Do you need to learn to flip your ardour for journey right into a six-figure enterprise? Journey running a blog is an thrilling and versatile method to earn cash whereas exploring the world. You get to share your experiences, encourage others, and create a enterprise that matches your way of life. However how do you go from simply writing…
Do you need to learn to flip your ardour for journey right into a six-figure enterprise?
Journey running a blog is an thrilling and versatile method to earn cash whereas exploring the world. You get to share your experiences, encourage others, and create a enterprise that matches your way of life. However how do you go from simply writing about your journeys to truly making $100,000+ per 12 months?
At this time, I’m excited to share the story of Jessie Festa, a profitable journey blogger who began her weblog, Jessie on a Journey, with the objective of serving to vacationers. Jessie went from incomes nothing to constructing a six-figure journey running a blog enterprise.
On this interview, I ask Jessie questions on learn how to begin a journey running a blog enterprise, like:
- How a lot cash can a journey blogger realistically earn, and what are the principle earnings streams?
- Is there nonetheless room for brand spanking new journey bloggers to reach such a aggressive area of interest?
- Do you should journey steadily to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the highway continually?
- What instruments and tools are necessary for working a profitable journey weblog? Do learners want to take a position rather a lot to get began?
Plus extra!
Should you’ve ever puzzled how a lot cash journey bloggers actually make, how they receives a commission to journey, or learn how to begin your individual journey weblog, this interview with Jessie is for you. She’ll break down her journey and share recommendations on all the things from online marketing to working with manufacturers and tourism boards.
And, in the event you’re prepared to show your love for journey right into a thriving enterprise, Travel Blog Prosperity is the perfect resource for you. Created by Jessie, this membership gives 100+ programs and workshops, and a supportive neighborhood that can assist you develop your weblog right into a worthwhile enterprise. Whether or not you’re a newbie or seeking to scale, Journey Weblog Prosperity offers the instruments and methods to make it occur.
Technically, the doorways are closed, however in the event you use my affiliate hyperlink, you may be a part of proper now. You can even use coupon code “MAKINGSENSE9” to get your first month for simply $9. After that, it’s $49 per thirty days to remain a member, and you may cancel at any time – even earlier than your trial month is over.
Please click here to learn more about Travel Blog Prosperity.
Let’s dive into how Jessie makes $100,000+ every year as a journey blogger, and how one can get began too.
How I Make Cash With A Journey Weblog Enterprise
Advisable studying: How To Start a Travel Blog and Make Money
1) Inform me your story. Who’re you, and what impressed you to begin your journey weblog?
Hello, my identify is Jessie Festa, a journey blogger, photographer, and weblog coach from New York.
I began my first journey weblog, Jessie on a Journey, in 2011. On the time, there weren’t many sources on-line for solo vacationers, and after going via the difficult technique of planning a 3-month solo backpacking journey via Europe, I wished to assist others extra simply plan their very own solo journeys.
Moreover, I wished to create a enterprise that might enable me to proceed touring.
I graduated with my BA/MA in Communication throughout a recession, so jobs have been scarce. Whereas it was a scary and unsure time, it additionally gave me the area to pursue journey running a blog and see the place it may lead me.
Inside a few 12 months I used to be in a position to start incomes a gentle earnings from it, and in the present day it’s my full-time job. Together with Jessie on a Journey, I personal the web sites Epicure & Culture (sustainable tourism and tradition weblog) and NYC Photo Journeys (my photograph expertise website that will get most of its reserving via the weblog).
2. How a lot cash do you make as a journey blogger?
I’m proud to say I’ve been in a position to create a 6-figure enterprise for myself via running a blog—which I attribute primarily to treating it like a enterprise, which I share extra about beneath in query #5.
I additionally attempt to diversify my site visitors and income streams as a lot as attainable to assist defend my enterprise.
Moreover, I monitor what’s working—and what isn’t—so I can regulate my methods accordingly.
Lastly, I automate and streamline as a lot as attainable, corresponding to by creating gross sales funnels to promote my digital merchandise.
3. Why did you determine to develop into a journey blogger?
Finally, it was my love of journey. I used to be decided to search out—or create—a job that might enable me to earn a residing from wherever in order that I may preserve exploring the world.
Humorous sufficient, I didn’t actually know what running a blog was earlier than I began mine. Once more, this was 2011, and running a blog as a profession wasn’t widespread but. I’d all the time assumed a weblog was simply a web-based journal.
However, I noticed different vacationers—regular individuals who weren’t celebrities—doing it and really earning profits writing about their travels on their web sites. I instructed myself that if they may do it, so may I. So I did!
4. What do you take pleasure in most about working a journey weblog?
The power to be my very own boss, receives a commission to be artistic, and journey the world.
Working a journey weblog means attending to create my very own schedule based mostly on objectives I’m captivated with and tasks I’m enthusiastic about. Moreover, I can work from wherever on this planet—or select to take day without work, as a result of I’m the one approving trip time. 😉
With journey particularly, you may select to monetize your journeys, corresponding to by writing weblog posts that comprise adverts and affiliate hyperlinks or working with sponsors.
