How to Make Money Travel Blogging in 12 Easy Steps
One of the best ways to make money online is through a travel blog, which covers the extra cost of your travels worldwide and helps you earn revenue.
The only problem? It’s not always easy to figure out how to get started in this niche or how to grow your following to the point where you can make money travel blogging full-time.
How do you make money blogging? Do travel bloggers make money? And if so, how much can you make? These questions are also some of the most common when people start thinking about starting a travel blog and making money through it.
Making money through travel blogging doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you know what you’re doing from the beginning. To start making money travel blogging, you first need to figure out your niche, write and publish content regularly, get some traffic on your site, and then monetize your traffic.
Here’s what you need to know about making money travel blogging in 12 easy steps.
Whether you’re new to travel blogging or an expert, these twelve steps can help you make money travel blogging successfully. This post will show you how to get started with no money, build your readership and make money from it as you travel the world.
Of course, everyone’s experience with this form of income will be different, so if you have questions or other advice to share on the topic, please feel free to comment below the post.
Step #1: Research Travel Content Creation
Researching travel content creation is a great way to start your journey into the world of blogging. Content creation is one of the most important aspects of blogging; with it, you can reach many readers.
The best thing about researching content is that it’s a never-ending task, so you’ll always have things to write about. But don’t just take my word for it; use these five tips to ensure you do your research correctly.
Tip #1: When researching topics, think of people who might have been interested in them before but haven’t found anything they liked yet. Then find a way to pitch your idea as different from everything else on the subject.
Here are some other points to keep in mind when researching blog topics.
- Be aware of what’s already being written about, so you can avoid writing something redundant or contradictory.
- It also helps to do keyword research to find popular search phrases related to your topic. It’s more than just coming up with an idea, though.
- You also need to consider how much time it will take to research, create, edit and publish each post. If it takes less time, consider your options.
Some bloggers enjoy delving deep into their research and taking their time creating content, while others like using simple templates for their posts to save time. Both approaches have pros and cons, but ultimately you should do whatever feels right for you. Just remember that all work comes down to personal preference!
Tip #2: One of the best ways to research travel content is by reading other bloggers’ posts on similar topics. Start following influencers’ blogs in your niche, and pay attention to what content they usually produce. Most well-known blogs will give you ideas of what has worked well in the past and help inspire future articles.
Analyze their success metrics, such as shares per post and number of comments, to see what type of posts perform well. Try to incorporate those elements into your content strategy.
After you’ve done your research, it’s time to create content. Write and publish often, experiment with different types of content, and establish your voice to differentiate yourself from other writers.
Tip #3: Plan your content calendar. Bloggers typically focus on a single niche to narrow the scope of their content and streamline the process.
Choosing a specific area of expertise is another option, but you’ll have to research extensively to get up to speed on it. Either way, it’s a good idea to have a content calendar.
Tip #4: Assemble your team. A team of freelancers and employees will allow you to scale your business more quickly. This allows for faster content production, attracting more visitors and revenue. Researching and writing blog posts can become tiresome.
Hiring additional writers or editors frees up your schedule so you can concentrate on developing new content ideas, marketing, promoting, and editing. Outsource where necessary to free up time and allow your website to grow at an accelerated pace.
Tip #5: Develop relationships with other travel bloggers. Partner with others who share your interests, skillsets, and target audience.
For example, if you like adventure travel while others prefer romantic trips, work together to offer a variety of articles to readers. Share content and promote each other’s websites on social media. By having complementary niches, you’ll increase traffic to both sites. And remember monetization options!
#2: Choose a Reconigizable Travel Blog Name
Choosing a recognizable travel blog name is an essential first step when launching your blog. Your name will be the crucial element that people remember and associate with your brand, so you’ll want to make sure it’s catchy, memorable, and appropriate for your niche.
Something like Adventure Girls might work if you’re blogging about adventure travel. If your blog is more focused on cultural insights, then Cultural Insights, whatever your name is, could be a good choice.
A short keyword can help increase recognition among search engines, so consider this while choosing a travel blog name. For example, a blog about nature photography may have Nature Photography Tips as its name because it includes both keywords.
It’s always important to consider other brands closely related to yours. Your blog name could be similar or even identical to another brand.
Which would create confusion or cause users not to know which one they should follow. Remember how your name will translate internationally, and choose words that can easily be translated into other languages if necessary.
Another factor to consider is how easy your name is to spell. You want someone to spend less than 5 minutes trying to figure out how to pronounce it.
