The allure of getting paid to travel the world is strong, making travel blogging a competitive field. While many articles offer travel blogging advice, not all of it is sound. As someone who has successfully navigated the travel blogging world for over fifteen years, I want to share what has worked for me and counter some of the less effective strategies out there. Starting a travel blog requires hard work, persistence, and consistency. It’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, but with the right approach, it’s a rewarding endeavor.
9 Proven Strategies for Travel Blogging Success
Think of starting a travel blog like opening a restaurant. Just because the market is saturated doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. It means you need to identify how you can be better. Here are nine strategies that will significantly improve your chances of success in the competitive world of travel blogging:
1. Never Stop Learning: The Power of Reading
Nomadic Matt reading a book, demonstrating the importance of continuous learning in travel blogging
One of the most surprising things I’ve noticed is how few travel bloggers actually read. They don’t delve into marketing, business strategy, or self-development books. Running a blog is like running a business, and continuous learning is essential for staying ahead. Successful individuals are voracious readers, always seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge.
Why reinvent the wheel? Learn from experts, discover proven strategies, and apply them to your blog. Don’t limit yourself to travel books; explore marketing, management, writing, history, and biographies. Even a single valuable idea from a book makes it worthwhile. Aim to read at least one book per week, immersing yourself in diverse topics.
For book suggestions, explore my recommended reading list for bloggers.
2. Embrace Innovation: Think Differently
To stand out, present your content in a unique and innovative way. If everyone is doing sponsored content, consider avoiding it. If the norm is text-based content, explore video. If everyone is serious, inject humor. If complex designs are prevalent, opt for simplicity and visual appeal. If one-off blog posts are the standard, create a captivating series that keeps readers coming back.
One way we differentiate ourselves is by providing incredibly detailed content. We strive to make our posts the ultimate guides for destinations, incorporating photos, charts, maps, and videos. Our goal is to be the go-to resource for readers seeking comprehensive information.
Many bloggers offer only a superficial overview. We aim for depth. Whatever approach you choose, execute it exceptionally well and be unique.
3. Invest Wisely in Your Blog’s Future
In the early days, I hesitated to spend money on my website, bootstrapping everything and viewing every expense negatively. However, I soon realized that strategic spending is an investment.
Now, I allocate funds to designers, SEO auditors, conferences, video and audio editors, copy editors, and more. This allows me to enhance the reader experience, develop valuable products, focus on core competencies and free up time to write.
While it’s easy to dismiss a conference as too expensive, consider the potential return. A single valuable business connection can lead to new sales or guest posting opportunities, making the conference worthwhile.
Businesses invest in themselves, and you should too. Even small investments, like a professional logo, can significantly improve your readers’ experience.
4. Find Your Niche and Dominate It
Back in 2008, it was easier to maintain a general budget travel website due to less competition. However, with the abundance of established blogs and websites today, a niche focus is crucial.
I recommend narrowing your focus as much as possible. Whether it’s RV travel, hiking and camping adventures, vegan travel, or a specific city or country, the power of search allows you to define your niche and still reach a vast audience. In fact, being niche now is more effective than trying to be a general resource site.
Moreover, focusing allows you to become an expert. You can become the go-to source for information on your chosen subject, cultivating a strong online presence.
5. Diversify Income: Create Products
Businesses sell something, and so should you. Whether it’s a course, a book, merchandise, tours, affiliate marketing, or a Patreon, provide your audience with opportunities to support your website.
Offering products allows you to be independent of sponsors and press trips, giving you more control over your time and income. Many products offer value to your readers by going more in-depth and in detail than a blog post usually allows.
Your readers want to support you. You just need to give them a way to do so.
6. Maintain Authenticity: Don’t Solely Rely on Press Trips and Sponsored Content
Why do people still buy guidebooks? Because they want an independent opinion on destinations. If everything you write is sponsored, you’ll limit your audience.
While some readers may not mind, a larger segment will feel disconnected and seek information elsewhere.
Consumers want relatable and independent travel content because they want to learn that they can make it happen too. People want to read content that inspires them to travel, not content that makes them feel envious.
Sponsored trips and brand deals can provide eye candy, but they won’t create the expertise and relatable experiences that foster loyalty and drive product purchases.
The most successful bloggers avoid one-off partnerships and sponsored content because it dilutes their authenticity. (However, long-term partnerships can be valuable as they offer unique deals to your readers.)
7. Expand Your Network Beyond Travel
Networking with other travel bloggers can enhance your industry visibility, but reaching outside the industry can position you as the go-to travel expert for other audiences.
This will yield greater rewards than solely attending travel conferences. Attend industry events, but also seek opportunities to connect with successful leaders in other industries where your expertise overlaps. This is how I’ve connected with finance, entrepreneurship, and tech experts.
8. Focus on Your Audience, Not Just Yourself
While blogging inevitably involves using “I,” avoid making your blog solely about yourself. If you’re aiming to create a professional blog that generates sustainable income, remember that it’s all about your readers.
Whether you’re providing practical advice, telling engaging stories, or making them laugh, focus on how you can be of service to them.
If you write about yourself, do so sparingly and relate it to broader travel themes. Avoid mundane details about your life that few people care about. Connect with readers on an emotional level, tell captivating stories, and help them visualize themselves in the places you describe.
9. Persevere: Consistency is Key
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your blog. Maintain realistic expectations and prepare for hard work, especially in the first few years. Build something that will last. The light is always at the end of the tunnel, but many give up just before reaching it.
Early blog posts are often rough. Improvement takes time. Many bloggers, expecting instant success, give up prematurely. The primary reason for failure is not bad content, but a lack of persistence.
Be patient, put in the time, and you’ll achieve your goals!
Final Thoughts: Building a Successful Travel Blog
Starting a travel blog is a time-consuming process. Writing about your trip is only a small part of it. Successful blogs prioritize reader-centric content, niche focus, product creation, and best practices. Achieving mid-tier status is relatively easy, but standing out requires dedication and a focus on providing value to your audience.
By following these nine travel blogging tips, you’ll significantly increase your chances of success in the travel blogging industry. These are my guiding principles, and they’ve served me well for over a decade!
Take Your Blog to the Next Level: The Business of Blogging Masterclass
If you’re seeking more in-depth guidance on creating a travel blog, explore my online masterclass. It covers essential topics such as:
- Setting up your website
- Developing a strategy
- Building your brand
- Mastering technical aspects
- Networking effectively
- Achieving high search engine rankings through SEO
- Excelling on social media
- Growing your email list
- Monetizing your blog
Learn more at superstarblogging.com.
