Running a digital travel magazine - how it has gone so far

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What is it like to run a digital travel magazine? We started freedomtravel.se in 2009, as a personal blog, and today it's our full-time job. So how has it been going?

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Starting a travel blog in 2009

We started freedomtravel.se in 2009, as a personal blog about our travels and our motorhome. At that time, there weren't many travel blogs, and many people blogged on portals. I (Helena) decided straight away that I wanted my own domain, so that I could have control over my own site.

But how did you start your own blog in 2009? There were not no 1-click installation for WordPress, I promise! In my neighbourhood there was no one to ask either. I read on various forums and downloaded various programmes. Late at night, I sat and moved file after file using the FileZilla programme.

Finally, it did! It was an incredible feeling when a website crystallised, where it was technically possible to upload text and images. A blog of my own!

From blog to magazine

A few years ago, we decided to change our name from blog to magazine. Why did we do that? Well, you might ask that question. For us, it was mostly because we decided to bring in guest writers at the same time. When you're an editor and you have different writers, it's not the same as a personal blog...

Then there were other voices whispering in our ears. Some thought that it was better to call themselves "magazines" when collaborating, that it was more in line with the times. We don't know about that, but one thing led to another and we started to present freedomtravel.se as a digital travel magazine.

The big step - no longer having a job

Our website, freedomtravel.se, was our hobby for a long time. Peter ran a construction company and I, Helena, worked as a PhD student, and later researcher, in public health science. When we travelled around Europe with our motorhome in 2015, Peter stopped his construction work and started taking care of freedomtravel.se.

By giving Peter more time for freedomtravel.se, we were able to develop everything from design to collaborations. At the same time, it was quite safe as long as I (Helena) had a fixed full-time salary. The challenge came when everything was moving too fast and I realised that I couldn't do both - manage my research assignments and at the same time all the assignments that were piling up around freedomtravel.se.

In the years following our trip around Europe (when I lost my permanent job), I worked in various public health projects. I was always offered something new, but with the pandemic, working at home, I was more and more cut off from work contacts. One project ended and I didn't meet anyone in the coffee room offering a new one... It was time!

Running a digital travel agency - with overheads

In a way, I was 'helped' to make the tough decision. The challenge for me was not about missing the research - I learnt a lot from that journey but somehow felt finished - but about making the new life work financially.

So here it is, it is challenging. Anyone who thinks that living on a digital site is super easy is welcome to try it for themselves.

Running the magazine costs a lot of money. We have ongoing expenses for email software, translation software, advertising software, layout software, search engine optimisation software and God knows what other software, not to mention web hosting, web developers and press services. Then there are the costs of computers, photographic equipment and equipment for trade fairs. The income generated should not only cover the expenses, but also pay for rent and daily overheads.

How has it been going financially?

Fighting for your income every month - instead of having a fixed and secure salary - makes you feel alive. Peter's brother sells ads for us (on commission) and we sell sponsored articles (which are always labelled as "paid collaboration" in the header image). In addition to this, we do various things such as putting together campaigns for companies or destinations, where we create visibility packages with a combination of, for example, ads, sponsored articles, competitions and social media visibility.

What we're happy about is that we've managed to get a lot of really good partners and advertisers, in the form of companies and destinations that we really like and that feel relevant. If you scroll through our ads, you'll see destinations, shipping companies, trade fairs, players in the motorhome industry and internet solutions - things that are suitable for anyone interested in travel or motorhome life. Behind this, of course, lies a lot of work!

Sometimes people think we have too many adverts or too many sponsored articles, or that the adverts appear in too many places. Well, you are free to think that of course. But who will pay our rent? We're sorry if you don't like it, but the adverts are staying!

How has it developed?

Even though it is sometimes challenging financially, it always feels like it is moving forward in terms of development, and that is probably why it is so fun to work with this. In recent years, we have rebuilt a lot on the site, and we have received lots of fun, exciting and positive collaborations.

We are constantly receiving more and more guest writers and our mailbox is bursting with different collaboration proposals, ideas, requests and tips every day. It is simply incredible fun to work with this.

And then there is the freedom. We can work anywhere. Our income may be limited, but thanks to the motorhome and various collaborations and press trips, we still have the opportunity to travel a lot. We find that life as editors of a digital travel magazine is great fun. We work almost all the time to make ends meet, but it's worth it!

What are our plans for the future?

We love our job with freedomtravel.se, and we will continue to do our best to produce interesting travel-related content, with a slightly more personal touch. For us, there is only one way, and that is forward! Follow the travel magazine here:

• Instagram: @freedomtravelnews
• Facebook: @freedomtravelnews
• Youtube: @freedomtravelnews

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