nina fuentes

I’m preparing for an upcoming trip and researching accommodations online. I’ve come across several pretty hotel sites (nothing tickles my fancy more than a pretty website) and had a hard time choosing which hotel to go for. In the course of my online hotel inspection, I noticed the name of the web designer who created the sites. I came across his name several times, in different hotels that I was pretty impressed that he got the business of all these establishments.

When I opened the designer’s website though, the admiration faltered. As is common in most web design and development firms nowadays, SEO is part of the services provided. Search Engine Optimization is the practice of carefully putting choice keywords in your website content so the site will rank high in search results. Aside from the keywords, it also boosts the website’s popularity and authority when other websites link to it. Studies reveal (or even just personal experience) that users hardly go beyond the first page, with the first website appearing in the search results page getting the bulk of the views. Basically, if you want to get people interested in your product, your website has to rank and it has to rank high.

There’s nothing wrong with that practice but when you start reading TripAdvisor reviews for said hotels from people with only 1 review posted and dubious profile pictures giving the hotel all five stars, you start wondering. When you see the designer’s name joining the adoring public, your eyebrow just shoots up beyond your hairline.

A friend of mine, whom I confided to that I am turning down a paid offer to write a (positive) advertorial for one product, said she finds it hard to believe online reviews nowadays, even from personal blogs. Seems like everybody’s getting paid or free stuff now and less people are writing what they really think of a product or service they’ve tried (especially if it’s complimentary).

This puts me in a dilemma: do I write off the hotels with websites made by the designer or see for myself whether they deserve the 5 stars?

Just as I was starting to lose love for blogging, the universe decides to send me the most awesome sign. This afternoon’s experience was one of the many somethings I never expected to happen in my life. It wouldn’t have happened if I didn’t have a blog.

When I started blogging, I only did it to express in writing what I don’t have the courage to voice out. When I started travel blogging, it was to share what I’ve researched and experienced in my own travels to help people who are researching for their own trips. When I started Just Wandering, it was only so that I can earn extra money to fund my trips.

What I got out of JW wasn’t just the money. The money is now insignificant compared to the opportunities that came my way.

Getting to watch the performers in the backstage, I was awed by the passion and dedication they put into their roles. There was no one barking at them to warm up, no one badgering them to rehearse a maneuver they’ve performed hundreds (or thousands for some) of times. For us in the audience, they were already the best of the best, but for them, they are still thriving to remain on top of their game.

For some of them, they know of no life outside this. This is what they’ve been doing since they were a child and this is what they to do until their bodies can’t take it anymore. After that, they want to teach the next generation what they know.

Looking around the backstage, we were amazed at how they go about their business as if it’s another day in the office. I suppose it is routine for them, but for us, it was magic.

It makes me think that maybe the routine of our everyday lives makes us immune to the magic, not knowing that on the other side, people think that our own work is magic.

I have a mile-long backlog of entries that needs to be written in my travel blog, but I can’t seem to get started on them. It’s easy to ignore and completely pass up writing about past trips, but it’s hard to ignore writing articles I’ve promised to blog.

If you look at my blog now, it looks like it’s mostly advertorials, promotions and sponsored trips. That’s not really what Just Wandering is supposed to be. As time pass, it’s getting harder to write about personal trips because I want it to remain just that — personal.

For students, April means temporary leave from school. On the otherhand, for bloggers it means it’s time for iBlog.

The annual summit, now on its 7th year, focuses on (of course) blogging, from the most basic information for those who are just thinking of going into blogging to discussing issues concerning the blogosphere.

I didn’t attend this year’s iBlog, but Janette’s comment on Winston’s post spurred me into writing.

While I have been blogging way before the first iBlog was conceptualized, it was iBlog 2 that got me to start Just Wandering. It was 2006 and I just decided to travel. In the course of my research, I came upon travel blogs and realized how useful they are in planning for a trip. I have a personal blog then, but decided to have a dedicated travel blog that I can use to share my experiences, so that other travelers can use it as a reference or resource for their own trips.

I was content with the Glorified Tourist, but I discovered that bloggers earning from their blogs. And that I can do it too. I have crunched numbers in my trusty calculator, figuring out how much I need for to backpack in Thailand and came up with an amount that I know I can afford if I disciplined myself and stop spending. But I was weak and easily gave in to temptation. I had to make a choice: to be able to afford that trip, I have to either spend less or earn more money. I chose to earn more.

Looking back, I realize that there really is a reason for everything. There was only one reason I attended that iBlog: the track on how to earn money from blogging. I can’t remember what has been discussed, but I distinctly remember that it was the time I realized that in order to focus on making money off the travel blog, I have to invest money on the blog. I remember doodling on my notebook, thinking of domain names for my new travel blog. After an informal poll with friends, I decided on Justwandering.org.

Aside from poring over travel blogs, I started subscribing to blogs that would give me hints and tips on how to earn from my blog. I was obsessed. I followed their instructions, signed up for services they endorsed, everything that would bring the money in.

It wasn’t until 9 months later that I earned from the blog. It wasn’t enough to cover the expenses of the blog, let alone my travel expenses. Nevertheless, I took that as a sign that there really is money in blogging. So I go again, obsessing over traffic and Page Ranks, getting link back and learning about SEO.

