The Travel Creator: Content Strategy & Marketing Tips for Travel Influencers

Have you ever dreamed of building a content business that lets you actually enjoy your travels—without scrambling to post, pitch, or pretend you’re not freaking out about engagement stats?

Today I’m pulling back the curtain on something I’ve been building quietly behind the scenes—a travel content creator community that isn’t about chasing trends, but about building smart, sustainable systems that let your content business run even when you’re off the grid in Santorini or sipping mezcal in Tulum.

✨ In This Episode, I Spill:

• The real reason so many successful content creators are secretly burning out
• Why this community is going to be deliciously boring—and why that’s a good thing for your business
• What kind of systems are saving me 6+ hours a week (hint: Airtable + Zapier + Gmail = 🤯)
• Why this isn’t another course you’ll never finish—or a noisy mastermind you’ll ghost in 3 weeks
• How YOU can be a founding member and even land a spot on the podcast 💁‍♀️

If you’re a travel creator or content creator who's tired of feeling like your business depends on your WiFi signal, this episode is for you. Whether you’re cashing brand deals or paddling along in your raft-level earnings (you’ll get the joke when you listen), we are building something powerful—and you're invited.

Keypoints:

travel creator, travel content community, content creator, sustainable content business, creator systems, off-grid content creation, build a creator business, UGC brand deals, passive income for travel creators

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

If I had to start my content creator business all over again, here’s exactly what I would do — no fluff, just the real behind-the-scenes steps that actually build momentum. 

Whether you're trying to figure out how to find clients, want to leave your 9–5, or just need to know what works now in the content creator space — this episode is your kickstart. 

 In this episode, I cover:
✅ The exact platforms I’d use to land clients (yep — even the weird ones that take 20%)
✅ Why you should post less and pitch more (and what type of posts actually matter)
✅ How to treat your Instagram like a billboard, not a scrapbook
✅ Why a simple one-page portfolio beats a fancy site every time
✅ How sending 10 emails a week can completely shift your creator business
✅ The power of outreach — and why asking is your biggest secret weapon
✅ Why being boring builds your business faster than trendy ever could
✅ How to scale once you’re booking consistent work
✅ Why your mindset around pitching matters more than your pitch itself

🛠 Tools & Platforms Mentioned:

• Job platforms: Upwork, Contra, Fiverr (plus Maddy'a tip: Coley, Popular Pays, PopFly)
• Portfolio sites: Canva , AI builders, simple one-pagers

🎧 UGC Tip of the Day – From Maddy Garrett
 

Want to make your first $500 with UGC?
Go check out Episode 4 of her podcast for the exact steps.
🎙 Listen to Paid to Travel: The UGC Podcast

🌍 New Travel Creator Membership Coming Soon!
I’m building a travel creator community focused on systems and sustainability — not just algorithm hacks. If you're tired of piecing together info from a million courses and want real, actionable systems to grow your business so you can go backpacking (like I’m about to do in the Tetons 👣), then this is for you.

👉 DM me on Instagram with the phrase "travel content writing" if you’re interested in joining the waitlist or just wanna chat about it. It's gonna be GOOD. Like, boring-but-life-changing good.

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

Let’s be honest—going viral looks sexy on the outside, but it might be silently destroying your business from the inside. This week on The Travel Creator Podcast, I break down exactly why viral content doesn’t equal success—and how you can actually create content that connects, converts, and changes lives.

💬 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why virality is not a strategy for long-term growth
• How one creator got 11 million views… and less than 10 customers 😳
• The massive difference between information and transformation
• What kind of content actually grows your brand (hint: it’s not Canva quote graphics)
• How to build an Instagram presence that gets you paid, even with a small following
• Real-world results from content creators who ditched viral dreams for authentic impact

✨ Key Takeaways for Travel and Content Creators:

• If your content is built for everyone, it's for no one
• The truth about how to grow on Instagram without chasing the algorithm
• Why followers ≠ dollars—and how to stop falling for the vanity metric trap
• What kind of stories actually transform your audience and create long-term relationships
• The power of vulnerability in a world chasing perfection

Listen to Paid to Travel: UGC Podcast 

Ep 12: How to Travel for Free and Land Free Airbnb's 

 This episode is packed with insights on how to go viral, why it's not worth it, and the real playbook for sustainable success as a travel creator, UGC creator, and content creator trying to grow with purpose.

💌 Ready to create content that connects instead of chases?
DM me on Instagram (@travelcontentwriting) and tell me what your biggest takeaway was from this episode. Let’s chat about your goals, growth, and content that doesn’t just look good—but feels good too.

