Nomadic Matt, a travel blogger, working on his laptop, demonstrating the dedication required to succeed in the competitive travel blogging industry.
For years, I’ve navigated the digital landscape of travel blogging, witnessing its evolution firsthand. While my primary focus here is to fuel your wanderlust and provide practical travel advice, not to dissect the art of blogging itself, I feel compelled to address a recurring theme. The internet is awash with articles offering guidance on becoming a successful Travel Blogger, yet, disappointingly, much of this advice is simply misguided, ineffective, or frankly, bad.
Drawing upon my own journey of over fifteen years in the trenches of travel blogging – a journey marked by significant success – I want to cut through the noise. Consider this your insider’s guide, a distillation of strategies that have genuinely propelled my blog forward, designed to counteract the questionable tactics perpetuated elsewhere.
The realm of travel blogging is undeniably crowded, and the throngs of aspiring bloggers swell daily. The allure is undeniable: “get paid to travel the world.” It paints a seductive picture of globetrotting adventures funded by someone else’s generosity.
Dream job, right?
Let’s inject a dose of reality. Building a thriving travel blog, or any blog for that matter, demands relentless hard work and a significant time investment. Merely posting content and hoping for overnight riches is a fallacy. While occasional perks and sponsored opportunities might materialize, true financial reward necessitates dedicated effort.
Travel blogging thrives on persistence and unwavering consistency.
Unless you experience the rare phenomenon of viral internet fame, prepare for a sustained period of dedicated work, likely a year or more, before substantial income streams begin to emerge. Often, it takes even longer to achieve meaningful financial returns.
Think of launching a travel blog as akin to opening a restaurant. The culinary world is brimming with eateries, yet this doesn’t deter aspiring restaurateurs or world-class chefs. They observe the existing landscape and confidently declare, “I can elevate this experience. I can do it better.”
This is the mindset you must cultivate for your travel blog.
Survey the digital travel sphere and resolve, “I can provide more value, more unique insights, I can do this better!”
Here are nine actionable strategies, applicable across any blogging niche, that will significantly enhance your prospects of success as a travel blogger. These principles are not theoretical; they are the very foundation upon which I’ve built and continue to expand this website.
1. Immerse Yourself in the World of Books
It consistently surprises me how few travel bloggers are avid readers. Many neglect to delve into books on marketing, business strategy, or personal development. However, operating a blog is fundamentally running a business. Without continuous learning and skill enhancement, stagnation and falling behind are inevitable. Every truly successful individual I know is a voracious reader, perpetually seeking to expand their knowledge and refine their abilities.
Adopt the mindset of a perpetual student. Embrace lifelong learning. Why reinvent the wheel when established wisdom and proven strategies are readily available?
Explore the insights of experts, discern what resonates and yields results, and strategically apply these travel blogging tips to your own platform. If someone has already charted a path to success, why endure the inefficiency of constant trial and error? Instead, learn from the best practices and implement them directly.
My reading extends far beyond travel narratives. I consume books on marketing, management, writing craft, history, and biographies. Even extracting a single impactful idea from a book justifies the reading investment. I aim to read at least one book per week, often juggling multiple titles simultaneously, spanning travel, history, business, and fiction – a diverse literary diet.
If you prioritize only one element from this list, make it this: cultivate a voracious reading habit.
Some of my essential reads include:
For a more comprehensive list of recommended reading, explore my curated list of must-read books for bloggers!
2. Channel Your Inner Apple: Embrace Differentiation
Whatever travel narrative you intend to weave, strive to present it with a fresh perspective, in a manner that breaks from the conventional mold.
If the digital space is saturated with sponsored content, consider abstaining.
If text-heavy blogs dominate, explore the power of video.
If seriousness prevails, inject humor and personality.
If intricate designs are commonplace, opt for simplicity and visual clarity.
If standalone blog posts are the norm, craft a compelling narrative across a series of posts, compelling readers to return for each installment.
Always innovate, seek novelty, and carve a unique niche.
One distinctive element we champion here is the depth of detail we embed in our content. We aspire to create ultimate guides for destinations, comprehensive resources that readers return to repeatedly. We enrich our posts with high-quality photography, informative charts, and detailed maps whenever possible. We integrate video content to enhance engagement. We provide essential contact information. Our ambition is to be the definitive resource you consistently turn to for travel insights.
Many travel blogs offer a superficial overview, a mere dusting of information. We delve deep, providing substantial value. Whatever approach you choose, execute it with excellence and cultivate a distinct identity.
3. Strategically Invest in Your Blog’s Growth
In the nascent stages of this website, I resisted any financial outlay. I bootstrapped every aspect, viewing each expense as a setback. “A professional designer would be beneficial, but it’s unaffordable. I’ll cobble together a less polished design myself.”
However, I soon recognized that judicious financial investments are catalysts for growth.