People generally look for three things in a travel blog: motivation, inspiration, and information. Choose the words that best fit your blog based on these considerations and decide what word order you prefer: Wanderlust Journey vs. Journey of Wanderlust.
An excellent resource for brainstorming travel blog names is Tumblr since there are a lot of posts titled help me find my perfect blog name from bloggers looking to start their blogs. Other websites, such as Biz Name Generator, also offer suggestions for travel-related blog names.
When coming up with ideas, think about how you want your readers to feel when they read them or say them out loud. You want your blog name to elicit feelings that align with your content.
The perfect travel blog name should inspire its readers to keep coming back for more and provide them with the information they need to plan their next trip.
- What does your ideal travel blog name evoke?
- What feeling do you want it to evoke?
- What experience do you want to share with your readers?
After you’ve chosen a recognizable travel blog name, it’s time to get serious about building your website. You’ll need to sign up for a hosting plan and domain name (some hosting companies offer a free domain name).
In addition, find out what hosting services exist and see what kind of packages they offer – hosting companies often provide excellent customer service support at no additional charge for any concerns customers might have about their hosting packages. Lastly, remember social media platforms!
The most common blogging platform is WordPress, but there are many others, such as Squarespace and Tumblr. Some of these services also offer a free theme, so you don’t have to spend any money upfront. Once you have a domain name, choose a theme for your site and start filling out the basic information: site title, tagline, author details, etc.
Step #3: Set Up Your Website
Setting up your website is the first step. As we mentioned, you’ll need a domain name, hosting service, and blogging platform, like WordPress.
Nowadays, many people choose to blog from their mobile phones or tablets because it’s easy to type on them. However, most people need to learn how to set up a website, so you will have an edge if you can create one yourself. Google set up a website for tutorials. You can also hire a freelancer to do it for you on sites such as Fiverr.
Another thing to consider when setting up your site is whether or not you want a free site (you’re limited on what they offer) or a paid site that offers more features and space. A free website is perfect for beginners who want to learn about blogging and share their adventures with family and friends.
If you’re making money with your site, I recommend paying for it. If not, then go with a free option. Pay for a paid website if you want to make some extra cash. It might cost more, but it will allow you to monetize your content and get more eyes on your posts which could lead to increased revenue down the road.
Start by creating a basic website template using programs like Dreamweaver. Once it’s created, upload your pictures and text onto the page. Some people use templates from other sources, while others design their own to save time.
The best way to figure out what works best for you. Check out tutorials online on how to build your website quickly and efficiently. Spend some time learning about web design before diving into this endeavor. Websites have three main parts: coding, graphics, and copywriting.
Knowing these three things will help you produce a high-quality website without hiring someone else to do it for you. There are plenty of YouTube videos that explain how to code, how to design, and how to write copy.
Watch these tutorials and practice until you feel confident enough to put together a website from start to finish. Remember, only create websites that you’re passionate about. Be aware of what blogs are trending to better your chances of succeeding. Write quality content and often post at least once per week, and that’s it.
Step #4: Research the Most Successful Travel Bloggers
Researching the most successful travel bloggers is a great way to start making money from travel blogging. You can do this by checking their websites and social media profiles.
You’ll see who the top bloggers are and what types of content they share. You’ll better understand what people want to hear about when it comes to traveling, and you can tailor your posts around these topics.
Remember that the best blogs have engaging stories with high-quality images, so always work on perfecting both. Researching other famous travel bloggers allows you to learn from their successes and mistakes. With a bit of practice and persistence, you’ll be well on your way to becoming one of the top travel bloggers.
Make sure you’re doing enough of both because too much copying will leave your blog unoriginal. And remember to ask for feedback from readers; you might find some exciting ideas that could help improve your blog.
Once again, finding success as a travel blogger takes time. The more time you put into creating quality content and building up your audience, the more likely you will experience financial gains. The good news is that there’s no shortage of inspiration for travel writers.
New apps like Tripsta and Airbnb give travelers access to accommodations worldwide, while innovations like Uber allow them to connect easily with drivers. Some new apps even let travelers request a restaurant reservation or sign up for language lessons without leaving their homes.
There’s never been a better time to become a successful travel blogger. With the internet and its wonders at our fingertips, we live in a truly golden age. However, even though the internet has made life easier for bloggers doesn’t mean it still needs to become easier to build an engaged following or produce quality content.
It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to succeed online. It also takes patience: Successful travel bloggers are often able to post daily but only sometimes write every day at first.
Step #5: Create Great Content
The best way to create great content is to think about the story you want to tell.
- What are your thoughts on something happening in your life?
