I’ve been blogging full time for over 17 years. A lot has changed in the travel & points blogging landscape in that time, between the increasing popularity of the points hobby, the way that media consumption has changed, and more. I thought this would be an interesting time to reflect on the overall state of this “industry,” if you will.
I imagine some bloggers will have similar takes, while others will have different takes, and I of course welcome their thoughts as well. Part of the purpose of this post is to explain the overall content mix you may find on the blogs that you frequent.
In this post:
Some background on how OMAAT started
For some background, I started this blog as a hobby while in college, and for a long time I didn’t make any money on it. I never planned on making it a career, and for that matter, I’ve never really had a business plan for the blog, and have never had any desire to sell the site (which, it’s weird to me that selling a blog is even a thing, but…).
The travel & points industry is my passion, plain and simple, and I wake up every day looking to this as an escape. While I’m fortunate that this is also my career, the reality is that my day-to-day really isn’t very commercially focused. When “working,” I spend 95% of my time actually working on content, rather than being focused on the business side of things.
The reason I can write this blog every single day of my life and be happy with it is because it’s my passion and not my job. With that out of the way…
The complicated travel & points blog landscape
Back when I started blogging over 17 years ago, this wasn’t a very crowded space. There were very few blogs, and even fewer blogs from back then that are still around nowadays. Over the years, a countless number of independent blogs popped up, and that’s fantastic.
Some didn’t last for long (not realizing it takes a lot of work and consistent effort to be successful), while others are still around today, typically because they have persistence and a unique angle. I’m very supportive of anyone who wants to try their hand at blogging.
However, there’s no denying that this space has become much more challenging over the years for just about everyone, due to a variety of factors:
- As anyone who publishes content online can attest to, search traffic has decreased greatly, due to Google’s AI Mode (and other similar features), which summarizes answers to questions, rather than linking to actual content
- The way that people consume media has evolved, especially with younger generations getting news via short form video on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, etc.; I’m actually going to talk about this in more detail in a separate post, because there are some concepts I’m exploring, and that I’d like feedback on
- We’ve seen multiple travel blogs sold, including to huge media companies, venture capital companies, etc.; there’s nothing wrong with that, but their goals are almost always focused around revenue rather than profit, meaning they might spend millions per year buying online ads
- We’ve seen mainstream media news sites get into the travel story and credit card rewards space, as this just has much broader appeal than it used to
- We’ve seen all kinds of sites pop up that are so clearly exclusively about SEO
To be clear, there’s nothing wrong with any of the above concepts. My point is simply to say that this space is a lot more challenging than it was a long time ago. Just as the miles & points space has changed a lot over the years, so has the blogging industry.
I think it’s also why we’ve increasingly seen some sites change how they’re monetized. We’re increasingly seeing sites either offer a membership where content is behind a paywall, or introduce other paid services to generate revenue.
Why travel & points blogs have the content that they do
Let me be brutally transparent here. I’m sure this is something that other bloggers can relate to, and it might explain the overall mix of content you see on points & travel blogs.
If you look at the comments section of blogs, you’ll see comments along the lines of “this isn’t the content I come here for,” no matter what the topic is. That’s totally fair, because after all, everyone is looking for different content. But I think it’s important to understand and consider how people make a living.
For example, my absolute favorite kind of content is airline and hotel reviews, because that’s what I’m most passionate about. I think what most people don’t realize is that those reviews don’t directly pay the bills. They’re hard to monetize, they’re a massive investment in terms of time (traveling and writing) and money (travel typically isn’t free!), and they don’t get nearly as much traffic as some other types of posts. So where’s the value in them?
- Many of us are huge huge airline and hotel product geeks, and find writing these reviews to be enjoyable, regardless of whether or not the math works out; you don’t understand how giddy I get when I get to fly a new airline, no matter how bad it may be
- Many bloggers realize how much readers enjoy trip reports, and view it as an overall good investment in getting people to read and support the blog
- It’s useful to be well versed in what airlines and hotels are offering; after all, that knowledge is what sets peoples’ insights apart
Beyond trip reports, you have what you might consider to be “monetized” posts, about products. There’s money to be made there, but it’s probably not as lucrative as you’d think, or at least it takes a lot more effort than you’d expect.
Like I mentioned above, it’s hard to compete on SEO with major news sites, and you have other sites spending endless money on ads related to these products. As far as a readership base goes, well, if you’ve written about a product often enough, odds are that they already have it.
This gets at my above point about trip reports. You hope that people enjoy some content on a blog, and will then support you the next time they want to pick up one of these products, or just keep reading in general.
