Erin Hynes has so much on her plate.
After touring extensively, she determined to start out a weblog on the aspect, along with her demanding day job. Her weblog, Pina Travels, has all the time been a ardour venture, and over time she’s been in a position to develop it to offer 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 sturdy social media presence of 50k+ and a 5-year-old podcast.
She ultimately niched down from basic journey, and her area of interest is what actually drives her. She talks about her affiliate earnings, the varieties of collaborations she likes essentially the most, her method to search engine 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 marketing 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 basic 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 necessary to her was having an affect on her readers.
Now her model consists of an viewers throughout many channels, together with social media, and her weblog is getting 40k periods 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 he or she’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 search engine optimization, creating content material clusters, and what varieties 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 relation 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 he or she additionally discusses model offers and provides recommendations on 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 & Sources
Subjects Erin Hynes Talks AbouT
Her pre-blogging background
How she began running a blog
How she niched down
Beginning her podcast
Her present state of affairs
Her methods for progress
Accountable tourism
Her method to search engine optimization
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 title is Jared Bauman, and in the present day 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 main points. 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 in the present day. 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 type of, uh, you already know, type of the origin story, if you’ll, perhaps deliver 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 suppose 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 feel 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 bit of aspect venture 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 bit of aspect venture.
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 method you shared earlier than we hit report. Like I are likely to do podcast interviews about this one kind of journey subject. Was that all the time the purpose for it while 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 concentrated on accountable tourism.
So like a lot of the content material I produce has some kind of messaging round how we are able to journey in a method that is higher for individuals and for the planet. It didn’t begin out that method. Once I began out, I’d say I used to be fairly fundamental. I simply needed to have a journey weblog, simply needed to write down about what I needed to write down about.
Um, I did not actually assume so much about area of interest. Sorry, I’ll say it area of interest trigger I am Canadian. I do know People 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 targets past simply, like, constructing a bit of viewers for myself. Um, it was all through the years that I kind of narrowed down and realized like, Oh, that is like really what I am captivated with throughout the scope of journey.
And so I ought to actually like focus my power 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 needed to start out the positioning you shared that you simply needed to type of get again into that neighborhood. However, you already know, had been you type of taking the basic running a blog method 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 a whole lot of content material that you would 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 a whole lot 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 eager about the weblog in 2018 and I feel it formally launched January of 2019. Um, I even have a podcast and a presence throughout social media.
Um, social media, I feel 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 couple 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 yr.
Jared: So that you launched a journey website. I imply, now that we are able to look again, uh, you already know, a yr or much less earlier than the entire COVID shutdown hit, positive. 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 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 suppose like after I hit my first like month the place I surpassed 500 views or periods, that was like, an thrilling second, however really like a second that I bear in mind extra clearly is after 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 they’d like genuinely discovered it helpful. Um, Like numbers are nice, however truthfully, 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 making an attempt to hit these targets. And a few persons are very, very pushed by numbers, you already know, and there is nothing unsuitable with that.
So we’re very pushed by affect. Some persons are very pushed by a sure purpose they’d after they sat down to start out it up. And it may not even be all that tangible. It is perhaps very intangible.
Erin: Yeah, I ought to, I ought to say really 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, making a living, quitting their day job.
I ought to say that was by no means my purpose. Initially later it grew to become extra of like a. Like late two years in round, I’d say I began pondering, Okay, I am doing a whole lot 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 needed to make sufficient cash to stop my day job.
My mindset was similar to, I actually need a spot the place I can share like all my concepts and share my information.
Jared: Had been you in, since you had a day job the place it sounds such as you’re doing a whole lot of writing and like how tapped into the running a blog neighborhood had been you while you began this in that first yr 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 might really get in entrance of lots of people, you already know, get site visitors after which additionally get monetized in a method 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 needed to speak about, however I did have this type of ahead pondering quantity in thoughts that I needed to get to how tapped in, had been you to it while you began and it was only a acutely aware selection 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 referred to 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 and marketing area. And at the moment I wasn’t like actually targeted on weblog work for these startups. Um, I had a basic concept of like how you would generate income via a weblog, like via adverts, via 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’d 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 needed to do. If the positioning began incomes cash, um, I’d 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 optimization teams on Fb. And that is after I began to love actually perceive, okay, like that is really how I might 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 at the moment are. Let’s quick ahead after which we are able to type of set the stage for a way you constructed into that and a number of the steps you took alongside the best way.