- How does it make you feel? What are some words that come to mind?
I always love going through my photos and reminiscing. My blog posts can combine stories, ideas, tips, and advice focused on traveling. I also like to talk about how much travel has changed me.
There have been many instances where I’ve learned something new from someone else’s culture or vice versa. It’s eye-opening to see things from another perspective.
Traveling allows us to break out of our routine and see life in a different light. Some of my most rewarding moments happened when I took chances. You never know what will happen when you take risks!
Traveling allows for open-mindedness, which makes you more accepting and understanding of other people who are different than yourself. It’s easy to get wrapped up in your bubble when you live in a society that demands conformity. But traveling teaches us that there are other ways of thinking and being. Exploring these differences helps make the world a more exciting place.
There’s no right or wrong way to travel – just your way! Do you prefer backpacker-style trips? Luxury tours? Solo adventures? Family vacations? Vacation rentals?
When thinking about where to go next, consider all your options and start planning. One of my favorite ways to plan is by looking at a map to find new places I haven’t seen before. I’ll set aside time daily to research where I want to visit next.
Whether looking at the weather forecast for destinations worldwide, reading about popular tourist attractions, or checking out bloggers’ recommendations, I find research to be a fun part of deciding where to go next.
Once I narrow down my choices, I usually share them with friends and family to see if they’d be interested in joining me. Sometimes they want to explore the same place too! Planning trips together adds even more fun to this already exciting process.
Step #6: Create Tourism Boards
Creating and managing your tourism boards is one way of making money for travel blogging. Tourism boards are a great way of promoting destinations and being a potential revenue stream for travel bloggers.
They usually take the form of an advertorial blog post where the blogger reviews the destination and offers tips on how to best visit it. These posts can also be done without affiliate marketing, removing any possible conflict of interest.
As with all other advertising forms, these posts must comply with Google Adsense policy on press trips. All sponsored posts must be marked as such and should not represent only one side of a debate or issue.
Getting legal advice before embarking on this form of content creation is always advisable to ensure you’re not exposing yourself to any risk. In many ways, a tourism board has more advantages than any other form of content that a new blogger might want to start with.
Firstly, they make up some of the most popular search engine queries when people look for information about their holidays. Secondly, they are relatively easy to create and maintain due to their simplicity. Unlike search engine optimization (SEO) articles, there is no need to spend hours researching keywords.
The beauty of tourism boards lies in their universal appeal – anyone planning a trip will find them helpful. If you create a tourism board, remember to use a catchy title and write engaging original copy. Include keywords in your headlines if necessary so that people searching for information about places will find them easily.
Spend time researching ad networks and hosting platforms so you don’t pay through the nose every month. Take advantage of all opportunities to monetize your blog and build passive income streams for your future projects. Writing tourism boards will open up new opportunities to promote different destinations. You’ll also gain experience creating blog posts that provide helpful information.
Step #7: Make Use of Up-to-Date Digital Products
The key is to make use of up-to-date digital products. If you’re looking for a way to make money travel blogging, countless resources can help you get started and keep going. Digital products such as Instagram posts, Snapchat stories, and videos on YouTube are just some of the platforms successful travel bloggers use.
These three examples have recently increased in popularity due to their visually appealing qualities. For example, people prefer to watch short snippets rather than long-form articles or podcasts because they believe it’s easier to digest quickly.
If your goal is to make money travel blogging, consider adding new products like these into your repertoire. You don’t need a lot of previous knowledge to start with; anyone with basic computer skills and who likes taking pictures should be able to create quality content.
There are also plenty of apps available to assist in creating better videos and images. It takes little time to make good-looking posts, too, so even someone who travels frequently might not need a full-time commitment.
However, one important thing to remember is that it takes more than just posting consistently to make money travel blogging. Those who eventually make a living from their blog tend to develop relationships with other social media users, link to their sponsor’s websites, and sell physical items through stores on their blogs.
They also generate advertising revenue by partnering with people and brands with similar target audiences and interests. To make money travel blogging, you’ll need to set realistic goals and figure out how many hours per week (or day) you can devote to this project.
Do travel bloggers make money? Yes, but most likely only after a significant investment of time and effort. Some experts estimate it takes about two years before you see any real profit from your efforts, which means putting in a minimum of 20 hours per week. But if you’re still interested in starting a new travel blog, here’s one way to make money travel blogging.
Step #8: Sell A Travel Guide
Travel bloggers can make money by writing and publishing travel guides. Selling travel guides is a great way to establish yourself as an expert and build your brand. This is an excellent opportunity for new travel bloggers.
