Erin Hynes has quite a bit on her plate.
After touring extensively, she determined to begin a weblog on the aspect, along with her demanding day job. Her weblog, Pina Travels, has at all times been a ardour mission, and over time she’s been capable of develop it to supply a wholesome aspect earnings: $3k/month.
On this interview, this award-winning blogger talks about how she not solely constructed her weblog, but additionally a model, which features a sturdy social media presence of 50k+ and a 5-year-old podcast.
She finally niched down from normal journey, and her area of interest is what actually drives her. She talks about her affiliate earnings, the kinds of collaborations she likes essentially the most, her method to search engine optimisation, and why she thinks she escaped the HCU.
Watch the Full Episode
Erin begins by sharing a little bit of her background and her life earlier than she constructed her enterprise. She labored in advertising and traveled extensively in her 20s.
After touring for 9 months straight, she returned to work however missed her journey life, so she began her weblog, Pina Travels, in 2019. Though she initially blogged about extra normal matters, she finally niched all the way down to accountable journey.
She additionally talks about launching her podcast.
When Erin talks about her preliminary success, she shares that cash and numbers have been by no means her purpose, however what was most essential to her was having an influence on her readers.
Now her model consists of an viewers throughout many channels, together with social media, and her weblog is getting 40k periods monthly at current. Her podcast, Curious Tourism, will get 2k downloads a month, and earns as much as $3k monthly. And she or he’s nonetheless working a full-time job!
Erin talks in regards to the preliminary methods she used to develop her web site and divulges whether or not or not she was impacted by the HCU. She talks about how she approaches content material about totally different locations and the way she incorporates accountable tourism matters into her articles.
She additionally talks about search engine optimisation, creating content material clusters, and what kinds of articles she writes and with what particular goal. As she goals to write down significant content material versus strictly affiliate content material, she shares her methods for validating her concepts and confirming what works.
Relating to social media, she shares her technique for posting and constructing her neighborhood and the particular areas the place she’s had success.
The content material she usually creates is for Instagram and Threads, which she talks about, and she or he additionally discusses model offers and gives tips about securing them and coping with the manufacturers themselves.
Erin talks about why she prefers to take care of her full-time job and the way she maximizes the time she has to work all day after which work on her weblog on the aspect.
Lastly, she shares her plans for the long run and her running a blog plans. She additionally discusses her plans to construct up different networks and collaboration alternatives.
Hyperlinks & Assets
Subjects Erin Hynes Talks AbouT
- Her pre-blogging background
- How she began running a blog
- How she niched down
- Beginning her podcast
- Her present scenario
- Her methods for development
- Accountable tourism
- Her method to search engine optimisation
- Sorts of articles she writes
- Social media success
- Social media platforms
- Threads
- Model offers
- Working 9 to five
- Her future plans
Transcript
Jared: All proper. Welcome again to the area of interest pursuits podcast. My identify is Jared Bauman, and right this moment we’re joined by Erin Hines with peanut travels. org. Erin, welcome. Hello, thanks for having me. That is nice to have you ever on board. I at all times say this. I like after we get, uh, a enterprise proprietor on to speak about how they grew their enterprise.
Um, the main points. The, you recognize, the, the trials and tribulations, all of the ups, all of the downs. And that is sort of what we’re doing right this moment. So if you have not heard a kind of in a short while, um, it is simply gonna be thrilling to have, have you ever on and listen to about your story. Um, we’re speaking about your web site, your model that you’ve got created.
Um, and sort of, uh, you recognize, sort of the origin story, if you’ll, possibly carry us again and catch us up on who you might be. Give us your backstory earlier than you began your journey model.
Erin: Oh, earlier than, earlier than I began my journey model, I used to be only a common. marketer, I assume that was just like the work that I did. Um, and I used to be additionally very a lot a traveler.
I spent most of my twenties touring. Um, and I nonetheless journey rather a lot. Uh, however what occurred earlier than the model began is I had simply come again from a really lengthy journey. I believe it was like 9 months or so of full time journey and went again into working and simply actually missed speaking about journey, writing about journey, identical to being a part of.
the journey neighborhood. Um, and so I made a decision, okay, like let’s begin this as like a little bit aspect mission and I am going to identical to work on it when I’ve time. Um, so yeah, I used to be like working full time and simply began engaged on peanut travels as like a little bit aspect mission.
Jared: It is a journey web site. I do know it is gone on to take.
Uh, sort of a sure particular area of interest, a sure particular method you shared earlier than we hit document. Like I are inclined to do podcast interviews about this one kind of journey matter. Was that at all times the purpose for it if you began it or did it sort of morph into that as time went on?
Erin: It morphed into it. So my web site, my model, my neighborhood is targeted on accountable tourism.
So like a lot of the content material I produce has some form of messaging round how we are able to journey in a manner that is higher for individuals and for the planet. It didn’t begin out that manner. Once I began out, I might say I used to be fairly primary. I simply wished to have a journey weblog, simply wished to write down about what I wished to write down about.
Um, I did not actually assume quite a bit about area of interest. Sorry, I’ll say it area of interest trigger I am Canadian. I do know Individuals say it otherwise. Um, I did not actually take into consideration area of interest or something. Um, And I, like, did not actually have any objectives past simply, like, constructing a little bit viewers for myself. Um, it was all through the years that I form of narrowed down and realized like, Oh, that is like truly what I am enthusiastic about inside the scope of journey.
And so I ought to actually like focus my power on this space.
Jared: When did you begin this? Uh, possibly take us again in time and, and share about, you recognize, what was the, the timeframe, the rationale why particularly you wished to begin the location you shared that you simply wished to sort of get again into that neighborhood. However, you recognize, have been you sort of taking the traditional running a blog method the place you have been simply writing about a few of your travels?
