ve worked on both sides of the industry and having worked on a range of different partnerships with travel brands alike, I thought I’d create a guide for those looking to dip their toes in the ‘travel blogger’ water…
To start, I thought it would be best to take a look at the various different types of travel influencer that you may want to work with.
Types of Travel Blogger
Travel Blogger
A travel blogger is someone that owns their own website where they publish blogs that relate to travel. From destination guides to top ten lists, they will usually cover the basics when it comes to travel.
In some cases, you may come across a travel blogger with a niche. These people are great to work with if you’re looking to reach a specific audience. For example, I have a predominately plus size audience so for those looking to show their brand is plus-size friendly, I would be a great fit. The same goes for niches adventure travel, solo travel, Black travel, LGBTQ+ travel, over 50’s travel and so much more.
Travel bloggers are likely to have their own social media accounts alongside their blogs, which is great if you’re looking for a link AND social content.
Social Media Travel Influencer
Social media travel influencers are similar to travel bloggers in terms of what they do, only they don’t have a blog where they post their own content. Instead, they will create content for multiple different social media channels. From Instagram to TikTok, you may want to consider working with a social media influencer if you’re looking for something a little more specific.
Travel Writer
A travel writer is someone who writes for various different publications, from newspapers to online brands. If you’re looking for a high-quality link on a trusted site, a travel writer is a great route to go down. For a guide on becoming a travel writer, you can visit this site here.
How To Work With A Travel Blogger Or Influencer
Now for the tricky part – deciding on the type of collaboration you would like to enter into.
With so many different ways in which you can work with bloggers and influencers, you need to be sure you’re choosing the best possible option for your brand. This means evaluating each of your options and coming up with a plan. Whether that’s combining a number of different methods or putting all of your efforts into one, the more time you spend on your strategy, the better.
So, what are the different ways in which you can work with a travel blogger or influencer?
Sponsored Social Media Posts
One of the most common ways a brand may want to work with a blogger or influencers is through sponsored social media content. Whether it’s a one-off post of something that they do on a monthly basis, sponsored social media content is a great way to improve your reach as a brand. As more and more bloggers start to talk about you and the positive experiences they have had, the credibly of your brand will start to improve. This, of course, means that bloggers will have had to have tried your service or product in order to create an honest and trustworthy post.
If you’re a camping brand, for example, there is no use working with someone who is usually seen talking about luxury hotels on social media.
Whether this means you offer gifted products and services to bloggers or you offer them a fee, you need to be sure you’re working with bloggers that are both authentic and relevant to your niche. If you’re a camping brand, for example, there is no use working with someone who is usually seen talking about luxury hotels on social media. Not only will it look out of place for the blogger, but it will also show how little research you have done.
When speaking of sponsored social media posts, it’s important to note that although some bloggers and influencers will happily create content in return for a gifted product, most will also have fees they charge as standard.
Sponsored Content
Another way on which you can work with travel bloggers is to ask them to create sponsored content for their blog. Of course, this will only work for those that own their own site as you will be asking them to write something that fits in with the content they usually write.
Note: when it comes to sponsored content you can also ask a blogger to write it themselves or you can provide it for them. It’s worth noting, however, that not a lot of bloggers will accept a guest posts on their site, mainly because they prefer to write content in their own personal style.
To place sponsored content on a UK travel bloggers blog, you can reach out to people in-house or you can work with companies that do it for you. A great example of this is Get Blogged.
Who Are Get Blogged?
For those that don’t know, Get Blogged connect bloggers and brands together for meaningful collaborations. With over 10,000 bloggers in a range of different niches using the platform, you can be sure you’re being paired with the right bloggers for the job every single time. Whether that’s for a one-off link placement or a social media campaign, the team at Get Blogged will do all the heavy lifting for you.
I have worked with Get Blogged as a blogger for a number of years and each time I have been connected with brands that fit my niche perfectly! They’re always incredibly helpful when it comes to suggesting a brief for the content but in terms of allowing me to write in my own style, the freedom is definitely there. This means I not only get to write about brands I relate to, but I get to do it in my own style too.
