Erin Hynes has so much 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 all the time been a ardour mission, and over time she’s been in a position to 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 in addition a model, which features a robust social media presence of 50k+ and a 5-year-old podcast.
She ultimately niched down from normal journey, and her area of interest is what actually drives her. She talks about her affiliate earnings, the forms of collaborations she likes probably the most, her strategy to web optimization, 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 subjects, she ultimately niched right down to accountable journey.
She additionally talks about launching her podcast.
When Erin talks about her preliminary success, she shares that cash and numbers had been by no means her purpose, however what was most vital to her was having an affect on her readers.
Now her model contains an viewers throughout many channels, together with social media, and her weblog is getting 40k classes per thirty days at current. Her podcast, Curious Tourism, will get 2k downloads a month, and earns as much as $3k per thirty days. And she or he’s nonetheless working a full-time job!
Erin talks concerning the preliminary methods she used to develop her website 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 subjects into her articles.
She additionally talks about web optimization, creating content material clusters, and what forms of articles she writes and with what particular function. 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.
In the case of social media, she shares her technique for posting and constructing her neighborhood and the precise areas the place she’s had success.
The content material she usually creates is for Instagram and Threads, which she talks about, and he or she additionally discusses model offers and provides 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 longer term 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 strategy to web optimization
Forms 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 at the 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 all the time say this. I really like after we get, uh, a enterprise proprietor on to speak about how they grew their enterprise.
Um, the small print. The, you already know, the, the trials and tribulations, all of the ups, all of the downs. And that is type of what we’re doing at the moment. So if you have not heard a type 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 have created.
Um, and type of, uh, you already know, type of the origin story, if you’ll, perhaps convey us again and catch us up on who you’re. 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 quite a bit. 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, similar 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 similar 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, type of a sure particular area of interest, a sure particular strategy you shared earlier than we hit report. Like I are inclined to do podcast interviews about this one kind of journey matter. Was that all the time the purpose for it if you began it or did it type of morph into that as time went on?
Erin: It morphed into it. So my website, my model, my neighborhood is targeted on accountable tourism.
So like many of the content material I produce has some kind of messaging round how we will journey in a means that is higher for individuals and for the planet. It didn’t begin out that means. After I began out, I might say I used to be fairly fundamental. 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 suppose so much about area of interest. Sorry, I’ll say it area of interest trigger I am Canadian. I do know People say it in a different way. Um, I did not actually take into consideration area of interest or something. Um, And I, like, did not actually have any targets past simply, like, constructing a little bit viewers for myself. Um, it was all through the years that I kind of narrowed down and realized like, Oh, that is like truly what I am captivated with inside the scope of journey.
And so I ought to actually like focus my vitality on this space.
Jared: When did you begin this? Uh, perhaps take us again in time and, and share about, you already know, what was the, the timeframe, the explanation why particularly you wished to begin the location you shared that you simply wished to type of get again into that neighborhood. However, you already know, had been you type of taking the basic running a blog strategy the place you had been simply writing about a few of your travels?
Um, you had simply come again from 9 months. So I think about you had numerous content material that you could possibly share. Um, simply attempting to grasp the early days.
Erin: Yeah, the early days, um, was positively 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 numerous 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 excited about 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 similar time because the weblog, like I knew that I ought to have a presence there. In order that went dwell across the similar time. After which the podcast launched a couple of months after that, uh, as a result of the podcast, I did not initially suppose 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 might say like Q1 within the first 4 months of the 12 months.
Jared: So that you launched a journey website. I imply, now that we will look again, uh, you already know, 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 already know, what you had been doing, what you are touring was.
Um, what was the primary preliminary type of success or the primary preliminary factor that caught for you with, with the web site or the social media, you already know, whichever one would possibly’ve come first.
Erin: Ooh. The primary second of success.
I may say it was like the primary like massive like pillar of success for many bloggers is like visitors. Um, so I assume like once I hit my first like month the place I surpassed 500 views or classes, that was like, an thrilling second, however truly like a second that I bear in mind extra clearly is once I obtained 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 do not forget 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 type of nicer. In order that felt like a monumental second.
