Becoming a Travel Blogger might seem like a dream job – exploring exotic destinations and sharing your adventures with the world, all while getting paid. The allure of “getting paid to travel the world” is undeniable, and understandably, the field has become increasingly crowded. You see countless articles offering advice on how to become a successful travel blogger, but often, much of this advice misses the mark.
Having navigated the world of blogging and achieved success for over fifteen years, I want to offer some grounded advice based on what truly works. My aim is to counterbalance the often misleading strategies that circulate online and provide aspiring travel bloggers with a realistic and effective roadmap.
The truth is, carving out a space as a travel blogger today is challenging. The internet is saturated with travel content, and standing out requires more than just posting pretty pictures. Simply setting up a blog and publishing content isn’t going to magically translate into income. Building a successful travel blog demands hard work, dedication, and a strategic approach, much like starting any other business.
Think of it this way: the online world is like the restaurant industry. Many restaurants exist, but not all are successful. Those who thrive are the ones who identify a gap, offer something unique, and execute it exceptionally well. As an aspiring travel blogger, your mindset should be similar: “I can do this, and I can do it better.”
To help you cut through the noise and build a thriving travel blog, here are nine essential strategies that have proven effective. These are the principles I’ve used to grow my own travel website, and they can significantly increase your chances of success in this competitive landscape.
1. Embrace Lifelong Learning Through Reading
It consistently surprises me how few travel bloggers are avid readers. Many overlook the importance of immersing themselves in books about marketing, business strategy, and personal development. However, running a blog, especially a travel blog aiming for profitability, is fundamentally a business endeavor. If you neglect continuous learning and skill enhancement, you risk falling behind. Virtually every successful individual I know is a voracious reader, constantly seeking ways to expand their knowledge and refine their skills.
To excel as a travel blogger, you must adopt the mindset of a perpetual student. Why reinvent the wheel when a wealth of knowledge already exists? Tap into the expertise of those who have paved the way. Absorb their insights, learn from proven strategies, and apply these travel blogging tips to your own platform. Why stumble through endless trial and error when you can learn from best practices? Read about the most effective approaches and implement them.
My reading extends far beyond travel literature. I devour books on marketing, management, writing, history, and biographies. Even if a single idea sparks from a book, the investment of time is worthwhile. I aim to read at least one book per week, often juggling multiple titles simultaneously, spanning genres from travel and history to business and fiction.
If you were to implement just one tip from this list, make it this one: cultivate a habit of reading widely and consistently.
For further reading recommendations, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of essential books for bloggers!
Alt text: A travel blogger engrossed in reading, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and knowledge acquisition for success in the field.
2. Channel Your Inner Apple: Dare to Be Different
When crafting your travel content, always strive to present familiar subjects in a fresh, innovative way. In a saturated market, standing out requires originality.
If everyone else is focused on sponsored content, consider minimizing or diversifying your approach. If the dominant format is written text, explore video content. If the tone across the board is serious, inject humor and personality into your work. If complex website designs are the norm, opt for simplicity and visual appeal. Instead of isolated blog posts, weave narratives through series that keep readers engaged and returning for more.
The key is constant innovation – dare to be different and carve your unique niche.
One strategy that sets my website apart is the depth of detail I incorporate into each post. We aim to create ultimate guides to destinations, comprehensive resources that readers can rely on. We enrich our content with high-quality photos, informative charts, and helpful maps whenever possible. We integrate video content and provide essential contact information. Our goal is for readers to consistently choose our platform because we offer the most valuable, in-depth resources available.
Many travel blogs offer only a superficial overview of information. We believe in going deep. Whatever approach you choose, commit to excellence and originality.
3. Invest Strategically in Your Travel Blog
Initially, I was hesitant to invest financially in my website. I bootstrapped everything, viewing every expense as a setback. “A professional designer would be great, but it’s too expensive. I’ll just create a mediocre design myself,” was a common thought.
However, I soon realized that well-considered spending is, in fact, an investment.
Now, I allocate budget for designers, SEO consultants, conference attendance, video and audio editors, copy editors, and various other services. This investment allows me to enhance the reader experience, develop valuable products, pursue new projects, and, crucially, free up my time to focus on writing – my core strength. I concentrate on my key competencies and outsource tasks that are not my forte.
It’s easy to dismiss opportunities as too expensive. “That conference is too pricey; I don’t want to spend that much,” one might think. But consider the potential return. If that conference leads to a single strong business connection that generates new revenue or a valuable guest posting opportunity, the cost becomes justified.
Just as any business reinvests in itself to grow, you must do the same with your travel blog.