Then you have what some people consider to be clickbait stories. There are some blogs that almost exclusively post these, and they come in varying forms. There are a few things to understand about those:
- These can get an absolutely unbelievable amount of traffic, especially for smaller sites, that don’t have a very high base level of traffic; these kinds of posts can easily get exponentially more traffic than your typical post
- These really aren’t intended for the actual audience of a blog, because these are all about generating traffic from elsewhere
- These are often the easiest to write, because they’re not a huge time investment
Do I post these stories sometimes? Yes, of course, though as a percentage of content, not nearly as much as some other sites. Do I enjoy writing these posts? It depends. I make my best effort to only write about stories if I personally find them to be interesting, or if I’d enjoy reading them elsewhere. However, maybe I don’t always get that right.
I’m fortunate that my blog gets a good amount of traffic to begin with, but for many smaller sites, it’s extremely common that a single “clickbait” post gets as much traffic as the entire site otherwise gets in a month. This is the primary way that many sites can be monetized — some will write content hoping that one post breaks through and goes viral. It’s not only about the direct monetization of that traffic, though — many readers who find a viral post may bookmark a site and become readers for years to come.
None of that is to say that sites should or shouldn’t have clickbait, or that it’s a great idea, or anything. Rather, I’m just saying that making money on the internet is hard, especially if you don’t want to put stuff behind a paywall. And unfortunately often the stories that require the least effort generate the most traffic, and for many blogs these are the posts that pay the bills.
If I approached this blog strictly as a business, I’d just write clickbait stories all day, as that would almost certainly lead to the most readership, and it would take a lot less effort. However, part of what has made this business sustainable for me is that it’s also my passion, and I get up every day thinking about airlines. I wouldn’t be able to do this seven days a week for 17 years if I didn’t love it.
Talking about Turkmenistan Airlines or TAAG Angola Airlines? OMG, that gets me excited. Someone stripping naked in an airport terminal? That doesn’t interest me as much…
Bottom line
The travel & points blog space has evolved a lot over the years, for better and worse. Making money running an independent blog isn’t easy, though I hope the above at least provides some context on why you may see the content mix that you see on various sites.
In closing, I just want to express my gratitude to those who have been reading OMAAT over the years. I feel blessed beyond words to be able to get up every day and just play around with my favorite “hobby” and have it also be my career. I recognize not everyone is always going to be happy, and also that content won’t always be equally good.
We have our good days and bad days, or perhaps even good years and bad years. It has certainly been a challenging few years for me in terms of travel, between my mom being sick, and now having two kids. That being said, I’ve done what I can to greatly increase my number of review trips, and also have a lot of travel planned for the second half of the year.
At the end of the day, what makes blogging most rewarding is those who read and interact, and genuinely enjoy the content, recognizing that no one who puts themselves out there is always going to get things right.
As always, I welcome feedback, and of course would also love to hear from other bloggers about how their experiences differ.
yours is the only blog i read daily when i wake up since 2016 and has seen me through the best and worst of days. all the other content and writing out there is terrible, please don’t try video again and don’t do tiktok. this is the best medium as i can read it to work and even on my work desk.
congrats!
Congrats on the fabulous job you (fortunately for us you don't view it as a job)
One area that you did not mention in your post is the credit card/points end of this "hobby" I usually don't pay attention to most credit card posts but some of them are invaluable ---- The Sapphire Reserve card, which many us of have, is undergoing major changes and your coverage of this and possible alternatives has been...
Congrats on the fabulous job you (fortunately for us you don't view it as a job)
One area that you did not mention in your post is the credit card/points end of this "hobby" I usually don't pay attention to most credit card posts but some of them are invaluable ---- The Sapphire Reserve card, which many us of have, is undergoing major changes and your coverage of this and possible alternatives has been most helpful. And I definitely pay attention to any news about point offers and redemptions.
Been reading for most of those 17 years and yours is the only one I've stuck with! I long for the old Starwood Days and a good miles run but alas we continue . . .for better or worse. Still enjoy the blog and glad you've been successful!
As someone who bemoaned a clickbait post within the last few days, I really appreciate this article. It is your honesty and willingness to share your actual thought process that has kept me coming back, day after day, for most of those 17 years. It's helpful to understand why you need a mix of content, including the stuff that wouldn't be your first thought to publish (or mine to read).
I have made a religious...
As someone who bemoaned a clickbait post within the last few days, I really appreciate this article. It is your honesty and willingness to share your actual thought process that has kept me coming back, day after day, for most of those 17 years. It's helpful to understand why you need a mix of content, including the stuff that wouldn't be your first thought to publish (or mine to read).
I have made a religious habit of using your referral links when applying for credit cards. There's not much we can do to contribute to revenue other than add to traffic, so hopefully when others are contemplating a new credit card they'll take advantage of the opportunity to say thank you by using your links.
What happened to the other bloggers on OMAAT, Tiffany, Jorden and the others??
Although I've been a reader for more than 10 years, I don't usually comment. I do feel compelled to say that this blog has always been one of the first sites I open when I drink my coffee in the morning. Thanks for all you do and for being part of my morning routine for over a decade, Ben!
Love your writing style and blog as it is. Haters are always gonna find something bad to comment on, but I bet you they are outnumbered by the silent majority!