Don’t get me improper, working any kind of enterprise, together with a weblog, is tough work; however, there are a variety of perks too.
5. What are a few of your favourite locations that you simply’ve traveled to because of your journey weblog?
My favourite place is often wherever I’ve simply been! 🙂 Just lately, I visited Kyrgyzstan and Tanzania—each of which have been completely unimaginable.
Subsequent week I’ll be heading to Nova Scotia for a partnership, which I’m very enthusiastic about.
6. How a lot cash can a journey blogger realistically earn, and what are the principle earnings streams?
I do know journey bloggers incomes nothing and journey bloggers incomes a number of six figures, so it actually relies upon.
In my view, one of many greatest errors bloggers make is pondering that writing in itself will finally result in earnings.
Sure, your content material can—and will—be worthwhile; however, to essentially earn a residing running a blog you want a revenue plan. It’s important to implement income streams, set objectives, monitor success, and tweak your technique as wanted.
Constructing on this, a few of the predominant earnings streams for journey bloggers embrace:
- Affiliate marketing online
- Working adverts (as an illustration, I’m a Mediavine writer)
- Launching services and products
- Working with manufacturers and tourism boards on paid campaigns and press journeys
- Freelance writing and creating content material for manufacturers (whether or not via UGC collaborations or being a ghost author/creator for his or her channels—the latter of which I’ve discovered pays extra)
7. What instruments and tools are important for working a profitable journey weblog? Do learners want to take a position rather a lot to get began?
To start with, I’d suggest investing in good internet hosting with security measures and constant uptime, a light-weight theme with help, and a premium key phrase analysis software as a way to optimize your web site for Search Engine Optimization (web optimization).
As you develop, it’s possible you’ll spend money on different instruments, as nicely. It simply depends upon your technique.
As an illustration, I personally pay for Later to schedule my Instagram posts and plan my feed; nevertheless, I additionally know many bloggers who use Instagram’s native scheduler or publish in real-time at no cost.
Additionally, many important instruments are free to begin. As an illustration, you’ll undoubtedly need an electronic mail advertising and marketing platform, like Mailerlite or ConvertKit, which usually supply free plans to get began.
8. What does your typical work schedule appear to be as a journey blogger? What number of hours every week do you dedicate to sustaining your weblog?
I like to interrupt up my month into 4 weekly “sprints”. These embrace:
- Getting the content material and occasion schedule for my Journey Weblog Prosperity membership (one among my predominant merchandise) prepared for the next month
- Creating content material and doing outreach to land collaborations and sponsorships
- Creating and scheduling any content material vital for my subsequent upcoming progress undertaking
- I select one “progress undertaking” per thirty days that’s meant to assist me develop my site visitors and/or earnings—corresponding to launching a brand new digital product, co-hosting a webinar with an affiliate, participating in a bundle or summit, or implementing a brand new site visitors technique
- Overflow week
Moreover, one among my merchandise is my NYC photograph excursions and shoots, which I launched after having so many readers asking me to indicate them round New York. This implies there are days once I’m in individual with these shoppers.
After I’m engaged on the above, my day seems like a reasonably typical workday, although I can take a break day if I would like, transfer issues round, and work from wherever.
As a journey blogger I additionally journey rather a lot, so some weeks I’m on the highway. As an illustration, I simply bought again from spending two weeks touring round Tanzania.
Whereas touring, I’m not likely on my laptop computer; nevertheless, I’m taking notes, photographs, and video clips to make use of in future journey content material I’ll create as soon as I’m again dwelling.
9. Is there nonetheless room for brand spanking new journey bloggers to reach such a aggressive area of interest?
Completely, although I’d area of interest down extra than simply “journey”. Actually goal to construct a enterprise that helps a particular viewers and in a particular means.
As soon as you already know who you assist and the way, it’ll be a lot simpler to decide on what subjects to cowl, which associates and types to work with, and which services and products to create—as they may all be an extension of your mission.
10. How has your method to web optimization developed as Google’s algorithms have modified over time?
I’m lucky that I’ve all the time been centered on rising and nurturing an electronic mail record, as I feel that is extra necessary than ever. This manner, you may flip one-time readers into devoted neighborhood members and seize that site visitors on an inventory you personal.
Moreover, I like to recommend diversifying your site visitors sources in addition to excited about your weblog as a enterprise (vs merely writing over-optimized posts to attempt to rank).
11. How do you pitch manufacturers or tourism boards for paid partnerships or press journeys? Any suggestions for learners?
Don’t overthink pitching. Go into as in the event you’re having a dialog and sharing an concept for a mutually useful partnership (vs asking the model to offer you one thing).
Earlier than you do that, attempt to pinpoint what you carry to the desk. Perhaps it’s affect, a particular viewers, a artistic content material creation fashion, or one thing else.
You may watch a latest YouTube video I shared for an precise pitch template that I am going over step-by-step beneath:
12. Are you able to define the steps somebody ought to take to begin a journey weblog and switch it right into a worthwhile enterprise?