While it might seem easier to say this now, even when starting a travel blog, small, strategic investments can yield significant results. I didn’t immediately hire a large team. I started with one freelancer, then another, gradually expanding. Even investing a modest sum in a more polished logo can significantly elevate your readers’ perception and experience.
Alt text: Website analytics displayed on a laptop screen, representing the concept of strategic investment and data analysis for travel blog growth.
4. Define a Niche Focus for Your Travel Blog
When I started blogging in 2008, maintaining a general budget travel website was viable. You could cover a wide range of travel topics and face relatively little competition. The travel blogging landscape was less crowded then. However, today, with numerous established blogs and websites, this approach is far less effective. (And you’d struggle to rank well in Google search results).
I strongly recommend narrowing your focus and specializing in specific travel niches. Whether it’s RV travel, hiking and camping adventures, vegan travel, or concentrating on a particular city or country, search engine capabilities allow you to define your niche and still reach millions of potential readers. In fact, specializing now is more advantageous than attempting to be a broad, general resource like my website.
Furthermore, niching down allows you to cultivate expertise. You can become the go-to authority readers consistently turn to for information on a specific subject or destination. This focused approach enables you to build a stronger online presence and a loyal audience.
Avoid trying to be everything to everyone. Go narrow, go deep, and become the leading voice in your chosen travel niche.
5. Diversify Revenue Streams by Creating Products
Businesses generate revenue by selling products or services – and your travel blog should too. Whether it’s developing online courses, writing e-books, designing merchandise like t-shirts, organizing tours, promoting affiliate products, or establishing a Patreon membership, offer your audience avenues to support your work.
Creating and selling products provides financial independence from solely relying on sponsors and brand deals. It also reduces the pressure to constantly compete with other travel bloggers for limited press trip opportunities. Product creation enables you to scale your website and revenue potential. Many products offer deeper value to your readers by providing more in-depth information and resources than a typical blog post allows.
Surprisingly, relatively few travel bloggers develop their own products. The majority tend to monetize through sponsored content and paid trips. While these avenues can be appealing, they can also be demanding, requiring constant work and potentially leading to burnout. It’s a challenging cycle to sustain long-term.
Products, on the other hand, offer the potential to create something once and generate revenue while you’re sleeping, exploring a new city, or relaxing on a beach! They give you greater control over your income and provide your readers with a tangible way to support your work and gain valuable resources in return.
Trust me, many of your readers are likely willing to support you financially. You simply need to provide them with the opportunity to do so through valuable products.
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Alt text: A travel blogger designing a digital product on a tablet, highlighting the importance of product creation for revenue diversification and audience engagement.
6. Go Beyond Press Trips and Sponsored Content for Authenticity
Why do guidebooks still hold value in the digital age? Because readers seek independent, unbiased opinions on destinations. If your content is overwhelmingly sponsored, you’ll likely hit a ceiling in audience growth.
While some followers may appreciate your adventures regardless of sponsorship, a larger segment will perceive a disconnect and seek information elsewhere. They might feel that your experiences are less relatable to their own travel aspirations.
Consumers desire relatable and independent travel content because they want to believe that they can also achieve similar experiences. In fashion blogging, showcasing sponsored makeup is different. A reader can see it and think, “Yes, I can buy that too! Off to the store I go!”
However, when you highlight a free, multi-thousand-dollar trip to the Maldives, many people won’t think, “That’s realistic for me! I’m booking that trip now!”
Consider your own reaction when you see someone enjoying a lavish $10,000 holiday. Do you think, “Wow, that’s beautiful!” or “Wow, I can do that too! I’m going to book it!”?
Sponsored trips and one-off brand collaborations can help you travel and provide visually appealing content, but they often fall short in building the expertise and relatable experiences that foster long-term audience loyalty. These are the elements that keep readers returning for practical advice and product recommendations.
I’ve yet to see a purely travel blog achieve massive success solely through sponsored trips (though some fashion/travel hybrid blogs have reached enormous scale). Many of the most successful bloggers across various niches avoid excessive one-off partnerships and sponsored content because it can dilute their authenticity. (Conversely, long-term partnerships can be beneficial, offering value and exclusive deals to your audience.)
Limit reliance on short-term, sponsored trips. Focus on relatable experiences, build genuine expertise, and cultivate a larger, more engaged audience.
(And when you diversify your income by creating products, the financial pressure to accept every sponsored trip diminishes! It’s a win-win situation!)
7. Expand Your Network Beyond the Travel Industry
Networking with fellow travel bloggers is valuable for industry visibility (which is beneficial). However, venturing outside the travel bubble can position you as the go-to travel expert for a wider audience.