It is also good to leverage your travel blog content into social media posts on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or YouTube with sponsored posts or native ads. Travel bloggers who publish travel guidebooks that provide visitors with helpful information about the best places to visit can make up to $10,000 per day through digital book sales.
When you’ve created an excellent product, it can easily be promoted across social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Travel bloggers who focus on giving readers high-quality travel advice from their own first-hand experience have been successful in this field.
Travel industry professionals may want to include travel blogging in their current marketing strategy. Successful travel blogging careers often have extensive networks of followers and subscribers who know what they’re talking about.
If you want to start making money as a travel blogger, building a sizable audience on sites like Instagram, Youtube, and Facebook is the most important thing.
The more popular your blog becomes, the more you will get paid for sponsored posts or articles, and the more you sell travel guides. Once you become a highly respected travel blogger, brands will approach you about sponsoring them. You can earn over $100,000 annually if you have an established enough blog.
You should remember that there are no guarantees to success as a travel blogger. You’ll need to create engaging content that is interesting for many people. Engaging content can come in many forms: reviews, tips, how-to guides, lists, anecdotes, etc.
These posts usually do well because they don’t just tell people how something works but show them. People love seeing real-world applications. To succeed as a travel blogger, you must work hard, stay passionate, and always remain professional.
Step #9: Get Your Page Views Up
You can only make money blogging if people are reading your content. The best way to get your page views up is by regularly publishing a lot of content.
You need to post at least three posts per week for the first six months, then you will see your page views rise, and people will start seeing you as an authority on travel.
Don’t be discouraged when you don’t have many followers right away because it takes time to build momentum. Once you have over 10,000 followers on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, you will see more page views.
In addition to getting more followers, try taking photos that feature breathtaking scenery or unique monuments in other countries. These pictures get a lot of likes and comments from people who love traveling. Use hashtags related to the country where you are currently traveling, including any language variations that might not be English.
With your new camera, you should be able to take some stunning photographs of places worldwide. Share them through your blog and social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. That way, people who speak this language might find you and follow your account.
Try sharing these posts with friends and family on Facebook, too. They may want to share them with their networks, which means you’re reaching even more people.
Start conversations with your followers by answering questions they ask about destinations they might want to visit one day. Keep up the good work – you’ll see an increase in page views soon!
When they leave a comment, always reply within 24 hours. As long as you keep up a steady stream of activity, your following will grow, and with it, so will your page views. Continue to blog regularly and publish content three times a week for the next six months.
Afterward, cut down to two weekly posts unless your page views have decreased significantly. By sticking to the schedule of writing three posts per week for the first six months, your following will grow, and with it, so will your page views.
If your page views go down after cutting back to two posts per week, go back to posting three times a week. If you continue to write quality posts and interact with your readers, your page views will skyrocket.
Step #10: Make a Basic Plan for Growth
Developing a Basic Plan for Growth is a great way to set goals and measure progress. A plan will help you stay on track and serve as the foundation for future endeavors. The first step of your basic plan for growth should be identifying what you want your blog to look like down the road.
As with any business venture, having an idea of where you want to go is crucial. Identify what features or content would make your blog more attractive to readers, such as more articles about backpacking in Patagonia, fashion tips from Parisians who live abroad, or different destinations for solo travelers.
Once you have identified your goal, start developing a timeline so that you know when to launch new features. For example, schedule guest posts and photo shoots accordingly if you launch a new feature in three months. Add one new feature every month until your blog reaches its full potential. After that, revisit your original plan and make adjustments as necessary.
Here’s how to make a business plan for growth
- Set Goals – Think of two or three milestones you want to achieve within your next 12 months. These could be anything from getting more followers to getting sponsorships from travel companies.
- Start Planning Now – Figure out what action steps are needed for each milestone and get them on your schedule now so you don’t forget about them.
- Write It Down – Put your basic plan together with a list of what needs to happen, when, and who will do it. Keep in mind this is just an outline, and some parts may need to be tweaked along the way.
- Revisit Regularly – Check back with your primary plan at least once every month to see if any changes need to be made.
- Get Accountability – Find someone else to share your plan with and check in with them periodically. You’ll feel more motivated knowing someone else is watching over you.
- Stay Focused – Don’t allow yourself to get distracted by outside influences. If you start procrastinating, review your basic plan again and figure out why you’re not following through.
- Be Self-Aware – What are your feelings getting in the way? Is something going on in your life (e.g., the death of a loved one) preventing you from focusing? Do you need to take care of yourself first before moving forward?