I’d suggest new bloggers first pinpoint their mission (ie who you assist and the way).
When you’ve outlined this, break your mission up into 2-3 predominant subjects—typically known as “content material pillars” —that you simply’ll create content material round. This can make it easier to preserve your content material cohesive and construct topical authority. You may even go laborious on one content material pillar to begin to develop faster.
From there, create content material that matches inside your content material pillars. Ideally, you’ll first create your foundational posts—these posts that readers will anticipate to be in your weblog—and then you definately’ll do key phrase analysis to search out low-competition key phrases (ie search queries) you may create content material round and rank for. Under is a useful video I made:
Whereas optimizing your web site and content material for web optimization is necessary, I like to recommend implementing a number of different site visitors methods—like Pinterest, Fb, and Flipboard—and constructing an electronic mail record to seize your site visitors and switch one-time guests into repeat readers.
Your electronic mail record will help you develop each your site visitors and earnings, as you may share your free content material (like weblog posts and YouTube movies) with subscribers in addition to paid merchandise and affiliate hyperlinks (with disclosure).
Which brings me to an necessary piece of the technique: monetization.
As talked about above, it’s necessary to implement and develop income streams. Then, you need to use your content material to develop your site visitors to develop your earnings.
As an illustration, you may monetize content material immediately via affiliate hyperlinks and adverts. Or, if in case you have your individual product, you may create content material that might appeal to your ultimate consumers and get that product in entrance of them.
13. Do you should journey steadily to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the highway continually?
It depends upon your particular area of interest. As an illustration, in the event you run a weblog about Paris journey and you reside in Paris, you gained’t must journey in any respect.
Nevertheless, in the event you cowl many locations you’ll need to be sure you’re both touring usually otherwise you contract or rent writers who will help create content material.
14. What are some widespread errors new journey bloggers make, and the way can they keep away from them?
The most typical mistake new bloggers make is just not excited about their weblog as a enterprise.
Many bloggers merely assume they’ll optimize their content material for key phrases, develop their site visitors, and monetize with adverts and affiliate hyperlinks.
To actually construct one thing sustainable and long-lasting, I like to recommend excited about your weblog as an precise enterprise—together with having your individual merchandise/providers—and your content material as a software for rising the enterprise.
15. What are the challenges of working a journey weblog, and the way do you overcome them?
One of many greatest challenges for journey bloggers is maintaining with altering algorithms.
As an illustration, within the final 12 months, we’ve seen quite a few huge Google algorithm updates which have utterly shifted what exhibits up in Google search outcomes.
Whereas some blogs grew from this, others misplaced some—and even all—of their site visitors. Additionally, some who misplaced site visitors within the first replace bounced again within the third replace.
And it’s not simply Google. Pinterest, Instagram, Fb, and different social media platforms usually change the way in which their algorithms work.
Due to this, it’s necessary to:
- Sustain with modifications and be adaptable
- Diversify your site visitors and income streams
- Have an electronic mail record, which you personal (vs your social media followers, which you don’t)
16. Are you able to inform me about Journey Weblog Prosperity? What number of members do you’ve gotten? How can it assist journey bloggers? Is that this for brand spanking new bloggers?
Travel Blog Prosperity is a web-based membership devoted to serving to journey and way of life bloggers develop their site visitors and earnings via a mixture of schooling, collaboration, and neighborhood help.
When you login, you’ll have speedy entry to 100+ programs and workshops. This consists of the Core Curriculum, which takes you from setup to wage and teaches you learn how to get setup for site visitors and earnings success.
From there, you need to use the included Running a blog Technique Roadmap to carry all the things collectively and create a marketing strategy for your self.
That will help you construct this out, there are further workshops and trainings that train methods associated to branding your weblog, rising your site visitors, growing your electronic mail subscribers, launching and advertising and marketing services and products, rising your affiliate earnings, working with manufacturers and tourism boards, freelance writing, seeing success on social media, scaling with adverts, creating workflows, enhancing productiveness and mindset, and extra.
Plus, there may be at the least one new stay workshop taught each single month—replay included.
Different perks embrace a 15-minute onboarding name that can assist you create an motion plan, month-to-month stay teaching calls and bonus occasions with visitor specialists, weekly paid alternatives despatched to your inbox, over $2k value of included bonuses, and extra.
We at present have over 200 members. It’s a extremely supportive and nurturing neighborhood that might like to welcome you!
Bonus: As a Making Sense of Cents reader, I’ve bought a particular coupon code so that you can strive Journey Weblog Prosperity out for simply $9 in your first month.
➡️ Click on right here and use code “MAKINGSENSE9” at checkout to snag the deal.
Simply notice that the coupon is legitimate for brand spanking new members solely. After your trial month is over it’s $49/month to remain a member and you may cancel at any time—even earlier than your discounted month is over!
You can click here to learn more about Travel Blog Prosperity.
Are you interested by beginning a journey weblog?
Advisable studying:
