How to Become a Travel Influencer: Seek Adventure

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Karen Lin

Instagram Growth | Aug 18, 2023

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Sandy beaches. Snowy peaks. Ancient ruins. Have we sparked your interest? You may be imagining yourself exploring far-off destinations and staying in five-star accommodations. Especially if you’ve been scrolling your Instagram feed lately. After all, it seems like travel content is at an all-time high on social media, evoking wanderlust in just about every user.

But have you ever stopped to wonder how these people seem to travel all the time? Turns out, they are making a career out of it – and often getting paid to travel. That’s right, a new genre of Instagram influencers is emerging – the travel influencer. Interested in learning more?

If so, you’re in the right place. Keep reading below as we break it all down for you. We’ll cover everything – from how to become a travel influencer to a few of the top social stars to watch out for. Ready to jet set?

Women searching a map, looking for locations to learn how to become a travel influencer.

What Is a Travel Influencer?

By now, you are probably wondering what exactly a travel influencer is. And, really, how to become one. After all, it sounds like a pretty amazing job, doesn’t it? Before we get right into it, let’s address the definition of a travel influencer. They are popular figures on social media who create and post travel-related content to share with their followers.

The content can cover anything from travel hacks to cultural customs and top-rated restaurants. Their followers have come to deeply trust this shared knowledge and appreciate the insider info. Often, it affects their travel-related decisions as well as perceptions of worldly places on their bucket lists.

In fact, travel influencers are a bit like modern-day travel agencies. They often know the ins and outs of the industry and recommend the best options to their followers. Travel influencers also partner with airline companies and local businesses to promote their brand and tourism in the area.

And the best part? They are often paid for it, whether it’s monetary income or free trade for products and services. In fact, brand sponsorships are typically a top source of full-time income for travel influencers. If you are interested in learning how to become a travel influencer, this is definitely something to aspire to.

Women filming content while sightseeing, learning how to become a travel influencer.

How to Become a Travel Influencer on Instagram in Three Easy Steps

Now, it’s time to dive into the how. That’s right, the steps you’ll need to take when planning how to become a travel influencer on Instagram. The social media platform is a wonderful way to share your adventures and explorations with the world. But remember, the key to becoming a successful influencer is organically growing your brand and your following.

We understand it may feel intimidating to be able to create content that people actually want to see. And, of course, keep them engaged and coming back for more. After all, the influencer world is certainly a saturated industry.

However, making a name for yourself can often be easier than you may think. But be warned – you’ll need to put in the work in order to get the reward. That’s where we come in. To help you lay the groundwork and set a clear-cut path with career goals. Some key components to consider when learning how to become a travel influencer? Identifying what sets you apart, finding your target audience and, of course, sharing content. We’re here to help with it all, so keep on reading.

1. How to Become a Travel Influencer: Find Your Focus

First on the list of how to become a travel influencer? You’ll need to identify your primary focus of the travel industry, also known as your niche. If you’ve already got something in mind, great. If not, don’t worry. While it can be hard to narrow it down among so many options, we are here to help.

Think about your past travels as well as what is on your bucket list. What excites you most? Is it water or mountains? Or maybe something completely different, like being with your family – or even solo traveling.

It’s important to truly love what you do and it will show through your content to your followers. Having your true joy shine through will elevate your Instagram account, setting it apart from others. Need a little more inspiration to find your focus? Keep reading below and we’ll dive into a couple of popular ideas.

Next, you’ll want to have a dedicated Instagram account just for your travel adventures. This should be separate from any personal or other business accounts you have. To set yourself apart, think up a catchy and creative Instagram handle that your followers will easily remember. It’s also important to keep consistent branding throughout all your social media channels so you are easy to find.

With this in mind, take the time to do a little research on availability before you commit to your username. Another tip? You should also set up your Instagram account as an Instagram business account. This will give you access to features that will help you grow, such as post-scheduling and marketing insights.

Man filming content on an adventure, learning how to become a travel influencer.

2. How to Become a Travel Influencer: Build a Community Following

Of course, the key to becoming a successful Instagram travel influencer depends on your audience. That’s right, the number of amassed followers that are actively engaged with you and with your posts. But just how do you build an organic following on the social media app? You need to understand that it will take time and effort.

Learning how to become a travel influencer and be successful is not something that happens overnight. But we promise it’s worth the wait. First, it’s important to identify your target audience. These are the people on the social media app that best relate to your content. Your target audience should be interested and relevant to produce the best results.

