Ah, to travel for a living!
Well, thanks to the internet, it’s not that much of a far-fetched dream.
And there are plenty of ways to do this — whether it’s working as a flight attendant or cruise ship worker, or teaching English as a foreign language. But if you’re a bit of a wordsmith, you can combine your love of the written word with exploring local and international destinations, and become a travel blogger.
Not sure how to get started?
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn all about travel blogging, including what it’s all about, how much you can make, how to develop a marketing strategy, and how to become a successful travel blogger yourself.
What is a travel blogger?
In simple terms, a travel blogger is a type of blogger who specifically blogs about travel.
They visit local or international destinations, write about their travel experiences, and publish them onto their blog. They may do this either as a hobby or side gig, or as a full-time job.
Travel bloggers are not to be confused with travel writers, who generally pitch and contribute their stories to digital and print publications. That said, travel bloggers may on occasion guest post for other websites.
What are the different types of travel bloggers?
“Travel blogger” can often be a broad term in itself, with many choosing to niche down into a specific subject area, including — but definitely not limited to:
- Adventure travel (which encompasses thrilling experiences like hiking, safaris or extreme sports)
- Budget travel (which involves cost-conscious planning, focusing on affordable accommodations, transportation and activities)
- Business travel (which caters to professionals on work-related trips)
- Dark tourism (which focuses on showcasing places associated with death and tragedy)
- Family travel (which generally centers around vacations or trips with children)
- Food travel (which focuses on local cuisine and the best restaurants to taste said cuisine)
- LGBTQ+ travel (which refers to trips that cater to the LGBTQ+ community)
- Luxury travel (think: Michelin-star restaurants, fancy hotels and VIP experiences)
What do travel bloggers do?
The day to day of a travel blogger varies according to their chosen niche and whether they do it as a hobby or a full-time job, among other factors. That said, their main duties and responsibilities generally include:
- Traveling to local or international destinations
- Exploring new places and experiencing new things
- Writing high-quality content and reviewing establishments like hotels, restaurants and attractions
- Creating captivating photos and, sometimes, compelling videos to accompany blog posts
- Managing partnerships with brands, tourism boards and collaborators
- Exploring opportunities for monetization through sponsorships, affiliate marketing and other avenues
What is their workplace like?
Most travel bloggers don’t have a permanent workplace of sorts. While they might have a home office, where they write blog posts, edit photos and manage the business side of things, they’ll often do this on the road too — whether it’s in a hotel room, in an airport lounge, or on a flight back home.
Because their job requires them to be (almost) constantly traveling, travel bloggers face risks and occupational hazards not generally experienced by other professionals. Indeed, while they may experience eye strain, carpal tunnel syndrome and similar conditions as, say, office workers do, they’re also faced with all the risks associated with traveling.
These include local crime and pickpockets, flight delays and cancelations, transportation strikes, loss or theft of luggage, and slips and falls (such as when hiking). As such, taking out travel insurance becomes necessary — not optional.
How many hours do they work?
Professional travel bloggers don’t tend to have a set working schedule like more “traditional” jobs (think: accountants, construction workers and HR managers).
In between traveling, exploring destinations, writing about their travel experiences and managing the day-to-day operations of a blog, they typically work between 20 and 50 hours a week.
Meanwhile, 10-hour (or longer) workdays aren’t uncommon, particularly when you have tight deadlines to meet or when you’re taking a long-haul flight — because, yes, flying is often part of the job, especially when you’re commissioned to review an airline.
Most travel bloggers will spend a whole day (or week or whatever) traveling and exploring, while keeping notes of their travel experiences, and then dedicate a couple of days afterwards to prepare blog content. Others do it all concurrently. It’s all about finding a balance that works for you.
Is travel blogging a reliable source of income?
It most certainly can be, but there’s one caveat: it all depends on the amount of work you put in, and how much of a household name your blog is. Indeed, the bigger and more popular it becomes, the more the money is in it for you.
Generally speaking, travel bloggers make money mainly through native advertising, affiliate marketing and sponsored content, and can potentially earn between $1,000 and $3,000 a month (after expenses, like flights and accommodation) — again, provided that they put in the necessary work.
Established bloggers who have made a name for themselves, meanwhile, can bring in a lot more than that. For example, Matt Kepnes, who launched his blog Nomadic Matt in 2008, earns a staggering $50,000+ a month — that’s over $600,000 a year!
