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Ask Carmen
How can you post consistently if you can't travel frequently?
Q: I work a full-time job with somewhat limited PTO, so I can't travel as often as I'd like. How can I maintain a steady flow of content without doing a ton of trips?

A: You can be a travel creator without doing an absolutely massive volume of travel. Yes, our family is visiting 21 resorts in 2021 but we didn’t start out at this frequency and you don’t have to either, nor do you ever have to!

I think many people think that one trip equals one vlog, or a handful of photos, so you have to keep traveling more and more and more to have content.

But vlogs, reviews or trip recaps are not the only kind of content you can make! Here are lots of other ideas:
  • You can make top 5 lists or top 10 lists. Like "My top 10 favorite destinations for street food." Or "The 5 best cities to visit when you’re in your 20s."
  • You can share travel tips or travel hacks.
  • You can do versus videos, like Flying vs Road Trips, or Beach Vacations vs City Vacations
  • You can do room tours or resort tours.
  • You can share your favorite travel gear or gadgets
  • You can do Q&As where you just answer a bunch of questions from your audience
  • You can do how-to tutorials: how to fly for cheap, how to pack light
  • You can do opinion or analysis pieces, like “Why Luxury Hotels Are Overrated” or “The History of Premium Economy Cabins”

And all of these formats I mentioned can be done in the form of a YouTube video, as a TikTok, as an Instagram caption that’s like a mini blog post.

So don’t assume that just because you don’t have the time or budget to take a trip every other week, you can’t be a travel creator!

On every trip you do, make sure you capture way more photos and video than you think you might need - both horizontal and vertical video. That way you have lots of extra B-roll that you can integrate into future YouTube videos or TikToks.

Got a question for me? Click here to submit it!

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Take care,

Carmen Sognonvi
How to Travel for Free
Don't Miss Out on the 100,000 Bonus Points Offer!
Our favorite travel credit card just raised its signup bonus to 100,000 points! If you sign up now, you'll get your travel points in time for all your big fall and winter travel plans.

Creator Economy News
What the “Creator Economy” Promises—and What It Actually Does
In this emerging field, in many ways, resembles a gig economy for digital content. Participants are still precarious workers, relying on the whims of corporations for their livelihoods. Much like an Uber driver or a twenty-tens Instagram influencer, the creator is responsible for her own marketing, health care, and tax contributions.

A TikToker Has Comprehensive Theories About Mormonism And Instagram Influencers
Never have I ever seen someone package a dense thesis on piety and influencing into a nearly 3-minute clip quite like Emily Kim did in this TikTok. Earlier this week, Kim posted a video/epic social media essay in response to one of her followers, who was shocked to learn so many influencers are Mormon. Their posts have made her deeply reflective on how Mormonism informs their line of work (but more on that later).

TikTok Wants More Ad Dollars, and It Has a New Plan to Get Them
The company said it was introducing an automated system to act as a kind of matchmaker, bringing together advertisers and content creators, giving TikTok a better opportunity to catch up with other social media companies that have generated greater ad revenue.

The Gear I Use
iPhone 12 Pro Max

What's the best camera to use for travel vlogging? Unless you're already a proficient videographer, I always recommend starting with an iPhone! It's so easy to use and the quality is amazing.

Insta360 GO 2

If you want an action camera that is super unobtrusive, the GO 2 is a great choice! The stabilization is amazing, and because it's so tiny, it allows you to get some really creative shots!

GoPro Hero 9

There's a reason GoPro has been popular with creators for so many years - it's a fantastic all-purpose action camera. Stabilization is great, and it's hardy enough to handle wear and tear.

Insta360 ONE X2

If you haven't hopped on the 360 camera bandwagon yet, this is your sign to do it! These cameras capture what's in front, back, above, below all at the same time!

13-Inch Macbook Pro

This laptop pretty much powers my entire business as a travel creator. Not only do I use it to edit all my photos and videos, but it's also a great productivity tool for email, writing, and research.

Tascam DR-10L Audio Recorder

Viewers can forgive bad video quality, but they won't put up with poor audio. This audio recorder is my go-to for capturing crisp, clear audio. It's so easy to use and the output always sounds great.

Travel Industry News
Are We Ready for the Return of Mass Tourism?
As we brace for a wave of postpandemic travel, D’Eramo refocuses our attention from the hateful tourist, who is almost all of us, toward tourism as a set of industries, with tentacles that reach everywhere, which has reshaped our cities and politics and almost every facet of life on earth.

United says about 97% of employees met vaccine deadline; Meanwhile, AA and Southwest pilots warn of travel chaos
United’s news came as pilots unions at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines warned that an exodus of pilots could occur if the federal vaccine mandate is implemented at airlines, potentially causing mayhem during the holiday travel period.

Australia to reopen border after 18-month Covid travel ban
The changes will allow Australian citizens and permanent residents to travel abroad once 80 percent of the local adult population is vaccinated. meaning the country’s eight states and territories may reopen on different schedules. On their return to Australia, vaccinated travelers will be required to complete a seven-day quarantine at home, while those who are not vaccinated must spend 14 days in the quarantine hotel system that has been in place since March 2020.

A Travel Must-Have
How to Avoid Getting Stuck in a Foreign Hospital
What if you’re on a trip, but you suddenly have a medical emergency? Travel insurance or credit card benefits will only get you to the “nearest acceptable facility" -- not your home hospital.

Medjet is the premier global air medical transport and travel security membership program for travelers. If you become hospitalized internationally, Medjet will arrange medical transportation to a home-country hospital of your choice for inpatient care.

Content Creation Tips
How To Plan A YouTube Video - My Pre Production Process
Becki and Chris share their pre-production process, how they plan all of their YouTube videos, and some tips you can implement in your own workflow.

Color Grading DIFFICULT Footage - Adobe Premiere Pro CC Tutorial
Footage doesn't always cooperate in the color grading process. Here are some techniques Aidin Robbins uses to color grade difficult footage using Lumetri Color in Adobe Premiere Pro CC.

How To Take Your Own TRAVEL PHOTOS With Phone or Camera!
Have you wanted to take amazing travel photos for Instagram but are a solo traveller or don’t have anyone traveling with you to take your photos? This video from Laura Reid shares some great tips.

Stay Safe When You Travel
We Never Travel Without This
Anytime you connect to a public WiFi network, there’s a risk that hackers can get to your passwords, financial details, or even your emails. One thing that brings me peace of mind is knowing that our devices are protected by ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN encrypts your internet connection using the highest standards of encryption currently available. We’ve been using ExpressVPN for years now, and I always recommend it to everyone.

Top Flight Family
All-Inclusive With a Rock 'n Roll Edge at Hard Rock Punta Cana
When you hear the words “Hard Rock,” you probably think of rock and roll and late night parties. Those things are certainly part of the Hard Rock brand, but there’s so much more! Our family recently stayed at the Hard Rock Hotel Punta Cana and found that it was actually a very family-friendly all-inclusive resort. In this video, I’ll cover the accommodations, the pools, the beach, the entertainment, the activities, the spa. I’ll also explain why I think this is a particularly good resort for families with teenagers.

We Visited the Brand-New LEGOLAND New York!
Do your kids love LEGO? Then you have to take a trip to the brand-new LEGOLAND New York! In this video I’ll cover all the best rides and attractions in the LEGOLAND theme park, what it’s like to stay at the LEGOLAND Hotel, and where to get the best food at the hotel and the park.

Traveling to Toronto WITHOUT My Family This Time!
What's it like when I travel without the kids? Enjoy this casual vlog about my trip to Toronto to see my sister!

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