Atlas Obscura is an online platform that showcases the strangest, most mysterious, and awe-inspiring places from around the world. But have you ever wondered how this unique platform generates revenue? Atlas Obscura is a media company that makes money primarily through advertising and partnerships. Its unique content and loyal audience have attracted brands such as Expedia, Roadtrippers, and Columbia Sportswear, who pay for sponsored content placement on the site.
Atlas Obscura has also ventured into the commerce space by selling products that align with its brand values. For example, its online store sells books, maps, and travel gear that feature unique and off-beat designs. Some of these products are created in-house, while others are sourced from local artisans and small businesses. The revenue generated from the store contributes to the company’s overall earnings and helps sustain the platform’s mission of showcasing the world’s hidden wonders.
The Business Model of Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura is a digital media company that attracts over 10 million people a month to explore the world’s hidden wonders. They’ve built a thriving business model that generates revenue through various means. Here’s how Atlas Obscura make money:
- Advertising: Atlas Obscura rely on advertising for the majority of their revenue. They have a wide variety of advertising options, ranging from display ads to sponsored content. They work with brands and companies that align with their mission to help their audience discover the world’s most interesting places.
- Experiences: Atlas Obscura offer their readers the opportunity to participate in unique tours and experiences around the world. They partner with local experts to create off-the-beaten-path experiences that highlight the unusual and quirky. These tours and experiences generate revenue for Atlas Obscura as they take a percentage of the ticket sales.
- Books: Atlas Obscura has published a few books that are available for purchase. They tap into their vast database of curious places to create books that are useful for travelers and armchair explorers alike. These books generate revenue through sales and can be found in many bookstores and online retailers.
- Merchandise: Atlas Obscura has an online store that sells merchandise related to their brand. They have a variety of items, including t-shirts, posters, and travel accessories. These items generate revenue for the company and also help spread the word about Atlas Obscura to a wider audience.
Overall, Atlas Obscura has built a successful business model that includes various revenue streams. They are unique in their content and brand, which allows them to attract a dedicated audience and work with brands that align with their mission. The revenue generated from advertising, experiences, books, and merchandise help keep the company thriving and provide funding for future projects and ventures.
Revenue Streams of Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura is a popular travel website that provides information about unique and unusual destinations around the world. The website offers a variety of revenue streams that help to support the company’s operations and growth.
Affiliate Marketing
- Atlas Obscura earns money through affiliate marketing, which means promoting other companies’ products or services and earning a commission for each sale that comes from their referral. On the website, the company promotes travel-related items such as luggage, travel books, and travel gear.
- The company uses Amazon Associates and CJ Affiliate to become an affiliate of other companies’ products. When readers click these links to make a purchase, Atlas Obscura receives a commission for the sale, which helps to support the website and its future work.
- Affiliate marketing is a great way for Atlas Obscura to earn revenue without having to create or sell anything on their own, tapping into their readers’ interest in exploring the world and discovering new experiences.
Events and Experiences
Atlas Obscura conducts various events and experiences all over the world, which allow readers and travel enthusiasts to connect and experience unique locations in person.
- The company offers walking tours, food tours, historical tours, and other types of experiences that showcase unusual and off-beat attractions in different cities around the world.
- These events and experiences serve as a great way for the company to connect with its readers and to monetize its content beyond just advertising and affiliate marketing.
Advertising
Atlas Obscura makes revenue through advertising on its website. The company works with advertisers to create high-quality content that promotes their products and services while still maintaining the company’s overall aesthetic and focus on off-beat travel experiences.
| Advertising Options | Description |
|---|---|
| Sponsored Content | Atlas Obscura promotes advertisers’ products in their editorial content, such as creating articles or videos around a particular theme or product. |
| Display Ads | The website has banners and display ads that appear on various pages based on a user’s browsing history and location. |
| Email Newsletters | The company sends email newsletters that may have advertisements included in them. |
Advertising can be a lucrative stream of revenue for Atlas Obscura, especially because the company’s unique content and audience attract advertisers who wish to appear alongside the content, targeting a specific demographic for their products.
Advertising on Atlas Obscura
Advertising is one of the key ways in which Atlas Obscura makes money. By partnering with brands and companies, Atlas Obscura is able to create engaging and unique content that resonates with its audience while also generating revenue. Here are some of the ways in which Atlas Obscura incorporates advertising into its platform:
- Sponsored content: Atlas Obscura partners with brands and companies to create sponsored content that aligns with its mission and values. This content is labeled as sponsored and clearly marked as such, but it still maintains the same high quality and engaging storytelling that Atlas Obscura is known for.
- Display ads: Atlas Obscura also features display ads on its site in various formats, such as banner ads and native ads. These ads are typically targeted to specific user segments based on their interests and behavior on the site.
- Affiliate marketing: Atlas Obscura participates in affiliate marketing programs, which means that it earns a commission when users make purchases after clicking on links to products or services featured on the site.
Atlas Obscura prioritizes creating advertising partnerships that align with its core values and resonate with its audience. The company believes that advertising should enhance the user experience rather than interrupt it, and it works diligently to ensure that its advertising content is engaging, relevant, and authentic.
