Dave and Deb are the founders of an award-winning travel blog. They have even made it onto the Forbes top ten list of travel influencers in the world.
They started The Planet D in 2008 and have since visited more than one hundred countries covering all seven continents.
How did it all begin?
The two of them had been working in the film industry and television in lighting and makeup, so they pulled from their combined experiences.
Their first plan, which didn’t pan out, was to get a television show. They cycled Africa and hired a publicist to draw attention to their adventures, but the production company said they still didn’t have enough of a brand.
That was when they realized that they really did need to start working on their brand. They needed to make a name for themselves.
So, how did they do it?
The couple took their own approach to it. They took their inspiration from celebrities who were brand ambassadors and promoting various products all over the world. They thought, “Hey, if we can get popular enough, maybe companies will start asking us to promote their products.”
The two started a travel blog and began writing about their travel experiences. They also focused on social media and making connections. They reached out to other bloggers, they left comments, and they interacted with the community. They skipped worrying about SEO. For them, it was their brand that was a priority.
Two years in, companies started to reach out to them. Their first income was $1200 for adding four sponsored links to their blog for a year. They were on their way to becoming successful bloggers and brand ambassadors.
Their best advice
Do what you love. If you’re doing something you love, you’ll keep going at it, even during the difficult times. They also suggest having a plan and having set goals to stay on the right path.
Would you like to hear more from Dave and Deb? Check out the video above or see what they are up to on Facebook and YouTube.