Jared: I requested that query very open endedly on function, you already know, it is attention-grabbing as a result of everybody has, it type of helps reveal like on the finish of the day, uh, you already know, totally different targets individuals have and the trail they’re on to attempting to hit these targets. And a few individuals are very, very pushed by numbers, you already know, and there is nothing fallacious with that.
So we’re very pushed by affect. Some individuals are very pushed by a sure purpose that they had after they sat down to begin it up. And it may not even be all that tangible. It is likely to be 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 moving into Mediavine, earning profits, 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 pondering, Okay, I am doing numerous work right here. It might be good to make some cash. However once I began prefer it actually wasn’t my mindset. My mindset was not that like I wished to make sufficient cash to give up my day job.
My mindset was similar to, I really 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 numerous writing and like how tapped into the running a blog neighborhood had been you if you began this in that first 12 months of, of beginning this model?
As a result of, and the explanation I ask is to your level, I do know I began my first web site as soon as I understood. That my content material may truly get in entrance of lots of people, you already know, get visitors after which additionally get monetized in a means that I did not perceive previous to that. And in order that was type of what pushed me over the sting.
So that you’re proper. I had these targets in thoughts myself. Um, I had so much I wished to speak about, however I did have this sort of ahead pondering quantity in thoughts that I wished to get to how tapped in, had 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 visitors numbers, or was it actually a type 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 principally 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 thought of like how you could possibly generate profits by a weblog, like by adverts, by associates. Um, however I did not know the small print of it, particularly within the context of like journey running a blog.
Um, Um, the, the primary purpose like that I had, I might say was to truly 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, once 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, web optimization teams on Fb. And that is once I began to love actually perceive, okay, like that is truly how I may monetize this, like, and it is actually possible.
Jared: Yeah. Okay. Um, I prefer to ask this, uh, on the early a part of an interview, like perhaps catch us as much as the place issues are actually. Let’s quick ahead after which we will type of set the stage for a way you constructed into that and a number of the steps you took alongside the way in which.
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 website earns round 40, 000 classes per thirty days. 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 practically 5, 000 on threads on Tik TOK.
I believe I am round 20, 000, um, YouTube, very small viewers, nevertheless 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 prior to now to run adverts there. Um, however for probably 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 subjects.
Um, and yeah, general, like if we’re taking a look at numbers, I am incomes like round 3000 to 4, 000 a month in Canadian {dollars}. Um, By way of a mix of associates, Mediavine and model partnerships which are 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 already know, it is price mentioning as a result of I do know it is in our, it is in our type 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 when you’re nonetheless working the complete time job. And I believe that is vital to say.
Lots of people who hear aren’t interested by going full time. I am not saying you are not, by the way in which, however I am simply saying that lots of people listening, they’re like, Hey, I simply am trying to begin one thing on the aspect to complement, to, to type of scratch that itch, to feed that zeal. 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 all the time had it on the aspect. You have all the time 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 principally 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 already know, you’re keen on and also you’re captivated with. Um, I imply, let’s get into, uh, a number of the nitty gritty about the way you constructed this.
And I am curious, To only perhaps ask you a number of the methods that labored from a excessive degree. And we will type of dive as deep as we have to into every of them. I do know individuals listening are going to be interested by the way you grew it. Additionally, the way you survived and sustained by COVID additionally, you already know, you talked concerning the Google updates.
Everybody listening can be acquainted with these in some capability. You are still incomes good earnings. Um, so how you have navigated that, what are a number of the methods you suppose which have helped work or that stand out for constructing this?
Erin: I might argue that like the largest energy I’ve had like strategically is that I’ve not all the time adopted the newest traits in web optimization and the newest like widespread methods which are being shared from the start, I had like a deep deal with making my content material person centered and there was a interval like particularly in the course of the pandemic the place individuals had been telling me that this was the fallacious strategy.
Um, however finally 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 visitors a little bit bit, however that is additionally like as a consequence of 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 actually imagine it is trigger I had this like person centered framework from the start. I used to be not attempting to go for these like excessive quantity key phrases which are like type 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 had been like extraordinarily associated to my area of interest and very related to my viewers.
