Travel platforms like TikTok have created incredible opportunities for aspiring Travel Influencers. The field is vast and dynamic, making it beneficial to carve out a specific niche. For Sarah Toyin, known as @sarahtoyin on TikTok, her niche emerged from her experience teaching English in South Korea. She started a blog, My blog, initially to connect with loved ones and assist others navigating teaching in Korea. This blog, though simple in its early days, proved to be a valuable resource, highlighting the importance of useful content. Transitioning to TikTok marked a turning point for Sarah, propelling her journey as a successful content creator and travel influencer.
@sarahtoyin Replying to @trishatravelsx 💕 Did I Feel Safe Travelling Solo/ Alone To New York as a woman? Here are some of the tips/things I focused on to feel safe in New York #newyork. #nyc #travellingalone #solotravel #blacksolofemaletraveler #solotrip #newyorktravel #nyctrip #solotravelwoman #britishgirlinamerica #solotraveltips #blacktravelblogger ♬ Lofi/Fashionable/Rose Piano/10 minutes(1455693) – nightbird_bgm
Travel influencer Sarah Toyin shares tips for solo female travel in New York City in her TikTok video, highlighting engaging and informative travel content.
Initially, Sarah’s content spanned various topics alongside her travel experiences. However, she strategically decided to concentrate solely on travel, further refining her niche to include South Korea, solo travel, and budget-friendly trips. This focus was crucial for branding. When brands reviewed her page, it was immediately clear that her audience was specifically interested in travel content. Sarah emphasizes the importance of creating searchable content on TikTok, recommending aspiring travel influencers to dedicate time to understanding SEO. This knowledge significantly improves content visibility when users search for specific travel topics. Her efforts transformed her TikTok presence into a thriving side hustle, attracting collaborations with brands and magazines. She has participated in press trips, experiencing destinations firsthand and creating content, and has also generated income through affiliate marketing.
TikTok thrives on authenticity, a key element for any aspiring travel influencer. However, Sarah points out that it’s also vital to recognize TikTok as a search engine. Approaching it with an SEO mindset can significantly boost your reach. Her primary goal is to assist her audience by delivering content that is inspiring, entertaining, and informative. She also advises flexibility: if a particular content style isn’t resonating, it’s perfectly acceptable to adapt and change direction. Learning what content you enjoy creating and what your audience loves is an ongoing process of evolution on TikTok. The platform is constantly changing, requiring travel influencers to adapt and grow alongside it.
If you could offer your past self one piece of advice, what would it be for aspiring travel influencers?
“Start sooner,” Sarah advises. She believes many individuals hesitate to begin because they are afraid of putting out imperfect content. However, she reminds aspiring travel influencers that early content can always be hidden later. Her own initial videos are now set to private, demonstrating that it’s okay to learn and refine your approach as you go. Embrace the journey, start creating, and evolve into the travel influencer you aspire to be.
