Do you wish to learn to flip your ardour for journey right into a six-figure enterprise? Journey running a blog is an thrilling and versatile technique 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 wish to learn to flip your ardour for journey right into a six-figure enterprise?
Journey running a blog is an thrilling and versatile technique 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 really making $100,000+ per yr?
Immediately, I’m excited to share the story of Jessie Festa, a profitable journey blogger who began her weblog, Jessie on a Journey, with the purpose 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 primary revenue streams?
- Is there nonetheless room for brand new journey bloggers to reach such a aggressive area of interest?
- Do you might want to journey continuously to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the street consistently?
- What instruments and tools are vital for operating a profitable journey weblog? Do rookies want to speculate quite a bit to get began?
Plus extra!
When you’ve ever questioned 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 tips about every part from internet affiliate marketing to working with manufacturers and tourism boards.
And, for those who’re prepared to show your love for journey right into a thriving enterprise, Journey Weblog Prosperity is the proper useful resource for you. Created by Jessie, this membership affords 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 gives the instruments and methods to make it occur.
Technically, the doorways are closed, however for those who use my affiliate hyperlink, you may be part of proper now. You may as well use coupon code “MAKINGSENSE9” to get your first month for simply $9. After that, it’s $49 monthly to remain a member, and you’ll cancel at any time – even earlier than your trial month is over.
Please click on right here to study extra about Journey Weblog Prosperity.
Let’s dive into how Jessie makes $100,000+ annually as a journey blogger, and how one can get began too.
How I Make Cash With A Journey Weblog Enterprise
Beneficial studying: How To Begin a Journey Weblog and Make Cash
1) Inform me your story. Who’re you, and what impressed you to begin your journey weblog?
Hello, my title 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 by the difficult strategy of planning a 3-month solo backpacking journey by Europe, I needed to assist others extra simply plan their very own solo journeys.
Moreover, I needed to create a enterprise that may enable me to proceed touring.
I graduated with my BA/MA in Communication throughout a recession, so jobs had 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 yr I used to be in a position to start incomes a gradual revenue from it, and right now it’s my full-time job. Together with Jessie on a Journey, I personal the web sites Epicure & Tradition (sustainable tourism and tradition weblog) and NYC Photograph Journeys (my photograph expertise website that will get most of its reserving by 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 by running a blog—which I attribute primarily to treating it like a enterprise, which I share extra about under in query #5.
I additionally attempt to diversify my visitors and income streams as a lot as potential to assist shield 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 potential, equivalent to by creating gross sales funnels to promote my digital merchandise.
3. Why did you determine to grow to be a journey blogger?
Finally, it was my love of journey. I used to be decided to seek out—or create—a job that may enable me to earn a residing from wherever in order that I might maintain 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 at all times assumed a weblog was simply an internet journal.
However, I noticed different vacationers—regular individuals who weren’t celebrities—doing it and really getting cash writing about their travels on their web sites. I informed myself that if they might do it, so might I. So I did!
4. What do you take pleasure in most about operating a journey weblog?
The flexibility to be my very own boss, receives a commission to be inventive, and journey the world.
Operating a journey weblog means attending to create my very own schedule based mostly on objectives I’m captivated with and initiatives I’m enthusiastic about. Moreover, I can work from wherever on the earth—or select to take day off, as a result of I’m the one approving trip time. 😉
With journey particularly, you may select to monetize your journeys, equivalent to by writing weblog posts that include advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks or working with sponsors.
Don’t get me improper, operating any kind of enterprise, together with a weblog, is tough work; however, there are a whole lot of perks too.
5. What are a few of your favourite locations that you simply’ve traveled to due to your journey weblog?
My favourite place is often wherever I’ve simply been! 🙂 Not too long ago, I visited Kyrgyzstan and Tanzania—each of which had 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 primary revenue streams?
I do know journey bloggers incomes nothing and journey bloggers incomes a number of six figures, so it actually relies upon.
For my part, one of many greatest errors bloggers make is considering that writing in itself will ultimately result in revenue.
Sure, your content material can—and may—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 important revenue streams for journey bloggers embody:
- Online marketing
- Operating advertisements (as an example, 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 by 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 operating a profitable journey weblog? Do rookies want to speculate quite a bit to get began?
To start with, I’d suggest investing in good internet hosting with safety features and constant uptime, a light-weight theme with help, and a premium key phrase analysis device as a way to optimize your web site for Search Engine Optimization (web optimization).
As you develop, you might put money into different instruments, as nicely. It simply is dependent upon your technique.
For example, 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 without spending a dime.
Additionally, many important instruments are free to begin. For example, you’ll positively need an e-mail advertising and marketing platform, like Mailerlite or ConvertKit, which generally supply free plans to get began.
8. What does your typical work schedule appear like 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 embody:
- Getting the content material and occasion schedule for my Journey Weblog Prosperity membership (certainly one of my important merchandise) prepared for the next month
- Creating content material and doing outreach to land collaborations and sponsorships
- Creating and scheduling any content material needed for my subsequent upcoming development challenge
- I select one “development challenge” monthly that’s meant to assist me develop my visitors and/or revenue—equivalent to launching a brand new digital product, co-hosting a webinar with an affiliate, collaborating in a bundle or summit, or implementing a brand new visitors technique
- Overflow week
Moreover, certainly one of my merchandise is my NYC photograph excursions and shoots, which I launched after having so many readers asking me to point out them round New York. This implies there are days once I’m in particular person with these shoppers.
