Are you a travel blogger or influencer who loves to explore new destinations and share your experiences with your audience? Do you want to work with top travel brands and get paid for your passion? If yes, then you need to know how to find and land travel influencer collaborations.
Travel influencer collaborations are partnerships between travel brands and influencers, where the influencer promotes the brand’s products, services, or destinations to their followers in exchange for compensation, exposure, or other benefits. Travel influencer collaborations are beneficial for both parties, as they help the travel brand reach a wider and more engaged audience, and the influencer earn money, experience, and opportunities from their travel content.
According to a recent report by Influencer Marketing Hub, the travel industry is one of the most popular and lucrative niches for influencer marketing, with an estimated market size of $8.27 billion in 2020. The report also reveals that 89% of travel brands use influencer marketing as part of their strategy, and 87% of travelers are influenced by social media when planning their trips.
With these statistics in mind, it is clear that travel influencer collaborations are a great way to grow your travel blog and social media presence, as well as to enjoy the perks of traveling the world. But how do you find and land travel influencer collaborations with top travel brands? In this blog post, we will share with you some tips and tricks on how to do just that. Let’s get started!
How to Find Travel Influencer Collaborations
The first step to finding travel influencer collaborations is to look for potential travel brands that match your niche, style, and audience. There are different ways to do this, such as:
Searching on social media platforms and hashtags. You can use platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube to search for travel brands that are active and popular on social media. You can also use hashtags related to your niche, such as #travel, #wanderlust, #adventure, etc., to find travel brands that are relevant to your content and audience.
Joining influencer networks and platforms. You can also join influencer networks and platforms that connect travel brands and influencers, such as AspireIQ, Upfluence, TRIBE, etc. These platforms allow you to create a profile, showcase your portfolio, and apply for travel influencer collaborations that suit your criteria and goals.
Signing up for newsletters and alerts from travel brands. Another way to find travel influencer collaborations is to sign up for newsletters and alerts from travel brands that you are interested in working with. This way, you can stay updated on their latest news, offers, and campaigns, and be the first to know when they are looking for influencers to collaborate with.
Other Ways:
Attending travel events and conferences. You can also attend travel events and conferences, such as TBEX, WTM, ITB, etc., where you can network and interact with travel brands, influencers, and industry experts. You can also pitch your ideas and proposals to travel brands directly, and showcase your personality and professionalism.
Reaching out to other travel influencers and bloggers. Finally, you can also reach out to other travel influencers and bloggers who have worked with travel brands before, and ask them for advice, referrals, or introductions. You can also collaborate with other travel influencers and bloggers on joint projects, such as giveaways, contests, guest posts, etc., to increase your exposure and credibility.
Here are some tips and best practices for finding travel influencer collaborations:
Research the travel brands and their target audience. Before you approach or apply for a travel influencer collaboration, make sure you do your homework and research the travel brand and their target audience. You want to make sure that the travel brand is aligned with your niche, style, and values, and that their target audience is similar to yours. You also want to know what their goals and expectations are, and what kind of influencers they are looking for.
Follow and engage with the travel brands on social media. Another way to increase your chances of finding travel influencer collaborations is to follow and engage with the travel brands on social media. You can like, comment, share, and tag their posts, and show them your interest and enthusiasm. You can also use this opportunity to showcase your expertise and authority on travel topics, and to build rapport and trust with the travel brand.
Create a portfolio of your previous travel collaborations and content. You also need to create a portfolio of your previous travel collaborations and content, and use it to demonstrate your skills, experience, and results. You can create a portfolio on your own website, or use platforms like Influence.co, Fohr, etc., to create a professional and attractive portfolio. You should include your bio, contact details, social media stats, previous travel collaborations, testimonials, and samples of your travel content.
Be flexible and open to different types of collaborations. Finally, you should be flexible and open to different types of collaborations, such as sponsored posts, product reviews, giveaways, contests, FAM trips, etc. You should also be open to working with different types of travel brands, such as hotels, airlines, tour operators, destinations, etc. This way, you can increase your opportunities and exposure, and diversify your income and experience.