Actually I guess its closer to 12 years! I remember reading about your turbulent Royal Jordanian flight review just like it was yesterday! :)
Ben, continue to do what you love - we appreciate it! I. I honestly follow a lot of blogs but I am most intetsted in yours because I can tell that you are invested in it. I can tell that you take the time to provide detailed and accurate information in posts. And most importantly, I can tell that its your passion.
@ Ben. I love your post too! My passion was airlines/travel all my life and when I left the airline industry over 20 years ago, I had already figured out the miles side of things and how to always fly up front, which fortunately for me continues to this day. But way back then, all my friends were enthralled with how I did it, and of course, always wanted my help when they traveled (without...
@ Ben. I love your post too! My passion was airlines/travel all my life and when I left the airline industry over 20 years ago, I had already figured out the miles side of things and how to always fly up front, which fortunately for me continues to this day. But way back then, all my friends were enthralled with how I did it, and of course, always wanted my help when they traveled (without pay), even insisting that I start my own a blog! (WHAT!? CRAZY! NO THANK YOU!) I know what you are up against and appreciate seeing your work in this blog. Now that you have an audience you don't have to depend so much on SEO (w/Google). I hate Google! They destroyed my very profitable online business that I started years ago after leaving the travel industry, but I still maintain it to provide a service for my customers, and of course it helps me keep my point reserves high via CC churns/spend on inventory, etc. Hope you hang in there, because I do enjoy your daily insights & posts!
I dont usually comment much (and the site doesn't seem to like my email if I try to make an account lol), but I've read this blog every day for probably the last 7ish years because you do such an amazing job at staying authentic.
I got hooked by your trip reports, and feel like the other articles keep my knowledgable on the industry and major updates/changes up to date. Additionally, it's been insightful to...
I dont usually comment much (and the site doesn't seem to like my email if I try to make an account lol), but I've read this blog every day for probably the last 7ish years because you do such an amazing job at staying authentic.
I got hooked by your trip reports, and feel like the other articles keep my knowledgable on the industry and major updates/changes up to date. Additionally, it's been insightful to see how your travel has shifted as you navigate the changes that life throws at us.
Thank you for keeping your genuine style, I look forward to following along for the years to come!
This blog is great and I read it every day. And I enjoy the lively comments sections. Thanks for the great work - I am a genuine fan!
This is my go-to site because it is authentic and accurate. Glad you enjoy doing it, because clearly your loyal readers sense that and enjoy learning more. Thank you, and please keep it up!
I think if you had become a Youtuber eight or ten years ago, you would be one of the most popular today because of your content and the way you review hotels, flights and lounges. I know you don't like to show your face or talk in front of a camera, like in your Etihad Residence video, and there is also the problem that many well known youtubers have where airlines and hotels already recognize...
I think if you had become a Youtuber eight or ten years ago, you would be one of the most popular today because of your content and the way you review hotels, flights and lounges. I know you don't like to show your face or talk in front of a camera, like in your Etihad Residence video, and there is also the problem that many well known youtubers have where airlines and hotels already recognize them and fix the experiences to hide flaws in products and services and thus influence their opinion.
Thank you for this blog. The fact it’s a real writer and not AI means a lot and my favorite posts of yours are the reviews, so while it doesn’t get the most clicks, they are definitely valued by the community. This blog puts out some of the best articles unlike some others that have been bought up and changed their initial purpose and article content. I’ve stopped going to almost any blog that has...
Thank you for this blog. The fact it’s a real writer and not AI means a lot and my favorite posts of yours are the reviews, so while it doesn’t get the most clicks, they are definitely valued by the community. This blog puts out some of the best articles unlike some others that have been bought up and changed their initial purpose and article content. I’ve stopped going to almost any blog that has sold out as they no longer post relevant or interesting or unique content.
Thank you again for your efforts!
Your blog and your friendly approach (even when I dont agree with some of your posts) is what keeps me visit your site for years.
Thanks for these insight thoughs.
Don’t give me a heart attack. I thought you were going to say you were retiring as it nob longer makes business/financial sense. Oh my glob.
Give my best to Ford and your two bundles of joy!
Since you mention feedback, here's some I've had in mind:
-A speed test and screenshot of the Wi-Fi speeds you're getting would really be helpful to get a better idea of what to expect.
-Flight details with departure and arrival times, flight time, and even registration for AVgeeks in bold
-Your mode of transport (bus, train, car, ferry, etc.) would be really helpful. I've personally took advantage of the train heading into Nagoya...
Since you mention feedback, here's some I've had in mind:
-A speed test and screenshot of the Wi-Fi speeds you're getting would really be helpful to get a better idea of what to expect.
-Flight details with departure and arrival times, flight time, and even registration for AVgeeks in bold
-Your mode of transport (bus, train, car, ferry, etc.) would be really helpful. I've personally took advantage of the train heading into Nagoya to the Marriott courtesy of this blog!
It's a pleasure being part of this community over the years.