For example, Atlas Obscura has partnered with brands such as Airbnb, Expedia, and Marriott to create sponsored content that showcases unique travel experiences and destinations. These partnerships allow Atlas Obscura to create content that appeals to its audience while also generating revenue through sponsored posts, display ads, and affiliate marketing.
| Ad Type | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Sponsored Content | Creates engaging and unique content aligned with Atlas Obscura’s mission and values. |
| Display Ads | Targets specific user segments with relevant ads in various formats. |
| Affiliate Marketing | Earns a commission when users make purchases after clicking on featured products or services. |
Overall, advertising plays a key role in supporting Atlas Obscura’s mission to inspire wonder and curiosity about the world’s hidden wonders and unique stories. By incorporating advertising in a thoughtful and strategic way, Atlas Obscura is able to continue creating high-quality content while also generating revenue to sustain its platform.
Partnerships and Collaborations of Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura has partnered with various organizations, such as museums, tourism boards, and non-profit organizations, to create unique travel experiences that cater to their niche group of curious travelers. These partnerships result in exclusive experiences that Atlas Obscura offers to its audience. Here are some of the most notable partnerships that Atlas Obscura has entered into:
- The World’s Most Unusual Hotels: This partnership with Booking.com features a collection of offbeat accommodations, including a converted prison in Latvia and an underwater hotel room in Tanzania.
- The Museum of Broken Relationships: With locations in Croatia and Los Angeles, this museum features exhibits comprised of artifacts and stories of failed relationships and heartbreak. Atlas Obscura partnered with the founders to create intimate tours of the museums.
- The National Trust for Historic Preservation: This partnership offers unique experiences, such as private tours and access to exclusive locations, to Atlas Obscura’s audience. This collaboration contributes to the preservation of historic sites around the world.
Collaborations are also a significant part of Atlas Obscura’s approach to content creation. They work with their online community of travelers and explorers to create content and post user-submitted articles, photos, and reviews on their website. Atlas Obscura encourages collaboration with its audience through various campaigns, such as “Experience Design” and “Wonders of the World.”
Additionally, Atlas Obscura offers customized travel experiences for individuals, groups, and corporate clients. These tailor-made trips are specially crafted to meet the unique interests and requirements of their clients. They work with expert guides and local partners to provide authentic and immersive experiences for their customers. With these partnerships and collaborations, Atlas Obscura continues to provide unique and unusual travel experiences to their audience.
| Partnership/ Collaboration | Description |
|---|---|
| The World’s Most Unusual Hotels | Collection of offbeat accommodations, exclusively offered through Booking.com |
| The Museum of Broken Relationships | Intimate tours of the museums located in Croatia and Los Angeles |
| The National Trust for Historic Preservation | Unique experiences and exclusive access to historic sites |
Overall, partnerships and collaborations are an essential component of Atlas Obscura’s business model. These partnerships allow Atlas Obscura to offer unique travel experiences to their audience while also contributing to the preservation of historic sites and offbeat locations around the world.
E-commerce on Atlas Obscura
One of the ways Atlas Obscura earns revenue is through e-commerce. They sell a variety of unique and quirky products on their website ranging from books to clothing to adventure gear. Here are a few ways they use e-commerce to generate income:
- Books and Guides: Atlas Obscura has published several books and guides that are available for purchase on their website. These books cover everything from hidden destinations to unusual foods around the world.
- Merchandise: In addition to books, Atlas Obscura also sells a variety of merchandise including clothing, bags, and accessories featuring their branding and unique designs.
- Trips and Tours: Atlas Obscura offers guided trips and tours to some of the world’s most unusual and off-the-beaten-path destinations, which can be booked through their website.
Atlas Obscura also partners with various brands and companies to offer exclusive products and experiences. For example, they worked with Clif Bar to create an “Adventure Pack” featuring a variety of gear for exploring the outdoors. Overall, e-commerce is a significant revenue stream for Atlas Obscura, and they have successfully leveraged their brand to offer unique and interesting products to their audience.
One thing to note is that Atlas Obscura does not rely heavily on advertising revenues, which can often compromise the integrity of content. Instead, they focus on building a strong community and cultivating a loyal fan base, which has allowed them to create a sustainable business model.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Revenue stream diversification | Potential for conflict of interest if e-commerce products are not aligned with brand values |
| Ability to offer unique and interesting products to audience | Requires additional resources and expertise to manage inventory and fulfill orders |
| Opportunity for exclusive partnerships and collaborations | Potential for competition with other e-commerce retailers |
Overall, e-commerce has been a successful strategy for Atlas Obscura, allowing them to continue to provide quality content while also generating revenue.
Membership Programs of Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura offers several membership programs that help the company generate revenue and offer additional benefits to its members.
Some of the membership programs offered by Atlas Obscura include:
- Atlas Obscura Society: This membership program provides members with exclusive access to Atlas Obscura events, tours, and workshops. Members also receive a quarterly magazine and discounts on Atlas Obscura merchandise.
- Atlas Obscura Explorer: This program offers travelers unique experiences and access to unusual destinations around the world. Members receive personalized trip-planning services and discounts on Atlas Obscura trips, as well as access to exclusive events and a quarterly magazine.
