We started 2020 on a high note. But then the unexpected happened—a global pandemic brought entire industries to a screeching halt. The travel industry has been one of the hardest hit, and they’ve been working on how to get back to “normal” with state, province, country, and regional laws.

While these changes have affected travel bloggers, we’ve observed that they’ve taken the shift in stride—CJ’s travel bloggers have not been resting solely on their travel content during this time. Looking across our Content Certified influencers and content publishers, new categories and out of the box ideas have propelled them to success while travel is inching back.

Here are some of the categories that we’ve seen travel bloggers gravitate towards while adjusting to the stay at home lifestyle:

Services

Travel bloggers have been writing about services that their audience can make use of while at home or when traveling rebounds, such as:

• Language and education software
• Streaming services
• Food delivery and meal kits

By sharing articles about learning a new language, experimenting with regionalized foods at home, and watching movies and documentaries about other places around the globe, bloggers are still taking readers on a journey and offering new experiences.

Accessories

While readers are no longer trekking across the country or world, we’ve seen a big resurgence in people spending time in nature and exploring their own backyards. Readers still need to stock up on:

• Shoes
• Bags and backpacks
• Sunglasses and contact lenses
• Books

Need new hiking boots for that daytrip to the mountains? Looking for a new backpack or fanny pack to carry stuff around town on your daily walk? Looking great in new shades or new lenses to read a great book for some old fashioned escapism? CJ’s travel bloggers are creating content to inspire those readers.

Travel

Wait…what?!?! I thought you said travel is down.

Well, I should say travel has evolved. Travel bloggers and influencers have adapted to create content around the type of travel that’s popular now—we want to get out of our homes, but do it in a way that limits interaction. We’ve seen a shift in focus to:

• Vacation home rentals
• Car rentals and purchases
• RV rental and reservations
• Staycations

Renting a vacation home is a great option for families or couples looking to get a change of scenery while staying socially distant from other travelers. To get there, car rental companies are offering great deals on day and week-long rentals for that quick drive to the lake or a multi-state road trip. RVs allow you to explore nature while still providing everything you need—a mobile vacation home! Even nearby hotels are still great opportunities for a staycation. Many hotel advertisers have new and updated cleanliness policies that give readers the peace of mind they need to feel comfortable getting away.

Take the Leap

If you’re a blogger or influencer, don’t be afraid to pivot—go ahead and give some of these opportunities a try.

Advertisers in these complementary verticals—travel bloggers DO make sense for you! Consider testing campaigns by offering free product or services to travel bloggers to share with their audience.