Now, I proactively engage designers, SEO consultants, conference attendance, video and audio editors, copy editors, and a range of other professionals. This strategic outsourcing elevates the reader experience, facilitates the development of valuable products, empowers me to pursue diverse projects, and liberates my time to focus on core content creation – writing. I concentrate on my areas of expertise and delegate the rest.
It’s easy to dismiss opportunities with the rationale, “That conference is too expensive. I can’t justify the cost.” However, if that conference yields a single impactful business connection that translates into new revenue streams or a valuable guest posting opportunity, the investment proves its worth.
Successful businesses reinvest in themselves. You must adopt the same principle for your travel blog.
While it might seem easier to advocate for investment from a position of established success, even in the early stages of a travel blog, modest financial outlays can yield significant returns. I didn’t commence by assembling a large team. I added one person, then another, then another, incrementally building support. Even investing a few hundred dollars in a more refined logo can substantially enhance your readers’ perception and experience.
4. Define Your Niche with Precision
Back when I embarked on my blogging journey in 2008, maintaining a general budget travel website was relatively straightforward. You could encompass a broad spectrum of travel topics and encounter minimal competition. The blogging landscape was sparsely populated. Now, the digital sphere is saturated with established blogs and websites, making a generalist approach significantly more challenging. (And you’d face an uphill battle in Google search rankings.)
I strongly advocate for a narrow, laser-focused approach to your topic(s). Whether your passion lies in RV travel, hiking and camping expeditions, vegan travel, or a specific city or country, the power of search engines allows you to define a niche and still reach millions of potential readers. In fact, in the current digital climate, specializing in a niche is often more advantageous than attempting to be a broad, general resource like my site.
Furthermore, niche specialization cultivates expertise. You can become the go-to authority that readers consistently consult for information on a specific subject or destination, amplifying your online presence and influence.
Resist the urge to be everything to everyone. Embrace focus. Delve deep into your chosen niche.
5. Diversify Revenue Streams Through Product Creation
Businesses thrive on sales, and your travel blog should be no exception. Whether you create online courses, write e-books, design merchandise like t-shirts, curate and lead tours, leverage affiliate marketing to promote other companies’ products, or establish a Patreon membership platform, provide your audience with avenues to support your website financially.
Offering products for sale fosters independence from solely relying on sponsorships and brand partnerships, diminishing the competitive pressure to secure coveted spots on press trips (discussed below). Product diversification empowers you to scale your website and revenue streams. Many products can offer deeper, more comprehensive value to your readers than a typical blog post format allows.
Surprisingly few travel bloggers venture into product creation. The predominant monetization strategies remain sponsored content and paid press trips. While these avenues can be appealing, they are inherently time-intensive and demand constant engagement, often leading to burnout. It’s a relentless cycle that can erode your personal time and well-being. It’s not a sustainable long-term model.
Products, conversely, offer the potential for passive income. You invest time in creation once, and then generate revenue while sleeping, exploring new destinations, or relaxing on a beach. They grant you ownership over your income and provide your readers with a tangible way to support your work and reciprocate the value you provide.
Trust me, your audience often wants to support you. You simply need to provide them with accessible avenues to do so.
WANT A FREE COURSE ON BLOGGING?
Unlock my free mini-course and I’ll guide you on how to attract readers, achieve high Google rankings, monetize your blog, and much more!
6. Minimize Reliance on Press Trips and Sponsored Content
Why do traditional travel guidebooks retain their appeal in the digital age? Because readers seek independent perspectives on destinations. If your entire content portfolio is perpetually sponsored, you’ll inevitably hit a ceiling in audience growth.
While a segment of your audience may remain loyal regardless, the broader readership will likely perceive a lack of relatability, seeking more authentic information sources elsewhere.
Consumers crave relatable, unbiased travel content because they aspire to envision themselves replicating those experiences. In fashion blogging, showcasing makeup and clothing resonates because readers can readily think, “Yes, I can achieve that look! A trip to the mall is all it takes!”
However, when you feature a complimentary, multi-thousand-dollar trip to the Maldives, readers are less likely to think, “That’s realistic for me too! Let me book that on Expedia!”
Consider your own reaction when encountering images of extravagant $10,000 vacations. Do you think, “Wow, that’s beautiful!” or “Wow, I can replicate that! I’m booking it now!”?
Sponsored trips and one-off brand partnerships can facilitate travel and provide visually appealing content for your audience. However, they often fall short in cultivating the expertise and relatable experiences that foster long-term audience loyalty, driving repeat visits for practical advice or product purchases.
I have yet to witness a purely travel-focused blog achieve massive scale solely through sponsored trips (though there are hybrid fashion/travel blogs that have attained significant size). The most successful bloggers across diverse niches often minimize one-off partnerships and sponsored content, recognizing the potential dilution of authenticity. (Conversely, long-term partnerships can be invaluable, offering unique deals and sustained value to your readership.)
Minimize reliance on fleeting, externally funded trips. Prioritize relatable, authentic experiences in your content, and pave the way for sustainable growth.