How to Pitch to Travel Brands
Write a catchy subject line and a personalized introduction. The subject line and the introduction are the first things that the travel brand will see when they receive your pitch email, so you need to make them catchy and personalized. You need to capture their attention and interest, and make them want to read more. You can use the travel brand’s name, a question, a compliment, or a teaser to create a catchy subject line. You can also use the introduction to introduce yourself, state your purpose, and mention how you found them or why you are interested in working with them.
Highlight your value proposition and what you can offer to the travel brand. The next part of your pitch email is to highlight your value proposition and what you can offer to the travel brand. You need to show them why they should work with you, and what benefits they can get from collaborating with you. You can use data and metrics to showcase your influence and reach, such as your follower count, engagement rate, website traffic, etc.
Provide a clear call to action and a follow-up plan. The last part of your pitch email is to provide a clear call to action and a follow-up plan. You need to tell the travel brand what you want them to do next, and how they can contact you or reply to you. You can also suggest a timeline or a deadline for the collaboration, and ask them for their feedback or suggestions.
How to Negotiate with Travel Brands
The final step to landing travel influencer collaborations is to negotiate with travel brands and achieve a win-win outcome. Negotiation is a process of communication and compromise, where both parties try to reach an agreement that satisfies their needs and goals. Negotiation can involve different aspects, such as:
Compensation. This is the amount and type of payment that the travel brand will offer to the influencer for their collaboration. Compensation can be in the form of cash, free products or services, discounts, commissions, etc.
Deliverables. These are the specific tasks and outputs that the influencer will provide to the travel brand for their collaboration. Deliverables can include blog posts, social media posts, videos, photos, etc.
Terms and conditions. These are the rules and guidelines that both parties will follow for their collaboration. Terms and conditions can include deadlines, exclusivity, ownership, disclosure, etc.
Here are some steps and tips on how to negotiate with travel brands:
Set your expectations and goals before the negotiation. Before you enter the negotiation, you need to set your expectations and goals, and know what you want and what you are willing to accept. You need to consider your value, your costs, your time, and your desired outcome. You also need to do some research and find out the market rates and the average compensation for your niche and level of influence.
Understand the travel brand’s needs and budget. You also need to understand the travel brand’s needs and budget, and what they are looking for and what they can afford. You need to listen to their offer and their perspective, and try to find common ground and mutual benefits. You also need to be respectful and professional, and avoid being too aggressive or too passive.
Communicate your value and deliverables clearly and confidently. You also need to communicate your value and deliverables clearly and confidently, and show the travel brand why they should work with you and what you can bring to the table. You need to use data and metrics to support your claims, and provide examples and samples of your previous work. You also need to be specific and realistic about what you can deliver, and how you will measure and report your results.
More Tips:
Ask for feedback and suggestions from the travel brand. You also need to ask for feedback and suggestions from the travel brand, and show them that you are open to their ideas and opinions. You can ask them questions, such as what they like and dislike about your proposal, what they think is fair and reasonable, and what they would like to change or add. You can also use this opportunity to address any concerns or objections that they might have, and to clarify any doubts or misunderstandings.
Be flexible and willing to compromise on some terms. Finally, you need to be flexible and willing to compromise on some terms, and find a balance between your interests and the travel brand’s interests. You need to prioritize your needs and wants, and decide what you can give up and what you can’t. You also need to be creative and offer alternatives or solutions, such as adding value, extending the duration, or bundling the services. You should also be prepared to walk away if the deal is not favorable or feasible for you.
Here are some tips and tricks for negotiation with travel brands:
Do your research and know your worth. Before you negotiate with travel brands, you need to do your research and know your worth, and avoid underselling or overselling yourself. You need to know the market rates and the average compensation for your niche and level of influence, and use them as a reference point for your negotiation. You also need to know your value and your unique selling proposition, and use them to justify your rates and your requests.
Build rapport and trust with the travel brand. Another way to improve your negotiation with travel brands is to build rapport and trust with them, and establish a positive and professional relationship. You can do this by following and engaging with them on social media, sending them a thank you note or a gift, or meeting them in person if possible. You can also use compliments, humor, and empathy to create a friendly and comfortable atmosphere, and to show your interest and enthusiasm.
