We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jared Dillingham. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jared below.
Hi Jared, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I’ve always enjoyed my career as a TV journalist, though there have been ebbs and flows over the 20 years. I felt especially useful and purposeful at work during the first several months of the pandemic. People were eager for information. While the news media takes heat for over-hyping Covid-19, we really did work hard to get our audience the most important information on schools closing, businesses adapting, and medical research. On top of it all, of our staff went home, presenting unprecedented technical challenges for the industry.
But as time went on, my days became consumed by the pandemic and politics. People were sick of the lockdowns, and frankly, we were tired ourselves of the negative stories. We worked overtime to bring glimmers of hope and human-interest stories to the audience, to balance things out.
For me, personally and professionally, it was a struggle. I knew I needed more to my daily life at work, so I came up with the idea of infusing my passion for travel into my job. I had an old travel blog, which I hadn’t posted to in years, but I used it as a jumping-off point for the TV segment. I asked my boss if I could volunteer to work a 6th day (Sunday) to do a travel report for our morning show. Honestly, they were desperate for content, so it was a quick “yes!”
The first few months were focused on “dream trips of the future,” since most international travel was still off-limits, or greatly restricted. The segment was a hit with viewers, who were eager to think about future trips and escape the confines of covid quarantines. Over time, it’s grown into an all-encompassing travel report, featuring deals, local escapes, along with travel headlines and controversies.
I also launched a new travel website (JaredsDetours.com) with in-depth posts on the places I’ve been since Covid hit. I’m not sure if it’s my “purpose,” but it’s definitely gratifying to hear from people who are traveling for the first time, or traveling for the first time in a long time, based on my advice and recommendations.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I grew up in New York, knowing from the third grade that I wanted to be a news reporter. I graduated 20 years ago this spring from Syracuse University’s journalism school. I took my first TV job in Great Falls, Montana, and although it paid minimum wage, it remains one of the best years of my life. After three years in Spokane, Washington, I moved to Phoenix for what I figured would be another three years. It’s turned into 15, somehow! I’ve worked every possible shift, from weekend reporter to morning show reporter to nightside reporter to evening anchor.
In addition to my work in television, I’ve launched a new travel website, www.JaredsDetours.com, which has been an adventure in itself. I’ve taken classes on SEO, which have helped it grow far faster than I ever imagined! The posts are designed to give people all the information I wish I’d had *before* visiting cities, national parks, and natural wonders around the world. It’s a mix of the travel hot spots (Rome) https://www.jaredsdetours.com/visit-rome-in-winter/ and also a lot of off-the-beaten path locations (White Pocket, Arizona) https://www.jaredsdetours.com/white-pocket/.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Focus on Your Interests This is obvious, but it’s really the most important for me. I fell into a few other side projects, which could have been very successful, but I wasn’t really onboard mentally with the subject matter. It became more of a burden.
Now, with a focus on travel, I enjoy spending time creating content because I love the topic.
Learn From Experts
I’ve thought about going back to college to take classes in different topics, but never did until recently. The courses I’ve taken on SEO have been a huge help. I had two prior travel blogs which reached luke-warm success (at best). Now, taking what I’ve learned from experts, the new website is growing much more rapidly.
Celebrate the Small Wins
In each line of work it’ll be different. For my TV travel segment, I celebrate each time someone emails to say they’ve booked a trip based on my recommendations and ideas. For the website, seeing posts climb a rank in Google’s search engine is cause for celebration.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
I mentioned SEO (search engine optimization) earlier, and it’s definitely been a challenge for me to grasp. I thought I had it nailed from the first couple of courses I took, but I was wrong. Now, nearly two years in, I have a much better understanding!
For me, the problem stems from the way we write in television news. We’re concise and efficient. With SEO, it’s completely different, beginning with the title of a post! In news, we try to craft something witty, or one up with a headline that catches your eye. On the other hand, to get a search engine to suggest your page, you need to be writing specifically to what people are searching for.
After 20 years of writing in one style, it’s been a challenge to shift my brain into this new style!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jaredsdetours.com
- Instagram: @dillinjay
- Facebook: @jaredtv
- Twitter: @jareddillingham
- Youtube: YouTube.com/JaredDillinghamTravel
Image Credits:
Matt Ehnes