(And when you establish diverse product offerings, the financial imperative of these sponsored trips diminishes significantly! A win-win scenario!)
7. Expand Your Network Beyond the Travel Sphere
Networking within the travel blogging community is beneficial for industry recognition, but venturing outside this sphere can position you as the go-to travel expert for a wider audience.
This broader reach often yields greater dividends than solely confining yourself to travel industry events. While attending industry events is prudent (and neglecting them would be unwise!), don’t limit your networking exclusively to these circles.
Identify areas where your travel expertise intersects with other industries and connect with influential figures in those sectors. You can become the travel authority for individuals and websites with limited travel knowledge. This strategy has facilitated my connections with experts in finance, entrepreneurship, and technology. Consider attending conferences in related fields to broaden your network:
8. Shift the Focus Away from Self-Centered Narratives
While blogging inherently involves personal expression and the use of “I” more frequently than traditional journalism, avoid making your blog solely a self-absorbed journal or a mere recounting of personal memories. If your blog is purely a personal diary, write without constraint. However, if your ambition is to cultivate a professional blog that generates sustainable income, remember that the focus should not solely be on you.
Your blog’s core purpose, and enduring success, hinges on serving the needs and interests of your readers.
Whether you provide practical travel advice, weave captivating stories, or offer moments of levity, always prioritize how you can be of service to your audience.
If you choose to incorporate personal anecdotes, do so sparingly and connect them to broader travel themes or insights. Avoid chronicling mundane details like new shoes, meals consumed, or trivial personal thoughts. Few readers genuinely care about these minutiae. Readers connect with writers who evoke emotions, tell compelling stories, and enable them to visualize themselves in the destinations described.
Too many travel blogs devolve into glorified personal diaries. The most successful blogs, however, narrate the stories of places and demonstrably enhance the reader’s travel experiences.
9. Cultivate Unwavering Persistence
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and your blog’s success won’t materialize overnight. Maintain realistic expectations. Prepare for sustained hard work, particularly in the initial years. Avoid rushing the process. Focus on building a robust, enduring platform. Success is often just beyond the point where many give up.
Revisit my early blog posts from 2008 – they are, frankly, atrocious. The evolution in content quality between then and now is significant. Initial mediocrity is an inherent part of the journey. Expect a learning curve; mastery doesn’t emerge instantly.
Many aspiring bloggers, anticipating immediate fame and fortune, prematurely abandon their endeavors. I frequently encounter individuals requesting course refunds, citing lack of time and postponing their blogging aspirations indefinitely.
They rarely, if ever, return.
The primary reason most bloggers falter is not due to poor content quality, but rather a lack of persistence. They are unwilling to invest the sustained time and effort required for success. In part, success is simply a matter of outlasting the competition.
Exercise patience. Dedicate the necessary time and effort. And you will ultimately achieve your goals as a travel blogger.
***If you aspire to launch a travel blog, understand that it’s a time-intensive undertaking. Writing about your trip to Paris is merely a small facet of the broader picture. Successful blogs prioritize content quality, reader-centricity, and customer service. Attaining mid-tier success is relatively achievable, but standing out in the crowded landscape demands a focus on reader-centric content, niche specialization, product creation, and adherence to best practices.
By embracing these nine travel blogging tips, I am confident you can achieve success in the travel blogging industry. These principles have served as my guiding compass for over a decade, and continue to drive my own journey.
The Business of Blogging Masterclass
For more in-depth guidance and insights into building a thriving travel blog, explore my comprehensive online masterclass. It’s the resource I wish I had access to when I first embarked on my blogging journey.
This masterclass will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to:
- Launch and optimize your website
- Develop a robust blogging strategy
- Build a compelling brand identity
- Master the essential technical aspects
- Network effectively within the industry
- Achieve high search engine rankings through strategic SEO
- Excel on social media platforms
- Grow your email subscriber list
- Monetize your blog effectively
- And much more!
If this resonates with your aspirations, learn more at superstarblogging.com!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight Discover affordable flights using Skyscanner. It’s my preferred search engine, comprehensively searching global websites and airlines to ensure no option is overlooked.
Book Your Accommodation Secure hostel accommodations via Hostelworld. For non-hostel options, Booking.com consistently offers competitive rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance provides crucial protection against illness, injury, theft, and trip cancellations. It’s comprehensive peace of mind for unforeseen circumstances. I never travel without it, having relied on it numerous times. My top recommendations for service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards enable you to accumulate points redeemable for complimentary flights and accommodations – without incremental spending. Consult my guide to selecting the optimal card and my current favorites to begin and explore the latest lucrative deals.
Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental platform. Regardless of your destination, they can identify the best and most economical rental options for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a vast online marketplace offering diverse experiences, from engaging walking tours and excursions to skip-the-line tickets and private guides.
Ready to Book Your Trip? Explore my resource page for a curated list of recommended travel companies. These are the best-in-class providers I personally utilize for my travels, ensuring a reliable and high-quality experience.