- Put Your Health First – Healthy people make healthy decisions. When stressed, sick, or rundown, our self-control decreases, leading to bad choices like overeating and skipping workouts.
- Track Progress – Track your success weekly, monthly, and quarterly. Use simple spreadsheets or apps to document the process and monitor progress. With these ten easy steps, you have everything you need to create a basic plan for growth!
Step #11: Introduce Yourself As a Professional Travel Blogger
Once you have a blog set up, it is time to start introducing yourself as a professional travel blogger to people. You can start a social media account for your blog and connect with influencers on Twitter and Instagram.
You should also join Facebook groups related to your interests or industry. It will allow you to post links to your blog and engage with other professionals with the same interests.
You might even want to invest in a business card if you want people to take you seriously. It will serve as a way to introduce yourself when discussing your blog at events or meetups.
When talking to people face-to-face, always mention what you do as a travel blogger. After all, it is your passion and why you started the blog in the first place!
To put it simply, the goal of being a professional travel blogger is to create content about your experiences. The more exposure you receive for your work, the more money you will make.
It is important to remember that there are many ways to monetize your blog. The next step is to find sponsorships from brands related to your niches, such as hotels, airlines, tour operators, and rental car companies.
They could offer anything from accessible accommodations or discounted services to small monetary payments. Brands may be looking for bloggers who promote their products well or someone they think would help bring exposure to them.
If you need more luck, consider working with affiliate programs allowing you to promote different travel products in exchange for a commission. There are hundreds of affiliate networks online where you can get started immediately.
These networks connect advertisers with publishers to help grow businesses. Start reaching out to these companies and see what they have available before moving on to the next step.
You might need to sign up with several affiliate networks and search for ones that are relevant to your niche. As a result, this step can take more time than others, but it will pay off when you earn money through advertising sales commissions.
The final step to becoming a successful travel blogger is all about consistency. Keep blogging frequently and posting new content weekly so that readers will always come back for more updates!
By becoming a travel blogger and following these steps, there is no limit to how much money you can make. For example, some travel bloggers might not have a few followers, so they charge just $5 per sponsored tweet.
However, some bloggers may have hundreds of thousands of followers, so they could charge upwards of $2,000 for a single sponsored tweet. With any luck, you will gain traction and grow your follower base. If this happens, the sky is the limit concerning how much you can make from blogging.
Step #12: Commit to Being a Full-Time Travel Blogger
You’ll need to commit to being a full-time travel blogger. Spend your time writing and taking photos for your blog instead of spending all day on social media or watching TV.
Spend time on marketing, partnerships, and sponsorships to make the most of your work. Offer affiliate programs or create your products for others to sell. Build relationships with other bloggers so you can collaborate with them on guest posts, sponsored posts, contests, and giveaways.
Create an email list subscribers can sign up for, allowing you to market to them anytime. Consider working with companies that produce gear like backpacks, clothing, cameras, etc.
Build relationships with other bloggers so you can collaborate with them on guest posts, sponsored posts, contests, and giveaways. Use your passion to drive success.
Don’t get discouraged if it takes some time before things take off – it will happen eventually. If you’re committed to blogging full-time and have patience, then making money from blogging is possible.
It may take some time to see real results, but be patient and stay focused on what matters. Your commitment and passion are vital to becoming successful as a full-time blogger.
Wrapping Up
Making money travel blogging requires dedication and patience, but the rewards may make the wait worth it. Travel writing is a demanding industry, but top travel bloggers make enough money to live comfortably while still doing what they love.
With an ultimate guide to becoming a travel blogger, new travelers will know how to make money traveling and break into this industry. After reading this post, those new to the industry will finally be armed with enough information to make their dreams come true.
However, while planning, find new angles and ways to discuss topics others may have covered. Planning is essential if you want your blog to grow and succeed over the long term.
Consider how much time it will take to complete research, create content, edit content, and publish your work. Choose whichever style works best for you!
Whether you spend hours researching or prefer a template, the key is to feel comfortable with your decision. Remember that there will always be pros and cons associated with either choice – it comes down to personal preference!
Additionally, if you want to learn how to make money travel blogging, new blogs with fewer than 100 followers often attract higher ad rates. That being said, hard work and dedication are the only way to succeed in this industry.
It will take time before you start making significant amounts of money from your blog. So don’t give up! Get started today by creating your first blog post and following these 12 easy steps mentioned above, and success is practically guaranteed. Just remember to enjoy your travels while staying true to yourself.
Check out this informative video on traveling blogging!
Happy traveling!
