Unlocking the Power of Content: Strategies to Monetize Your Skills in Travel and Writing

1.  Is content really king? How to make money from your content Sarah Lee @LiveShareTravel

2. Session aims #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel • Inventory your skills • Identify outlets for your skills and content • Devise an outline business strategy to make money from your content.

3. #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel Just as variety is the spice of life, diversification is the key to success in business

4. #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel Work for a livingFree Does Not Pay

5. Bloggers are multimedia strategists, sales people and, importantly, business people #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel

6. Where to sell your content #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel Print publications Online publications In-flight magazines Business/special interest magazines Stock libraries (photos/videos) TV channels Companies, tourist boards and DMOs Direct to consumer – i.e. pdf guides, apps, ebooks

7. As people we are not one dimensionalNor should your business be #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel

8. Build a business portfolio Authoring books Marketing & PR LiveShareTravel Special projects (TV etc) Freelance travel and business writing Speaking engagements

9. #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel What Travel Editors Look For • Stories that are unique • Offer an unusual take on a destination • From a solid writer who could transport readers to a destination • A rich narrative

10. #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel Things to consider • Stories need a strong angle • Something new. • Rich, detailed descriptions. • A thread of an idea running through a story. • Why should they commission the story from you? • Is it a good fit with the publication? • Pitch ideas for regular sections of a publication.

11. In Your Pitch #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel • Explain who you are and who you’ve written for before. • Include a working title for your story. • Give a short – up to about 150 words outline of the story you would write. • Explain why it’s of interest. • Explain why you should write it. • Offer more - multimedia

12. “Books have become the new business card”Writer and entrepreneur, James Altucher (@jaltucher) #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel

13. “With over 500 posts, how was a newbie to my blog to find the information they needed? I put it together in The Solo Traveler's Handbook”Blogger, author, publisherJanice Waugh (@solotraveler) #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel

14. What being an author can do for you #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel • Position you as an expert in your field. • Offer other opportunities to market your site. • Give companies another reason to work with you rather than another blogger. • Provide a platform for speaking engagements.

15. How to appeal to companies #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel • Put your own voice aside and consider the company you’re working for. • Target a company’s needs. What are their challenges? How can you help them overcome them? • Research the company and see what they’re producing already.

16. How to pitch companies #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel • Research the right contacts • Get in touch • Be professional

17. How to charge #TBURTM@LiveShareTravel

18. Where to find me livesharetravel.com @LiveShareTravel sarah.lee@maiacommunications.com maiacommunications.com Skype: MaiaComms @ The Bar!