Jared: What for you, as a result of I do know the main target has develop into sustainable tourism, however what was like, what are your focuses as you are writing and the way do you construction? And this can be a massive journey, journey blogger query basically, journey web site. Like, you already know, if I’m going to Italy, I write about Italy. How deep do I’m going into that?
I then go to, you already know, I am simply taking a look at a number of the key phrases you rank for, for the report. I’ve received in entrance of me, I received a Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Italy, how are they associated? Like, how do you come at from a standpoint that’s not web optimization centered? How do you have a look at writing about a spot that you simply simply went to?
Erin: Yeah, by the accountable tourism framework. So my like purpose has all the time been to create quote unquote, normal journey content material. Um, that. that very quietly encourages individuals to journey in a means that’s higher for individuals and for the planet. Um, so you will see very like type of run of the mill itineraries on my website.
I’m a normal journey website, so I cowl like locations all all over the world, um, however in each single piece of content material you will discover that kind of like underlying message and notes about like learn how to be be in that place in a extra accountable means. Uh, my website additionally does have a whole part devoted to accountable tourism.
And that is the place I write guides which are like on particular subjects, like for instance, learn how to keep away from, uh, cultural appropriation, learn how to journey extra deeply, uh, accountable tourism suggestions, sustainable journey suggestions, 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 website within the sense that I do cowl locations which are all around the world.
Jared: So in essence, perhaps you are a journey, you are a website that covers numerous totally different subjects, however all the time from one singular standpoint, sure, that is this deal with sustainability. Is that one thing that you simply suppose has helped you acquire numerous traction, um, when it comes to readership? Um, and the way have you ever type of seen that play out?
Erin: It is attention-grabbing. Like I all the time inform individuals, this isn’t a distinct segment to generate profits 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 once I began out, like individuals didn’t actually care about this. Um, so for probably the most half, I discover that readers say they respect just like the notes that I embody about it, however for It is laborious to say, proper?
Like, I might say some readers, just like the suggestions I get is that they learn my website for that particularly, and others have similar to discovered me by 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 once I work with manufacturers or with DMOs or tourism boards, that really is just like the angle that I promote to them, um, that I’ll characterize.
their model or to characterize, uh, their area by this lens. Um, so from the neighborhood standpoint, I believe it is actually vital when it comes to like rating as a journey website on Google. I do not know that it is like setting me up for fulfillment, however We’ll see. We’ll see what the longer term holds. I believe there’s like a rising shift in the direction of, um, extra accountable tourism.
And I believe an increasing number of individuals are wanting particularly for that type of content material.
Jared: What has your strategy been to web optimization over time? , and I, once more, I am going to simply share a number of the cause I am asking. Such as you, I agree. You didn’t get hit by the HCU, at the very least not from all of the charts I am taking a look at.
Definitely there’s been so many Google updates, like simply decide your poison. , in some unspecified time in the future one was going to come back up and get you, it appears, nevertheless it wasn’t useful content material replace associated. And, and so that you, you in essence have content material that the place you may have finished some S you may have taken considerably of an web optimization strategy at totally different phases from what you have stated, nevertheless it wasn’t something that received hit by that useful content material replace.
What was your web optimization strategy? 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 deal with person. Um, I solely goal key phrases which are truly very associated to my area of interest and which are very in depth.
So, like a superb instance is like, Particularly in the course of the pandemic, individuals had been simply attempting 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 website. I have been that means to take away it, however what’s the authorized ingesting age in Iceland?
Um, that is a weblog that I wrote throughout pandemic instances as a result of somebody I used to be working with advised me that prefer it’s excessive quantity, you will rank for this, like it is best to seize that viewers. Um, I’ve only a few blogs like that as a result of whereas they do drive visitors, they don’t seem to be like a spot the place you’ll be able to actually like share who you’re, share your insights, share numerous element.
