My Interview With Nomadic Matt About His eBook
Matt Kepnes writes the very successful travel blog Nomadic Matt and recently released an eBook, How to Make Money with Your Travel Blog. (Which I reviewed 2 weeks ago.) He recently took some time to answer a few questions about the book, his websites, and future goals.
How long did it take you to gross $3,000 a month?
About 8 months from when I started thinking about monetization.
How were you making ends meet before?
I was teaching English in Bangkok.
What’s your typical travel blogging work day like?
Write a blog, find advertisers, tweet, comment on forums, build links to my sites (about 4-5 hrs).
Any specific advice for travel bloggers with day jobs?
Spend all your free time on your websites. Once they start rolling, they are pretty self sustaining but there is a lot of upfront work. Better to get it out of the way all at once.
Do you think any travel blogger can take the advice in the book and replicate your success?
I do. All you need is motivation, patience, persistence. There are many travel bloggers out there who make money.
If you could offer one ‘most important’ piece of advice about making money with your travel blog, what would it be?
It takes time. Be patient and don’t give up.
In a ‘tweet’, why should someone buy your eBook?
“You get access to advertisers.”
What are your future goals with your websites?
I’d like them to make more money and, for NomadicMatt.com, I’d like to double the traffic by the end of the year.
Thanks Matt for taking the time to answer these questions which I’m sure a number of other travel bloggers have. Matt’s eBook, How to Make Money with Your Travel Blog is $27 and available for purchase from his website.
Save 50% On Your Power Bills For 6 Months To Pay For Your Next Trip
For those of you with power bills you can save 50% off each one for the next 6 months to pay for your next trip. Recently I made some easy changes around my home to do just that. In exchange for a few minutes per day and some comfort from time to time you can chop your electric bill in half and use that money to book a flight.
1. Turn Off Your Water Heater 19 Hours A Day
The typical water heater in the US is 52 gallons. To provide enough hot water for 2 people to shower you’ll only need to run it for 5 hours a day. It’s preferable to split those 5 hours into two times daily (morning and night) to keep the hot water flowing.
The simplest way is to turn the water heater on and off from the circuit breaker. The alternative is installing a hot water heater timer so it comes on and goes off automatically.
Trade Off: Varying time. You’ll need to plan on flipping the switch for around 2.5 hours twice a day and 45 minutes before running the dishwasher or laundry machine.
2. Turn Off The Dishwasher’s Heated Dry
Generating hot air to dry your dishes takes up a considerable amount of energy and money – cash that could be better spent getting you to Brazil for instance. You can hand dry the dishes or just open up the dishwasher door as soon as the wash cycle is over.
You can further your savings by not pre-washing and use less detergent for loads that aren’t as dirty, as recommended by dishwasher engineers.
Trade Off: A few minutes per load. Assuming you have to hand dry the dishes when you take them out.
3. Use A Clothes Line
As you can see from the trend so far, heating things is especially energy consuming. There is a nice natural process called evaporation that works just as well, expect that it takes a bit longer. Most of us imagine ropes and string all across a backyard or balcony but several companies make travel clothes lines that work just about anywhere indoors.
Trade Off: Time, heat…heat, time. The trade off is basically between the two.
4. Keep The Curtains Closed In The Summer, Open In Winter
It’s amazing how much money we spend on heating things, especially considering there is a huge ball of nuclear fusion called the Sun that will do much of it for us. Open your curtains during the winter and close them in the summer and forget about the air conditioning. Well, let’s leave the air conditioning off unless it gets above 30 degrees Celsius (~86 F).
Trade Off: Comfort. You’ll be a bit chilly in the winter and a bit hotter in the summer. Save enough on your electric bill and you can fly to the climate of your choice.
Squeeze A Bit More From Your Bill
There are a few more ways to really take a chunk out of your electric bill and pay for that next trip faster.
- Switch to a time-of-use plan – Call your electric company and see if you are paying the same rate for electricity around the clock. Time-of-use plans can save you lots if you run most of your appliances during ‘non-peak’ hours.
- Fill the freezer – The more you fill your freezer and fridge with food the less air is left for your refrigerator to cool.
There are other well-known ways to lowering your electric bill like changing your light bulbs to CFLs and turning off things like your computer when you’re not using them. I was able to cut my electric bill by more than 50% using these techniques and you should be able to get at least 1 extra plane ticket per year by doing the same. Make sure to keep a simple travel budget so the bill savings goes toward travel.
Your energy consciousness doesn’t have to stop at home though, there are 33 ways to green your travels once you hit the road.
[photos by: Kyle Slattery, emilyd10, Rosh PR]
Smart Bargaining When You Don’t Know The Local Language
Bargaining is an integral part of many societies and cultures and a skill you can hone even if you don’t speak the local language. Much of bargaining is based on subtle physical mannerisms and a proper focus, both of which don’t require you to know more than a few words in any language.
Smart bargaining by being aware of yourself and how you are perceived, can not only get you a better price and forge relationships but also develop your wits as a smart traveler – especially when you’re in unfamiliar ground or don’t know the language.
- Posture Is Everything – The moment you walk in to a shop or catch the eye of a merchant, your body language is screaming a number of things about you. It’s vital to look confident and like someone who knows what they want.
- Stand up straight
- Keep your head up
- Eyes forward (not slightly downward, avoiding eye contact, or wandering to everything around the store)
- Engage The Shopkeeper Directly, but Non-Verbally – Most tourists who are not comfortable with bargaining do everything they can to avoid the store, cart, etc. employees. Watch what the locals do, in most cultures, that is making eye contact upon initial contact. Make sure to learn the local customs and brush up on your international faux pas first. What you are doing is communicating that you are a confident person who is not intimidated – all without immediately giving away that you don’t know the language.
- Bargaining is about making relationships, not just dollars and cents. Remind yourself that you are dealing with a person, not a store. Unlike an employee at a large chain (i.e. Walmart) the employees’ livelihood is directly based on the income of their shops. They want you to buy things for a decent price, but be satisfied with your purchase at the same time.
The Warning Signs of Losing That Cheap Destination
All travelers have that inner list of secret places we’d really like to adventure to. These places are rugged, isolated, nobody knows about them and they are cheap. That is, until one day we hear about them on the nightly news or find out a buddy has already been there.
Now, that place isn’t so cheap anymore, everyone and their mother’s been there, and it’s about as rugged as Monaco. I’m not going to try and teach you how not to procrastinate and get to your secret cheap places – since I can’t do it myself – but there are some warning signs that you should look out for and watch as they progress. As soon as you see them, hop on the next flight out otherwise you’ll have missed out on your cheap destination.
The Stages of Losing The Cheap Destination
- The Neighbors Are Getting Expensive - As Thailand gets pricey it makes Cambodia and good alternative. A good alternative until it gets popular enough to become expensive itself. Having neighbors with booming tourism industries is a good indicator that travel will increase in a given region, which ultimately raises prices.
- Government Freedoms – Russia, China, and Egypt all have booming tourism industries fostered in part by the opening up of their governments. I’m not saying these are the most democratic nations in the world, but that they’ve freed their systems enough to encourage travel and not make people scared to go there.
- The Big Screen - Countries usually show up in action movies when they’ve got a bad reputation, then in historical pieces as they modernize, and once its in a chick flick as an exotic destination it’ll soon be overrun with tourists.
7 Up and Coming Best Places To Travel On A Weak Dollar
There are still places you can go with US dollars and get a great deal. The list is changing and 5 former best places to travel on a weak dollar are no longer on the original list. Places like the Czech Republic, Thailand, and Turkey can’t really be considered cheap destinations, but many of their neighbors are filling in the gaps.
- Romania - Visit the coast of the Black Sea for less than either Greece or Turkey can offer. From Bucharest stop off in Brasov, a well preserved medieval town centrally located between ski resorts, the Black Sea, and Moldova (also friendly to your dollar).
- Northern Cyprus - Although you’ll have to fly through Turkey, Northern Cyprus is one very cheap section of Mediterranean coastline, along with Croatia.
Nicaragua - TravelHouseUk says Nicaragua is the “poor man’s Costa Rica.” Flights to Managua are cheap and your dollar goes a long way there. Don’t fall into the ‘resort’ trap though, and explore the 6,000 year old city of Huellas de Acahualinca, active volcanoes at the Volcán Masaya National Park, and the largest protected rain forest in Central America, Reserva de Biosfera Bosawás.
- Some parts of Nicaragua, especially the North Atlantic Autonomous Region (RAAN) may be dangerous. Follow these tips on staying safe abroad and consider a guided tour if traveling alone.
Unconventional Ways To Raise Funds For Your Travels
Yesterday I asked you has the global economic crisis is affecting your travel plans, and for the most part it hasn’t – although as Priyank mentions, it does have him a little worried. Before you cut your own plans however, consider the following unconventional ways to fund your travels.
- Sell Your Old Books and CDs - Unless they’re for reference, most books are dead weight once you read them. Lighten the load and sell back your books as soon as they’re read to get the most value back. I prefer Half.com, which makes it easy to sell books, CDs, and DVDs and reimburses you for most shipping costs.
- Take the books you can’t sell after 60 days and take them to a public library, they’ll buy them for much less but at least you’ll have more than nothing and be 1 book less at that.
- Download free eBooks instead and stick to a single carry on.
- Grab Extra Change From Toll Booths - Chances are you are missing the ‘rejects’ coin return below most toll booths. Drive through the toll booths that are unmanned or exact change only and stick your hand in the coin return – many times you will find part, all, or twice as much change as it cost you to get through the booth.
- You probably won’t make a net gain, but could save a few dollars a month. Or save all of the change you find and put it aside for some small travel essentials.
- Tutor A Language - There are plenty of high school and college students who are struggling with their language classes. For a few dollars an hour you can provide them with some homework help. Check for signs on college campuses, church, or Craigslist.
- Only know English? For longer trips find a job teaching it at your destination in exchange for lessons. (Either way, you should know a few words before you go, here are the 12 best ways.)
5 Former Best Places To Travel On A Weak Dollar
Last October I highlighted the best places to travel on a weak dollar – inexpensive gems for those of you carrying weak currencies and looking to make the most out of your money. One year later, the dollar is still plummeting while some traditionally weak currencies are leveling up with the greenback.
Quite a bit has changed in the global economy over the last year and it’s time to update the list. Places were your currency won’t go as far as it used to, food and hotel prices are increasing, and getting overloaded with tourists.
- Czech Republic - This former ‘cheap’ destination was discovered by citizens of the Eurozone in the early 1990s and since then has seen it’s tourism numbers nearly quadruple. With 1.5 million Germans alone visiting for vacation or shopping sprees for an average of 1 week and a stable government in a volatile region, the Czechs have been able to nurture their tourism industry.
- Using the Economist’s interactive foreign exchange map you can see the Koruna gaining on the dollar. In 2010 (or 2011) the country will adopt the Euro, when prices will skyrocket.
- The Czech Republic can still be considered a good place to travel on a weak dollar, but not the one of the best – especially with Slovakia and Slovenia so near by and at half the cost.
- Turkey - As Darren of Travel Rants and Colin note, food and drink prices in Turkey along, its west coast and major cities are almost equivalent to the prices in the US. Among the booming Turkish economy and tourism industry you can still find good deals however along Turkey’s Black Sea coast and eastern cities like Van or Kars.
- A cheaper alternative to Turkey is Northern Cyprus, which offers you Turkish culture and food along a low cost section of Europe’s Mediterranean coast. You’ll just have to fly or sail through Turkey to get there.
How To Make Money With Your Travel Blog
Travel blogs are a great way to keep in touch with family and friends, post pictures, and meet other vagabonds as you wander around the world. A travel blog can also be a way to generate a few bucks towards your next trip. The amount you can generate varies, but without the best tools to use you won’t be making more than a few dollars a month.
While in most cases you won’t be leaving your job or paying your plane tickets, here’s how to use your travel blog to help finance a few meals and small portion of your simple travel budget.
1. Content - Let me start by saying that “content is king”; the better and more frequently you write, the more people that will be attracted to your blog increasing your advertising revenues. On the flip-side, if you’re only writing a travel blog for money and forget about the travel writing itself, you’re likely to turn away your audience.
2. Google Adsense - Arguably the first place to begin is this free service that generates ads on your blog based on the content of a particular page. Every time someone clicks on one of the ads, you’ll get paid and Google passes along the money directly to your bank account each $100 you earn.
Some Tips:
- Blend the ads by matching their background and font colors with your website.
- Put them in places that don’t distract from your content.
- Don’t write asking people to click on the ads, Google may suspend your account.
Calculate International Cab Fares With World Taximeter
Find out how much it will cost you to get from point A to point B via taxi in major international cities around with World Taximeter.
The free online service gives you a break down of the price for 15 North American and European cities. A simple query for a fare from the Chrylser Building to Penn Station shows the 3.14km ride to take about 9 minutes and cost $10.28. World Taximeter estimates the cost not only based on the distance, but the average wait time, any peak hour surcharges, and 15% tip.
Although the search helps you by suggesting famous landmarks, the service is a bit shoddy unless you use specific street addresses. Hopefully World Taximeter will expand its list of cities offered (they are currently taking suggestions).
Knowing how the approximate distance and fare for any cab ride when you travel around the world is the best way to avoid getting ripped off.
7 Cheaper Ways Than MSN to Travel Cheap
Recently MSN posted 7 ways to travel cheap – a good list that didn’t go far enough. Although anyone can benefit from their common sense ideas, the smart travelers will take their advice one step further.
#1 MSN Says: Take A Picnic Basket
Stocking up on mini-boxes of cereal, snacks like granola bars, dried fruits and nuts, and other easily brown-bagged bites like jerky—and eat your breakfast (at least) in the car.
foXnoMad Advises: Cook your own food and create mini meals loaded with fiber for constipation, protien to keep you full, and B-vitamins to give you energy. A few potato omelets with corn and spinach will do the trick for less than 10 dollars. There are a number of ways you can cook these 5 easiest foods to cook.
#2 MSN Says: Don’t Pay For Kids’ Meals
Kids’ meals, meanwhile, may seem a good deal for a measly $3 or $4, but those wee bits of change add up, and what are you paying for the privilege of eating?
foXnoMad Advises: If you are going to get restaurant or fast food, get kids’ meals for everyone, even the adults. You’ll eat less junk and save money, especially if you aren’t traveling with kids.
My name is Anil, a traveler and travel enthusiast. I created foXnoMad to connect with other travelers, discover their world, and share what I’ve learned about mine.
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