Travel buffs will relate to this. We all dream of a never ending travel holiday, all paid up! Is this even possible? Well, it all depends on you.
As a quintessential off-roader, I would stick to overlanding as a preferred way to travel. For starters, as an investment you need a car. Preferably a 4×4 SUV that enables you to go places and reach out to a destination that is not possible in a low ground clearance vehicle. You need a vehicle that’s got space and ability to either tow or carry luggage on a roof rack. You need to prepare the vehicle not only mechanically, but also the interiors need to be modified to be fit for living, after all this is going to be your home for new few months or years to come. Careful planning, passport, visas, carnet, fabrication, purchase of essential camping equipment, essentials for cooking, shower, storage, recovery gear, and most important, the filming equipment to document this all needs to be procured.
Can overlanding be monetized?
People make fantastic videos documenting their overlanding travel. They put it on the social channels including the most popular YouTube. In simple terms, you need to become an influencer with a large following. While YouTube pays you back once your video reaches a certain number of views or basis your subscriptions, there is also a concept of patreons who pay to watch your content as they see the world through you. Basis the above if you think the moment you put up your travel video on the YouTube, your views would automatically multiply, people are waiting to shower money on you for you to have a paid travel, and then you are in for a rude shock. A good content, excellent cinematography and editing skills plays an important role as much as your vehicle build and your ability to plan your route for exploration. So, it’s important to be a good video maker, editor as much as it is important for you to be a great driver, planner, and great storyteller. There’s enough competition out there but then, there is no dearth of people appreciating a good content. There are countless over-landers out there who are living the nomadic life and getting paid for it in varying degrees. While their films might show waking up to a fantastic location every single day, there’s a lot of hardship and hard work before the content is presented to you. There could be a situation at times that your holiday travel isn’t a holiday anymore, you are just busy editing videos and documenting things for your viewers rather than living in the present and absorbing magic of the location. Also, YouTube as a platform is complex in the sense that only a large subscriber base doesn’t earn you enough. It’s a combination of various factors which includes revenues from ads, product endorsements, sponsorships etc.
Is it for me?
Earning millions with YouTube possible? Absolutely. Is it highly likely? Probably not. If you are the one in a hurry to become an overnight star, then look elsewhere. In the space of overnding travel, you would take at least about 3-4 years only to establish your credibility for people to start trusting and accepting your content. Till then It’s the drive within, affordability and the conducive environment that would aid in leading an overlanders life. If you have greater responsibilities, family, dependents, ill heath etc, and then you might as well wait for another lifetime. However, if you are young at heart, daring, ready to unshackle yourself from the world of responsibilities, rat race, know that only travel can feed your stomach & soul, then start working towards the world of overland travel and filming. Learn new skills, go where no one has gone before and bring out the stories that the world has never heard before. I feel the travel and seeing the world should be the first priority and if you are able to monetize its icing on the cake.
YouTube shouldn’t become your reason to travel. Overlanding should be your passion and if you happen to earn out of it, then even better!
From Quintessential off-roader
For CL Company