Brian Kelly, the founder and CEO of The Points Guy (TPG), has become a leading voice in the travel industry, guiding millions of consumers through the complex world of loyalty programs, credit cards, and travel rewards. His journey from a computer-savvy kid booking travel for his dad to building a powerhouse media platform is a testament to his passion, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Early Encounters with Points and Miles
Kelly's fascination with points and miles began in his childhood. In 1990, he got his first home computer. He became his dad's travel agent, booking trips through Travelocity and quickly mastering the art of using frequent flyer miles to unlock affordable family vacations. He realized that loyalty programs were like puzzles. The prize was experiences like traveling to the Maldives for the cost of a trip to Orlando.
College Days and the "Points Bug"
While studying at the University of Pittsburgh, Kelly became student body president. This role gave him the opportunity to travel to conferences. He studied abroad in Spain and also got a cheap ticket to Dublin on spring break. He soon discovered the online community Flyertalk. He plugged into this global network of frequent travelers. This is when he became "points obsessed."
Navigating the Corporate World
After graduating in 2005, Kelly moved to New York City. He worked as a buyer for Lord & Taylor. He then transitioned to HR. He became the head of college recruiting. Later, he joined Morgan Stanley in high-tech recruiting. He recruited students to work at Morgan Stanley instead of Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo. He used his corporate Amex card to accumulate millions of points, becoming a hero to his colleagues by managing their expenses.
The Birth of The Points Guy
In 2009, during the recession, Kelly felt stuck in his job at Morgan Stanley. He had millions of points but little money. He decided to monetize his points expertise. Initially, The Points Guy was a service where he charged $50 per ticket to help people use their points for travel. In 2010, a friend suggested he start blogging. He wrote good content once a day on a good cadence.
Read also: Brian Windhorst on Weight Loss
Affiliate Marketing and Exponential Growth
In early 2011, Kelly discovered affiliate marketing. He used special links that tracked cookies. If someone got approved for a credit card through his link, he would get paid. In April 2011, Seth Kugel from The New York Times contacted him. Kugel, the "Frugal Traveler," challenged Kelly to prove the value of points. After Kelly booked him a free flight to Brazil, Kugel was convinced. He wrote a post recommending The Points Guy. The site blew up.
Overcoming Challenges and Building a Brand
Kelly faced challenges as his popularity grew. He invested in compliance to ensure ethical practices. He also dealt with criticism from other bloggers. He focused on making points and miles accessible and fun. He built a brand based on authenticity and excellence.
The Points Guy Today
Today, The Points Guy is a leading travel and lifestyle media platform. It reaches over 11 million unique monthly visitors worldwide. Kelly has been recognized as a top travel influencer by Forbes and AdWeek. He frequently appears on major media outlets. He shares his expertise on travel and saving money.
Brian Kelly's Advice
- Embrace your passions: Kelly's love for travel and points led him to create a successful business.
- Be authentic: Kelly built his brand on authenticity, including embracing his identity as an LGBTQ leader.
- Turn rejection into fuel: Kelly used early rejections to motivate him.
- Focus on compliance: Kelly prioritized ethical practices.
- Find something that you’re really passionate about that you really love doing
Read also: Kelly's Approach to Weight Loss
Read also: Brian Posehn: A Look at His Roles