Press Trips
Travel bloggers are also likely to go on press trips run by both tourist destinations and brands in the travel industry.
Whether it’s a local hotel stay or an all-inclusive cruise, by inviting a blogger to experience what your business is all about in person, you can be guaranteed you’re going to receive high-quality content.
Press trips are definitely one of the most expensive ways in which you can work with a blogger but in terms of value, the content that you receive will make the experience worth it. Not only that, but any content created is something you will be able to share on your own social media channels, with permission of course.
If you are thinking of running a press trip, you may also want to consider a group trip. This is where five or six bloggers will attend at the same time, helping one another to create content as they experience what you have to offer. Not only is it more efficient when it comes to time and money, but it also encourages those that attend to be a little more creative with their content. Having done both solo and group press trips, I can honestly say that group press trips have allowed me to create some of my best content yet.
The best trips are the ones that include unique experiences, like the one time I got to fly in a private plane. It definitely had me wondering how much does it cost to buy a private jet?
Event Attendance
I have attended a lot of events in my time as a blogger, most of which have been by travel brands and tourism boards. From rum cocktails with the Barbados tourism board to casino set-ups for Trek America, the amount of creativity you put into an influencer event will determine how well it does. Remember, the more Instagramable, the better.
Although there are lots of different ways in which you can work with bloggers and influencers, they are definitely some of the best places to start.
Where To Find Travel Bloggers And Influencers
One of the hardest things to do as a brand is to find bloggers that align with your values as a business. With so many to choose from, knowing where to begin can be a little daunting. To help, here are just a couple of the places I recommend you looking for people to work with:
Social Media
If you’re looking to work with a blogger or influencer, chances are you will be able to find them on social media. By searching hashtags such as #uktravelbloggers and #travelblog on relevant social media platforms, you will be able to look at a wide range of potential people to work within just a few short minutes. If you come across someone you like, save their details and add them to your shortlist.
Google Search
By searching for the type of blogger you want to work with, you should be able to pull up a range of different results on Google. If you’re looking for someone who has strong SEO skills, this could be a great test to see if they’re ranking for the relevant keywords.
Facebook Groups
If you’re struggling to find bloggers you want to work with, Facebook groups are another great tool. With lots of different groups available for UK Bloggers, you can post a callout in several groups and end up with a wide range of people to look through. When doing this, it’s important you check the rules and guidelines of each group first as some groups don’t allow you to collect emails and contact details without a Google Form.
Competitor Research
Although it’s a little sneaky, it’s always worth taking a look at who your competitors have been working with. Usually, a quick scroll of their Instagram feed and campaign hashtags will tell you all you need to know.
Five Travel Blogs You Should Be Working With
There are so many incredible travel bloggers UK that you should be working with, however, I wanted to share some of my favourites with you to help make the process that little bit easier.
- manvsglobe – with stunning photography and equally beautiful words, Dave McClane is definitely someone that should be on your list.
- dejashuu – Shu not only has an incredible personality that shines through in everything that she does, but she’s also an extremely talented writer.
- continent.hop – Lavinia tells a beautiful story with every single post and has rightfully been featured in places such as Huffpost, PopSugar and Lonely Planet.
- dipyourtoesin – Hey! Dip Your Toes In is a blog run by Eulanda and Omo, an incredible couple that shares their adventures in such unique ways. From meeting the people behind a destination to the beautiful photography they feature, I am captivated by every post they write.
- misskatyenglish – If you’re looking for someone who has a creative eye, Katy is definitely the right person for the job. With amazing Photoshop skills and extreme talent when it comes to travel photography, she had to be in my top five.
While I could have gone into much more detail, I wanted to create a quick guide that would give you a started place when it comes to working with bloggers. If you have any questions about working with travel bloggers, I’m always happy to help over on Instagram. Just pop me a DM and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
