Few days ago, an interesting inquiry reached my FB Page’s inbox. It read:
“Hi Farah. How do we get free hotel trips of flight trips? Can you share in your blog post?”
This came as I am preparing for my second outbound familiarization trip for the year. Familiarization trip or sponsored trip is one where you are brought to travel to destination all expenses paid for. So I thought, why not coming clear with everyone wishing they have my life?
Sponsored Travel Doesn’t Happen Overnight
For a start, getting sponsored trip (free hotel and flights included) doesn’t happen overnight. I had been writing for two years on my travels out of passion when I made it for my first sponsored trip. For example, I went on for 10D9N trekking adventures in Mulu National Park on my own expenses that left me a big hole in my pocket and came back writing a series of my adventures in Mulu. A year later, I was approached by the relevant tourism board to cover destinations in Sarawak.
Have a Social Media Platform
Before getting sponsored trip, you need to have a social media platform where you write and share about your travel. You need to have a blog, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, pinterest etc. You have to be writing and sharing consistently. You can’t expect an approach if you have written less than 50 posts. Speaking of writing, you also need to write blog with informative contents. You can’t be posting pictures without imparting information. As you progress, you may want to work out the SEO for your blog posts.
Be friends with the industry player
I was lucky enough that when I first started, I befriended a group of other budding travel bloggers in Kuala Lumpur. Since then, my network extends to other bloggers, media person, agencies and various tourism officers. I still remember quite vividly that I had once followed a famous travel blogger, Wilson Ng, for inauguration flight of Malaysia Airlines’ A380. He gave me the heads-up of becoming a successful travel blogger. Yes, it helps to have a mentor to guide you through.
Participate in Free Fam Trips
When I first started, I participated in many #tsdayout outings where bloggers, as well as the public at large, were brought for a one-day trip around Selangor. They have a blogging contest which required participants to write about the trip and the best blog post get the monetary reward. During the beginning of your career as a travel blogger, you should lower your expectation for paid assignments. Only established travel bloggers get paid for their blog posts.
There are also voting contests like how I won a seat for #keralablogexpress.
Each Blog Post is a Laborious Work
Although familiarization trip or sponsored trip means you get free hotels, flights and ground arrangement, it is NOT exactly free because you have to write stories in return of the freebies. To come up with a blog entry normally takes hours of drafting the story, editing for SEO, editing and resizing the pictures, as well as video-editing. Sometimes, before embarking on the trip, I have to agree with pages of terms and conditions which include posting pictures on social media at few intervals using specific hashtag.
Be Yourself!
So that you know, there are thousands of travel bloggers and vloggers waiting for the same opportunities to be pitched for familiarization trip or sponsored trip. You have to be different so that you stand out from the rest. Take it from me, BE YOURSELF and stop being pretentious.
Maintain a Credible Reputation
Once you are invited for familiarization trip or sponsored trip, you have to maintain a credible reputation as a reliable travel blogger. How so? By keeping to the agreement that you will write in return of the sponsored trip within the agreed time. If you end up not writing a single post on the trip, it would only tarnish your reputation as a blogger. Trust me, the last thing you would ever want is to be banned from future trips.
In Between
There are bound to be haters or wannabes. On your way to becoming a successful blogger, you will find yourselves betrayed and you will lose friends and in my case, boyfriends too. You have to be smart and play your card well. It is always wise to only mind your own business.