You need a big audience to collab with hotels.
So many people think that you’ve got to be some sort of social media guru to work with hotels. They wait for years to have enough blog views or enough followers because they think that’s all that hotels or travel brands want. #myth
But the truth is you just need to have a skill to offer and a bomb pitch.
Provide a service!
I have been collaborating with hotels for a long time now and most of my partnerships have NOT been for social media posts.
We’ve stayed at some of the most extraordinary places in exchange for our services. That’s right, services not social media posts. #serve
When I got started back in 2017, I had a teeny tiny blog (less than 500 views per month) and a brand new Instagram account (less than 500 followers) yet I still landed my first hotel collab among other sponsorships.
I would have arranged even better collabs if I focused on providing a service instead of social media exposure or blog coverage back then.
Collaborating with hotels should be a value exchange.
The following year I started offering services when pitching hotels and guess what? I landed so many hotel collabs that I didn’t spend a cent on accommodation for my whole 3 week trip across Portugal.
With the current ‘influencer’ focus brands have when it comes to collaborations, it’s no wonder that most creators feel like they don’t have enough to offer.
This my friends, is the biggest myth!
So, you’re probably wondering what I mean by provide a service…
Here’s what I’ve offered hotels in exchange for hosted stays or payment:
- Editorial content published in magazines.
- Copywriting services for their website.
- Content for their own blog.
- Newsletter content.
- Photography.
- Sponsored slot in my newsletter.
- Exposure/brand awareness.
If these aren’t services you can offer, here are some of the services you CAN exchange:
- Videography.
- Social media management.
- Website development.
- English lesson for staff in non-English speaking countries.
- SEO
- Graphic design.
- First aid skills course for staff.
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If you keep waiting until you have enough for feel worthy enough, you’ll never end up working with travel brands or ever enjoy a hotel collab.
Want more guidance on how to pitch and land travel sponsorships and hotel collabs?
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Read this post and more on my Typeshare Social Blog