Um, you had simply come again from 9 months. So I think about you had plenty of content material that you possibly can share. Um, simply making an attempt to grasp the early days.
Erin: Yeah, the early days, um, was undoubtedly running a blog. That was like what I got down to do. Um, for some extra background, I’ve a level in English literature. I went on to do an MA, so Grasp of Arts.
That concerned plenty of like intense writing. Most of my day job is writing. And so, the running a blog medium. actually felt proper to me. And in order that was the preliminary purpose. Um, and that is what I began first. I began occupied with the weblog in 2018 and I believe it formally launched January of 2019. Um, I even have a podcast and a presence throughout social media.
Um, social media, I believe I launched across the identical time because the weblog, like I knew that I ought to have a presence there. In order that went reside across the identical time. After which the podcast launched a number of months after that, uh, as a result of the podcast, I did not initially assume I used to be going to make, it was an concept that got here after the weblog began.
Um, so yeah, all of it launched in 2019 round. Yeah, I would say like Q1 within the first 4 months of the 12 months.
Jared: So that you launched a journey web site. I imply, now that we are able to look again, uh, you recognize, a 12 months or much less earlier than the entire COVID shutdown hit, certain. We’ll get into that and the way that impacted, you recognize, what you have been doing, what you are touring was.
Um, what was the primary preliminary sort of success or the primary preliminary factor that caught for you with, with the web site or the social media, you recognize, whichever one may’ve come first.
Erin: Ooh. The primary second of success.
I might say it was like the primary like huge like pillar of success for many bloggers is like site visitors. Um, so I assume like after I hit my first like month the place I surpassed 500 views or periods, that was like, an thrilling second, however truly like a second that I bear in mind extra clearly is after I acquired a touch upon a weblog I had written about touring in Mexico and, and the commenter was simply saying how a lot they appreciated what I had written and the element in it.
And I simply keep in mind that second as a result of it felt like very good to know that the content material had like reached somebody and that that they had like genuinely discovered it helpful. Um, Like numbers are nice, however actually, like suggestions from individuals, like in actual life is, is sort of nicer. In order that felt like a monumental second.
Jared: I requested that query very open endedly on goal, you recognize, it is fascinating as a result of everybody has, it sort of helps reveal like on the finish of the day, uh, you recognize, totally different objectives individuals have and the trail they’re on to making an attempt to hit these objectives. And a few persons are very, very pushed by numbers, you recognize, and there is nothing improper with that.
So we’re very pushed by influence. Some persons are very pushed by a sure purpose that they had after they sat down to begin it up. And it won’t even be all that tangible. It is perhaps very intangible.
Erin: Yeah, I ought to, I ought to say truly like off the highest, I am very within the running a blog neighborhood. And I do know lots of people like get into running a blog with the purpose of numbers of metrics of like entering into Mediavine, creating wealth, quitting their day job.
I ought to say that was by no means my purpose. Initially later it turned extra of like a. Like late two years in round, I might say I began considering, Okay, I am doing plenty of work right here. It might be good to make some cash. However after I began prefer it actually wasn’t my mindset. My mindset was not that like I wished to make sufficient cash to stop my day job.
My mindset was identical to, I actually need a spot the place I can share like all my concepts and share my data.
Jared: Had been you in, since you had a day job the place it sounds such as you’re doing plenty of writing and like how tapped into the running a blog neighborhood have been you if you began this in that first 12 months of, of beginning this model?
As a result of, and the rationale I ask is to your level, I do know I began my first web site as soon as I understood. That my content material might truly get in entrance of lots of people, you recognize, get site visitors after which additionally get monetized in a manner that I did not perceive previous to that. And in order that was sort of what pushed me over the sting.
So that you’re proper. I had these objectives in thoughts myself. Um, I had quite a bit I wished to speak about, however I did have this sort of ahead considering quantity in thoughts that I wished to get to how tapped in, have been you to it if you began and it was only a aware alternative the place you are like, I perceive. That this may be monetized and this there’s site visitors numbers, or was it actually a kind of issues the place it was a few years in till you realized, Oh my goodness, like there’s this factor known as Mediavine on the market.
Erin: Yeah. I used to be fairly tapped in, however I like for context, I work largely for tech startups within the advertising area. And at the moment I wasn’t like actually centered on weblog work for these startups. Um, I had a normal concept of like how you possibly can earn money by way of a weblog, like by way of adverts, by way of associates. Um, however I did not know the main points of it, particularly within the context of like journey running a blog.
Um, Um, the, the principle purpose like that I had, I might say was to really like work with DMOs and tourism boards in my thoughts. That was just like the Holy grail of issues that I wished to do. If the location began incomes cash, um, I might say I began like studying extra about. all of the choices like Mediavine and associates.
Um, after I began becoming a member of like on-line communities on Fb, um, I do know you have interviewed Nina Clapperton. I used to be a part of her early days of her, um, search engine optimisation teams on Fb. And that is after I began to love actually perceive, okay, like that is truly how I might monetize this, like, and it is actually possible.
Jared: Yeah. Okay. Um, I wish to ask this, uh, on the early a part of an interview, like possibly catch us as much as the place issues at the moment are. Let’s quick ahead after which we are able to sort of set the stage for a way you constructed into that and among the steps you took alongside the best way.
Erin: Yeah. The place I’m now. Now I might say Pina travels is greater than a weblog.
I might say that it. is a neighborhood. It’s a model. Um, I’ve a presence throughout many channels, um, an viewers throughout many channels. Um, so my web site earns round 40, 000 periods monthly. Now, like at this present second, um, it used to earn extra, however The Google updates have hit me. Um, I’ve a following of round 28, 000 on Instagram, a following of almost 5, 000 on threads on Tik TOK.