Um, it is actually similar to a regurgitation of data that already exists on the web. Um, so it would not serve my function of like constructing an viewers that’s going to come back again to me. Um, so yeah, I might say, like, mid pandemic, I began shifting to writing, like, guides that had been very distinctive to me, um, so you will discover, like, a recurring theme on my website is guides which are what to not do in, and these are guides which are, like, useful recommendations on a spot, however by the context of accountable tourism, um, they’re very lengthy, they’re very in depth, they share numerous, like, cultural element, they share numerous, like, Element about how it is best to have interaction with a spot.
Um, I additionally do numerous itineraries which are tried and true that I’ve examined that I’ve written primarily based alone expertise. They embody numerous element about like the place to go and eat, what to eat there. Um, the place to remain. And I ensure that 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 primary focus. There’s different issues that I’ve finished that like simply off form that I believe have helped. So for instance, I’m a normal journey website, however I’ll by no means write lower than 10 blogs about a spot.
So at any time when I begin writing a couple of new nation, the purpose is to get to at the very least 10 blogs. Normally, I am attempting to write down extra. So for instance, I believe I’ve like 25 blogs on Portugal. Um, so there’s numerous locations that I have been on this planet 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 similar to a couple of nations on my website that I am similar to doing deep dives into earlier than I transfer on to a different one.
Jared: I believe you type of put a pleasant advantageous level on that matter, that question, as a result of that was all the fashion, proper? Particularly in 2020, 2021, even into 2022. Really easy to seize visitors round that.
After which with the onset of AI and with the way in which Google checked out these forms 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 numerous, uh, Like roundup posts, like the perfect motels to remain in, the perfect excursions to take, and the explanation 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 all the time like felt that that type of content material was pointless and one thing I observed within the HCU was that like lots of people that had 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 received hit fairly badly as a result of like, That type of content material is not serving customers.
It isn’t like constructing a neighborhood in a means that like a rather well thought out itinerary.
Jared: so how did you measure and validate what was working? If the strategy wasn’t go after this key phrase, get that visitors, transfer on to the following key phrase, go after that affiliate time period, get that monetization, transfer on the following time period.
How had 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 might have a look at search visitors, analytics, um, rankings. After which my technique is to take a look at just like the model of weblog. I imply, this can be a widespread follow. So for instance, like I began noticing that my blogs on whatnot to do had 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 kind of like what kind of content material was performing the perfect and slowly shifted all my content material to observe 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 website had finished properly. And I am fairly certain that that is why.
Jared: Let’s speak about these social media accounts. Um, you already know, I wrote down, you began these in 2019, couple months after the web site ish. Um, you already know, the place are these, uh, you share the place they’re at now.
Sorry. Um, what’s been the strategy and what’s been the method for posting to these as you already know, you are now six, seven years in on, on this website.
Erin: Yeah, I do know lots of people have like a really, um, thought out, like, technique in terms of 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 what I am posting. Um, and that has labored rather well as a result of I believe that folks really feel like they’ll actually join with me and so they have an thought of who I’m, what sort of content material to count on 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 numerous 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 perhaps distinctive to me is that I put numerous 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 numerous 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 all the time finished and prefer it takes numerous time, however I, I do suppose it has helped me construct a neighborhood that is loyal and sticks round.
Jared: Cautious. I would come remark and enable you 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 may have somebody who knew what they had been doing.
Assist me with this. Um, what have been a few of like probably the most profitable elements 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 attempting 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: Positive. That is why I requested it open ended. Yeah. Once more, I, I am being open ended with you trigger I respect your perspective and I believe numerous, I am being open ended on function simply to be clear and I am going to, I am going to give a little bit context. Yeah. I may ask you for the numbers and I may ask you for the metrics. However on the similar time, you may have navigated your means by numerous the stuff the place metrics had been destroyed.
And so I am, I am staying open ended on function to listen to your views on what success seems like, not simply from an web optimization standpoint, but in addition from, Hey, social media as properly.
Erin: Yeah. So from a private standpoint, um, Success has been similar to the interactions I’ve with individuals on-line and the neighborhood that I’ve constructed on-line.
