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Apps for Ca$h:
How freelancers can use
media to travel the world
Jilyian Chappel-‑Couser
COM 7600-‑ Dr. Hutchins
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Freelance - or Bust!
A few traits that millennials
transitioning into the realm of
professionalism have in
common are-‑ a desire to travel
the world, social media
proficiency and a lack of
fulfillment from desk jobs. More
young adults are yearning for
careers that offer health
benefits, decent salaries and
the option to work from their
virtual offices. In this day and
age, these demands have
become easier to meet with the
help of a couple of a millennialʼ’s
best tools: technological
devices and social media. For
those who stand firm on the
belief that the 9-‑to-‑5 life is not
satisfying, the choice to become
contracted freelancers has
proven to have favorable
outcomes. Due to the need for
flexibility, entrepreneurship is at
an all time high. Individuals are
choosing to express their
creativity not just for one
company, but for many and
often at the same time, travel
and pay included. Emerging
global, travel-‑based positions
include: Travel Bloggers and
Vloggers, and traveling
photographers.
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Blogging
Blogging (short for web logging) started off as a way for individuals to express their inner
most feelings, experiences and thoughts on specific topics or a combination of subject
matters. Today, most websites are formatted as blogs or include a section solely for
bloggers. These famous blog sites are typically used to disseminate information in
entertainment, political satire or gossip. Now more professional companies have
employed bloggers to boost their creative edge. For potential travel bloggers, blogging for
sites with an established audience almost guarantees a paycheck in addition to the thrill
of wandering a new place, or the excitement of revisiting an old favorite.
But what happens when you want to do your own thing?
Blogging
Blogging Freelance bloggers have the option to become guest
bloggers for other businesses or bravely establish
their own blog sites. Like all choices, there are
advantages and downfalls in choosing either of these
paths. Allowing travel blogging to be your sole form
of work could prove to be a major task that requires
long hours and dedication. Travel blogging is a
highly competitive market, that is funded through
advertisements that are garnered by web traffic.
In short-‑ You must sell yourself! The adventures
are endless, but travel doesnʼ’t always pay the
bills.
“[In travel blogging] You are not the
captain of the ship, you are the ship”
-Robert Schrader
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§ Your readers are important!
The traffic your blog generates will determine the kinds of
advertisements you could be offered. More advertisements=more money.
§ Your passion or lack thereof will show in your work
To be taken seriously as a travel blogger, you must engage your readers.
Blogging professionally is more than a hobby, your love for the craft
should be palpable!
You should know…
Blogging
Start
your
own
Blogger.com
Tumblr.com
WordPress.com
Join a
Team
TravelNoire
.com
XoNecole
Huffington Post
§ It could take years to break into travel blogging
Professional travel bloggers did not earn their titles overnight. Travel
blogging can be tedious and takes effort to evolve from a hobby to a
career.
§ Itʼ’s not a cash crop. . . initially!
On average, bloggers can earn between $16K-‑$90K, depending on
popularity
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Vlogging (Video Web Logging), has become a
popular extension of traditional blogging due in part
to the creation of YouTube. Much like traditional
blogging, users are free to cover whatever content
their heart desires, with visuals and audio to boot.
When video blogging peaked in 2005, companies in
the fashion and entertainment industries quickly
jumped on board and sought out individuals who
were the most influential (highest views) to endorse
their products and services. Service and product
endorsement through influential vloggers has proven
to aid in company sales as 50% of internet users ages
16-‑34 are tuning into vlogs at least once per month.
Vlogging
With hundreds of thousands of internet users
using vlogs, itʼ’s easy to see how it became an
imperative tool in a travelerʼ’s belt. Writing
about the beautiful jungles and mountains in
South America is trumped by visually
documented evidence. However, travel
vlogging is more than just capturing scenery-‑
itʼ’s encapsulating the essence of a different
culture and itsʼ’ people.
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Traveling photographers
Engagements, Weddings and vacations; events that now require that pictures be taken,
not only only for everlasting memories, but to share with virtual friends on social sites
as well. Due to the need for instant sharing, companies and individuals are relying on
the skills of photographers, especially those longing to travel abroad.
Recently, the popular video streaming app, Netflix teamed up with social photo sharing
app, Instagram, to announce a job opening: paying 4 lucky “Grammasters” to travel
through Europe and the Middle East taking photos of future Netflix filmʼ’s shooting
locations.
Other companies, such as travel curating sites, often employ photographers with the
caveat that travel is mandatory. Destination photographers are typically responsible for
capturing groups of travelers, scenery, country locals and other creative shots.
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Be Yourself
just like blogging, you have to stand out from the crowd. Incorporate your
personality and creativity in front of and behind the camera
Use social Media
If you donʼ’t promote yourself, who will? Sites such as Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, LinkedIn and more, are waiting to be used as your free and effective
campaign managers. Now, more than ever, future employers and clients are using
social media to locate their next team members. Having a social presence as a
freelancer can only aid in the journey to your traveling career.
Refresh/Learn new skills
as photographers/videographers/vloggers, itʼ’s important to stay current in an ever
changing world. Stay up-‑to-‑date with the latest editing software and equipment to
ensure marketability.
Learn from others
Having your own favorite travel vloggers/photographers is not counterproductive,
it allows you to pick up tips for advancement.
You should know…
“Through videos, viewers get to know you and connect with you, in
my opinion, much more so than through writing.”
– Mark Wiens, Migrantology
Get out there. The only way to discover the rhythm of life in a
place, and to figure out what to shoot is to experience it.”
– Robert Caputo, National Geographic
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