Keith Jenkins (@velvetescape) and Janice Waugh (@solotraveler) conduct a workshop at the Travel Bloggers Unite Conference in Innsbruck in August 2011 on growing a travel blog as a business.

1. Grow Your Blog
as a Business!
By Janice Waugh
& Keith Jenkins
Travel Bloggers Unite
Innsbruck
August 2011

2. Who we are
Janice Waugh
How about Awesome! :-)
Global Bloggers
Network?
+
Keith Jenkins
=
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3. A career model for travel blogging
sustainable
Travel blogging can be a career
• Publisher not a blogger
• Unlimited possibilities of the internet
• Print online trend
• Social media extends
your publishing platform
• Trusted online
personality influence
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4. Growing your blog: 4 stages
The four stages of monetising your blog:
Monetisation strategy
Getting
$ Initial serious
stages ?
Getting
started

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5. Growing your blog: getting started
Establish your blog with a strong niche and
readership
• Choose a niche
• Brand your blog and all social media channels
• Build your readership
• Start networking
• Consistency is key
Create a plan
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6. Growing your blog: initial stage of monetisation
Ethics, experimenting & getting established
• Set your ethical standards
• Experiment with different text link options
• Explore affiliate programs
• Consider proposals from online marketing companies
• Build your social media presence, network and learn.
Track your progress
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7. Growing your blog: getting serious
Re-thinking, fine-tuning, professionalising
• Services and/or product offering
• Pricing
• Negotiation
• Treat your blog as a business!
Put on your
entrepreneurial cap
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8. Growing your blog: monetisation strategies
Back to the drawing board
• New models. New strategies. New objectives.
• Thorough research
• Ethics
• Sustainability
Figure out what game
you’re playing,
… and play it.
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9. Growing your blog: business models to consider
Identify a business model(s) that works for YOU!
I could be your
• Affiliate programs brand ambassador
• Advertising
• Endorsements/sponsorship
• Co-branding/white-labelling
• Books, apps, downloads
• Consultancy and speaking
Be creative!
Place your logo here!
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10. Growing your blog: a strategic plan
Create a comprehensive strategic plan
• Readers/Fans/Tribe FIRST
• Refine your brand for the model
• Optimize for your monetisation strategy
• Set your targets
• Invest in your future.
Apply lessons learned.
Invest.
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11. Growing your blog: implement your new strategy
Roll out your new strategies effectively
• Develop a comprehensive implementation plan
• Get the message out to your marketing channels & networks
• Track your progress. Make adjustments
• Close the sale.
Do it again!
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12. Global Bloggers Network
A community of travel bloggers
• Knowledge and opportunity-sharing
• Quick help from fellow bloggers
• Networking
Join us at facebook.com/groups/globalbloggersnetwork
or via www.globalbloggersnetwork.com
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13. Thank you!
Janice Waugh & Keith Jenkins
@solotraveler & @velvetescape
Visit the Solo Traveler Blog
http://solotravelerblog.com
Visit the Velvet Escape travel blog
http://velvetescape.com
Visit The Happy Explorer photo blog
http://thehappyexplorer.com
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