The Layup Manifesto
Layup is a content platform built for travel creators. We believe in human content and are building an opinionated publishing platform that puts creators first.
Layup is built on a few core beliefs about experiences, travel, and the state of the internet as a whole. We believe that human generated content will be the only valuable asset going forward. The internet is getting consumed by AI, slowly leaving content creators high and dry while big tech indexes, scrapes, and steals content. This content is monetized by third parties and rarely, if ever, does the original author see any compensation.
The language of the internet rewards page views more than quality content. What is advertised as free is monetizing your data and private information. Other people have noticed, and we've seen the slow rise of paid services for search engines, independent video platforms, and social networks. We think that Kagi (a paid search engine) explains the cost of free pretty well. We believe that travel creators need a solution to provide better content publishing platform for people to truly experience new and old destinations alike.
Our goal is provide novel ways for all kinds of content creators to monetize travel-related content on the internet with the end goal of becoming the authoritative source for the best travel and local content on the internet.
Here are the core tennets that inform how we build and grow Layup:
Creators deserve to be compensated
While some platforms compensate creators fairly, the reality of the state of AI and LLMs is turning consumers away from blogs, websites and video content. AI companies scrape content, and repackage it without payment or attribution. When your followers aren't directly paying for services, they become the product.
Content from real people will be worth its weight in gold
AI Will Never have the Human Experience. While AI can read, and maybe understand, content on the web. It will never be an authoritative first-party source on physical places in the world. As AI continues to outpace human content on the internet, the value of this content will only increase. Novel, unique content is going extinct.
Review sites don't offer enough
The places locals and travelers go to get information about things to do, places to eat, and sights to see don't give a true picture of what a destination is like. Their business model isn't compatible with promoting new or exciting places, but relies on driving as many users to their site as possible. Yelp and TripAdvisors are pay-to-play for business owners at the cost of providing their users with a sub-par experience.
Creators should own their audience
Layup doesn't want to own your audience. Our monetization strategy doesn't rely on selling your followers or their information to third parties. When you bring users to our platform, they are your followers first. You should have the tools and ability to engage with them as such. We aren't searching for readers and viewers. Creators are our first-party users. We're searching for– and catering to– creators first and foremost.
What is Layup building for you?
Layup's is building the following tools for you, as a creator.
Interactive Editor
Travel-Centric Content Editor
Content editor and creator tools that include rich, interactive content. Create content with maps, image galleries, videos, and interactive elements that keeps your travel-minded audience engaged.
Own Your Content
CMS and Cross Platform Integrations
Power your existing blog or website with content that you publish on Layup. Create cross engagement with where your audience already finds you.
Own your Audience
Audience Marketing and Engagement
Stay engaged with your audience through emails and updates. You keep ownership of your audience. They're your users first. You stay in control of how your content reaches your inside and outside your audience.
Earning
Simple Monetization
We've built a simple way to monetize your content. Sell content individually and through subscriptions. We have a simple fee-based structure that grows with your audience to make sure that you earn the most possible.
Ready to monetize your content?
Layup's travel guide publishing platform is in early access, and we're slowly onboarding new creators. If you're interested in getting started with publishing your own guides, join the waitlist.