It took a couple years but I finally started blogging. I said about a hundred times that I was about to start writing however there was always a reason why I did not start my own website. Last year I was pushed and asked from several sides to keep track of my travels and blog about it. One of my best mates, an IT specialist, set up a website in May 2015 and now I already call myself a full-time blogger. Where is this going?
I wish I started doing this straight away when I started exploring the world in 2008. Numerous dreams turned into experiences since, though only very few times I put something on paper about it. Let me help you travel the world just like me and read about my travel tips for your next big adventure.
How I started
My Instagram account @traveltomtom inspires me the most to develop this website and writing more about my adventures. I have unlimited photos I want to post on Instagram and topics to write about, like volunteering with sea turtles in Costa Rica, a campervan tour through New Zealand, a roadtrip in South Africa, mountaineering in Bolivia and loads of other adventures. My Instagram account is getting recognized more and more and people and organizations are approaching me to work together. I am really flattered with all the attention! Recently some of my pictures have been featured at accounts with millions of followers. The biggest one was a feature at the Instagram account of ‘wonderful_places’ with 6.3 million followers generating almost 100.000 likes.
My Snapchat story is also getting more and more views each day. I am receiving snaps and questions from random people from around the world. A lot of people asking me questions about where to travel, what to do, where to stay, etc. It is funny to see what kind of snaps people send me. Its not only random travel photos or cool views, I do get a bunch of naked selfies from girls and guys as well.
It is getting harder and harder to reply to everyone though. Travelling is still my passion that keeps me exploring the globe, but slowly I am realizing that I will probably have to change my travel style. So now and then I am going to need a couple days off to work online, write blogs, interact with followers, look through my emails, plan ahead, update my website and of course stay in touch with my family and my dearest friends through Whatsapp. I never forget them but sometimes I realize that I am replying random strangers faster than my best friends. Interested in working together? Get in touch with me!
Travel blogging seems like the perfect job, but a lot of people don’t realize that it is hard work. It is may be not exhausting, but it takes a lot of hours. Staying for free in a luxurious hotel is one thing, but that means I have to produce something as well. Taking photos, writing reviews and uploading articles simply takes a lot of time. Click here for tips on how to start a travel blog? People reply to me that I don’t have a job, but I think the hours I spend online on either my phone or my MacBook will amaze you. I am not even going to mention it!
There are a lot of things on my mind at the moment: participating in a crowdfunding project travelling the world with a drone, collaborating with amazing hotels and resorts, advertisement on my website, getting offers from several clothing brands, etc. Saying no to a sailing trip in the British Virgin Islands and a yoga retreat in the Bahamas is not easy either. Oh yeah and may be the most important thing, where am I going to travel the next month. My Thai visa is almost expired!
Making websites is not my thing and although I am learning fast and a lot, I still need the help of one of my best friends. Every week I sent him a couple emails asking him to change something. So a special word goes out to Noel: thanks for everything mate!
Seeing the views on my articles rising with every new blog I post makes me happy and keeps me inspired to keep on writing. As most of you already know I post my Snapchat stories on my Facebook page, but I am now planning to put them on YouTube as well. I already have my own YouTube channel and soon I will also upload my stories there.
I love all the work I do online and the energy I put in it is super rewarding, but the most important thing is that I want to keep on exploring the world!