I believe I am round 20, 000, um, YouTube, very small viewers, however it’s rising there. I believe I am at, I like, I am at like 400, um, However yeah, all through, like throughout all these channels, um, it creates like a pleasant neighborhood the place I’ve like totally different contact factors with totally different individuals. Um, I even have my podcast, which known as Curious Tourism.
It is incomes round 2000 downloads a month. Um, I would not say it is like an earnings stream. I’ve labored with manufacturers up to now to run adverts there. Um, however for essentially the most half, just like the podcast is actually my ardour mission. And that is the place like, I get like into the nitty gritty of accountable tourism matters.
Um, and yeah, total, like if we’re numbers, I am incomes like round 3000 to 4, 000 a month in Canadian {dollars}. Um, By means of a mix of associates, Mediavine and model partnerships which can be totally on social media, in addition to contracts with DMOs and tourism boards. Um, yeah. And all these channels now, I assume, are like round seven years previous at this level.
Jared: Yeah. Congratulations. Um, I imply, you recognize, it is price mentioning as a result of I do know it is in our, it is in our sort of agenda and notes, like lots of people listening will. Lean into this, uh, you are still working a full time job. So that is all on the aspect whilst you’re nonetheless working the total time job. And I believe that is essential to say.
Lots of people who hear aren’t eager about going full time. I am not saying you are not, by the best way, however I am simply saying that lots of people listening, they’re like, Hey, I simply am seeking to begin one thing on the aspect to complement, to, to sort of scratch that itch, to feed that keenness. And that is what you have finished.
I believe the entire time, proper? Is it the entire seven years you have began this, you have at all times had it on the aspect. You’ve got at all times had a full time job.
Erin: There was one interval final 12 months the place I used to be touring for six months. So throughout that point, I wasn’t working full time. Like, I used to be largely engaged on peanut travels.
I did not have a full time gig. Um, however apart from that, yeah, I have been working a full time profession job for the final seven years.
Jared: That is nice. Very inspiring. That is an excellent secondary earnings, particularly when it is round one thing that, you recognize, you’re keen on and also you’re enthusiastic about. Um, I imply, let’s get into, uh, among the nitty gritty about the way you constructed this.
And I am curious, To simply possibly ask you among the methods that labored from a excessive degree. And we are able to sort of dive as deep as we have to into every of them. I do know individuals listening are going to be eager about the way you grew it. Additionally, the way you survived and sustained by way of COVID additionally, you recognize, you talked in regards to the Google updates.
Everybody listening shall be accustomed to these in some capability. You are still incomes good earnings. Um, so how you have navigated that, what are among the methods you assume which have helped work or that stand out for constructing this?
Erin: I might argue that like the largest power I’ve had like strategically is that I’ve not at all times adopted the newest traits in search engine optimisation and the newest like frequent methods which can be being shared from the start, I had like a deep concentrate on making my content material consumer centered and there was a interval like particularly through the pandemic the place individuals have been telling me that this was the improper method.
Um, however in the end it labored out rather well for me. I didn’t get hit by the HC who it is extra the current updates which have introduced down my site visitors a little bit bit, however that is additionally like resulting from the truth that I have not been engaged on my weblog, like as actively within the final 12 months, trigger I used to be touring. a lot.
Um, however I survived the HCU like unscathed and I really imagine it is trigger I had this like consumer centered framework from the start. I used to be not making an attempt to go for these like excessive quantity key phrases which can be like sort of associated to my area of interest, however probably not. Um, I used to be solely ever like specializing in key phrases and queries that have been like extraordinarily associated to my area of interest and intensely related to my viewers.
Jared: What for you, as a result of I do know the main focus has develop into sustainable tourism, however what was like, what are your focuses as you are writing and the way do you construction? And it is a huge journey, journey blogger query basically, journey web site. Like, you recognize, if I’m going to Italy, I write about Italy. How deep do I’m going into that?
I then go to, you recognize, I am simply among the key phrases you rank for, for the document. I’ve bought in entrance of me, I bought a Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Italy, how are they associated? Like, how do you come at from a standpoint that’s not search engine optimisation centered? How do you have a look at writing about a spot that you simply simply went to?
Erin: Yeah, by way of the accountable tourism framework. So my like purpose has at all times been to create quote unquote, normal journey content material. Um, that. that very quietly encourages individuals to journey in a manner that’s higher for individuals and for the planet. Um, so you can find very like sort of run of the mill itineraries on my web site.
I’m a normal journey web site, so I cowl like locations all world wide, um, however in each single piece of content material you may discover that form of like underlying message and notes about like the right way to be be in that place in a extra accountable manner. Uh, my web site additionally does have a complete part devoted to accountable tourism.
And that is the place I write guides which can be like on particular matters, like for instance, the right way to keep away from, uh, cultural appropriation, the right way to journey extra deeply, uh, accountable tourism ideas, sustainable journey ideas, stuff like that. Um, so I believe like that is, I might argue that’s my area of interest, however I’m actually a normal journey web site within the sense that I do cowl locations which can be all around the world.
Jared: So in essence, possibly you are a journey, you are a web site that covers plenty of totally different matters, however at all times from one singular standpoint, sure, that is this concentrate on sustainability. Is that one thing that you simply assume has helped you achieve plenty of traction, um, by way of readership? Um, and the way have you ever sort of seen that play out?
Erin: It is fascinating. Like I at all times inform individuals, this isn’t a distinct segment to earn money in. Um, I believe it might. develop into that. I’m noticing like within the journey area much more curiosity in accountable tourism practices. Um, however particularly after I began out, like individuals didn’t actually care about this. Um, so for essentially the most half, I discover that readers say they admire just like the notes that I embrace about it, however for It is exhausting to say, proper?