P.s. Since you mention trying new airlines, Air Algerie, Tunisair, Royal Brunei, Flydubai, Royal Air Maroc (I know you've reviewed some of them before, but it's been a minute) Aircalin, Air Niugini all come to mind.
And as an AVgeek yourself, you really have to try United's Island Hopper!
Thanks Lucky for your continued commitment to this craft. Wishing you even more success over the next 17 years!
I think we all know the only people we can trust in this space are skytraxx and employees of red ventures.
Ben, I haven't missed a day on your blog since 2014, and I wish I'd found it sooner!
Ben-
I do hope you continue to do what you find most rewarding and enjoyable while making enough profit to make it worthwhile. I have been a regular reader of your site for a few years and rely on your flight reviews and insight for credit cards, bonuses, hotels, and airport lounges.
Keep up the good work. If you have throw in the "click bait" picture of the spoiled supermodel with a low...
Ben-
I do hope you continue to do what you find most rewarding and enjoyable while making enough profit to make it worthwhile. I have been a regular reader of your site for a few years and rely on your flight reviews and insight for credit cards, bonuses, hotels, and airport lounges.
Keep up the good work. If you have throw in the "click bait" picture of the spoiled supermodel with a low cut blouse to stay solvent, after first suggesting you stay with what you do best....I/we understand.
Best to you in your endeavors.
Thanks for all you do, and please don’t change the color scheme of the site.
Ben. I love your blog. It is my favorite and I try to visit a couple of times a day - sometimes more. I love airports, airplanes (coach, J, F whatever), love hotels and hotel amenities, love hotel lounges and airport lounges. I have lifetime UA Gold but apart from that I no longer have patience to deal with credit cards, points, elite status. I just pay for what I want and am OK with...
Ben. I love your blog. It is my favorite and I try to visit a couple of times a day - sometimes more. I love airports, airplanes (coach, J, F whatever), love hotels and hotel amenities, love hotel lounges and airport lounges. I have lifetime UA Gold but apart from that I no longer have patience to deal with credit cards, points, elite status. I just pay for what I want and am OK with coach, entry level rooms and pay as you go lounges when needed.
I say all this as a preamble that I disproportionally benefit from your blog/stories without you benefiting as much from my visit to your site. I would gladly pay a reasonable monthly fee to reach your stories with no ads and no pop ups (especially on my phone). I would not pay for any other travel/points blog out there but I would for yours. Your work is a step above the rest.
Still the gold standard for trip reviews and hotel reviews. Keep up the great work.
Thank you Ben, for what you do every day for the past 17 years. I started reading your blog as a highschooler in Singapore, and now I work for an European airline in Europe. It was a great source of inspiration for me when I was still fumbling along in my miles and points journey, still is actually. Regardless, your site is still the one that I read 365/7 even when on vacation and Covid because I really appreciate your insights, tips, and content. Keep it up!
Thanks for your continued posts. I read daily via RSS for the breadth of coverage. You do a great job of surfacing things I would never heard about otherwise and making them clear and interesting.
Been a reader for over 15 years.
Indeed the world of Points & Miles & Credit Cards has changed a lot.
I still read your blog on a daily basis.
#p0rntravel
I've been reading your blog and commenting for around 15 years now. I'm remembering when your blog was small enough that you replied to virtually every comment. I find this piece to be interesting, providing a peek behind the curtain so to speak. It's tough to scale up and frankly I think AI is a huge threat to your industry. Even BA has an AI blog that I purposely never read as I find it...
I've been reading your blog and commenting for around 15 years now. I'm remembering when your blog was small enough that you replied to virtually every comment. I find this piece to be interesting, providing a peek behind the curtain so to speak. It's tough to scale up and frankly I think AI is a huge threat to your industry. Even BA has an AI blog that I purposely never read as I find it disingenuous for AI to tell me about bed comfort or how good breakfast is at a certain hotel. Chin up and keep going. You've made it this far.
I love your blog and so does my husband. It is perfect the way it is!!!! I appreciate how hard it must be to balance your family life (with your mother and two children) with this blog. Keep up the amazing work!! Thank you for all you do!
Honestly, I think this is not a bad blog (you're light-years ahead of Gary's VFTW), despite a good amount of commercial stuff (click bait, pushing CC's, etc.). Overall, I do buy your angle, though. You come across as authentic and genuine which I enjoy.
All things considered, I am probably not someone that's solidly profitable for you. You know, I'm not US-based, so many your more referral-oriented stories do not really appeal to me (you...
Honestly, I think this is not a bad blog (you're light-years ahead of Gary's VFTW), despite a good amount of commercial stuff (click bait, pushing CC's, etc.). Overall, I do buy your angle, though. You come across as authentic and genuine which I enjoy.
All things considered, I am probably not someone that's solidly profitable for you. You know, I'm not US-based, so many your more referral-oriented stories do not really appeal to me (you know, I might not even be able to apply for the CC in question).
