How to Become a UGC Travel Creator
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Do you want to travel but you don’t have the money? You can become a travel creator today without having to spend thousands of dollars on flights or hotels. If you’ve been dreaming of turning your passion for travel into a career consider becoming a UGC travel creator.
What is a UGC Travel Creator?
A UGC (User Generated Content) Travel Creator is someone who creates content for brands or vacation rental hosts in exchange for complimentary, cost-effective, or discounted accommodations.
Why do brands and vacation rental hosts want UGC content?
Brands are increasingly drawn to User-Generated Content (UGC) for several compelling reasons:
Authenticity: UGC provides an authentic and genuine perspective on a brand or product. It is created by real consumers, showcasing their experiences, opinions, and emotions. This authenticity resonates with audiences, building trust and credibility for the brand.
Relatability: UGC content reflects the diverse perspectives and experiences of real people. It allows brands to connect with their target audience on a deeper level by showcasing relatable individuals who have interacted with their products or services. This relatability strengthens the brand-consumer relationship.
Social Proof: UGC serves as powerful social proof for brands. When consumers see others positively engaging with a brand or product through UGC, it influences their purchasing decisions. Positive UGC content acts as testimonials, validating the quality and desirability of a brand's offerings.
Increased Engagement: UGC has a remarkable ability to drive engagement. When brands encourage consumers to create and share content related to their products or experiences, it sparks conversations, generates discussions, and fosters a sense of community. This heightened engagement leads to increased brand visibility and awareness.
Cost-Effective Marketing: UGC offers cost-effective marketing benefits. Instead of investing substantial resources in traditional advertising campaigns, brands can tap into the creativity of their audience, allowing consumers to become brand advocates and content creators. This significantly reduces marketing expenses while amplifying reach and impact.
This means you don’t need a large following to become a UGC travel creator like Instagram Influencers of the past. Instead you just need to be creative, make relatable content, and your phone.
How can you become a UGC travel creator?
You don’t have to have a lot of money to become a UGC Travel creator but you do have some start up costs to start your portfolio and provide a body of work to show brands and hosts you want to partner with to land the job. Here are my top tips for how to get started:
Cultivate Your Passion for Travel - Build Your Body Of Work
To become a UGC travel creator, start by nurturing your love for travel. Explore your local surroundings and seek opportunities to broaden your horizons, creating authentic and relatable content. One inexpensive way to start capturing incredible travel content without breaking the bank is by using Resortpass.
ResortPass.com is an online platform that offers day passes and access to various amenities and services at luxury hotels and resorts. The platform provides an opportunity for individuals who are not staying overnight at a particular resort to still enjoy its facilities for a day.
With ResortPass.com, users can book day passes that grant them access to amenities such as swimming pools, lounges, fitness centers, spas, and sometimes even private cabanas or beach clubs. This allows individuals to experience the luxury and relaxation offered by high-end resorts without the need for a hotel reservation.
You can find day passes for as little as $25 for the day at some hotels and resorts on ResortPass.com, allowing you to build up your portfolio of high end travel content without spending a large sum of money to get started.
Master Photography and Videography Skills:
Although UGC content is all about relatability and authenticity, it’s still important to provide the brand or host with quality content. You can enhance your content's visual appeal by mastering photography and videography skills. You can easily learn composition techniques, lighting, and post-processing skills to create stunning visuals through free Youtube videos and tutorials. These photography and videography skills can help you capture the essence of your travels through breathtaking images and engaging videos that captivate your audience. And no, you don’t need any fancy equipment like a DSLR camera to start. If you’ve got one of the latest iPhones that’s all you need. Just be sure to check your camera’s settings to ensure you are filming in 60 fps at 4k video quality for the most optimal video footage.
Creating Your Portfolio
When you have captured some compelling photos and videos on your own through exploring your city or town and utilizing tools like ResortPass.com, you’ll need to create a Portfolio or Media kit you can share with potential brands and hosts.
What is a Media Kit?
A media kit for a UGC travel creator is a promotional document that provides an overview of the creator’s brand, audience demographics, content style, collaborations, and other relevant information. It serves as a marketing tool to showcase the creator’s value proposition to potential brand partners, agencies, and sponsors.
How can you create a Media Kit?
You can create a Media Kit quickly and professionally by utilizing Media Kit templates on Canva totally for free or to access more templates and designs you can sign up for their Pro subscription.
What should you include in your Media Kit?
Examples of your work such as photos, TikTok videos and Instagram reels, as well as the type of content services you can provide the host.
How to reach out to brands and vacation rental hosts as a UGC Travel Creator
Reach Out:
There are two ways you can reach out to a host on Airbnb or VRBO. You can click the message or contact host feature on the listing however it’s important to know that both platforms restrict users both the host and the guest from sharing contact information until after the booking has been confirmed. This can prove difficult during your reach out process but not impossible if you follow my next step:
Seek out boutique property managers:
What is a boutique property manager? This is a property manager with a handful of properties listed on these sites. The reason why it is easier to reach out to smaller boutique property managers is because they will often have a website outside of VRBO and Airbnb and will be easier to find to send a direct email to as they often use their company logo as their “profile photo on Airbnb such as this listing for example.
Once you’ve found the hosts you want to reach out to create a pitch template you’ll use to send an email to them along with attaching your Media Kit full of examples of your work. Below you’ll find a free pitch template to get you started:
FREE UGC TRAVEL CREATOR PITCH TEMPLATE
Hello [Vacation Rental Owner's Name or Company Name],
I hope this message finds you well. My name is [Your Name], and I am a passionate traveler and UGC travel creator. I recently came across your stunning vacation rental property and was instantly captivated by its unique charm and beauty!
I am reaching out to you today with an exciting collaboration proposal that could significantly enhance your vacation rental's online presence and attract more guests. As a UGC travel creator, I specialize in creating engaging and authentic user-generated content that showcases the best features and experiences of travel destinations.
Here's a few ways how we can work together:
Professional Visual Content Creation: I will visit your vacation rental property and create high-quality photos and videos that highlight its distinctive attributes. These visuals will serve as compelling marketing assets, allowing potential guests to envision themselves enjoying a memorable stay at your property.
Engaging Social Media Exposure: I have a following of passionate travelers on various social media platforms, including [mention your platforms and follower count]. I will feature your vacation rental in my posts, stories, and dedicated content, leveraging my audience's trust and enthusiasm for travel to promote your property effectively. By collaborating with me, you can tap into a broader audience of travel enthusiasts and reach potential guests who may not have discovered your property otherwise.
Genuine Reviews and Testimonials: As an experienced traveler and content creator, I value authenticity and transparency. I will provide honest and detailed reviews of my experience staying at your vacation rental. These testimonials will serve as valuable social proof, building trust and credibility among potential guests.
I am genuinely excited about the possibility of working together to elevate your vacation rental's online presence and attract a wider audience. I would be delighted to discuss this collaboration further and address any questions or concerns you may have. Please feel free to reach me via email at [Your Email Address] or by phone at [Your Phone Number]. I’ve also attached my media kit below for your review of my previous partnerships.
I look forward to hearing from you and potentially embarking on a successful partnership that benefits both of us.
Warm regards,
[Your Name] UGC Travel Creator
Embarking on the journey to become a UGC travel creator is an exhilarating path filled with endless possibilities. By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you are well-equipped to start your adventure and make a name for yourself in the world of travel content creation.
Remember, authenticity is key. Let your passion for travel shine through in every piece of content you create. Embrace storytelling to captivate your audience and transport them to the destinations you explore. Master the art of photography and videography to create visually stunning content that leaves a lasting impression.
Building a strong online presence and engaging with your audience are crucial elements of success. Leverage social media platforms to share your travel experiences and connect with like-minded individuals. Develop a comprehensive content strategy that aligns with your audience's interests and consistently delivers high-quality content that keeps them coming back for more.
But above all, remember to enjoy the journey. UGC travel creation allows you to combine your love for travel with your creative talents, creating a fulfilling and rewarding career. Embrace continuous growth and learning, always seeking new opportunities to evolve and improve your skills. Complimentary stays as a UGC travel creator will not only help you build your content library as you are starting out but over time it can often lead to paid partnerships.
So, pack your bags, grab your camera (or just your phone!), and set off on an incredible adventure as a UGC travel creator. The world is waiting to be explored, and your unique perspective is ready to be shared. Let your passion and creativity be your compass as you inspire others to discover the wonders of the world through your captivating travel content!