Like, I might say some readers, just like the suggestions I get is that they learn my web site for that particularly, and others have identical to discovered me by way of Google SERP and do not actually care about that, however like discover the information useful. Um, the realm I might say that like, it’s actually nice is that after I work with manufacturers or with DMOs or tourism boards, that actually is just like the angle that I promote to them, um, that I’ll symbolize.
their model or to symbolize, uh, their area by way of this lens. Um, so from the neighborhood standpoint, I believe it is actually essential by way of like rating as a journey web site on Google. I do not know that it is like setting me up for fulfillment, however We’ll see. We’ll see what the long run holds. I believe there’s like a rising shift in direction of, um, extra accountable tourism.
And I believe increasingly more persons are trying particularly for that sort of content material.
Jared: What has your method been to search engine optimisation through the years? , and I, once more, I am going to simply share among the purpose I am asking. Such as you, I agree. You didn’t get hit by the HCU, a minimum of not from all of the charts I am .
Actually there’s been so many Google updates, like simply decide your poison. , in some unspecified time in the future one was going to return up and get you, it appears, however it wasn’t useful content material replace associated. And, and so that you, you in essence have content material that the place you could have finished some S you could have taken considerably of an search engine optimisation method at totally different phases from what you have stated, however it wasn’t something that bought hit by that useful content material replace.
What was your search engine optimisation method? And once more, asking, trigger so many individuals listening are actually curious at, um, at totally different content material approaches that did not get hit by the HCU.
Erin: Mm hmm. Um, like I discussed earlier than, like an enormous concentrate on consumer. Um, I solely goal key phrases which can be truly very associated to my area of interest and which can be very in depth.
So, like an excellent instance is like, Particularly through the pandemic, individuals have been simply making an attempt to rank for like excessive question, um, or excessive quantity queries. Um, so for instance, it could be like a easy query like, um, that is truly on my web site. I have been that means to take away it, however what’s the authorized consuming age in Iceland?
Um, that is a weblog that I wrote throughout pandemic occasions as a result of somebody I used to be working with instructed me that prefer it’s excessive quantity, you may rank for this, like you must seize that viewers. Um, I’ve only a few blogs like that as a result of whereas they do drive site visitors, they are not like a spot the place you’ll be able to actually like share who you might be, share your insights, share plenty of element.
Um, it is actually identical to a regurgitation of data that already exists on the web. Um, so it would not serve my goal of like constructing an viewers that’s going to return again to me. Um, so yeah, I might say, like, mid pandemic, I began shifting to writing, like, guides that have been very distinctive to me, um, so you may discover, like, a recurring theme on my web site is guides which can be what to not do in, and these are guides which can be, like, useful recommendations on a spot, however by way of the context of accountable tourism, um, they’re very lengthy, they’re very in depth, they share plenty of, like, cultural element, they share plenty of, like, Element about how you must interact with a spot.
Um, I additionally do plenty of itineraries which can be tried and true that I’ve examined that I’ve written primarily based alone expertise. They embrace plenty of element about like the place to go and eat, what to eat there. Um, the place to remain. And I make it possible for like, it is all stuff that I can truly communicate to as a result of I’ve finished it.
And since, um, as a result of I’ve finished it, I can share element that such as you would not discover elsewhere. Um, so I might say like that. Has been the principle focus. There’s different issues that I’ve finished that like simply out of shape that I believe have helped. So for instance, I’m a normal journey web site, however I’ll by no means write lower than 10 blogs about a spot.
So every time I begin writing a few new nation, the purpose is to get to a minimum of 10 blogs. Usually, I am making an attempt to write down extra. So for instance, I believe I’ve like 25 blogs on Portugal. Um, so there’s plenty of locations that I have been on the earth that I have not written about but as a result of I am not prepared to love begin writing 10 blogs about them.
Um, so there’s identical to a number of nations on my web site that I am identical to doing deep dives into earlier than I transfer on to a different one.
Jared: I believe you sort of put a pleasant tremendous level on that matter, that question, as a result of that was all the trend, proper? Particularly in 2020, 2021, even into 2022. Really easy to seize site visitors round that.
After which with the onset of AI and with the best way Google checked out these kinds of websites, like, um, yeah, that, that went away and simply vanished, proper? The opposite
Erin: factor I am going to point out is I do not do plenty of, uh, Like roundup posts, like the very best lodges to remain in, the very best excursions to take, and the rationale that I began this initially was as a result of I, I have not finished all 15 excursions.
Like, what can I say about these excursions that, like, TripAdvisor, would not already say. Proper. And so I at all times like felt that that sort of content material was pointless and one thing I observed within the HCU was that like lots of people that have been like filling their websites with this sort of content material as a result of it’s affiliate content material, it makes you cash, um, they bought hit fairly badly as a result of like, That sort of content material is not serving customers.
It isn’t like constructing a neighborhood in a manner that like a rather well thought out itinerary.
Jared: so how did you measure and validate what was working? If the method wasn’t go after this key phrase, get that site visitors, transfer on to the subsequent key phrase, go after that affiliate time period, get that monetization, transfer on the subsequent time period.
How have been you evaluating? I went to Portugal, I wrote 12 articles. And the way do we all know if it is working?
Erin: Oh, I actually simply have a look at analytics. Like I would have a look at search site visitors, analytics, um, rankings. After which my technique is to take a look at just like the fashion of weblog. I imply, it is a frequent follow. So for instance, like I began noticing that my blogs on whatnot to do have been performing fairly properly.