This broader networking strategy can yield greater rewards than solely attending travel industry events. While industry events are important (and neglecting them would be unwise!), don’t limit your networking to just these circles.
Identify areas where your travel expertise intersects with other industries and connect with successful leaders in those fields. You can become the travel authority for individuals and platforms that might otherwise lack travel-specific knowledge. This approach has enabled me to connect with experts in finance, entrepreneurship, and technology. Consider attending conferences and events outside of the travel industry to broaden your network and opportunities.
8. Shift the Focus: It’s Not Just About You
While blogging inherently involves using “I” more frequently than traditional journalism, it doesn’t mean your blog should solely revolve around you. If your blog is intended as a personal journal or a travel diary for your own recollection, then write about whatever you wish. But if your goal is to build a professional blog that generates sustainable income, remember that the focus should extend beyond your personal experiences.
Ultimately, your blog is – and always should be – about serving your audience.
Whether you’re providing practical travel advice, sharing captivating stories, or offering entertainment, remember that your primary role is to be of service to your readers.
When you do write about yourself, do so sparingly and connect it to broader travel themes. Avoid mundane details like your new shoes, every meal you ate, or trivial daily thoughts. Few readers are truly interested in these details. Successful writers connect with their audience on an emotional level, tell compelling stories, and allow readers to envision themselves in the places they describe.
Too many travel blogs function as glorified personal diaries. The most successful ones, however, prioritize telling stories about places and enhancing their readers’ travel experiences.
9. Cultivate Unwavering Persistence
Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your travel blog be. Maintain realistic expectations about the timeline for blog growth. Anticipate hard work and dedication, especially in the initial years. Avoid rushing the process. Focus on building a sustainable foundation that will last. Success is often just around the corner, but many aspiring bloggers give up prematurely, right before they might see significant progress.
Looking back at my early blog posts from 2008, they are, frankly, terrible. The difference between the content I produced then and now is significant. Being a beginner and not immediately producing high-quality work is a natural part of the journey. You won’t be an expert right from the start.
Many bloggers, expecting instant fame and rapid success, become discouraged and give up. I frequently encounter individuals who request refunds for my blogging courses, citing lack of time and postponing their blogging aspirations indefinitely.
They rarely return.
This pattern is common. The primary reason most bloggers fail isn’t due to poor content quality; it’s due to a lack of persistence. They aren’t willing to invest the sustained effort required for success. Often, simply outlasting others is a significant component of achieving your goals.
Be patient. Dedicate consistent time and effort. And you will eventually reach your objectives as a travel blogger.
***If you’re considering starting a travel blog, understand that it’s a time-intensive endeavor. Writing about your trip to Paris is only a small piece of the puzzle. Successful blogs prioritize valuable content and are reader-centric. Reaching a small or mid-tier level of success is achievable relatively quickly, but to truly stand out and thrive, focus on reader-centric content, niching down, creating products, and adhering to best practices.
By implementing these nine travel blogging tips, I’m confident you can achieve success in the travel blogging industry. These principles have guided my journey for over a decade and continue to be my guiding compass.
The Business of Blogging Masterclass
If you’re seeking more in-depth guidance and insights into building a successful travel blog, explore my online masterclass. It’s the comprehensive course I wish existed when I was starting out.
This masterclass will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to:
- Launch and manage your website effectively
- Develop a robust content strategy
- Build a strong brand identity
- Master the technical aspects of blogging
- Expand your professional network
- Achieve high search engine rankings through effective SEO
- Excel on social media platforms
- Grow your email subscriber list
- Monetize your blog effectively
- And much more!
If this sounds like the support you need on your travel blogging journey, you can find more details at superstarblogging.com!
Book Your Trip: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight Find affordable flights using Skyscanner. It’s my preferred search engine because it compares fares from numerous websites and airlines globally, ensuring you’ve explored all options.
Book Your Accommodation For hostels, Hostelworld is a great resource. If you prefer alternatives to hostels, Booking.com consistently offers competitive rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance is essential protection against unexpected illness, injuries, theft, and trip cancellations. It provides peace of mind in case unforeseen events occur. I never travel without it, having needed it on several occasions. My top recommendations for reliable and valuable travel insurance are:
Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards can help you accumulate points redeemable for free flights and accommodations – without additional spending. Explore my guide to selecting the right travel credit card and my current top picks to get started and discover the latest best offers.
Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental platform. Regardless of your destination, they can help you find the best and most affordable rental options.
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a vast online marketplace where you can discover unique walking tours, exciting excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and much more.
Ready to Book Your Trip? Visit my resource page for a comprehensive list of recommended travel companies. These are the companies I personally use when I travel, and they represent the best in the industry. You can confidently rely on them for your travel needs.