Erin: Yeah. The place I’m now. Now I’d say Pina travels is greater than a weblog.
I’d 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 periods 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 almost 5, 000 on threads on Tik TOK.
I feel I am round 20, 000, um, YouTube, very small viewers, however it’s rising there. I feel 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 is 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 essentially the most half, just like the podcast is actually my ardour venture. And that is the place like, I get like into the nitty gritty of accountable tourism subjects.
Um, and yeah, total, 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 might be totally on social media, in addition to contracts with DMOs and tourism boards. Um, yeah. And all these channels now, I suppose, are like round seven years outdated at this level.
Jared: Yeah. Congratulations. Um, I imply, you already know, it is value 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 feel that is necessary to say.
Lots of people who hear aren’t interested by 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 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 completed.
I feel 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’ve got all the time had a full time job.
Erin: There was one interval final yr 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 simply perhaps ask you a number of the methods that labored from a excessive stage. And we are able to 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 via COVID additionally, you already know, you talked concerning the Google updates.
Everybody listening will probably be aware of 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 assume which have helped work or that stand out for constructing this?
Erin: I’d argue that like the largest power I’ve had like strategically is that I’ve not all the time adopted the newest tendencies in search engine optimization and the newest like frequent methods which might be being shared from the start, I had like a deep concentrate on making my content material consumer targeted and there was a interval like particularly through the pandemic the place individuals had been telling me that this was the unsuitable method.
Um, however in the end it labored out very 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 bit of bit, however that is additionally like as a result of the truth that I have not been engaged on my weblog, like as actively within the final yr, 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 consumer targeted framework from the start. I used to be not making an attempt to go for these like excessive quantity key phrases which might be 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 intensely related to my viewers.
Jared: What for you, as a result of I do know the main target has grow to be 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 normally, 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 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 optimization targeted? How do you take a look at writing about a spot that you simply simply went to?
Erin: Yeah, via the accountable tourism framework. So my like purpose has all the time been to create quote unquote, basic journey content material. Um, that. that very quietly encourages individuals to journey in a method that’s higher for individuals and for the planet. Um, so you can see very like type of run of the mill itineraries on my website.
I’m a basic 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 easy methods to be be in that place in a extra accountable method. Uh, my website additionally does have a complete part devoted to accountable tourism.
And that is the place I write guides which might be like on particular subjects, like for instance, easy methods to keep away from, uh, cultural appropriation, easy methods to journey extra deeply, uh, accountable tourism suggestions, sustainable journey suggestions, stuff like that. Um, so I feel like that is, I’d argue that’s my area of interest, however I’m really a basic journey website within the sense that I do cowl locations which might be all around the world.
Jared: So in essence, perhaps you are a journey, you are a website that covers a whole lot of totally different subjects, however all the time from one singular standpoint, sure, that is this concentrate on sustainability. Is that one thing that you simply assume has helped you achieve a whole lot of traction, um, by way of 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 income in. Um, I feel it could. grow to be 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 recognize just like the notes that I embody about it, however for It is arduous to say, proper?
Like, I’d 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 via Google SERP and do not actually care about that, however like discover the information useful. Um, the realm I’d 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 characterize.
their model or to characterize, uh, their area via this lens. Um, so from the neighborhood standpoint, I feel it is actually necessary by way of like rating as a journey website on Google. I do not know that it is like setting me up for achievement, however We’ll see. We’ll see what the longer term holds. I feel there’s like a rising shift in direction of, um, extra accountable tourism.
And I feel increasingly more persons are wanting particularly for that type of content material.
Jared: What has your method been to search engine optimization through the years? You realize, 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 choose your poison. You realize, sooner or later one was going to come back 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 might have completed some S you might have taken considerably of an search engine optimization 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 optimization 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 a giant concentrate on consumer. Um, I solely goal key phrases which might be really very associated to my area of interest and which might be very in depth.
So, like instance is like, Particularly through the pandemic, individuals had 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 really on my website. I have been which means to take away it, however what’s the authorized consuming 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 you need to 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’re, share your insights, share a whole lot of element.