I continued to feed my hunger to travel, my expenses getting higher and higher, though unlike when I started, my travel blog earnings are partially paying for my trips. I traveled far and traveled often, making sure that I meet my at least once a week posting. Then I decided to push the limit: why not travel for 30 days and blog about each day on the road? Travel bloggers all over the world are doing, so why not?

Armed with the netbook and Nikon D40 that blogging bought, I wandered around Southeast Asia, intent to see what every backpacker have seen and blog as countless other bloggers have done before. People praised me for my discipline, and it was my ego that drove me to do it again.

Soon, I was traveling for the blog, not for myself. No longer is the blog paying for my trips, it has also paved a way for me to travel for free. It was a great boost to a constantly deflated self-esteem to know that tourism boards of other countries think my blog has the right pull and influence to convince people to travel to their country.

I quickly learned that these trips aren’t free. Like everybody else who travel for a living, a trip sponsored by an organization is work. They’re not shelling out money just so you can prance around overseas — there’s an expected output from you, and they’re taking a big gamble that whatever your output is, it will bring them a notch closer to their goal.

Traveling soon became tedious. It was no longer fun. I have unwittingly carved a different path to my original goal. In essence, I did accomplish what I set out to do five years ago: to travel more. However, it wasn’t what I wanted: I was traveling for the blog now, not for myself.

I found myself uninspired to blog anymore. Though I would often force myself to churn out the necessary number of words to satisfy my once a week quota, it wasn’t with the same zeal I had when I was blogging merely for my enjoyment. I can’t stop blogging, because when I do, it means I can no longer travel. My blog earning now pays for my trips, and as of this moment, it’s paying for my living expenses.

Blogging has come a long way from the time of the first iBlog. It has changed the way people see blogs, it has changed the way people blog. As much as I love how it has given me the opportunity to get recognition that I never expected I would ever get, I don’t like how it seemed to have stifled my voice, even if I now have a bigger audience. It was as if in knowing the responsibility and the weight of my words, I deprived myself of my freedom to blog.

Dear PR Person who sent me an invite for a product I am not familiar with, but interested to get to know,

I am always flattered when invites make its way to my inbox, but not when it was sent at 5:20pm on a Monday for an event that’s happening at 10:30am on Tuesday. Even more so when there’s a note that says I have to RSVP by Monday in big bold letters.

Though it seems I have a lot of free time with the frequency that I post useless shit on Facebook, Twitter and Plurk, I do have a life. I have a regular job that takes up 8 hours of my evenings, 5 days a week, and in between, I travel so I can satisfy my wanderlust and have material for my travel blog (which you were hoping to see your product written up on). However, the lateness of your invitation indicates that you have no consideration for my schedule. And that you’re desperate to get a couple more warm bodies for your event.

In the invite, you mentioned the name of the product you’re trying to promote, but did not take time to tell me what it is. Though a picture of the product appears in the JPG invite, it would have been great if you had taken the time to introduce your product. I suppose if you were sending out invites at 5:20pm, you don’t have time to prattle on about your revolutionary product.

You promised a day of fun and excitement, with a celebrity guest (who, again, I’m not familiar with) and promises of rides, games and a chance to win gadgets. Thank you, but I’m more interested in spending quality time with my bed and pillows.

Lot of love,

Nina

P.S. I am actually quite interested about your product. It would have been much better if you just offered to send me products to try instead of inviting me to battle with Manila’s worsening traffic conditions. That would have been much cheaper for you, too. Of course, if you’re going to do that, be sure to e-mail first instead of just sending me stuff without proper introduction or consent.

In January 2006, I woke up with a resolve to stop talking about traveling and actually travel. I have just turned 25 a little over a month before, and I was feeling the onset of a quarter life crisis. While my classmates focused on building their careers and settling with their families, I decided to pursue what I have always dreamed of: to travel.

I’ve traveled before — to some parts of North Luzon, to some of the islands, to Sorsogon where my parents are from, to Indonesia and Singapore, where my siblings are — but never on a trip that I planned and funded by myself. The grand plan was to backpack in Thailand on my own. I had five months to prepare. Apart from researching extensively, I also invested on a trial run: a solo trip for the weekend in Cebu.

If I seem to sound like I am completely comfortable traveling by myself now, that’s because I’ve had plenty of trips under my belt already. When I first started, I was uncomfortable being on my own. Gradually it became better; I’ve learned to love being by myself.

It has been said that when you set your mind to something, the universe will throw plenty of opportunities your way. Since 2006, I’ve traveled around the Philippines, Southeast Asia and even Australia. I’ve visited placed that I thought would always remain in my list of dream destinations like Batanes, El Nido, Cambodia and Laos.

Just Wandering played a big part in my travels. What started out as a travel blog aimed to be monetized to help me earn money to travel, became a place for me to share my stories, provide travel information and inspire those who also wish to travel on their own. In 2010, I believe I’ve already fulfilled my goal: I have traveled a lot more than I thought I would and my travel blog has helped fund my travels. It seems that this is the end of my travel and blogging stint, it just gave way to a new goal. Everything is under wraps at the moment, but as soon as something concrete’s up, you’ll be the first to read my new blog.