Like I, I’ve buddies, like folks that I genuinely imagine are shut buddies of mine. Individuals, like once 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 practically the start and had by no means met him in particular person. We had like, talked for years, however like I truly went and met him in particular person and these sorts of connections, I believe are actually particular and their connections that I’ve solely been capable of finding like by 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 ebook like actually nice work. Um, I’ve labored with like numerous the DMOs and tourism boards right here in Canada, and I completely love doing that type of work.
It is my favourite factor to do. Um. It pays properly, which is good, nevertheless it additionally offers me a possibility to love see a spot and perceive a spot within the type of depth that you simply’re not all the time in a position to do as an everyday vacationer, um, which is one thing that is actually particular to me.
Jared: What forms of stuff do you discover you are gravitating in the direction of on social media?
, there’s so many various platforms, whether or not it is from Fb to Instagram, YouTube, after which, you already know, you have received all types of variations in that. YouTube, is it shorts? Is it? , extra lengthy horizontal model video. So what kind of stuff are you gravitating in the direction of because it pertains to journey?
Erin: Yeah. So YouTube. I am not doing like lengthy type, uh, panorama model 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 primary focus from a social perspective after which threads.
has develop into solely not too long ago, 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 usually 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 not too long ago was to make a video about learn how 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 couple of weeks or just some days simply to flee the chilly. Um, so I wished to create like a message round how to try this in a accountable means, learn how to be a superb 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 info, um, however create a carousel out of that. Um, I’ve created a thread, like a thread for threads, uh, sharing the identical info after which the movies can 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 particular person within the final couple of months that talked about threads. Everybody has introduced, proper? And I believe most individuals most likely, you already know, went and signed up, received all of it found out after which perhaps have not finished a lot with it. Like, so what is going on on with threads?
Perhaps inform us what’s, you already know, what you are seeing work there simply so individuals can have a little bit thought about if it is one thing they need to, you already know, 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 are interested by the identical subjects as me, and so it is truly rising my neighborhood past, like, the attain I had on Instagram. It additionally helps that if in case you have a viewers on Instagram already, if you be part of threads, like individuals are robotically prompted to observe you. So once I began utilizing threads, I already had a in-built 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 attempting with blue sky as properly and I simply discover blue sky, like, It is laborious to seek out your neighborhood there, it simply will not be 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, at the very least for me on threads, I share extra kind of behind the scenes. It is extremely widespread within the journey running a blog area that folks develop into, um, concerned in like programs and promoting details about like learn how 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 suggestions or recommendation or an 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 attention-grabbing as a result of individuals do share type of behind the scenes of being a journey blogger and I’ve discovered it to be a pleasant area to share my kind of like ideas about being a creator, being a blogger.
Um, With out like having to create a course about it.
Jared: Um, you may have talked about model offers a few instances now. Um, and, uh, speak about what that appears like. If you happen to may perhaps give us an instance. Um, you have associated it to your podcast. You associated it to sure forms of content material you are creating, however what does a model deal appear like?
I am certain most individuals are gonna be acquainted with a model deal, however listening to you speak extra concerning the forms of model offers you are doing could be actually useful.
Erin: Yeah, I am doing model offers principally 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 whole season of the present. And so each episode we had a number 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 per thirty days on the present. Um, however many of the model offers I do, I might say are for social media. So usually 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 generally I am going to additionally negotiate to supply them UGC, which they’ll 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 when it comes to how they discovered you and why they wished to associate with you?
Erin: Usually 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 interested by working with me. Um, different instances I’ve observed it is as a result of Of the type of like know-how that I exploit, I assume, like I I am massive on utilizing a drone to shoot content material. Um, so I’ve had like different drone corporations attain out to me interested by having me like showcase how their drones work.
Um, however for probably the most half, it is the, the match of the like accountable, sustainable tourism angle. Um. Yeah, to be sincere, when manufacturers attain out to me, it is normally that they wish to similar to ship me free stuff and have me make them content material free of charge, primarily. Um, and so typically I say no to them. Usually, like if it is a model deal, it is a model that I’ve reached out to alone simply because I wish 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 laborious area to be in. It is like very oversaturated. There are tons of creators of each dimension, um, attempting to land model offers. And due to this, due to the oversaturation, numerous corporations know that like, They’ll simply get this finished free of charge.