What is the job outlook for travel bloggers?
Considering that, globally, there are some 30 million travel blogs on the internet, travel blogging is a highly competitive field that can be difficult to not only break into but also thrive in.
Still, demand for travel blogs is at an all-time high. Because of the increasing blog readership every year, and with over 80% of people using the internet for travel planning specifically, embarking on a travel blogging journey is a fantastic venture.
Your success, however, will ultimately depend on a variety of factors, including your niche (and demand for the topics you write about), the quality and usefulness of your content, and audience engagement. Meanwhile, adapting to industry trends and building a unique brand can enhance prospects.
What do you need to become a travel blogger?
A deep-rooted passion for travel is the first thing you’ll need to become a travel blogger, as well as the time and the financial ability to explore new destinations. But there’s more to this career than that, which we’ll explore below.
Education
Although there are no strict entry requirements for a career in travel blogging, and you don’t need any formal education to start blogging today, some travel bloggers hold a degree in a related subject like English, journalism, communications or tourism.
Skills and knowledge
Despite not needing a degree to get started, you will need to possess a particular skill set and the technical know-how of creating web content to successfully run your own travel blog, including:
- Writing and storytelling skills
- Self-editing skills (unless you choose to outsource this)
- SEO proficiency
- Photography and/or videography skills
- CMS software proficiency
- Social media and digital marketing skills
- Advertising and client management skills
You can learn all this on your own with practice, online resources and (a lot of) trial and error, but it’s worth taking an online course or two so you can really get a handle on everything. (You can find free online courses, too!)
Tools and equipment
While it’s true that you only need a good computer (or laptop) and a decent internet connection to start blogging, you’ll also need to invest in the right equipment, especially as your blog grows. This includes a decent camera, tripod, power bank and portable lighting.
Would you make a good travel blogger?
Before deciding on becoming a full-time, professional travel blogger (or choosing any career, for that matter), it’s essential that you take the time to really think about whether you can see yourself doing it for a living and how it fits into your current (or ideal) lifestyle.
Indeed, though making a living while you travel the world and blog about your experiences might sound like the dream job, your personality, values, strengths and long-term goals will play a big role in informing whether you’ve got what it takes to run a successful travel blog.
This is where taking a career test, like CareerHunter, can be immensely useful, as it will guide you into the direction of the careers that are right for you — be that a travel blogger or something else entirely. (Who knows? You might make a better astronaut or chef than a travel blogger!)
How to become a travel blogger
Ready to start a travel blog? We’ll walk you through the process — step by step.
Step 1: Choose your niche
First things first, you need to decide what exactly you want to blog about — specifically: your niche.
There’s no shortage of niches in the world of travel blogging to choose from, but it should be something that you know and love, and that plays to your strengths.
The more unique your niche, the better — but there is such a thing as going “too niche”. Although a travel blog devoted to cat cafés and shelters around the world will certainly intrigue ailurophiles, for example, you’ll likely limit yourself to a very small audience.
Whatever niche you choose, though, it’s important to stick to it. Indeed, changing your niche halfway through building a following — or, worse, once you’ve established an audience — will only backfire, and you’ll have to start from scratch again.
Step 2: Do your prep
Once you’ve chosen your niche (and determined there’s interest for it), it’s time to start planning your content strategy.
This begins by identifying your goals. What do you hope to achieve within the first 30 days, 6 months, and year of launching your blog? (It might be helpful to structure your goals with the SMART methodology — SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.)
Then, get to know your target audience. Who are they? What are their demographics, psychographics and shared characteristics? What are their interests, values and needs? And, most importantly, how will your blog fit into their lives?
Finally, research your competitors. Visit their blogs, read their posts and get an understanding of what they’re doing. This will then enable you to figure out how you can do it bigger and better.
Step 3: Set up your blog
Now it’s time to actually start setting up your blog.
You can do this with a website builder like GoDaddy, Wix or WordPress.com, which offer a selection of premade templates that you can customize to your needs. You can also upload third-party templates from theme foundries like ThemeForest and Creative Market to your blog, but you’ll typically need to purchase a premium plan for this on your chosen website builder.