Use positive and assertive language and tone. You also need to use positive and assertive language and tone when you negotiate with travel brands, and avoid using negative or passive language and tone. You need to use words and phrases that express your confidence and competence, such as “I can”, “I will”, “I have”, etc. You also need to use words and phrases that convey your respect and cooperation, such as “I appreciate”, “I understand”, “I agree”, etc. You should also avoid using words and phrases that indicate your uncertainty or weakness, such as “I think”, “I hope”, “I guess”, etc.
Avoid common pitfalls and mistakes in negotiation. Finally, you need to avoid common pitfalls and mistakes in negotiation, such as:
Accepting the first offer without negotiating. You should always try to negotiate and ask for a better deal, as the first offer is usually not the best offer, and the travel brand might expect you to negotiate.
Being too rigid or too flexible. You should always be flexible and willing to compromise on some terms, but not on everything. You should also have a clear bottom line and a walk-away point, and stick to them.
Not preparing or practicing. You should always prepare and practice your negotiation, and have a clear strategy and a backup plan. You should also anticipate the travel brand’s offer and objections, and prepare your responses and counteroffers.
How to Maximize the Benefits of Travel Influencer Collaborations
Once you have found and landed travel influencer collaborations, you need to maximize the benefits of them, and make the most of your partnership with travel brands. Travel influencer collaborations can bring you different types of benefits, such as:
Exposure and visibility for your travel blog and social media channels. Travel influencer collaborations can help you increase your exposure and visibility for your travel blog and social media channels, as you can reach a wider and more relevant audience, and attract new followers and fans.
Revenue and income from paid opportunities and commissions. Travel influencer collaborations can also help you generate revenue and income from paid opportunities and commissions, as you can monetize your travel content and influence, and earn money from your passion.
Experience and skills from working with professional travel brands. Travel influencer collaborations can also help you gain experience and skills from working with professional travel brands, as you can learn from their expertise and best practices, and improve your quality and style of content.
Networking and relationship building with other travel influencers and brands. Travel influencer collaborations can also help you network and build relationships with other travel influencers and brands, as you can connect and collaborate with them, and create a supportive and inspiring community.
Travel and adventure from FAM trips and sponsored trips. Travel influencer collaborations can also help you enjoy travel and adventure from FAM trips and sponsored trips, as you can explore new destinations and experiences, and share them with your audience.
Here are some advice and recommendations for maximizing the benefits of travel influencer collaborations:
Deliver high-quality and engaging content that meets the travel brand’s expectations and guidelines. You need to deliver high-quality and engaging content that meets the travel brand’s expectations and guidelines, and that showcases your value and personality. You need to use your own voice and style, and create original and authentic content that resonates with your audience and the travel brand.
Promote and share your travel influencer collaborations on your blog and social media platforms. You also need to promote and share your travel influencer collaborations on your blog and social media platforms, and increase your reach and impact. You need to use different formats and channels, such as blog posts, social media posts, videos, podcasts, etc., and cross-promote them on your platforms.
Measuring and reporting your results and impact to the travel brand and your audience. You also need to measure and report your results and impact to the travel brand and your audience, and show them the value and benefits of your travel influencer collaborations. You need to use analytics and metrics, such as views, likes, comments, shares, clicks, conversions, etc., to track and evaluate your performance and ROI.
Maintaining a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with the travel brand. You also need to maintain a long-term and mutually beneficial relationship with the travel brand, and create a loyal and lasting partnership. You need to communicate and follow up with the travel brand regularly, and thank them for their collaboration and support. You also need to update them on your progress and achievements, and ask them for their feedback and suggestions.
Conclusion
Travel influencer collaborations are a great way to grow your travel blog and social media presence, as well as to enjoy the perks of traveling the world. However, finding and landing travel influencer collaborations with top travel brands is not easy, and requires a lot of work and skills. In this blog post, we have shared with you some tips and tricks on how to find and land travel influencer collaborations, how to pitch to travel brands, how to negotiate with travel brands, and how to maximize the benefits of travel influencer collaborations.
We hope that this blog post has been helpful and informative for you, and that you will use it as a guide and a reference for your future travel influencer collaborations. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you and learn from your experiences. Thank you for reading, and happy travels!