And in order that turned an everyday behavior as did, um, itineraries, like 5 day, seven day, three day itineraries. Um, I simply fastidiously tracked form of like what kind of content material was performing the very best and slowly shifted all my content material to comply with that mannequin. So truly like at this level, most of my blogs fall into like particular pillars of kind of content material, kind of question that they are answering.
Um, yeah. And most of it is not affiliate centered. And that is simply because I observed after the HCU that my web site had finished properly. And I am fairly certain that that is why.
Jared: Let’s discuss these social media accounts. Um, you recognize, I wrote down, you began these in 2019, couple months after the web site ish. Um, you recognize, the place are these, uh, you share the place they’re at now.
Sorry. Um, what’s been the method and what’s been the method for posting to these as you recognize, you are now six, seven years in on, on this web site.
Erin: Yeah, I do know lots of people have like a really, um, thought out, like, technique with regards to social media. For me, like, my technique has simply been to, like, publish what I really feel like posting and attempt to, like, share.
a story by way of what I am posting. Um, and that has labored rather well as a result of I believe that folks really feel like they will actually join with me and so they have an concept of who I’m, what sort of content material to anticipate from me. Um, the one like actually guidelines that I’ve adopted is to be energetic, to publish typically. Um, And to only, like, attempt to relate every thing I publish again to my area of interest.
I, I used to, like, hop on plenty of the traits, um, and over time I noticed that, like, whereas they’ve the potential to go viral, typically, like, going viral with, like, a classy video would not truly earn you, uh, a brand new viewers. It is truly the extra, like, distinctive content material that I’ve made that, that builds up my viewers and creates an viewers that sticks round and, like, engages with my content material.
Um, one other, like, piece that I believe. is possibly distinctive to me is that I put plenty of effort into responding to individuals. Um, I do know different creators that like do not go into their hidden folder and, and reply questions. I do know plenty of bloggers particularly really feel like a little bit aggravated when individuals ask them for like assist planning my journey.
Um, however that is one thing I’ve at all times finished and prefer it takes plenty of time, however I, I do assume it has helped me construct a neighborhood that is loyal and sticks round.
Jared: Cautious. I would come remark and make it easier to ask my grip as a result of usually about an hour into planning some journey. I am like, properly, I might simply want I might have somebody who knew what they have been doing.
Assist me with this. Um, what have been a few of like essentially the most profitable features of the social media, whether or not it is a sure video or a sure publish or a sure focus you have had once more, simply making an attempt to make it extra tangible for individuals listening.
Erin: Ooh, like profitable within the sense of like what I view as success or like from a monetary perspective.
Jared: Certain. That is why I requested it open ended. Yeah. Once more, I, I am being open ended with you trigger I admire your perspective and I believe plenty of, I am being open ended on goal simply to be clear and I am going to, I am going to give a little bit context. Yeah. I might ask you for the numbers and I might ask you for the metrics. However on the identical time, you could have navigated your manner by way of plenty of the stuff the place metrics have been destroyed.
And so I am, I am staying open ended on goal to listen to your views on what success appears like, not simply from an search engine optimisation standpoint, but additionally from, Hey, social media as properly.
Erin: Yeah. So from a private standpoint, um, Success has been identical to the interactions I’ve with individuals on-line and the neighborhood that I’ve constructed on-line.
Like I, I’ve pals, like those who I genuinely imagine are shut pals of mine. Folks, like after I was in Japan final 12 months, I went and visited somebody who lives there who has been a part of my neighborhood for, from almost the start and had by no means met him in individual. We had like, talked for years, however like I truly went and met him in individual and these sorts of connections, I believe are actually particular and their connections that I’ve solely been capable of finding like by way of this neighborhood that I’ve constructed.
Um, so from like a private perspective, that is like a very six metric of success, I assume I am saying. Um, After which from like a, I assume, monetary and model perspective, uh, the neighborhood that I’ve constructed has led me to guide like actually nice work. Um, I’ve labored with like plenty of the DMOs and tourism boards right here in Canada, and I completely love doing that sort of work.
It is my favourite factor to do. Um. It pays properly, which is good, however it additionally provides me a possibility to love see a spot and perceive a spot within the sort of depth that you simply’re not at all times capable of do as an everyday vacationer, um, which is one thing that is actually particular to me.
Jared: What kinds of stuff do you discover you are gravitating in direction of on social media?
, there’s so many various platforms, whether or not it is from Fb to Instagram, YouTube, after which, you recognize, you have bought all types of variations in that. YouTube, is it shorts? Is it? , extra lengthy horizontal fashion video. So what kind of stuff are you gravitating in direction of because it pertains to journey?
Erin: Yeah. So YouTube. I am not doing like lengthy kind, uh, panorama fashion movies. Um, I might say I create primarily for Instagram. That is the place I discover that my neighborhood is the strongest. After which from Instagram, I am going to, I am going to principally simply repurpose every thing for elsewhere. Um, so Instagram is the principle focus from a social perspective after which threads.
has develop into solely just lately, truly extra of a spotlight for me. I’ve simply discovered the dialog on threads very nice and, uh, the engagement there very nice. Um, so yeah, I sometimes create right now, they’re actually pushing carousels. So typically what I do is like, if I give you a video idea, um, so for instance, like a video idea.
that I got here up with just lately was to make a video about the right way to be a accountable snowbird. Um, right now of 12 months, lots of people are touring South, whether or not it is like for the complete winter or for a number of weeks or only a few days simply to flee the chilly. Um, so I wished to create like a message round how to do this in a accountable manner, the right way to be an excellent vacationer if you head South.