They’ll simply ship somebody their product and so they’ll do an entire marketing campaign for them free of charge. 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 appears like a little bit offensive generally what manufacturers suppose you will do for them free of charge.
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 good friend 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 wish to do it anymore.
It is simply horrible. What’s fallacious. 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 type of echoed numerous what you are saying.
Erin: Yeah. I additionally simply discover like, typically they’re like sending me a script.
They need me to similar to learn the script within the video. And I all the time tried to elucidate to them, like, truly you are hiring me to talk to my viewers and the P the perfect particular person to try this is me. And so it is advisable give me just like the artistic freedom to love share this message in a means that works for my viewers.
And solely I do know that. Um, Loads of manufacturers like do not, do not wish to observe that mannequin in working with creators and so yeah, it’s, it is a irritating kind of labor to do. It will probably pay very properly. I simply discover like with the trouble 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 speak about 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 pondering of them. And we’ll most likely ask this query. Um, he’ll most likely ask it although I ask you truly, anyway, I digress.
Um, what, like for somebody who’s interested by pursuing that, trigger the query usually is like, I’ve tried. Going after model offers, and I simply do not appear to get anyplace. Are there any suggestions you may have for individuals who do wish to pursue model offers or at the very least strive them out to see if perhaps they’re a superb match for the kind of content material they produce and for his or her particular trade?
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 must characterize the values that I speak about so actively.
So for instance, like I do not work with company motels, numerous journey bloggers do, this is sort of a nice. Model deal to do if you’re 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 ebook regionally owned motels So there’s numerous doorways which are closed to me due to this That is additionally a part of why I prefer 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 needn’t 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 type of worth system goes to provide 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 must be dedicated to pitching so much, um, and standing your floor, I might say, like, from the very starting, you have to be charging charges, it is best to by no means be doing these exchanges free of charge, um, and I believe that is actually vital, particularly for small creators to listen to, as a result of we have to shift, kind of, as a collective, in the direction of Thanks very a lot.
Demanding this all the time, as a result of when there are these creators that can take issues free of charge, um, it implies that these manufacturers aren’t studying that, like, that is an trade norm. We have to make it an trade norm.
Jared: You set my transition up completely. Um, I can inform you host a podcast, teeing up the following query, like with out even perhaps realizing it, uh, full time job.
And I wished to speak about that. I wished to speak about the way you’re in a position to develop this and stability this whereas working a full time job. It has ups and it has downs, proper? I am certain we will all think about the upsides. Such as you stated, you may 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 will not be required to make a sure amount of cash each month to pay your payments. The downsides is you may have a full time job, so there’s so much to get finished. And you’ve got an enormous chunk of the week already gone as a result of you may have that full time job. How have you ever balanced it? Why have you ever chosen to, you already know, 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 primary cause is due to my area of interest, I, I am actually dedicated to representing the values that I speak about. And I’ve simply discovered over my previous couple of years of expertise that could be very laborious to piece collectively a full time dwelling 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 Quite a bit, particularly with working with DMOs and tourism boards. So I would not say it is like out of the query for the longer term that I work full time this manner. However yeah, like in case 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, nevertheless it’s like type 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 sincere. Um, yeah, I carve out like numerous time in the course of the week.
Uh, I might say like, I most likely spend like one to 2 hours a day in the direction of the tip 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 similar to actually good at going into like focus mode. So if I am writing a weblog, like, and I determine 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 all the time been a really quick author. I’ve observed that I can write a weblog so much quicker 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 perhaps, uh, developed effectivity methods.
Like, are there any methods you may have for maximizing the hour or two you set in day-after-day on this?
Erin: Yeah, I believe as a result of I discussed earlier like there are particular forms of blogs that I write as a result of I’ve such a formulation for a way I construction these blogs, um, that provides to love how shortly I can write them.