Alternatively, you can design your own blog from scratch (if you have the web design skills and knowledge for this), or hire a professional designer to do it for you.
At this stage, you should also start thinking about what you’re going to call your travel blog. This should be short, unique and memorable — and available as a domain name to bring it all together.
Next, begin planning the structure of your blog, specifically its categories (4–6 is a good number to aim for, as it gives you enough breadth without being too overwhelming to manage) and its pages (at the very least, you’ll need an about, a contact and an advertise page).
Step 4: Produce valuable content
In the realm of travel blogging, crafting valuable content stands as a crucial step in establishing a successful platform.
To resonate with your audience, focus on quality over quantity. Do your research, and share personal experiences, captivating anecdotes and practical tips that engage readers on a deeper level. Likewise, diversify your content to cater to varying interests within your chosen niche, be it cultural insights, budget-friendly guides or off-the-beaten-path explorations.
It’s also a good idea to incorporate multimedia elements into your blog posts, such as stunning visuals or immersive videos, to enhance the overall storytelling experience.
Step 5: Engage with your audience
Building a thriving travel blog extends way beyond creating compelling content — indeed, active engagement with your audience is paramount for becoming a successful travel blogger.
There are many ways you can do this, including:
- Fostering a sense of community by responding promptly to comments and messages.
- Encouraging readers to share their own experiences or ask questions, creating a dialogue that transforms your blog into a two-way conversation.
- Using social media platforms to extend your reach and connect with a broader audience.
- Posing thought-provoking questions, conducting polls, and sharing behind-the-scenes glimpses into your travel experience
- Implementing interactive features such as quizzes or challenges, enticing your audience to participate actively.
- Hosting live Q&A sessions, providing real-time interaction and strengthening the bond with your readership.
How to promote your blog
If you really want to make it big, you’re going to have to do a lot more than just publish a few blog posts every week. Indeed, as driving organic web traffic will be challenging especially during the first few months, you’ll need to actively promote your blog to get the word out. Here’s how:
1. Promote on social media
Sharing your blog posts on social media is a great way to attract readers. You can do this through your own personal profiles, but it’s a good idea to set up dedicated social media accounts for your blog, particularly on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
But sharing your content is only part of the job. Social media isn’t just about broadcasting, but also interacting. When you share a post, make sure to engage with your audience, regularly checking and responding to comments and messages.
It’s also a good idea to share links to blog posts or articles that others have written, as this can help you make new connections and, ultimately, get you noticed. Just make sure that you share content that interests you and that your audience will find useful — don’t just share an article for the sake of it.
2. Take part in guest posting
Another great way to promote your blog, especially in the early stages when you’re building your brand and following, is to write for other travel blogs and digital publications. This will help you get your name out there and generate traffic back to your blog.
Most travel-related sites and magazines accept guest posts, and some will even pay you for your contributions. Make sure to do some research (including reviewing the publication’s requirements, and reading other guest posts to get an understanding of the publication’s voice and style), and come up with a topic idea or two before sending your pitch, though.
3. Invest in paid promotion
If you have the budget to invest in paid promotion (even $50 or $100 a month), do it! It’s one of the best ways to get your blog in front of (more and more) people.
For example, you can start promoting your blog on search engines through advertising platforms like Google Ads. Alternatively, you can invest in social media advertising (particularly on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter), or seek out endorsements from influencers. Ideally, though, you shouldn’t rely on just one technique; instead, consider mix-and-matching different paid promotion channels for maximum results.
How to monetize your blog
Once you’ve got your blog up and running, it’s time to start thinking about how you can make money off it (although it is a good idea to start thinking about this as early as the development process).
Below, we’ll explore some ideas you can incorporate into your monetization strategy.
1. Sell ad space
The first thing you might want to consider is selling ad space (an area on a webpage where banner advertisements can be placed) on your blog.
The easiest option is to join an ad network (like Google Adsense, Ezoic or Mediavine), which arranges placement of third-party ads on your site for a commission, typically between 10% and 30%.
The other option is to take a DIY approach and sell ad space directly to advertisers. As there’s no middleman, you’ll get to set your own rate and retain 100% of the advertising revenue, while you’ll also maintain complete control over who advertises on your blog.
2. Offer sponsored content
Alongside the editorial pieces that you publish on your blog, you can also partner with brands and companies to create content promoting their venues, events, products or services — also known as sponsored content.
