Have a few minutes? 3 best apps for business travel downtime

Will — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 08:47:08 +0000

Despite the evolution of the digital era where virtual meetings have almost replaced the need for meeting clients face to face, there is still some need for corporate travel. So while the dinosaurs are busy catching up to the digital age, we pack our carry-on and prepare for long haul flights and red eye, all in the name of our profession. There is likely to be a lot of downtime between flights and while seasoned travellers may have long adopted time killing activities while they wait, there is a new and innovative way to not only keep you from falling asleep in your chair, but increase your productivity levels while you’re away from your office. Have you already guessed what it is? Apps of course! These nifty software’s grow in popularity every day and cover virtually every subject you can think of. Travel Apps are one of the biggest sellers, but with an overabundance of them, how do you figure out which ones will be of use to you without having to pay to download them? We’re here to help, here are a few of the best apps for the executive travellers while you’re waiting to catch your next plane.

Lonely Planet

If you’ve never been to the country you’re flying to, then immerse yourself in the Lonely Planet app. For no cost whatsoever you will receive a comprehensive guide to your destination of choice including useful tips for finding hidden gems, the best ways to get around, handy maps to help you get around the streets and an online/offline translator. While this app may be free, you may have to pay to download some of the maps, however it’s worth is once you realise their level of detail is second to none. For more corporate travel tips, we found that FCm Travel Solutions had some great ideas, be sure to check them out at www.au.fcm.travel

Yelp

Are you in charge of organising client dinners? If so, Yelp may be your new best friend. The last thing you want when attending a new restaurant is figuring out (sooner rather than later) that your new find barely passed their health and safety review. The bigwigs you’re dining with, won’t be too impressed either. Yelp will give you detailed customer reviews of local food establishments, making your choice for where to dine so much easier.

Keynote

More often than not, your workload doesn’t suddenly disappear when you leave for a business trip. If you need to make last minute changes to your PowerPoint presentation, keynote allows you to import files to edit or start a brand new set of slides from scratch with preloaded templates.

Planets Vs Zombies

Ok, so you can’t be productive all the time. There’s nothing more satisfying than tuning out to a mindless game, especially one that include zombies. In this game of strategy, players defend their lawn from creepy undead attacks by flinging needles, peas and whatever projectiles you have at your arsenal.
Do you travel regularly for business? What keeps you entertained during your downtime at the airport? Tell us in the comments below.

Uncovered: How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money?

Will — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 13:53:35 +0000

Yeah yeah, we know what you’re thinking, it’s impossible to make money from writing about your travels if you’re not some hot-shot magazine or newspaper freelancer right? Wrong. Just ask the hundreds of writers out there who are using their travel blogs to live a pretty comfortable existence abroad. They’re doing it, so why shouldn’t you? This is how it works.

How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money: Affiliate Sales

Been over to certain travel sites and noticed banners promoting books, online courses or other types of electronic products? Click these to make a purchase of said products and the travel site hosting the banner takes a small commission. Adds up to a pretty big slice of the pie.

Blogging Example: Nomadic Samuel

How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money: Adsense

Niche travel sites ranking well in Google for certain keywords (e.g. travel insurance) can make a pretty solid residual from incorporating Adsense, Google’s advertising system, on their pages.

Blogging Example: Vagabundo Magazine

How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money: Scoring Writing Gigs

As a blog functions almost like an online portfolio, a large number of travel bloggers manage to score paying gigs providing content for other publications or sites on the net. Owning a blog and networking with other bloggers in the travel industry also opens up other opportunities to internet-based work.

Blogging Example: yTravel Blog

How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money: Selling Digital Products

Just like affiliate sales, travel bloggers with sizeable audiences manage to make a decent online living packing their own products and selling them. Whether in the form of eBooks (the most common), consultation or online courses, many travel bloggers are making a solid income in this way.

Blogging Example: Nomadic Matt

How Do Travel Bloggers Make Money: Subscription Models

Write well, build a big enough audience and have your writing in demand and charging people to actually read it (just like a magazine subscription) becomes totally viable. Thanks to the ease of putting up online paywalls, this is the new frontier of cash generation for travel bloggers and easily the one that offers the biggest payoff.

Blogging Example: Exiles

Want to know more about the question of how to do travel bloggers make money? Stay tuned for future updates!

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