Um, I additionally discover once I’m specializing in one, like I discussed, I am going to all the time be writing about one nation for, For like an prolonged time period. Proper now I am writing about Nepal and since I am writing all this content material on the similar time, um, numerous the knowledge I would like could be very like high of thoughts. I’ve all the photographs prepared, every thing, all the knowledge is there in high of thoughts, which makes the method of writing so much quicker.
After which when it comes to know-how, I do use ai, however in additional of like an ideation means. I might by no means use AI to love write a whole weblog. That is principally ‘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 must rephrase one thing.
Generally if I do not know learn how to like, begin writing a bit, 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 offers me. I simply use it as inspiration primarily.
Jared: What’s um, as we type of convey 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 already know, and, and sustainable journey, what’s subsequent for you on the horizon, whether or not it is because of what you are seeing from the rise in curiosity, whether or not it is also a results of, you talked concerning the improve of AI and it is, you already know, it is, it is type of prominence within the on-line world.
Um, you talked about web optimization 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 may have on the horizon? The place are you, um, pursuing with, um, together with your model?
Erin: It is extremely doom and gloom on the market for journey bloggers proper now. Loads of 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 remains 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 visitors improve once more. Um, so I’ll proceed running a blog for so long as I can.
Um, however except for that, like I am placing much more focus into different streams. Um, this can be a technique that almost all bloggers are following now. Um, for me, that is principally DMO work and tourism boards. Um, It is work that I actually love doing. And in order that’s kind of the place I am focusing my vitality outdoors of specializing in the weblog.
Um, so yeah, I might prefer 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 so much about Canada provided that I am from right here. Um, however sooner or later I might like to begin working with tourism boards all over the world.
Jared: Aaron, the place can individuals observe 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 already know, share it once more if that is the perfect spot. Um, perhaps your social media channels. Like the place can individuals observe together with what you are doing?
Erin: Yeah. Peanutravels. org is my foremost channel after which on social media. All over the 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 possibly can hearken to it free of charge on any podcast app. Um, and we’re with the VoyaScape community. So in case you’re interested by journey podcasting, you could find an entire assortment of podcasts there which are nice.
Jared: Ultimate 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 report. Yeah.
Erin: That is type of refreshing. Um, this was an important mistake I made once I began it.
And that is what exhibits that I wasn’t actually excited about the longer term once I began running a blog. Um, once 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 identification would not be all around the web So I assumed oh, yeah, not properly While you Google me, you already know who I’m Yeah, Pino was my nickname once I labored in Italy in a hostel there.
I used to be working there for a number of months And, um, principally lengthy story brief, 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. In order that they similar to modified it to Pina and it simply turned my identify and it was my nickname for a few years.
So once I began running a blog, I assumed, Oh, it would be cute to make use of this like nickname. That, um, got here to me like by my travels. Um, now I type of remorse it as a result of yeah, I get emails from individuals who suppose my identify is Pina. It simply, it’s kind of complicated. So watch out about that in case you’re planning on beginning a journey weblog.
Jared: These Australians have, that is precisely the type of humor I’ve, uh, I’ve heard of them.
Erin: Sure. That is
Jared: fantastic. Um, I am going to inform a fast, comic story simply to additionally put you, make you’re feeling higher. My first enterprise was a pictures enterprise. I named it. Um, and you’ll most likely with the individuals listening to this podcast, you could possibly most likely discover this web site from 25 years in the past, however I named it optical realities, pictures, pondering it was actually cute.
And most cellphone calls that I received had been like, hello, this can be a Jared with optical realized pictures. No, no ma’am. We do not do contact lenses. I am sorry. Yeah, no, we’re truly a pictures studio. Yeah, I do know it’s a dangerous, I am going to move that on to the proprietor. I agree. Dangerous 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 advantageous. I simply, I appeared into altering it and ultimately I used to be like, properly, I’ll lose all my area authority if I try this. So I am not going to do it. Ah,
Jared: and you’re excited about web optimization full circle. Yeah. A superb 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 type of all the information alongside the way in which. I actually respect it. It has been a terrific interview.
Erin: Thanks for having me.