Taking it all together, I'm grateful for the site, though. You know, there is some noise, but also some creative, quality content. The mix between commercial and enthusiast is fine.
This is still my favorite travel blog of all time. Keep it up, Ben! Here’s to another 17 years of amazing posts!
Very interesting post, Ben. I truly appreciate what you do. I learn something new and useful regularly from your blog. I regularly share your content with my friends and family. Your reviews make for great reading.
This is the only website of its genre where the comments often contain useful information (e.g from Sean M.). Your recent comments / commenter cleanup has really made a difference.
Thanks so much for what you do. My best...
Very interesting post, Ben. I truly appreciate what you do. I learn something new and useful regularly from your blog. I regularly share your content with my friends and family. Your reviews make for great reading.
This is the only website of its genre where the comments often contain useful information (e.g from Sean M.). Your recent comments / commenter cleanup has really made a difference.
Thanks so much for what you do. My best to you and your family. And stay away from CAI!
Reading your blog has been an integral part of my daily routine for each of those 17 years. Can't imagine a world without it. Thank you, Ben!
Ben,
I appreciate the transparency and clarity here. OMAAT is my first stop. I enjoy the way in which you write, and I appreciate the fact that there's still some authenticity here. When I search the web for an airline product review, I'm really looking for the OMAAT review. I read every day, but I don't comment often. Thanks very much for what you do every day.
Ben, thank you for your articles which are always well researched and informative. Even though some of the articles may not be of direct relevance to me, I tend to read everything since you never know what might be useful. It is also helpful to be able to look back at past articles for a particular review of a hotel or airline so the historical archive is useful. I also appreciate that you work hard...
Ben, thank you for your articles which are always well researched and informative. Even though some of the articles may not be of direct relevance to me, I tend to read everything since you never know what might be useful. It is also helpful to be able to look back at past articles for a particular review of a hotel or airline so the historical archive is useful. I also appreciate that you work hard at being fair and presenting an unbiased report. It's great that you have been able to get income from this work and I hope it continues to be worthwhile so you can keep writing these articles for this community.
Thank you for this interesting assessment. Like you, my favorite part of these types of blogs are the actual hotel and airline reviews, of which I feel that you are the best (airlines especially). I try not to click on the clickbait articles but must concede to occasionally doing so. Your colleague at Live and Lets Fly has been saying for years that the clickbait is what pays the bills and gets far more clicks...
Thank you for this interesting assessment. Like you, my favorite part of these types of blogs are the actual hotel and airline reviews, of which I feel that you are the best (airlines especially). I try not to click on the clickbait articles but must concede to occasionally doing so. Your colleague at Live and Lets Fly has been saying for years that the clickbait is what pays the bills and gets far more clicks than the reviews, so your assessment comes as no surprise and reinforces my understanding of why it is included. This sounds a lot like the whole news and journalism industry. For decades the hard journalism was effectively subsidized by the soft content: comics, sports, opinion, ads and classifieds. The journalism was the "vegetables" you had to eat to get at the junk food. But now, new media models, especially social media can just give you the junk while bypassing the good-for-you content and hard journalism is foundering trying to find new funding models.
Great post and like others have already stated - a big THANK YOU for what you do!! I've learned lots about airlines and hotels from your posts.
With that being said, let me be devil's advocate for a minute. I don't agree when you use the term "trip report". Like a previous reader stated, I do miss Tiffany's reports because her posts were true trip reports in the sense of reporting on the actual...
Great post and like others have already stated - a big THANK YOU for what you do!! I've learned lots about airlines and hotels from your posts.
With that being said, let me be devil's advocate for a minute. I don't agree when you use the term "trip report". Like a previous reader stated, I do miss Tiffany's reports because her posts were true trip reports in the sense of reporting on the actual destination (i.e. local restaurants, adventures, activities, etc., etc.) as opposed to just the airline that got you to your destination and the hotel in which you stayed. I wish you would stop booking so many hotels through the various programs which get you f&b credits. I think this puts an obligation on you to only eat in the hotel restaurant. I would love nothing more to read, for example, "right around the corner from Hotel ABC is the best little Italian restaurant"....or "while I was staying at Hotel XYZ, I made time to catch a local festival that was going on"..... Those are true trip reports - as opposed to airline/hotel reviews. Granted, I know your bread and butter are the hotel/airline reviews. All I'm saying is that every once in a while, it would be nice to have a full trip report from you which includes reviews of things outside the confines of Hotel XYZ. Give us a true flavor of the destination!!
Not complaining, just suggesting ways to take your blog to the next level. Keep up the great work!!
Come to think of it, back in the day Lucky would give a whole post about some of the cities he would visit. We don’t see much of those anymore.
He’s got two kids and no time to dawdle around Prague or Bogotá any more. There’s other sources for on-the-ground reviews if you need them.
Matthew from LALF also has 2 kids and dawdles around the cities he visits. Granted, it’s mostly looking for western style coffee shops and/or Taco Bells, but still.