Um, it is actually similar to a regurgitation of knowledge 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’d 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 might be what to not do in, and these are guides which might be, like, useful recommendations on a spot, however via the context of accountable tourism, um, they’re very lengthy, they’re very in depth, they share a whole lot of, like, cultural element, they share a whole lot of, like, Element about how you need to have interaction with a spot.
Um, I additionally do a whole lot of itineraries which might be tried and true that I’ve examined that I’ve written primarily based alone expertise. They embody a whole lot of 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 really communicate to as a result of I’ve completed it.
And since, um, as a result of I’ve completed it, I will share element that such as you would not discover elsewhere. Um, so I’d say like that. Has been the principle focus. There’s different issues that I’ve completed that like simply out of shape that I feel have helped. So for instance, I’m a basic 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 few new nation, the purpose is to get to at the very least 10 blogs. Typically, I am making an attempt to write down extra. So for instance, I feel I’ve like 25 blogs on Portugal. Um, so there’s a whole lot of locations that I have been on the 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 feel you type of put a pleasant advantageous level on that subject, that question, as a result of that was all the craze, 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 varieties 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 a whole lot of, uh, Like roundup posts, like the very best resorts to remain in, the very best excursions to take, and the explanation that I began this initially was as a result of I, I have not completed 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 seen within the HCU was that like lots of people that had been like filling their websites with this type 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 type of content material is not serving customers.
It is not like constructing a neighborhood in a method that like a very 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 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 take a look at analytics. Like I would take a look at search site visitors, analytics, um, rankings. After which my technique is to have a look at just like the fashion of weblog. I imply, it is a frequent apply. So for instance, like I began noticing that my blogs on whatnot to do had been performing fairly properly.
And in order that grew to become a daily 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 very best and slowly shifted all my content material to observe that mannequin. So really 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 targeted. And that is simply because I seen after the HCU that my website had completed properly. And I am fairly positive 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 method 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 with regards to social media. For me, like, my technique has simply been to, like, submit what I really feel like posting and attempt to, like, share.
a story via what I am posting. Um, and that has labored very well as a result of I feel that folks really feel like they’ll 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 submit usually. Um, And to only, like, attempt to relate all the pieces I submit again to my area of interest.
I, I used to, like, hop on a whole lot of the tendencies, um, and over time I spotted that, like, whereas they’ve the potential to go viral, usually, like, going viral with, like, a stylish video would not really earn you, uh, a brand new viewers. It is really 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 feel. is perhaps distinctive to me is that I put a whole lot 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 a whole lot of bloggers particularly really feel like a bit of irritated when individuals ask them for like assist planning my journey.
Um, however that is one thing I’ve all the time completed and prefer it takes a whole lot of time, however I, I do assume it has helped me construct a neighborhood that is loyal and sticks round.
Jared: Cautious. I’d 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’d simply want I might have somebody who knew what they had been doing.
Assist me with this. Um, what have been a few of like essentially the most profitable facets of the social media, whether or not it is a sure video or a sure submit 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: Positive. That is why I requested it open ended. Yeah. Once more, I, I am being open ended with you trigger I recognize your perspective and I feel a whole lot of, I am being open ended on function simply to be clear and I am going to, I am going to give a bit of context. Yeah. I might ask you for the numbers and I might ask you for the metrics. However on the identical time, you might have navigated your method via a whole lot of 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 search engine 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 mates, like those that I genuinely imagine are shut mates of mine. Individuals, like after I was in Japan final yr, 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 really went and met him in individual and these sorts of connections, I feel are actually particular and their connections that I’ve solely been capable of finding like via this neighborhood that I’ve constructed.
Um, so from like a private perspective, that is like a extremely six metric of success, I suppose I am saying. Um, After which from like a, I suppose, monetary and model perspective, uh, the neighborhood that I’ve constructed has led me to e-book like actually nice work. Um, I’ve labored with like a whole lot of 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, however 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 a daily vacationer, um, which is one thing that is actually particular to me.
Jared: What varieties of stuff do you discover you are gravitating in direction of on social media?
You realize, there’s so many various platforms, whether or not it is from Fb to Instagram, YouTube, after which, you already know, you have bought all types of variations in that. YouTube, is it shorts? Is it? You realize, 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’d 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 all the pieces for elsewhere. Um, so Instagram is the principle focus from a social perspective after which threads.
has grow to be solely not too long ago, really 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 presently, they’re actually pushing carousels. So usually what I do is like, if I provide you with 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 easy methods to be a accountable snowbird. Um, presently of yr, 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 needed to create like a message round how to try this in a accountable method, easy methods to be vacationer while 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 will probably 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 feel most individuals most likely, you already know, went and signed up, bought all of it discovered after which perhaps have not completed 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 bit of concept about if it is one thing they need to, you already know, bounce 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 might be interested by the identical subjects as me, and so it is really rising my neighborhood past, like, the attain I had on Instagram. It additionally helps that you probably have a viewers on Instagram already, while you be part of threads, like persons are mechanically prompted to observe you. So after I began utilizing threads, I already had a in-built neighborhood that was primarily based off my Instagram neighborhood.
So I feel 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 arduous to search out your neighborhood there, it simply is just not working for me, like I’ll submit 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 vitally frequent within the journey running a blog area that folks grow to be, um, concerned in like programs and promoting details about like easy methods to grow to be a blogger. And that is like one thing that folks usually ask me, like, will you make a course?
Will you give me suggestions 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 needed 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 might have talked about model offers a few instances now. Um, and, uh, speak about what that appears like. If you happen to might perhaps give us an instance. Um, you have associated it to your podcast. You associated it to sure varieties of content material you are creating, however what does a model deal appear to be?
I am positive most individuals are gonna be aware of a model deal, however listening to you speak extra concerning the varieties 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 completed for my podcast was with world nomads.
They sponsored, um, a complete season of the present. And so each episode we had a number learn advert. Um, in order that was like a yr 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 a lot of the model offers I do, I’d 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 typically I am going to additionally negotiate to offer 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 by way of how they discovered you and why they needed to companion 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 interested by working with me. Um, different instances I’ve seen it is as a result of Of the type of like know-how that I exploit, I suppose, 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 interested by 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 normally that they wish to similar to ship me free stuff and have me make them content material without spending a dime, basically. Um, and so usually 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 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 arduous 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, a whole lot of firms know that like, They’ll simply get this completed without spending a dime.
They’ll simply ship somebody their product and so they’ll do an entire marketing campaign for them without spending a dime. Um, so I’d say really it is like my least favourite kind of labor to do simply because there’s a lot irritating negotiation that goes on. And it truthfully seems like a bit of offensive typically what manufacturers assume you will do for them without spending a dime.
I simply get so irritated. I’ve
Jared: heard this earlier than. I used to be at a bit of 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 unsuitable. What’s and he is like, it is the model coping with it, again and the fourth, the change requests a bit of. Belongings 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 a whole lot of what you are saying.
Erin: Yeah. I additionally simply discover like, usually 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 clarify to them, like, really you are hiring me to talk to my viewers and the P the very best individual to try this is me. And so you could give me just like the artistic freedom to love share this message in a method that works for my viewers.
And solely I do know that. Um, Plenty 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 may possibly pay very properly. I simply discover like with the hassle that goes into the negotiation and the pitching, um, I am unsure that it is value 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 despite the fact that I ask you really, 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 might have for individuals who do wish to pursue model offers or at the very least strive them out to see if perhaps they’re match for the kind of content material they produce and for his or her particular trade?
Erin: Yeah,
I feel having like a extra basic area of interest will most likely profit you if that is the kind of work that you simply, you aspire to do, I feel. 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 resorts, a whole lot of 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 e-book regionally owned resorts So there’s a whole lot of doorways which might be 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 feel having like a extra generalized area of interest or area of interest that is not restricted by that type 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’d simply say, like, you simply, you simply must be dedicated to pitching so much, um, and standing your floor, I’d say, like, from the very starting, you need to be charging charges, you need to by no means be doing these exchanges without spending a dime, um, and I feel that is actually necessary, particularly for small creators to listen to, as a result of we have to shift, kind of, as a collective, in direction of Thanks very a lot.
Demanding this all the time, as a result of when there are these creators that can take issues without spending a dime, um, it signifies 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 let you know host a podcast, teeing up the following query, like with out even perhaps realizing it, uh, full time job.
