6 Proven Strategies to Help New Travel Bloggers Secure Their First Sponsorship (Even Without Thousands of Followers)

Starting a travel blog can feel like a dream come true — the idea of turning wanderlust into a career and landing paid partnerships or comped trips is magnetic. But if you’ve just launched your travel blog, you’ve probably already discovered the gap between dreaming of your first brand sponsorship and actually securing it.

Let’s be real: it can be daunting. You wonder, “What if I don’t have enough followers?” or “Why would a hotel or airline say yes to me?”

The good news? You don’t need a massive audience or an influencer agent to land your first brand partnership. What you do need is strategy — the kind that’s rooted in providing real value, understanding your niche, and pitching in a way that sets you apart.

Recently, six travel and marketing experts (including myself) shared actionable strategies for new travel bloggers who want to land that very first sponsorship. Whether you’re in the family travel space, luxury, adventure, or all three — these insights offer a practical, honest roadmap to start turning your content into collaborations.

Let’s explore all six strategies, break them down, and show you how to implement them today.

1. Start Small: Build Value Through Micro-Partnerships

"I didn’t wait to be discovered. I built value before reaching out to anyone."
— Nune Tatunts, CEO & Founder, Cascade Travel

Before going big, go meaningful.

Nune Tatunts’ success came from building small partnerships with local vendors and activity providers. She focused on designing customized family-friendly luxury trips and documented them with clear visuals, detailed itineraries, and personal stories. The result? Not just pretty content — but real influence. Families booked after reading her blog.

This proved her impact before she reached out to larger players like hotels or airlines. And when she did pitch them, she didn’t rely on vanity metrics — she offered ideas that aligned with their actual marketing goals.

Key Takeaway:
Even without a large following, you can secure your first collaboration if you prove you can drive travel decisions. Start with local or niche businesses and use those relationships to build your portfolio. Your case studies are the steppingstones to bigger brand partnerships.

2. Create Content That Speaks to a Specific Niche

"Rather than just using ‘luxury travel,’ uncover micro sub-categories like ‘luxury family retreats.’”
— Kristina Bronitsky, Director of Consumer Marketing,  RedAwning

Kristina Bronitsky emphasizes the power of niche targeting over broad appeal.

Sponsors aren’t just looking for reach — they want relevance. Creating content that speaks directly to a brand’s target demographic makes your blog and socials far more valuable.

For example, a blogger who focused on “luxury family vacations in secluded mountain cabins” not only attracted tourism boards but also drew in a premium airline looking to reach exactly that audience.

Key Takeaway:
Instead of trying to reach everyone, zoom in. Are you the go-to voice for luxury adventure families? Solo Gen X travelers seeking remote escapes? Craft content that deeply resonates with that specific group — and brands targeting that group will start to notice you.

3. Identify and Solve Content Gaps for Potential Sponsors

"Don’t send a generic 'I’d love to work with you' email—it’s a waste of everyone’s time."
— Joe Hawtin, Owner, Marin County Visitor

One of the most overlooked strategies? Solving content problems that brands don’t even know they have.

Joe Hawtin suggests new bloggers should spend time analyzing a brand's website, Instagram feed, and press materials to uncover what's missing. A travel blogger landed a four-figure deal by showing how a luxury resort lacked imagery of families with teenagers — and offered a way to fix that.

Another friend of Joe’s noticed that a tourism board wasn’t targeting solo Gen X travelers — so he pitched a tailored content package that filled that gap.

Key Takeaway:
Research is your secret weapon. Before pitching a brand, dig deep and find out what they're not showing — then offer to create exactly that content. It positions you as a strategist, not just another content creator.

4. Develop a Pitch-Ready Content Kit

“Start small, deliver big, and build case studies you can leverage for bigger sponsors later.”
— Aviad Faruz, Marketing Specialist, Angel Numbers Guru

Your content speaks volumes. But how it’s presented matters just as much.

Aviad Faruz recommends building a Pitch-Ready Content Kit — a pre-packaged showcase of what you offer. Think of it like a trailer to your travel brand: sample content, niche-aligned visuals, branding elements, and a list of deliverables.

He suggests:

• Creating 2–3 high-quality pieces (blog posts, Reels, YouTube shorts) that spotlight your niche.

• Packaging those with engagement stats (yes, even with a small audience).

• Reaching out to smaller boutique hotels and local boards with an offer of value-first content.

Key Takeaway:
Have a toolkit ready that shows sponsors what working with you looks like — before they even ask. Brands love creators who are proactive and organized.

5. Craft a Compelling Media Kit and Stay Consistent

“Consistency in brand voice and visual storytelling has opened doors for me.”
— Grace Olayiwola, Founder of bitsStylejourney 

As a lifestyle and travel blogger blending family, luxury, and adventure content, I’ve learned that it’s not just about having a media kit — it’s about having one that tells a story.

Your media kit should include:

• Your story and niche positioning

• Key blog/social metrics

• Audience insights (demographics, psychographics)

• Examples of past content (even if unpaid)

• Testimonials or feedback, if available

But what really matters is how all of that tie together into a consistent visual identity and brand voice. Whether I’m covering a weekend family escape or a luxury retreat, I aim to keep my content cohesive, engaging, and aligned with the kind of sponsors I want to attract.

In fact, before I even started reaching out to brands, I invested time in creating high-quality content around dream destinations. This signaled that I’m not waiting for a sponsor to validate my work — I’m building a portfolio that’s already valuable.

Key Takeaway:
Show, don’t tell. Your media kit should speak for you — and consistency in your storytelling will set you apart in a crowded space.

6. Design Value-First Pitch Decks That Make Sponsorship a No-Brainer

“Hotels and boards care about storytelling, alignment, and content quality — not just follower count.”
— Bhavik Sarkhedi, Founder & Content Lead, Ohh My Brand

Your pitch is more than just an ask — it’s an invitation.

Bhavik Sarkhedi suggests creating pitch decks that show potential sponsors what a campaign could look like. That means:

• Including mock campaigns (sample itineraries, content formats like Reels or blogs)

• Tying it back to a specific niche (luxury, family, adventure — or a combo)

• Showing alignment with their brand goals

A well-structured pitch deck answers questions before they're asked and presents you as a creative collaborator — not someone seeking a handout.

Key Takeaway:
Don’t just ask to work together. Demonstrate what that partnership could look like. Use mock-ups, mini-campaigns, and value-first storytelling to win attention.

Final Thoughts: What You Can Learn and Apply Today

These strategies aren't just theoretical — they’re actionable. Here’s how you can get started today:

✅ Choose Your Micro-Niche

Are you a solo Gen X traveler? A luxury family escape blogger? The sooner you define it, the easier it will be to create targeted content.

✅ Do a Content Audit of Your Dream Sponsors

Pick 3 hotels or tourism boards. Review their digital presence. What stories are missing? Where could your voice add something new?

✅ Build a Pitch-Ready Content Kit

Even if it’s just two blog posts, a few Reels, and a one-pager of stats — package it now. That makes pitching fast and effective.

✅ Focus on Consistency Over Clout

Sponsorships come not from follower count alone but from your ability to communicate a clear brand and story across platforms.

✅ Practice the Pitch

Don’t send another generic “I’d love to collaborate” email. Instead, send a personalized pitch that reflects your niche, your research, and your offer.