🔗 Find Justin Welsh and his content magic:
Subscribe to his newsletter and follow him at justinwelsh.me for more no-BS writing advice.

✈️ Until next time—happy creating and please, for the love of God and captions, stop chasing viral. I miss you already. 💕

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

Today I'm breaking down the biggest lie social media ever sold us: that high numbers are the only thing that matter. Spoiler alert—they're not.

Whether you're a new content creator, a seasoned travel influencer, or just wondering how to grow on Instagram without losing your mind, this episode will help you reconnect with the humans behind the numbers. You’re probably doing way better than you think—and I’m here to prove it.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• Why 47 likes is not a failure—it’s a whole restaurant full of people.
• How to reframe your metrics using “the living room rule.”
• The mindset shift that will help you stop chasing the algorithm and start creating for actual people.
• Why smaller engagement often means deeper trust (especially in travel content).
• Practical perspective shifts to get you out of your engagement rut—fast.
• The surprising power of word-of-mouth growth (yes, it still exists!).

🧭 For Travel Creators Who Want To:

• Understand how to grow on Instagram without burnout
• Get out of a creative slump and back into aligned content creation
• Focus on real impact over vanity metrics
• Build deeper relationships with their existing audience
• Learn the difference between chasing viral trends and building sustainable influence

💌 Resources Mentioned:

• Want to get off the hamster wheel of Instagram and into sustainable strategy? Join my 7-Day Newsletter Challenge and start building your own list of raving fans.
• Check out the The Culture Cult Show where we covered Denmark’s: Mad King and Royal Affair . 

If this episode hit home, I want to hear from you!
 👉 Slide into my DMs with your next trip or episode idea over on Instagram @travelcontentwriting
👉 Share this episode with a fellow travel creator who needs a reminder that their content is making real impact.

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

Ever found yourself spiraling into perfectionism and letting a perfectly good idea sit in your drafts for way too long? Same. 

But today, I'm breaking down a major mindset shift I had... all thanks to painting the walls of my new apartment (yes, your girl has an actual address now—who knew?!).

In this episode, I’m sharing the real, messy, imperfect metaphor that turned my content strategy mindset on its head: The First Coat Rule.  It’s all about just getting it done and making it better later—because let’s be honest, that draft sitting in your phone isn’t helping anyone.

Here’s what we dive into:

• Why done is better than perfect when it comes to content creation
• How overthinking kills momentum (and how to get it back)
• A little pep talk for my fellow people-pleasers
• Why your content doesn’t need to be a masterpiece to be profitable
• The difference between real feedback and made-up problems

Whether you're a seasoned travel content creator or just getting started as a digital content creator, this episode is your permission slip to take messy action and build momentum. Because your audience doesn’t care about perfect—they care about connection, consistency, and YOU showing up.

🔥 Episode Challenge:
Dig up one of those dusty drafts, give it a once-over, and POST IT. Then go do something fun while your brain panics and realizes the world didn’t end. You got this.

💬 Let's Connect!
DM me your favorite podcast episodes or your favorite travel creators over on Instagram 👉 @travelcontentwriting

Key PointsL content creator, travel creator, digital creator, content strategy, done is better than perfect, content creation tips, creative momentum, Instagram content, imperfect action, travel content creation

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

Hey guys, we need to talk. This week, I’m walking (literally) through why this* overused line just doesn’t cut it anymore for building a real business as a travel creator.

 This one's for my fellow travel influencers, travel content creators, and digital nomads who are ready to move from vague inspiration to real impact. I’m breaking down:

• Why “inspiring travel” has become the most generic (and useless) mission in the creator space
• What your audience actually needs instead (hint: it’s not another sunset pic)
• How to define your real "why" and build content that solves actual problems
• Tangible examples of shifting from inspiration to intention
• My personal process for refining your niche and creating purposeful content

💡 You’ll Learn How To:

• Attract better brand deals by solving real travel problems
• Turn your DM questions into powerful content pillars
• Audit your content like a strategist (not just a scroller)
• Develop a clear message that makes you stand out in a crowded feed

 If you’re ready to stop posting just to post, and start creating content that actually helps your audience move from stuck to soaring, book a 1:1 strategy session with me. We’ll dig into your specific audience, your magic sauce, and how to translate that into real business momentum.

🔗 Book a session HERE
 

Check Out Marie's Show:

Listen to Culture Cult Show 

Listen to the episodes Killer Mermaids in Zimbabwe Episode OR The Largest UFO Sighting in Zimbabwe

Insta: @culturecultshow

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

Today we are talking about the chaos of entreprenuerships and balancing work-life balance with your content creator business. We have joining us Grace—a 28-year-old entrepreneur who traded private equity for perfume. She’s building herbrand from the ground up and documenting the entire travel content journey online.