It must be 5 yrs or more since Tiffany wrote articles, I miss her she is an excellent writer.
I agree with this comment.
Basically, I think that the blog is great for airline product reviews but the rest of the trip-related content is difficult to relate to, particularly for those of us who really are interested in miles, points, and underrated airlines.
The group of people (of which I'm one) who are interested in the latest Kenya Airways* business class seat and their married-segment award availability on partner programmes out of...
I agree with this comment.
Basically, I think that the blog is great for airline product reviews but the rest of the trip-related content is difficult to relate to, particularly for those of us who really are interested in miles, points, and underrated airlines.
The group of people (of which I'm one) who are interested in the latest Kenya Airways* business class seat and their married-segment award availability on partner programmes out of AMS to obscure African destinations aren't going to have any real degree of overlap with the group of those looking to spend €2.5k or whatever on a night in a hotel room in Paris. We're talking entirely different demographics, and I suspect that those who really are into the luxury scene (including clothing brands, 'trendy' bars/clubs, expensive cars and so on) are less likely to find the content engaging from their perspective.
If Ben doesn't have the time/space/energy/desire to do serious travel blogging about destinations or even focus on specific things within them (like Matthew does with the coffee shops), he could always try reviewing some hotels and resorts outside of the luxury category which would have a bigger chance of appealing to and engaging those who are interested in the core airline content.
*SeanM says that he's not keen on flying TAAG...and I can't even use any of my miles on them!
Such a pleasure to read your thoughts. Keep doing what you are passionate about. The rest will follow.
Obviously you tried your hand at youtube over half a decade ago. But you have to be passionate about that type of content creation. And it's an especially oversaturated market there too.
That said, I personally think you should double down on riveting content like the Singing Amtrak Cafe Car Attendant short. Although we all know that...
Such a pleasure to read your thoughts. Keep doing what you are passionate about. The rest will follow.
Obviously you tried your hand at youtube over half a decade ago. But you have to be passionate about that type of content creation. And it's an especially oversaturated market there too.
That said, I personally think you should double down on riveting content like the Singing Amtrak Cafe Car Attendant short. Although we all know that shorts are impossible to monetize, so better off to go with the shorter duration but full youtube video Four Points by Sheraton Air Conditioner! :-)
A little bit in jest obviously, but mostly not, because there's an authenticity about those videos. Almost feels like you should "launch a codeshare" with an authentic youtuber and cross-promote what you are each already doing (The Flip Flop Traveler comes to mind for some reason).
Whatever you do, lots of people are rooting for you. And if you enjoy what you do, you'll never work a day in your life!
I wish average internet users were aware of just how close the web as we know it is to extinction.
Once Google replaces all “blue links” with AI overviews and snippets, virtually every website not owned by a huge corporation will cease production within months, if not weeks.
Things are this precarious now, and Google has only barely started its transition to full “AI mode.”
Many of your favorite websites won’t even exist this...
I wish average internet users were aware of just how close the web as we know it is to extinction.
Once Google replaces all “blue links” with AI overviews and snippets, virtually every website not owned by a huge corporation will cease production within months, if not weeks.
Things are this precarious now, and Google has only barely started its transition to full “AI mode.”
Many of your favorite websites won’t even exist this time next year. Social media and email marketing simply cannot come close to replacing the scale of organic search traffic, nor the ad revenue it generates.
I guess Ben will hold on longer than that, but many can’t or won’t. Enjoy the quasi-relevant clickbait while you can.
I haven't applied for a card in a couple of years (as someone else mentioned, credit card fatigue is real) but I did historically try to do those through OMAAT if the public sign up bonus through your link was the best.
But lately I have booked three luxury hotel stays through Ford as my way of giving back for ~10+ years of readership. So hopefully that also "counts" as a revenue stream for you.
As a millennial who has hated how the internet has changed over the last decade, I really do appreciate you continuing to do this.
Imagine being a Gen Xer and seeing how the internet has changed over the last 3 decades ;)
Imagine being a boomer (last year of boomers, but still a boomer). I remember 8 inch floppy disks and rotary phones.
I also remember dressing nicely to fly, common courtesy being common, and legroom in coach.
Love your blog Ben. I feel you are one of the truly authentic people on the internet.
@David: right on (using a common expression from the 60s and 70s)
Agreed. I am not sure what to do about it, but the internet is just worse than it was ten years ago. AI makes it worse.
AI does make it worse, but Google was already digging the grave well before AI rolled the body in.
For what it’s worth, with the changing landscape and all, I’d be happy to pay a modest subscription fee, even if the content remains available for all (ad free website?!?). I don’t use social media so this is my only consumption method.
Thanks for what you do Ben.
Ben, I've always enjoyed your blog. In fact it's the only one I've ever bookmarked on my browser. Have you ever considered doing a podcast? You can have guests from airlines, hotels etc... providing insight into their product and even answer questions from blog readers like myself.
