How This YouTube Family Landed A Deal with Disney
Meet The Bucket List Family—traveling photojournalists with 7 million followers, breaking new ground in their partnership with a significant media giant. Their journey began in 2015, after selling all of their belongings to embark on a global family adventure, captivating audiences globally with their vlogs on YouTube. Their recent collaboration with National Geographic, a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company, marks a turning point, offering valuable insights for digital creators seeking innovative partnerships in the evolving media landscape. Here’s what you creators and marketers can learn from The Bucket List Family’s partnership with Disney.
Prioritizing Authenticity
The Gee Family’s partnership with National Geographic stands out for creators and brand marketers. It highlights the power of authenticity in forging meaningful partnerships.
In a digital landscape flooded with travel content, standing out amidst 737 million Instagram posts under #travel requires carving out a unique niche. The Bucket List Family didn’t just showcase adventures; they embedded profound life lessons about adventure, cultural immersion, and philanthropy, resonating deeply with their audience.
This genuine approach not only cultivated a loyal social media following but also attracted notable brand partnerships with GoPro, LandRover, and Hawaiian Airlines, all while staying true to their core values. This commitment to authenticity paved the way for their latest collaboration with National Geographic—a series of children’s books inspired by their real-life adventures and setting the stage future projects, including an animated cartoon series.
The Bucket List Family’s journey serves as a blueprint for differentiation. It emphasizes that genuine connections rooted in shared values lead to impactful partnerships that resonate with audiences and brands.
Actionable Advice: Creators can prioritize authenticity by honing their unique voices and values within their niche. This approach attracts a dedicated audience and brands that align with their vision.
Building a Loyal Audience
Building a substantial following, like The Bucket List Family’s 7 million followers, requires more than luck—it demands commitment and a deliberate approach to community cultivation. The Gees haven’t merely produced content; they’ve nurtured a thriving ecosystem.
Consider their Tanzania safari, selling out within 48 hours, or their exclusive friends club brimming with insider travel tips—an approach that deepens engagement. The vibrant comments section on their platforms is a testament to the loyal audience they’ve cultivated, with hundreds of engaged followers inspired by their adventures and relatable moments.
The Gees prioritize interaction, fostering a genuine connection beyond the screen. Their content isn’t just about travel; it integrates relatable parenting insights, forging a deeper bond with their audience on a personal level.
Actionable Takeaway: Building a loyal audience requires focused community cultivation, as shown by The Bucket List Family’s success through deep engagement strategies, highlighting the importance of value, communication, and shared experiences to engage viewers actively.
Building Trust Takes Time: The Slow Burn to Big Brand Deals
The journey of The Bucket List Family’s collaboration with Disney highlights an essential truth: significant brand deals take time and dedication. The partnership wasn’t an overnight decision; instead, it was the culmination of years spent laying the foundation for a successful collaboration.
It all began in 2020 when National Geographic’s Executive Editor, Allyson Johnson, discovered them on the cover of Parents Magazine. This initial connection led to a successful book deal, resulting in the USA Today bestseller Bucket List Family Travel: Share the World with Your Kids on 50 Adventures of a Lifetime.
Their success expanded beyond the book, as the Gees fostered enduring partnerships with Adventures by Disney and National Geographic Expeditions. Their recent Antarctica expedition, featuring Jessica Gee, discussing their book, illustrates the depth of these collaborations. Their digital partnership with @natgeo also amplified National Geographic and Disney’s #ourHOME campaign, an Earth Month-focused collection on Disney+.
Actionable Takeaway: The Bucket List Family’s journey teaches us that significant brand collaborations are not quick wins. Instead, they require consistent growth, trust-building, and the cultivation of long-term relationships—a roadmap for creators and brand marketers seeking meaningful partnerships.
Final Thoughts
The Bucket List Family’s journey offers a roadmap for creators and brands alike. By prioritizing authenticity, fostering a loyal community, and cultivating long-term relationships, you can unlock the potential for impactful partnerships and build a thriving creative empire. Remember, success isn’t built overnight – focus on genuine connections, consistent growth, and delivering value to your audience. This dedication will pave the way for collaborations that resonate and propel you forward.
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