We talk about:

•  Balancing content creation with actually building the business (yes, even when the algorithm ghosts you)
•  Staying motivated when reach is low and the to-do list is eternal
• 📈How TikTok became Grace’s most powerful networking tool (not kidding)
• 🤯 How saying “yes” to free branding advice landed her a partnership that changed everything

🔗 CONNECT WITH GRACE

Website: shopevoquer.com

Grace's IG: @gracehowland_
Instagram & TikTok: @shopevoquer 

Grace's branding agency: @odecreativestudio

💥 WANT TO BECOME A UGC CREATOR?

I’m diving headfirst into UGC and using Maddie Garrett’s UGC Accelerator to do it. It’s given me my spark back, helped me land real brand deals, and made content creation fun again. If you want in, use code LAURA10 for 10% off when you join.
→ Check it out here https://maddyoutdoors.mykajabi.com/ugc-accelerator

💬 IF YOU LOVE HEARING ME TALK…

Check out the Culture Cult Show and my episode HERE

Insta:@culturecultshow

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

💥 Ever felt like something was just… off when chatting with a brand or another creator?
In this real-talk solo episode, I’m calling out the most common red flags I see in the creator space — from micromanagers to trend chasers, price shoppers to platform jumpers. If you’ve been burned by a chaotic client or flopped collab, this one’s gonna hit home.

It’s time to stop wasting your time on people who don’t value your creative energy or expertise.

💡 What You’ll Learn:

• The "I just need…” mindset that’s actually a 🚨 red flag
• Why constantly chasing trends keeps you broke and burnt out
• How micromanaging kills trust (and creativity)
• What it means if a client is always “too busy”
• How to spot scope creep before it sneaks up on you
• Why you should never rush into emergency projects

🎯 This Episode is For:

• Travel creators building sustainable partnerships
• Content creators scaling their services without burnout
• Anyone ready to set stronger boundaries in their business

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

You’ve got 7% battery, no charger, and a million ideas swirling in your content creator brain. Do you panic-scroll or power through with purpose? If you've ever found yourself stuck in a foreign café with no outlet in sight, this one’s for you.

Today I break down how to turn those dying battery moments into productivity gold. Whether you’re in a Bangkok airport or a Prague café, 7% can be all you need to get your content creator to-do list moving.

You’ll learn:

• How to use constraint (like low battery) as a creativity tool ✨
• The 7% Rule I swear by for high-impact microtasks
• My go-to tasks when my devices are running on fumes
• The types of work to completely avoid when power is low
• How these micro moments actually strengthen your travel creator workflow

🎧 Related Episodes:

• 💌 Ep 72: Newsletter Collabs
• 📋 Ep 2: Use Asana Like a Pro

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE

In today’s episode, we’re diving into newsletter collabs. We’re talking about real collabs that grow your list, build actual relationships, and help you get seen without posting 24/7.

✨Whether you’ve got 200 or 2,000 subscribers, this episode breaks down how to use content marketing and strategic newsletter swaps to grow your audience (without needing to go viral).

🎙️ What You’ll Learn:

• Why newsletter collaborations are one of the easiest growth wins (and how to do them right)
• How to avoid common newsletter swap mistakes (and what to do instead)
• My fave ideas for collabs that don’t involve just dropping a link and calling it a day
• The secret power of trust transfer and why aligned audiences matter more than follower count
• My go-to outreach script that doesn’t suck (yes, you can steal it)
• Real talk: why this is about relationship building, not just growth hacking

💡 Episode Highlights:

• [01:00] → Why newsletter collabs are better than fighting the algorithm
• [04:30] → What makes a collab actually effective (hint: alignment + trust)
• [07:00] → Creative ways to collaborate (joint newsletters, series, cross-promos)
• [10:00] → Finding the right partners: it’s not about follower count
• [12:00] → Outreach strategy that doesn’t make people cringe
• [15:00] → Avoiding common collab pitfalls (and building something epic)

• Sign up for my newsletter, the Content Compass, the weekly newsletter for travel creators who are already landing brand deals and are ready to build the business behind their content.
• Get five shifts that will take you from travel creator to business owner with actionable next steps included. AND two private podcast episodes. Get the Creator to CEO Playbook for $5
• Say hi on Instagram

Join Us 👉 The Travel Creator Business Plan Community!

The only business-building community designed specifically for travel creators.
  You’ll get:
  ✔ monthly business systems
  ✔ coworking + Q&A calls
  ✔ a private community of creators building real businesses
  ✔ guidance to help you move from “content machine” to “CEO energy”

Sign Up HERE