After I’m engaged on the above, my day appears like a reasonably typical workday, although I can take a time off if I would like, transfer issues round, and work from wherever.
As a journey blogger I additionally journey quite a bit, so some weeks I’m on the street. For example, I simply bought again from spending two weeks touring round Tanzania.
Whereas touring, I’m probably not on my laptop computer; nevertheless, I’m taking notes, images, 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 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 recognize who you assist and the way, it’ll be a lot simpler to decide on what matters to cowl, which associates and types to work with, and which services and products to create—as they are going to 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 at all times been targeted on rising and nurturing an e-mail record, as I believe that is extra vital than ever. This fashion, you may flip one-time readers into devoted neighborhood members and seize that visitors on a listing you personal.
Moreover, I like to recommend diversifying your visitors sources in addition to fascinated with 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 rookies?
Don’t overthink pitching. Go into as for those who’re having a dialog and sharing an thought for a mutually helpful partnership (vs asking the model to provide you one thing).
Earlier than you do that, attempt to pinpoint what you convey to the desk. Perhaps it’s affect, a particular viewers, a inventive content material creation fashion, or one thing else.
You possibly can watch a current YouTube video I shared for an precise pitch template that I am going over step-by-step under:
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 important matters—usually referred to as “content material pillars” —that you simply’ll create content material round. This can provide help to maintain your content material cohesive and construct topical authority. You would possibly even go arduous 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 you then’ll do key phrase analysis to seek 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 vital, I like to recommend implementing a number of different visitors methods—like Pinterest, Fb, and Flipboard—and constructing an e-mail record to seize your visitors and switch one-time guests into repeat readers.
Your e-mail record can assist you develop each your visitors and revenue, 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 vital piece of the technique: monetization.
As talked about above, it’s vital to implement and develop income streams. Then, you need to use your content material to develop your visitors to develop your revenue.
For example, you may monetize content material instantly by affiliate hyperlinks and advertisements. Or, when you have your individual product, you may create content material that may entice your splendid consumers and get that product in entrance of them.
13. Do you might want to journey continuously to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the street consistently?
It is dependent upon your particular area of interest. For example, for those who run a weblog about Paris journey and you reside in Paris, you received’t have to journey in any respect.
Nonetheless, for those who cowl many locations you’ll wish to ensure you’re both touring frequently otherwise you contract or rent writers who can assist create content material.
14. What are some widespread errors new journey bloggers make, and the way can they keep away from them?
The commonest mistake new bloggers make isn’t fascinated with their weblog as a enterprise.
Many bloggers merely assume they’ll optimize their content material for key phrases, develop their visitors, and monetize with advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks.
To essentially construct one thing sustainable and long-lasting, I like to recommend fascinated with your weblog as an precise enterprise—together with having your individual merchandise/providers—and your content material as a device for rising the enterprise.
15. What are the challenges of operating a journey weblog, and the way do you overcome them?
One of many greatest challenges for journey bloggers is maintaining with altering algorithms.
For example, within the final yr, we’ve seen a variety of massive Google algorithm updates which have fully shifted what reveals up in Google search outcomes.
Whereas some blogs grew from this, others misplaced some—and even all—of their visitors. Additionally, some who misplaced 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 frequently change the best way their algorithms work.
Due to this, it’s vital to:
- Sustain with adjustments and be adaptable
- Diversify your visitors and income streams
- Have an e-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 will have? How can it assist journey bloggers? Is that this for brand new bloggers?
Journey Weblog Prosperity is an internet membership devoted to serving to journey and way of life bloggers develop their visitors and revenue by a mixture of schooling, collaboration, and neighborhood help.
When you login, you’ll have speedy entry to 100+ programs and workshops. This contains the Core Curriculum, which takes you from setup to wage and teaches you learn how to get setup for visitors and revenue success.
From there, you need to use the included Running a blog Technique Roadmap to convey every part collectively and create a marketing strategy for your self.
That can assist you construct this out, there are further workshops and trainings that educate methods associated to branding your weblog, rising your visitors, growing your e-mail subscribers, launching and advertising and marketing services and products, rising your affiliate revenue, working with manufacturers and tourism boards, freelance writing, seeing success on social media, scaling with advertisements, creating workflows, enhancing productiveness and mindset, and extra.
Plus, there may be no less than one new reside workshop taught each single month—replay included.
Different perks embody a 15-minute onboarding name that can assist you create an motion plan, month-to-month reside teaching calls and bonus occasions with visitor consultants, weekly paid alternatives despatched to your inbox, over $2k price of included bonuses, and extra.
We presently have over 200 members. It’s a very supportive and nurturing neighborhood that may 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 word that the coupon is legitimate for brand new members solely. After your trial month is over it’s $49/month to remain a member and you’ll cancel at any time—even earlier than your discounted month is over!
You possibly can click on right here to study extra about Journey Weblog Prosperity.
Are you curious about beginning a journey weblog?
Beneficial studying:
