Featured Pub: About.com
Dear Nelson,
This week we depart from our regular coverage to let you know about a
unique opportunity that might be just right for travel writers.
Read on to find out how you can score a regular writing gig on a topic
you're passionate about -- and get paid to do it.
Lori Allen
Director, AWAI's Travel Division
October 4, 2007
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Featured Publication: About.com
Website: www.about.com
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Become a Travel Guide
By Roberta Beach Jacobson in Karpathos, Greece
Are you the expert that other people turn to for advice when planning
their vacations, their weekends away, or even just a day-trip to a
nearby town? Are you enthusiastic about your town or region -- and can
you share that enthusiasm with other?
If so, perhaps you have what it takes to become an About.com Guide.
.
About.com is the web's leading provider of practical solutions to
everyday problems. The experts at About.com offer advice on hundreds
of topics, ranging from action movies to great getaways. Some topics
of interest to travel writers would be the many locations around the
country, for which About.com is seeking experts.
The best part is that you'd be covering an area you know and enjoy.
This is a great place to share your expertise with others. Plus it's
certainly credibility building -- something you'd want to let editors
know about when you query them with your article ideas (read: clearly
you're a pro, or you wouldn't have this regular gig). What's more,
with a guaranteed outlet for your stories, you'll be in a strong
position to land spots on press trips, too.
Current topics available (that is, looking for guides) include
Louisville, KY, Senior Travel, UK Long-Haul Holidays/Travel, Miami for
Visitors, El Paso, TX, and the list goes on and on. You can browse...
(continued below...)
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through it at: http://beaguide.about.com/topics.htm
As a guide, you must --
** 1) have a passion for your topic,
** 2) be familiar with HTML code,
** 3) publish (at a minimum) two full-length articles on your topic
every two weeks, and
** 4) post regular updates to your blog site.
The most successful guides also maintain a directory of the best
content within their chosen topic and serve as community leaders in
the About.com discussion forums.
To get an idea what is required to be successful as a destination
guide, take a look at a sample guide site for Cleveland, OH at:
http://sample2.about.com/
To get started as a guide, you choose a topic from the list of topics
that are currently available. Then you apply online at:
http://beaguide.about.com/applynow.htm. You'll be asked to submit a
writing sample relevant to the topic you choose, and you'll also be
asked to share your relevant experience that shows you're qualified
for the job.
If your application is successful, you'll begin a 17-day online
training program called "prep". You'll find all the details here:
http://beaguide.about.com/training.htm
When you successfully complete "prep" and your site goes live, you are
guaranteed to make at least $725 per month -- and it's likely that you
will make much more than that over time. Compensation is based on page
views. The more people you attract to your site, the more you get
paid.
All About.com guides are freelancers who work online and set their own
schedules. As a travel writer you'll have the flexibility to log on
from anywhere in the world whenever you have the time.
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Travel, Writing & Photography Resources
===================================
*** A Fellow Reader from Queensland, Australia Took His Wife on a
$2,000 Vacation for $53.67, here how:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/itj/letushelp
*** "Do you suffer from "Travel Speak?" Here's the cure...:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/archive/issues/issue_004.php
*** The Curse of the Detail Trap: A Simple Way to Identify What to
Keep and What to Cut
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/archive/issues/issue_043.php
*** Retire and get paid to travel:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/kp/letushelp
*** Know a friend or two who'd enjoy the freedom and independence of a
writer's or photographer's life? They, too, can sign up to receive
this free e-letter here: http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/eletter
*** Learn the Trade Secrets of Traveling the World while Getting VIP
Perks... and Paychecks to Boot:
http://www.thetravelwriterslife.com/trc/letushelp
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Somebody who won't just catch typos, but really give you some insider
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That's what Unlimited Critiques provides... and it's an invaluable
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The Right Way to Travel is a FREE newsletter from the American Writers
& Artists Inc., available to AWAI members and friends.
It is coming to you because you are either a member of The Ultimate
Travel Writer's Program or Turn Your Pictures into Cash, or you have
opted to receive information about getting paid to travel from the
AWAI Travel Division.
(c) 2007 American Writers & Artists Inc.
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Delray Beach, FL 33483
Phone (561) 278-5557
Fax (561) 278-5929
memberservices@awaionline.com
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