Is Content Really King? A talk at TBU Rotterdam travel bloggers conference from Sarah Lee of LiveShareTravel and Maia Communications. http://livesharetravel.com/

1. Is content really king?
How to make money from
your content
Sarah Lee
@LiveShareTravel

2. Session aims
• Inventory your skills
• Identify outlets for your skills and content
• Devise an outline business strategy to
make money from your content.
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

3. Just as variety is the spice of
life, diversification is the key to
success in business
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

4. Work for a living
Free Does Not Pay
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

5. Bloggers are multimedia
strategists, sales people and,
importantly, business people
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

6. Where to sell your content
Print publications
Online publications
In-flight magazines
Business/special interest magazines
Stock libraries (photos/videos)
TV channels
Companies, tourist boards and DMOs
Direct to consumer – i.e. pdf guides, apps, ebooks
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

7. As people we are not
one dimensional
Nor should your business be
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

8. Build a business portfolio
LiveShareTrave
l
Speaking
engagements
Freelance
travel and
business
writing
Marketing &
PR
Authoring
books
Special
projects
(TV etc)

9. What Travel Editors Look For
• Stories that are unique
• Offer an unusual take on a destination
• From a solid writer who could transport
readers to a destination
• A rich narrative
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

10. Things to consider
• Stories need a strong angle
• Something new.
• Rich, detailed descriptions.
• A thread of an idea running through a story.
• Why should they commission the story from
you?
• Is it a good fit with the publication?
• Pitch ideas for regular sections of a publication.
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

11. In Your Pitch
• Explain who you are and who you’ve written for
before.
• Include a working title for your story.
• Give a short – up to about 150 words outline of
the story you would write.
• Explain why it’s of interest.
• Explain why you should write it.
• Offer more - multimedia
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

12. “Books have become the new
business card”
Writer and entrepreneur,
James Altucher (@jaltucher)
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

13. “With over 500 posts, how was a
newbie to my blog to find the
information they needed? I put it
together in The Solo Traveler's
Handbook”
Blogger, author, publisher
Janice Waugh (@solotraveler)
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

14. What being an author can do for you
• Position you as an expert in your field.
• Offer other opportunities to market your
site.
• Give companies another reason to work
with you rather than another blogger.
• Provide a platform for speaking
engagements.
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

15. How to appeal to companies
• Put your own voice aside and consider the
company you’re working for.
• Target a company’s needs. What are their
challenges? How can you help them overcome
them?
• Research the company and see what they’re
producing already.
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

16. How to pitch companies
• Research the right contacts
• Get in touch
• Be professional
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

17. How to charge
#TBURTM
@LiveShareTravel

18. Where to find me
livesharetravel.com
@LiveShareTravel
sarah.lee@maiacommunications.com
maiacommunications.com
Skype: MaiaComms
@ The Bar!