And I needed to speak about that. I needed 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 positive we are able to all think about the upsides. Such as you stated, you might 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 is just not required to make a sure sum of money each month to pay your payments. The downsides is you might have a full time job, so there’s so much to get completed. And you’ve got a giant chunk of the week already gone as a result of you might 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 suppose the principle 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 few years of expertise that could be very arduous to piece collectively a full time dwelling on this area of interest.
I feel that which may change sooner or later. And I’m discovering that like, within the final yr, 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 longer term that I work full time this manner. However yeah, like when 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 type of a pastime for me. I simply actually take pleasure in it. Um, and I additionally take pleasure in my full time job. So I feel I am only a workaholic to be trustworthy. Um, yeah, I carve out like a whole lot of time through the week.
Uh, I’d 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 similar 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 feel 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 seen that I can write a weblog so much sooner than different individuals can. Um, and this has been to my benefit for positive.
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 might have for maximizing the hour or two you set in every single day on this?
Erin: Yeah, I feel as a result of I discussed earlier like there are particular varieties of blogs that I write as a result of I’ve such a method 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 all the time 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, a whole lot of the data I want could be very like high of thoughts. I’ve all the photographs prepared, all the pieces, all the data is there in high of thoughts, which makes the method of writing so much sooner.
After which by way of know-how, I do use ai, however in additional of like an ideation method. I’d by no means use AI to love write a complete weblog. That is principally ‘trigger I really take pleasure in writing them. I am not gonna like. eliminate the factor that I really take pleasure in 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 easy methods 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 basically.
Jared: What’s um, as we type of deliver this to a, to, to, to begin to wrap up right here, such as you talked about how you have seen this enhance in curiosity over the previous yr 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 enhance of AI and it is, you already know, it is, it is type of prominence within the on-line world.
Um, you talked about search engine optimization altering a lot and Google being very totally different than it was a yr or two in the past. Like what’s subsequent for you? What do you might have on the horizon? The place are you, um, pursuing with, um, along with your model?
Erin: It is vitally doom and gloom on the market for journey bloggers proper now. Plenty of journey bloggers really feel that there’s not a future for the journey running a blog area.
Um, I’d 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 in addition I’ve discovered like so long as I am updating older content material, I, I am really seeing my site visitors enhance 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, it is 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 power exterior of specializing in the weblog.
Um, so yeah, I would 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 on condition that I am from right here. Um, however sooner or later I would like to start out working with tourism boards all over the world.
Jared: Aaron, the place can individuals observe together with, um, with what you are doing? You realize, 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 very best 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 primary 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 hearken to it without spending a dime on any podcast app. Um, and we’re with the VoyaScape community. So when you’re interested by journey podcasting, you will discover an entire assortment of podcasts there which might 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 title come from?
Erin: Oh, really, it is humorous you did not ask that. Most individuals do. I simply threw up my
Jared: checklist, for the report. Yeah.
Erin: That is type of refreshing. Um, this was an important mistake I made after I began it.
And that is what exhibits that I wasn’t actually eager about the longer term after I began running a blog. Um, after I began journey running a blog, I had it in my head that I’d 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 If you Google me, you already know 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 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 grew to become my title and it was my nickname for a few years.
So after I began running a blog, I assumed, Oh, it might be cute to make use of this like nickname. That, um, got here to me like via my travels. Um, now I type of remorse it as a result of yeah, I get emails from individuals who assume my title is Pina. It simply, it’s kind of complicated. So watch out about that when 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 are 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 would 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 telephone calls that I bought had been like, hello, it is a Jared with optical realized pictures. No, no ma’am. We do not do contact lenses. I am sorry. Yeah, no, we’re really a pictures studio. Yeah, I do know it’s a unhealthy, I am going to cross that on to the proprietor. I agree. Dangerous title. Did not final lengthy. I did find yourself altering it as a result of it was actually unhealthy for enterprise, however do not feel unhealthy.
We have all made that mistake sooner or later.
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 do this. So I am not going to do it. Ah,
Jared: and you’re eager about search engine optimization 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 type of all the guidelines alongside the best way. I actually recognize it. It has been an ideal interview.
Erin: Thanks for having me.