- Atlas Obscura Kids: Designed for families, this membership program offers kids access to unique learning experiences and activities, as well as a quarterly magazine tailored to younger readers.
- Atlas Obscura Community: This free membership program offers access to a community of like-minded travelers and explorers, as well as access to events and a quarterly newsletter.
In addition to these membership programs, Atlas Obscura also offers a number of other products and services that help generate revenue, including:
- Book sales: Atlas Obscura has published several books that offer readers a glimpse into the world’s most unusual and obscure destinations.
- Merchandise sales: The company sells a variety of unique and unusual items on its online store, including maps, clothing, and accessories.
- Advertising: Atlas Obscura works with advertisers to promote events, products, and services that align with the company’s mission and values.
Overall, Atlas Obscura’s membership programs offer a number of unique benefits to its members while generating revenue for the company. By leveraging its reputation as a trusted source for unique and unusual travel experiences, Atlas Obscura has been able to build a loyal following of travelers and adventurers who are willing to pay for exclusive access to the company’s events and experiences.
| Membership Program | Benefits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Atlas Obscura Society | Exclusive access to events, tours, and workshops; quarterly magazine; merchandise discounts | $120 per year |
| Atlas Obscura Explorer | Personalized trip-planning services, access to exclusive events, discounts on Atlas Obscura trips, quarterly magazine | $350 per year |
| Atlas Obscura Kids | Access to unique learning experiences and activities, quarterly magazine tailored to younger readers | $35 per year |
| Atlas Obscura Community | Access to a community of like-minded travelers and explorers, access to events, quarterly newsletter | Free |
By offering a range of membership programs at different price points, Atlas Obscura has been able to attract and retain a diverse group of members who are passionate about exploring the world’s most unusual destinations.
Controversies Over Atlas Obscura’s Revenue Model
Atlas Obscura, a website that features unusual and lesser-known travel destinations, has been around since 2009. Over the years, the site has raised some eyebrows over their revenue model. Here are some of the controversies:
Subscription Model
- Some users have criticized the site for implementing a subscription model in 2016. They felt that the site should always be free and openly accessible.
- Others argued that the subscription model could lead to biased content being posted on the site, as those who pay for subscriptions may receive preferential treatment.
- However, Atlas Obscura has stated that their subscription model allows them to remain independent and expand their offerings.
Advertising and Sponsored Content
Another controversy surrounding Atlas Obscura is their use of advertising and sponsored content.
- Some users have criticized the site for featuring ads, which takes away from the user experience and authenticity of the site.
- Furthermore, others have raised concerns over sponsored content, which can be seen as promoting certain destinations for financial gain instead of highlighting truly unique and interesting places.
Events and Tours
Atlas Obscura also offers events and tours, which have been met with mixed reactions:
- Some users have participated in events and tours and enjoyed them, feeling that Atlas Obscura offers a unique and immersive travel experience.
- Others have criticized these offerings for being too expensive and not accessible to everyone, which goes against the site’s original mission of making travel accessible to everyone.
Affiliate Marketing
Finally, Atlas Obscura is known to utilize affiliate marketing, where they earn a commission when users purchase tickets or book accommodations through their site:
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Generates additional revenue for the site | May lead to biased content, as Atlas Obscura may feature destinations that offer higher commissions |
| Allows users to easily book travel accommodations and activities | Can be seen as promoting certain destinations for financial gain instead of highlighting truly unique and interesting places |
Although affiliate marketing is a common revenue model used by many travel sites, some users have criticized Atlas Obscura for using it, feeling that it goes against the site’s mission of providing objective and authentic travel information.
How Does Atlas Obscura Make Money?
Atlas Obscura is a popular online travel guide that showcases unique and unusual destinations around the world. Here are some frequently asked questions about how Atlas Obscura makes money:
1. Does Atlas Obscura charge for their content?
No, Atlas Obscura does not charge for their online content. All articles and guides on their website are free to access for anyone.
2. How does Atlas Obscura generate revenue?
Atlas Obscura generates revenue primarily through advertising and partnerships with travel-related businesses. They also offer tours and experiences in select destinations for a fee.
3. What kind of advertising does Atlas Obscura offer?
Atlas Obscura offers display advertising on their website and advertorial content that is integrated into their articles and guides.
4. Does Atlas Obscura promote specific destinations or businesses for money?
No, Atlas Obscura does not accept payment in exchange for editorial coverage or promotion of specific destinations or businesses. All content is editorially independent and based on the team’s research and recommendations.
5. Does Atlas Obscura have a subscription model?
No, Atlas Obscura does not have a subscription model at this time. All content is free to access on their website.
6. Does Atlas Obscura make money from book sales?
Yes, Atlas Obscura sells books and other products related to travel and exploration, which generates additional revenue for the company.
Closing Thoughts
Thank you for taking the time to learn about how Atlas Obscura makes money. We hope this article has provided you with valuable insight into their business model. If you’re interested in discovering more unique destinations around the world, be sure to visit Atlas Obscura’s website and follow them on social media. Thanks for reading and come back soon!