I would LOVE an OMAAT podcast!
Love this post! Thank you for everything you do! I enjoy reading your blog every day and find immense value in it : )
Got connected to you electronically over a couple decades ago at FT, through your user handle, as you had kindly responded to a query I had made about trying to earn for EQMs . Thank you for that and all the hard work since then
One other way things have changed is many trip reports can mow be found on Youtube…it would be interesting to know how much more lucrative that can be than doing a standard blog like this (though lets be real, a good part of monetzing sites like this comes from cc and other deal referrals Lucky and others get…and at least Lucky hasn’t gone as overboard as some other sites, like TPG).
2 things I remember...
One other way things have changed is many trip reports can mow be found on Youtube…it would be interesting to know how much more lucrative that can be than doing a standard blog like this (though lets be real, a good part of monetzing sites like this comes from cc and other deal referrals Lucky and others get…and at least Lucky hasn’t gone as overboard as some other sites, like TPG).
2 things I remember about this site that probbapy date me, but I remember when
1) Lucky’s biggest peeve would be the FA serving him a slice of lemon instead of the requested slice of lime with his Diet Coke
2) Lucky would have a post with a picture from somewhere in the world titled “Where is this?” for us to guess.
Please no!! There are 100s of YouTube channels doing this travel thing, but the number of blogs with adults commenting useful info below each article each day is dwindling. @Lucky don’t change your media format, this one still works for 1000s of us each day.
I never said Lucky should move to YT, just that it has probably changed the world of travel blogging and wasn’t mentioned much in his article.
Agreed with Ronnie. I like reading the trip reports. My Youtube consumption is primarily full blown documentaries and sailing vlogs, where the visual is much more important. I'd also think that given all the video editing that goes into a vlog, it might be more overhead for Ben than typing an essay to go with his oodles of photos, not to mention more possibly of conflict/pushback by crew a-la the Kuwait posts. Not to mention...
Agreed with Ronnie. I like reading the trip reports. My Youtube consumption is primarily full blown documentaries and sailing vlogs, where the visual is much more important. I'd also think that given all the video editing that goes into a vlog, it might be more overhead for Ben than typing an essay to go with his oodles of photos, not to mention more possibly of conflict/pushback by crew a-la the Kuwait posts. Not to mention Youtube's comment system is absolute trash to begin with, and flooded with bots to boot.
Given the downfall/toxicity of social media I have found discord communities centered around a podcast to be a lot of fun, and from their perspective it’s a way to monetize dedicated readers who share the same passion - is this something you have considered?
Thank you for being such a great blogger for all of these years. As others have sold out, you've kept up and provide excellent reviews of flights and hotels that aren't as easy to find these days. Here's to another 17 more!
Ben, thank you for this behind the scenes look at the industry. Dont think anyone comes close to you in the detail provided in the reviews. Very much appreciated.
I remember Ford once writing that you almost cut off his arm for touching his meal before you had a chance to take a pic! Too funny. Keep up the great work.
- First, a big thank you for your website. I learned a lot from your blog and it had a significant influence on my choice of airlines and ticket buying.
- Secondly, just recently I was wondering whether your business is as lucrative as it used to be years ago, precisely of what you are writing about in this article. It definitely has changed, as you illustrate it.
- Thirdly, for some of...
- First, a big thank you for your website. I learned a lot from your blog and it had a significant influence on my choice of airlines and ticket buying.
- Secondly, just recently I was wondering whether your business is as lucrative as it used to be years ago, precisely of what you are writing about in this article. It definitely has changed, as you illustrate it.
- Thirdly, for some of us old guys that are fortunate enough to afford to travel around the world, I guess subscription model in some form would be acceptable, but I doubt you would get the same traction and fun from it.
- So finally, just to say that a lot of us appreciate what you do and hope that you continue doing so.
dont mind the odd clickbait post- the real scourge is the absolute deluge of instagram points accounts, most of which are not very knowledgeable into the minutiae of the hobby. They did one chase to Hyatt transfer and think they are experts and start shilling cards and hawking affiliate links without actually knowing much.
Its honestly shocking to see how bad its gotten.
Thanks for the breakdown of where you're at. I'm not a blogger or content creator, but the first point about Google's AI summaries resonates with me. And honestly to go further, Google has broken the usefulness of their search engine to drive ad and sponsored link revenue rather than showing you the most relevant results. It used to be far easier to get relevant information to your query on the first page, and as part...
Thanks for the breakdown of where you're at. I'm not a blogger or content creator, but the first point about Google's AI summaries resonates with me. And honestly to go further, Google has broken the usefulness of their search engine to drive ad and sponsored link revenue rather than showing you the most relevant results. It used to be far easier to get relevant information to your query on the first page, and as part of that there used to be a much wider variety of sites, especially things like online forums dedicated to all sorts of esoteric topics, which provided both answers to the query and wealth of context too.
