One of the biggest headaches regarding monetizing my blog has been trying to reach out and establish new relationships with brands or PR firms in the travel industry. I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve sent out that have never received a response, either because they flat out ignored it, or because it got buried by the 800 million emails from other travel bloggers all looking for the same thing. And they say competition is a good thing. Pfftt.
I have to consider myself lucky that I have a good, stable job that allows me the freedom to pursue an endeavor like this, because I’m obviously failing at my efforts here. A LOT. Can you imagine if I had to actually rely on blogging just to put food on the table? My Lord.
But I’m learning, and after a lot of crying and holding my teddy bear after enduring so much rejection, a kind soul directed me to a site called Business2Blogger.
Business2Blogger is a site that helps connect bloggers with brands and marketing firms, providing us with opportunities to either make money via brand promotion or earn free products. The kind soul who put me on to this service had herself earned a few free video cameras and the privilege of driving a Chevy around for a month. Hey, I’ll take it! (not the Chevy, the cameras.) =D
It certainly beats making cold pitches to people in the travel industry who don’t know me from Adam, that’s for sure. Hopefully Business2Blogger will be just one of many communities I can find to help me build inroads into this hyper-competitive marketing field. And who knows, maybe I won’t be able to reach the point where I can make a living this way, but if I can at least earn enough to fund all my traveling adventures, that alone would be worth the effort.
I know what you mean, I did all my changes last week in the hopes that one day I can make some money to travel, and noticed how tricky it would be to build my followers before even getting ads etc. But I’m glad there’s site like this, and glad you are another kind soul and shared the site with us. ;)
Ain’t no thing but a chicken wing.
Honestly, I have no desire to be a douchebag and keep secrets the way others do. You have a few lucky ones that manage to climb to the top of the heap, but then offer platitudes on how they got there, rather than reveal the real truth. May a thousand camel fleas infest their armpits.
Yeah I hear that. I’m happy to help people if they ask for my help, not that anyone has yet haha. Thankfully ive met a few people recently that are happy to help in most ways, which is a good sign that not all humanity is doomed haha
Unless they’re helping you because they know about the prostitution ring you’ve got going on the side? I keed, I keed…
Hahahaha
It’s definitely not easy. But you seem to be getting a hold of things nicely on here. It’s a slow process and takes a whole lot of dedication but it beats being in a windowless cubicle.
Never heard of B2B before. Checking them out now. Nice concept.
See you around the travel blogosphere :)
It does, and fortunately for me I have a lot of time on the books and only have to stay in my cubicle 4 days a week (plus it has a window! Gives me a gorgeous view of the building air vent too!)
Hope you find B2B helpful as well. In addition to mediums like them, I find it’s a lot helpful to meet a brand/PR guy in person than to send them an email. You can blow off an email, but a person standing between you and the door, not so much. O:-)
Never give up. No only means no that day. Keep trying, resend the email, call them up. You can do it:)
Thank you, I won’t, in fact I was thinking about camping out on the front lawn of their homes too. O:-)
Hmmm, i feel another spirit after reading it, i will try it anyway….!!! but thanks for information…