Remember, interacting with them is a big way to keep them coming back for more. Your followers may often have questions about specific locations or means of travel. Make sure to address these inquiries and answer all that you can.

One way to build your following when getting started on how to become a travel influencer is to get your content noticed. After all, the more eyes that view it, the better. If people like what they see, people will hopefully give you a follow. To reach a wider audience, utilize all the features that Instagram has to offer. This includes hashtags, account tagging and reposting others’ content.

Add hashtags to your posts that are relevant to your niche industry and relate to your content. Remember, specialized hashtags are easier to search for and fewer posts mean yours will rank better.

This can even lead to your content being featured on the Instagram explore page. This will give your posts a fresh new audience. It’s also important to focus on all Instagram platforms, from feed posts to stories and reels. The more visibility you can achieve, the better.

Women taking pictures to post in hopes of becoming a travel influencer.

3. How to Become a Travel Influencer: Share Content Consistently

Next, you’ll want to make sure that you are posting content. Sounds easy enough, right? But there’s a catch – sort of. It’s all about posting the right content – and at the right time. Wondering how to achieve this? Let us dive a little deeper and explain.

First and foremost, you want to make sure that your pictures and videos are high-quality content. If you are serious about growing in this career path, we suggest investing in a professional-grade camera to capture your adventures. This will ensure that your photos are crisp and clear with vibrant colors that will capture your audience’s attention.

Now, let’s discuss how often you should post to Instagram when learning how to become a travel influencer. While reports vary, the general consensus is that a minimum of two times a day is ideal. This is especially true when you are first starting out and working to grow your audience. After all, posting frequently to both your feed and Instagram stories leads to more exposure and views. This is the best way to play into Instagram’s algorithm and make sure your content is getting seen.

We know that this can sound like a lot of time constantly spent on your phone. Good news – there are actually website services that allow you to schedule your posts in advance. Another tip? Don’t be afraid to recycle some of your old content or unshared images from past travels. As your Instagram following grows, this will be fresh to your new followers.

Women showing her friends how to become a travel influencer by taking beach selfie.

How to Become a Travel Blogger on Instagram

Travel influencer versus travel blogger – you’ve probably heard both of these phrases used interchangeably. Especially if you’ve been doing research on how to become a travel influencer. In fact, you may be wondering what the difference is between the two if there is one. Turns out, they are similar – yet different. Confused? Allow us to explain.

While they are closely related and some may even overlap, there are a few key differences. True to its name, a travel blogger focuses primarily on, you guessed it – blogging. This means they have a separate online presence beyond social media where they connect with their followers and subscribers.

They share updates with their subscribers through posts and pictures. But don’t get us wrong. Typically, travel bloggers also utilize Instagram and other platforms to widen their exposure and reach.

Now, if you are wondering how to become a travel blogger on Instagram, you’ll need to slightly change your course of action. First, you’ll obviously need to start a blog. You can create your own website or use a variety of third-party blog hosts that offer easy-to-use templates. One of the main differences between influencing and blogging is the type of content being shared. As you can imagine, blogging includes a lot of written content versus images. This means you’ll have to be comfortable writing about your experiences rather than just photographing them.

Man capturing content to use when planning how to become a travel influencer.

Three Different Travel Niches to Focus On as an Influencer

As you can imagine, the word travel is a broad term and can mean many different things. From mountains to beaches and deserts to jungles – the options are endless. However, when it comes to how to become a travel influencer, you’ll want to narrow the scope a little. This rings true for learning how to become an influencer of any kind.

We recommend finding a primary focus. Of course, this can vary from influencer to influencer. You may want to focus on certain regions or certain types of travel. Most likely, you’ll sometimes see an overlap of a few.

Still, it’s important to identify your niche, or area of expertise. If you simply can’t decide, don’t worry. We’re here to help. Let’s take a look at some popular travel niches below to hopefully get your creative juices flowing. Ready to explore? Let’s get going.

1. How to Become a Luxury Travel Influencer on Instagram

The idea of luxury travel may spark interest to many people. Imagine it – flying first class to new countries and staying in luxe 5-star hotels. You get to take advantage of all the luxury perks, from fancy spas to top-rated restaurants and exclusive excursions. Of course, this type of top-tier travel can often be out of reach for the average person. But it doesn’t have to be. Are you wondering how to become a luxury travel influencer on Instagram?

The key to achieving luxury travel status is to travel – a lot. This way, you can become an expert, all while racking up some seriously covetable points. These can be exchanged for airline and hotel stays at enviable destinations. Remember to always vet and properly evaluate your hotels, restaurants and other businesses before sharing them with your audience. After all, you are recommending your followers shell out massive dollars on accommodations. You want to make sure they properly live up to the expectations.

2. How to Become a Slow Travel Influencer on Instagram

If you enjoy a slower pace of life, our new niche topic may be of interest to you. When you think of travel, do you imagine extended destinations and getting to know the local areas? If so, the concept of slow travel is for you. This emerging niche is quickly taking center stage on Instagram, thanks to a spotlight on a more authentic travel experience. It’s all about slowing down and learning to enjoy your surroundings, especially places that are off the beaten path.

So, ready to learn how to become a travel influencer with a focus on slow travel? It’s easier than you may think. First, it’s important to identify the right destinations. These can be anything from small towns to hidden city neighborhoods. While on your travels, you’ll want to fully immerse yourself in the local culture for a good amount of time.

The phrase live like a local couldn’t be more true. Get to know the people and places that fly under the typical tourist radar. You may be surprised at the gems you can uncover and, of course, share them with your following. Challenge yourself to grow and try things outside of your comfort zone.

Family taking photos at the beach, learning how to become travel influencers.

3. How to Become a Family Travel Influencer on Instagram

It may surprise you to learn that there’s even a travel niche focused on family travel. That’s right, exploring the world with your partner and children. Some families even prefer life on the road, selling all their possessions to foot their travel bills.

While you may think that family explorations are primarily focused on theme parks and calm shorelines, there is actually so much more. If you’re wondering how to become a travel influencer with a focus on family, we’ve got insider info.

First, you’ll need to make sure you are comfortable sharing your children with the world and including them in your content. After all, the concept revolves around family. Next, focus on finding family-friendly destinations.

Expand your search and seek out educational and inspirational spots. Of course, always be sure to share kid-related travel tips with your followers. After all, your family-filled content and creativity is what they are after.

How to Become a Travel Influencer With No Money

By now, we’ve filled your heads with visions of jet-setting around the globe. While it sounds great to imagine, you may be wondering just how you can afford to get started. Plane tickets, hotel stays and excursions can certainly be costly. And, of course, not everyone has deep bank accounts to foot the bills.

Don’t be discouraged, as there are often low-budget options to seek out. Hopefully, we’ve caught your attention. So, wondering how to become a travel influencer with no money? We’ve got a few ideas for you. Let’s get right into them.

One top tip for how to become a travel influencer on a budget? Seeking out volunteering opportunities in various countries. In exchange for your skills, groups will often cover your flight and accommodation costs. But remember, you will need to hold up your end of the bargain by dedicating your time. This may not always be conducive to capturing the content you need.

Another great way to cut back on costs? Budget your travel expenses. Seek out low-cost airfare and look into other means of travel that may be cheaper. This can often include buses, trains or even shared rides. You can also often save money by staying in hostels or looking for hotels outside of the city center. Not only are smaller towns often cheaper but they offer more immersion into the local culture.

PIle of assorted travel-related photos.

How to Become a Travel Influencer: Instagram Inspiration

Need a little inspiration to jumpstart your travel-focused influencing career? We got you. Some people just learn best by seeing. And trust us, there’s plenty of stunning adventure content to see on Instagram. After all, visuals are a huge part of what it takes to learn how to become a travel influencer.

Let’s take a look at some of the top Instagram travel influencers. After reading through the list, be sure to check out their profiles and the consistent feed they share. If they spark your interest, feel free to give them a follow. But be warned, their content might induce serious wanderlust.

Up first? Jack Morris (@jackmorris). With an outstanding 2.6 million followers, it’s clear he knows what he is doing. Based in Bali, he can be found traveling the world and documenting it, one photo at a time. His feed is full of white sand beaches, stunning architecture and historical landmarks.

Next, allow us to introduce you to Jessica Stein (@tuulavintage). With a focus on travel and fashion, she also uses her platform to advocate for children with rare diseases. A true inspiration in every sense of the word.

Last but certainly not least, be sure to check out the Gee family (@thbucketlistfamily). Based out of Hawaii, they are a well-known family Instagram account, racking up an impressive 2.6 million followers. They’ve explored 89 countries together and constantly provide kid-friendly content and travel inspiration.

At Path Social we’ve built up an in-house platform of Instagram influencers and a proprietary AI targeting algorithm over the past decade. That’s how we reach organic users who are targeted, interested, and engaged. And that’s why no one can replicate our results, which means you’ll build an Instagram community that lasts! Start growing and gaining Instagram followers today.