You can make anywhere between $75 and $250 per sponsored post when you’re starting out, but you can charge as much as $1,000–$5,000 (or more) once you’ve established a strong following and a high web traffic volume.
Meanwhile, you could also secure paid press trips with airlines, hotels and tourism boards (basically all-expenses-paid trips in exchange for promoting their destination or service), in addition to offering sponsored content opportunities.
3. Join an affiliate marketing program
One of the best, and most effective, ways to monetize your blog is through affiliate marketing, where you basically earn commissions for promoting a third party’s products or services in articles and landing pages.
When it comes to travel-related affiliate programs, you’re truly spoiled for choice: from Booking.com to Tripadvisor and Expedia to Qatar Airways, you’ll have plenty of ways to make money from affiliate links or banners. You can even join more general affiliate programs (like those offered by Amazon or GoPro, for example) to market products that are relevant to your target audience.
Most affiliate programs are relatively easy to join, and you don’t really need a boat-load of existing traffic to get started, either!
4. Sell products and services
Another great monetization strategy is to create physical or digital (or both!) products and services to sell through your blog. And there are tons of ways to go about this, including:
- Setting up an online store with branded merchandise like T-shirts, hats and tote bags
- Planning personalized itineraries for customers based on their interests and budget
- Offering guided tours in your area
- Organizing and hosting trips
- Creating digital checklists, planners and itinerary templates
- Writing an eBook sharing your knowledge and travel experiences
- Creating an online course on how to become a travel blogger, drawing on your own personal experiences
- Licensing photographs, prints and videos to third-party publications
The possibilities are truly endless!
5. Offer memberships and subscriptions
Once you’ve established your blog as a household name, you could launch a paid members-only area or subscription service, where you offer readers exclusive content and resources. You could also disable ads for members or subscribers, ensuring a more seamless and distraction-free reading experience.
Alternatively, you can implement a paywall that allows users to read a certain number of articles before being blocked from more content, an increasingly common monetization strategy for large digital publications and online newspapers and magazines.
When doing this, you’ll want to keep it affordable for your readers — very few will be willing to pay $100 for a monthly subscription! Consider how much time it takes to create your content, research what competitors are charging, and choose a pricing structure based on all this.
The dos and don’ts of travel blogging
Whether you’re travel blogging as a hobby or a full-time job, you’ll want to keep these pointers in mind:
Do…
- …Have some starting capital. You can expect to spend anywhere between $50 and $200 just to set up your blog. Then, you’re also going to need some money to book your first couple of trips.
- …Publish consistently. Maintaining a regular and consistent blog schedule is essential to build a loyal following and rank highly on search engines. You should aim to publish 2–4 articles a week — but even once a week is okay if you’re blogging as a hobby.
- …Have a purpose. There are many good reasons to start a travel blog — that have nothing to do with money. If that is your only goal, your blog will likely fail. Really think about why you want to start a travel blog, and let that guide your efforts.
Don’t…
- …Forget travel insurance. A lot can go wrong when you’re traveling for leisure, but when you’re doing it as a full-time job, a lot more can go wrong — and more often. Travel insurance will give you some peace of mind.
- …Don’t regurgitate what you find on other blogs. Go beyond the facts, be original, and offer readers your own insights while putting a unique spin on things. Only this way will you build your credibility in the field — and take your blog to new heights.
- …Give up: You likely won’t become an overnight success, so don’t get disheartened if your first blog post doesn’t hit a million views (or even one view, for that matter). Keep pushing through, learn from your mistakes, and adapt, improvise and conquer.
Final thoughts
There’s a lot to consider when starting a travel blog. It might be a little overwhelming at first, but with a little planning and dedication, you’ll be off to a good start.
Just remember the following points:
- Choose a niche that interests you, that you’re passionate about and that resonates with your target audience.
- Identify your goals, and take inspiration from competitors on what you could do — and do it better than them.
- Create content that informs and engages your audience, going beyond just the facts. Make sure it’s shareable, too.
- Actively promote your blog on social media and through guest posts on third-party sites.
- Explore monetization opportunities like native advertising, sponsorships and affiliate marketing.
Are you thinking about starting a travel blog? Got any questions or want to share your own tips and experiences? Let us know in the comments section below!