Um, and so with that idea, I’ve created first an actual later, I’ll. Change it right into a carousel. So like take the identical data, um, however create a carousel out of that. Um, I’ve created a thread, like a thread for threads, uh, sharing the identical data after which the movies shall be reposted to Fb, YouTube Shorts, um, and TikTok.
Jared: What’s, um, what’s the important thing to threads? You are just like the third individual within the final couple of months that talked about threads. Everybody has introduced, proper? And I believe most individuals most likely, you recognize, went and signed up, bought all of it found out after which possibly have not finished a lot with it. Like, so what is going on on with threads?
Possibly inform us what’s, you recognize, what you are seeing work there simply so individuals can have a little bit concept about if it is one thing they need to, you recognize, soar into.
Erin: Um, I am simply discovering, like, nice discussions there. Like, as somebody who simply, like, likes to debate issues, like, debate accountable tourism particularly, I’ve simply discovered that, like, yeah, the algorithm is algorithming for me there.
Um, I am discovering individuals which can be eager about the identical matters as me, and so it is truly rising my neighborhood past, like, the attain I had on Instagram. It additionally helps that in case you have a viewers on Instagram already, if you be part of threads, like persons are routinely prompted to comply with you. So after I began utilizing threads, I already had a inbuilt neighborhood that was primarily based off my Instagram neighborhood.
So I believe that is why I’ve discovered it like very nice as a result of that neighborhood is already there. And the algorithm appears to be good at like increasing that neighborhood. Um, like, apparently, I have been making an attempt with blue sky as properly and I simply discover blue sky, like, It is exhausting to seek out your neighborhood there, it simply isn’t working for me, like I’ll publish the very same content material or variations of the identical content material on Blue Sky and it simply would not like have the identical attain.
Um, yeah, and I am discovering threads is good as a result of, like, a minimum of for me on threads, I share extra form of behind the scenes. It is rather frequent within the journey running a blog area that folks develop into, um, concerned in like programs and promoting details about like the right way to develop into a blogger. And that is like one thing that folks typically ask me, like, will you make a course?
Will you give me ideas or recommendation or an e book on how I can do what you are doing? And that is one thing I’ve by no means wished to do. Um, however on threads, I discover it fascinating as a result of individuals do share sort of behind the scenes of being a journey blogger and I’ve discovered it to be a pleasant area to share my form of like ideas about being a creator, being a blogger.
Um, With out like having to create a course about it.
Jared: Um, you could have talked about model offers a few occasions now. Um, and, uh, discuss what that appears like. Should you might possibly give us an instance. Um, you have associated it to your podcast. You associated it to sure kinds of content material you are creating, however what does a model deal seem like?
I am certain most individuals are gonna be accustomed to a model deal, however listening to you speak extra in regards to the kinds of model offers you are doing could be actually useful.
Erin: Yeah, I am doing model offers largely with like journey associated merchandise and firms. Um, I do them in several methods. So for instance, the largest model deal I’ve finished for my podcast was with world nomads.
They sponsored, um, a complete season of the present. And so each episode we had a bunch learn advert. Um, in order that was like a 12 months lengthy contract on a month-to-month foundation. Um, that included, I imagine it was like Two advert reads monthly on the present. Um, however a lot of the model offers I do, I might say are for social media. So sometimes it is like a product.
Um, so for instance, like the corporate aisle despatched me their product and paid me to create content material, um, to exit to my viewers. After which typically I am going to additionally negotiate to supply them UGC, which they will then license and use on their finish, um, to advertise on their channels.
Jared: How do you discover these model offers? Or if they arrive to you, what are they saying by way of how they discovered you and why they wished to associate with you?
Erin: Sometimes if they arrive to me and so they’ve discovered me, it is due to the messaging that I am sharing. That is why they’re eager about working with me. Um, different occasions I’ve observed it is as a result of Of the sort of like know-how that I take advantage of, I assume, like I I am huge on utilizing a drone to shoot content material. Um, so I’ve had like different drone firms attain out to me eager about having me like showcase how their drones work.
Um, however for essentially the most half, it is the, the match of the like accountable, sustainable tourism angle. Um. Yeah, to be trustworthy, when manufacturers attain out to me, it is often that they need to identical to ship me free stuff and have me make them content material totally free, primarily. Um, and so typically I say no to them. Sometimes, like if it is a model deal, it is a model that I’ve reached out to alone simply because I need to work with them.
Um, and so I pitch them after which we work out. or negotiate a contract from there. Um, yeah, it’s, it is a exhausting area to be in. It is like very oversaturated. There are tons of creators of each measurement, um, making an attempt to land model offers. And due to this, due to the oversaturation, plenty of firms know that like, They’ll simply get this finished totally free.
They’ll simply ship somebody their product and so they’ll do a complete marketing campaign for them totally free. Um, so I might say truly it is like my least favourite kind of labor to do simply because there’s a lot irritating negotiation that goes on. And it actually looks like a little bit offensive typically what manufacturers assume you may do for them totally free.
I simply get so aggravated. I’ve
Jared: heard this earlier than. I used to be at a little bit little bit of a mastermind meetup. And I had a pal there telling me like how a lot he makes on a model deal. After which what he needed to do for it. And I used to be like, that does not sound like that a lot work. And he is like, it is terrible. I do not need to do it anymore.
It is simply horrible. What’s improper. What’s and he is like, it is the model coping with it, again and the fourth, the change requests a little bit. Stuff you really feel are like, come on. They usually’re like, no, it needs to be this manner. And so that you sort of echoed plenty of what you are saying.
Erin: Yeah. I additionally simply discover like, typically they’re like sending me a script.
They need me to identical to learn the script within the video. And I at all times tried to clarify to them, like, truly you are hiring me to talk to my viewers and the P the very best individual to do this is me. And so it’s worthwhile to give me just like the inventive freedom to love share this message in a manner that works for my viewers.
And solely I do know that. Um, Numerous manufacturers like do not, do not need to comply with that mannequin in working with creators and so yeah, it’s, it is a irritating kind of labor to do. It could actually pay very properly. I simply discover like with the hassle that goes into the negotiation and the pitching, um, I am undecided that it is price it.
Jared: I’ll, as a result of after we discuss model offers and different episodes beforehand, I get these questions, um, uh, within the YouTube video. So I am going to ask the questions that I get simply because I do know that somebody is considering of them. And we’ll most likely ask this query. Um, he’ll most likely ask it regardless that I ask you truly, anyway, I digress.
Um, what, like for somebody who’s eager about pursuing that, trigger the query sometimes is like, I’ve tried. Going after model offers, and I simply do not appear to get wherever. Are there any ideas you could have for individuals who do need to pursue model offers or a minimum of strive them out to see if possibly they’re an excellent match for the kind of content material they produce and for his or her particular business?
Erin: Yeah,
I believe having like a extra normal area of interest will most likely profit you if that is the kind of work that you simply, you aspire to do, I believe. It’s limiting being within the accountable journey area as a result of I really feel like a, I really feel that I’ve to be very selective about who I work with as a result of I have to symbolize the values that I discuss so actively.
So for instance, like I do not work with company lodges, plenty of journey bloggers do, this is sort of a nice. Model deal to do in case you are a journey creator. I do not do it as a result of it would not match into what I preach on my channels Which is to guide regionally owned lodges So there’s plenty of doorways which can be closed to me due to this That is additionally a part of why I wish to work full time as a result of I can very selectively select who I work with as a result of my Payments are on the road.
I need not pay my payments with this cash. And so I, I’ve the area to be selective like that. But when your purpose is to make like a big earnings from creating, I believe having like a extra generalized area of interest or area of interest that is not restricted by that sort of worth system goes to offer you much more flexibility and who you’ll be able to pitch, who you’ll be able to work for.
Um. Yeah, and I might simply say, like, you simply, you simply should be dedicated to pitching quite a bit, um, and standing your floor, I might say, like, from the very starting, you have to be charging charges, you must by no means be doing these exchanges totally free, um, and I believe that is actually essential, particularly for small creators to listen to, as a result of we have to shift, form of, as a collective, in direction of Thanks very a lot.
Demanding this at all times, as a result of when there are these creators that may take issues totally free, um, it implies that these manufacturers aren’t studying that, like, that is an business norm. We have to make it an business norm.
Jared: You set my transition up completely. Um, I can inform you host a podcast, teeing up the subsequent query, like with out even possibly realizing it, uh, full time job.
And I wished to speak about that. I wished to speak about the way you’re capable of develop this and stability this whereas working a full time job. It has ups and it has downs, proper? I am certain we are able to all think about the upsides. Such as you stated, you could have a paycheck, a gradual job. So your, your, your aspect hustle right here, if you wish to name it that your web site.
Your model isn’t required to make a sure amount of cash each month to pay your payments. The downsides is you could have a full time job, so there’s quite a bit to get finished. And you’ve got an enormous chunk of the week already gone as a result of you could have that full time job. How have you ever balanced it? Why have you ever chosen to, you recognize, keep on a full time job?
What lots of people would pursue, uh, to pursue leaving that. Like, I am simply curious to get your insights and your views there.
Erin: Yeah. Um, I assume the principle purpose is due to my area of interest, I, I am actually dedicated to representing the values that I discuss. And I’ve simply discovered over my previous couple of years of expertise that may be very exhausting to piece collectively a full time residing on this area of interest.
I believe that which may change sooner or later. And I’m discovering that like, within the final 12 months, my earnings have grown Rather a lot, particularly with working with DMOs and tourism boards. So I would not say it is like out of the query for the long run that I work full time this manner. However yeah, like in the event you ask my husband, he’ll simply say she’s a workaholic.
Like I like to work. Um, I discover engaged on my weblog and my podcast actually enjoyable. So it is. I hate to say this, however it’s like sort of a pastime for me. I simply actually get pleasure from it. Um, and I additionally get pleasure from my full time job. So I believe I am only a workaholic to be trustworthy. Um, yeah, I carve out like plenty of time through the week.
Uh, I might say like, I most likely spend like one to 2 hours a day in direction of the top of the day, both like within the morning earlier than I begin my day job or within the night. Um, yeah. The place I work on stuff and I am identical to actually good at going into like focus mode. So if I am writing a weblog, like, and I resolve I’ll work on this weblog for an hour, I can write it actually shortly.
Um, I believe that is one other factor that has been like actually useful for me is simply I’ve at all times been a really quick author. I’ve observed that I can write a weblog quite a bit sooner than different individuals can. Um, and this has been to my benefit for certain.
Jared: Are there any ways in which you are um, Whether or not it is harnessing know-how or whether or not it is only a results of some habits you have constructed up that you’re possibly, uh, developed effectivity strategies.
Like, are there any strategies you could have for maximizing the hour or two you set in every single day on this?
Erin: Yeah, I believe as a result of I discussed earlier like there are particular kinds of blogs that I write as a result of I’ve such a components for a way I construction these blogs, um, that provides to love how shortly I can write them.
Um, I additionally discover after I’m specializing in one, like I discussed, I am going to at all times be writing about one nation for, For like an prolonged time frame. Proper now I am writing about Nepal and since I am writing all this content material on the identical time, um, plenty of the data I would like may be very like high of thoughts. I’ve all the pictures prepared, every thing, all the data is there in high of thoughts, which makes the method of writing quite a bit sooner.
After which by way of know-how, I do use ai, however in additional of like an ideation manner. I might by no means use AI to love write a complete weblog. That is largely ‘trigger I truly get pleasure from writing them. I am not gonna like. do away with the factor that I truly get pleasure from doing. Um, however I am going to use it to love, assist with ideation, to assist rephrase issues if I have to rephrase one thing.
Typically if I do not know the right way to like, begin writing a piece, I am going to ask ChatGPT to love, spit it out for me, however I am going to by no means use precisely what it provides me. I simply use it as inspiration primarily.
Jared: What’s um, as we sort of carry this to a, to, to, to begin to wrap up right here, such as you talked about how you have seen this improve in curiosity over the previous 12 months or so, and particularly the way you’re selecting to sort out the journey area, you recognize, and, and sustainable journey, what’s subsequent for you on the horizon, whether or not it is on account of what you are seeing from the rise in curiosity, whether or not it is also a results of, you talked in regards to the improve of AI and it is, you recognize, it is, it is sort of prominence within the on-line world.
Um, you talked about search engine optimisation altering a lot and Google being very totally different than it was a 12 months or two in the past. Like what’s subsequent for you? What do you could have on the horizon? The place are you, um, pursuing with, um, along with your model?
Erin: It is rather doom and gloom on the market for journey bloggers proper now. Numerous journey bloggers really feel that there’s not a future for the journey running a blog area.
Um, I might be mendacity if I say I do not additionally fear about that, however as a result of my weblog continues to be doing fairly all proper. Um, I am dedicated to love persevering with and likewise I’ve discovered like so long as I am updating older content material, I, I am truly seeing my site visitors improve once more. Um, so I’ll proceed running a blog for so long as I can.
Um, however other than that, like I am placing much more focus into different streams. Um, it is a technique that the majority bloggers are following now. Um, for me, that is largely DMO work and tourism boards. Um, It is work that I actually love doing. And in order that’s form of the place I am focusing my power outdoors of specializing in the weblog.
Um, so yeah, I would wish to construct up like my community in that space and simply proceed working with extra GMOs, hopefully past Canada. Canada has been my focus as a result of I do weblog quite a bit about Canada on condition that I am from right here. Um, however sooner or later I would like to begin working with tourism boards world wide.
Jared: Aaron, the place can individuals comply with together with, um, with what you are doing? , we talked about your web site on the outset. We’ll say it once more, um, or be happy to, you recognize, share it once more if that is the very best spot. Um, possibly your social media channels. Like the place can individuals comply with together with what you are doing?
Erin: Yeah. Peanutravels. org is my fundamental channel after which on social media. In every single place, I am the identical deal with. It is Pina travels, P I N A travels. Um, after which my podcast is curious tourism. You’ll be able to take heed to it totally free on any podcast app. Um, and we’re with the VoyaScape community. So in the event you’re eager about journey podcasting, you could find a complete assortment of podcasts there which can be nice.
Jared: Last query from me. I did not ask it on the outset. I ought to have, the place did the, the place did the URL and model identify come from?
Erin: Oh, truly, it is humorous you did not ask that. Most individuals do. I simply threw up my
Jared: record, for the document. Yeah.
Erin: That is sort of refreshing. Um, this was a vital mistake I made after I began it.
And that is what reveals that I wasn’t actually occupied with the long run after I began running a blog. Um, after I began journey running a blog, I had it in my head that I might not. Like my private life would keep mine and like my private id would not be all around the web So I believed oh, yeah, not properly While you Google me, you recognize who I’m Yeah, Pino was my nickname after I labored in Italy in a hostel there.
I used to be working there for a number of months And, um, principally lengthy story quick, I am very allergic to peanuts. And I labored with a bunch of Australians who thought this was humorous. And in order a joke, they began calling me peanuts. Um, after which the Italians we labored for could not say that. So that they identical to modified it to Pina and it simply turned my identify and it was my nickname for a few years.
So after I began running a blog, I believed, Oh, it might be cute to make use of this like nickname. That, um, got here to me like by way of my travels. Um, now I sort of remorse it as a result of yeah, I get emails from individuals who assume my identify is Pina. It simply, it is a bit complicated. So watch out about that in the event you’re planning on beginning a journey weblog.
Jared: These Australians have, that is precisely the sort of humor I’ve, uh, I’ve heard of them.
Erin: Sure. That is
Jared: fantastic. Um, I am going to inform a fast, shaggy dog story simply to additionally put you, make you are feeling higher. My first enterprise was a images enterprise. I named it. Um, and you may most likely with the individuals listening to this podcast, you possibly can most likely discover this web site from 25 years in the past, however I named it optical realities, images, considering it was actually cute.
And most telephone calls that I bought have been like, hello, it is a Jared with optical realized images. No, no ma’am. We do not do contact lenses. I am sorry. Yeah, no, we’re truly a images studio. Yeah, I do know it’s a dangerous, I am going to move that on to the proprietor. I agree. Unhealthy identify. Did not final lengthy. I did find yourself altering it as a result of it was actually dangerous for enterprise, however do not feel dangerous.
We have all made that mistake in some unspecified time in the future.
Erin: It is, it is going tremendous. I simply, I seemed into altering it and finally I used to be like, properly, I’ll lose all my area authority if I do this. So I am not going to do it. Ah,
Jared: and you might be occupied with search engine optimisation full circle. Yeah. finish to the podcast. Hey, Erin, thanks a lot.
This has been an actual deal with. Thanks for sharing your success. Thanks for sharing the way you, how you probably did it. And thanks for sharing, um, simply sort of all the information alongside the best way. I actually admire it. It has been an important interview.
Erin: Thanks for having me.
