About the Episode:
In today’s episode, we’re talking to Selena Taylor, the creator behind the massively popular travel blog and and Instagram account of the same name, Find Us Lost.
Now, I originally met Selena back when we went to college together at Chapman University in Orange County, California, where she and her now husband started dating and eventually moved up to the Los Angeles area.
Selena was working in marketing and working on a few other side projects she had going—and it was at this time, a couple years out of college when they decided they didn’t want to live long-term in a place like Los Angeles.
So, they packed their bags and went for an extended trip to Europe to see if they’d like living in Amsterdam – the capital of The Netherlands where Selena’s family has some ties.
As they traveled, they began documenting their adventures on their brand new travel blog and Instagram account, where they very quickly built an engaged community and started fielding offers from brands that wanted to collaborate with them.
As of today’s recording, Selena has 152,000 Instagram followers, 16,000 monthly readers on their blog, 8,000 email subscribers and work with dozens of brands on producing high-quality content.
If you want to learn about travel blogging, this episode is your free masterclass in getting it off the ground and building an engaged community of followers on Instagram.
In Today’s Episode, We Talk About:
[02:52] What book they’re reading at the moment.
[04:18] How they actually met.
[06:48] How they operate and create content at Find Us Lost.
[08:17] Businesses they’ve had before Find Us Lost.
[10:26] Why they moved to Amsterdam and what it meant for work.
[14:55] When they started the blog and what the original goal was.
[17:01] How long it took them to get their first 1000 followers on Instagram.
[21:05] What they think is working best right now for growing Instagram following.
[22:34] The first time they got paid as a result of their Instagram (how they got the deal).
[24:16] What a typical sponsorship deal looks right now for the brand.
[26:05] How they get deals from tourism boards.
[27:01] What their sponsorship deals look like.
[28:22] The average monthly revenue from Find Us Lost.
[33:12] The number one piece of advice for anyone looking to build a lifestyle brand.
34:40 The most difficult challenge they’ve faced growing the Find Us Lost brand.
35:37 Ideas they’ve had that have failed.
37:28 The best investment they’ve made in terms of growing the business.
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Resources mentioned:
Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Connect with My Guests:
Selena travel blog: Find Us Lost
Find Us Lost on Instagram and Twitter
Additional Resources:
My 10-Step Guide to Starting a Profitable Blog
Subscribe, Review, & Share:
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Hey, Rob!
I just read your article on how to start a travel blog and I wanted to say that I thoroughly enjoyed it. Your story of how you started Find Us Lost and the lessons you learned along the way were inspiring and informative. As someone who loves to travel and has considered starting a travel blog, your insights were incredibly helpful.
One thing that really stood out to me was your emphasis on creating quality content. In today’s world, where anyone can start a blog or social media account, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. However, as you pointed out, by focusing on producing unique and high-quality content, bloggers can truly stand out from the crowd. I also appreciated your tips on finding your niche and establishing your brand. It’s important to know what makes your blog unique and what sets it apart from others in order to attract and retain readers.
Overall, your article was a great resource for anyone looking to start a travel blog. I especially appreciated the step-by-step guide on setting up a blog and your recommendations for hosting and website design. Your personal story and experiences were also a reminder that starting a blog takes time, effort, and dedication, but the rewards can be well worth it. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and insights!
Wow, this is so kind—thanks for the wonderful comment 🙏 I appreciate you!