Google's dominant position in the search engine space has given them the ability to direct searchers to their corporate affiliates while burying those more useful websites to the point of destroying them. This is a big part of the reason I read and post here. In addition to just the wealth of information on point earning and redemption and airline experiences, you keep it real instead of sensationalizing it, and I appreciate that.
Very interesting, thanks! To be honest I am kind happy for the “clickbait” posts, as you usually do like 1 per day or so. If you decided to do only this, I would not come here.
Apart from the reviews I also very much enjoy the industry news and the fact you always add you opinion or point of view. You are knowledgeable and it really ads the value. That is the reason I come here every single day for 10 years or so. Thanks for what you do!
The majority of my Google searches are "XYZ Airline business class OMAAT" - when I am not sure about a particular product. It's the only blog I trust and that's thanks to your incredible reviews. Thanks for all the years of reading!
Me too!!
Another trick - Ben's search engine SUCKS BALLS so when I need to find anything on his site I google "xxx site:onemilatatime.com" and it gives me search results quickly and most importantly, I can actually find what I'm looking for.
100%! And I’m always sad when I google x airline/hotel omaat and nothing pops up
Love this post, super informative background. For me, I'll say that while they may not be the most lucrative, your trip reports have the highest value for me as a long-time follower. If I'm looking for an airline or hotel review, you are where I go first and have for a long time. Not only do you have a huge inventory of reviews, but I know I can trust them. And yes, I'd pay too!
Ben - I read one article of yours once as a high schooler and became hooked on OMAAT. I’ve probably read 80%+ of your articles daily for the past decade, and your consistent quality and authenticity is incredible. Thank you for doing what you do! I look forward to whatever comes next.
Thank you, nice to understand a bit more how blogging works.
Ben, you still have the best travel blog out there... it just baffles me how you haven't switched to a paid subscription model. We avgeeks are hardly a frugal group -- think how many of us subscribe to The Air Current -- and I am fully confident that you'd come out financially ahead versus the current ad revenue model.
Anyway, just don't drop RSS support ;)
Keep up the great work!
+1 for not dropping RSS support.
They come and they go... your site is my "go to" cause your independent and fresh. Slow and steady often wins the race!
thank you for the honest reflection and keep up the good work.
You have one of the most balanced sites in terms of trying to be all things to all people, knowing full well that people want different things.
Your comment section is better than it has been in a while so good job in navigating that. :-)
This cannot be overstated. And I'm impressed that the clean up of comments happened without having to eliminate guest accounts.
Oh, yeah! Best clean-up in the history of the internet :D
❤️❤️❤️
Posts like these, which reflect your sincerity and good common sense, are reflecting of why OMAAT is the only points and miles blog I read everyday.
My (honest) view of this state.
Clickbaits are fine and fun to call out.
Even TK just clickbait the whole world. (Shame on them).
But not only the industry has change, Ben you have changed too.
The younger Ben would have without second thoughts done SAS TK challege, possibly in J. JetBlue maybe not.
And the credit card fatigue is real, I haven't given Ben any card application over a year now. It's...
My (honest) view of this state.
Clickbaits are fine and fun to call out.
Even TK just clickbait the whole world. (Shame on them).
But not only the industry has change, Ben you have changed too.
The younger Ben would have without second thoughts done SAS TK challege, possibly in J. JetBlue maybe not.
And the credit card fatigue is real, I haven't given Ben any card application over a year now. It's been that long since I applied for a new card.
The best I can do now is help with the clicks and waste some time with fellow readers such as Tim and his Brit alter ego.
I would love to see more assaults of toddlers in airports
Hey Ben. You're not fortunate your blog gets a lot of readership despite being small, it's a result of your (and others, I miss Tiffany's posts!) very hard work over those years. I love your trip reports and have flown a lot more than I ever expected to because of your inspiration.
But just to be one of those guys... I think "I wouldn’t be able to do this seven days a week for...
Hey Ben. You're not fortunate your blog gets a lot of readership despite being small, it's a result of your (and others, I miss Tiffany's posts!) very hard work over those years. I love your trip reports and have flown a lot more than I ever expected to because of your inspiration.
But just to be one of those guys... I think "I wouldn’t be able to do this seven days a week for 17 days if I didn’t love it" should be 17 years?
Well done, congrats on the new addition, and please keep doing those trip reports!
Most interesting insight, thank you so much for this very honest article. I learnt a lot now about this field.
Thanks for the great post!
FYI small typo: "seven days a week for 17 days" (instead of years)
@ JAWE -- Fixed, thank you! :-)
Thank you for doing what you do... If nothing else, I appreciate that your content is always authentic. There is a reason I trust you over other sources-- I really appreciate that everything isn't dripping with monetization. Congratulations for what you've accomplished and much continued success...
Love this, thanks for sharing Ben. I occasionally poke you in the comments, but I love your blog.
Good post, well written. Explains a lot, those of us reading years, if like me, wouldn't have thought of a lot of that.