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 solution to earn cash whereas exploring the world. You get to share your experiences, encourage others, and create a enterprise that matches your life-style. 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 solution to earn cash whereas exploring the world. You get to share your experiences, encourage others, and create a enterprise that matches your life-style. However how do you go from simply writing about your journeys to really 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 methods 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 new journey bloggers to achieve such a aggressive area of interest?
- Do it’s essential journey ceaselessly to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the highway consistently?
- What instruments and tools are essential for operating a profitable journey weblog? Do rookies want to speculate lots 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 methods to begin your individual journey weblog, this interview with Jessie is for you. She’ll break down her journey and share recommendations on every part from internet affiliate marketing to working with manufacturers and tourism boards.
And, should you’re prepared to show your love for journey right into a thriving enterprise, Journey Weblog Prosperity is the right useful resource for you. Created by Jessie, this membership provides 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 techniques to make it occur.
Technically, the doorways are closed, however should you use my affiliate hyperlink, you’ll be able to be a 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 be taught 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 means of the difficult strategy of planning a 3-month solo backpacking journey by means of Europe, I wished to assist others extra simply plan their very own solo journeys.
Moreover, I wished to create a enterprise that will 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 could lead on me.
Inside a few 12 months I used to be in a position to start incomes a gradual 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 & Tradition (sustainable tourism and tradition weblog) and NYC Photograph Journeys (my picture expertise web site that will get most of its reserving by means of 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 means of 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 site visitors and income streams as a lot as doable to assist shield my enterprise.
Moreover, I monitor what’s working—and what isn’t—so I can alter my methods accordingly.
Lastly, I automate and streamline as a lot as doable, similar to by creating gross sales funnels to promote my digital merchandise.
3. Why did you determine to grow to be a journey blogger?
In the end, it was my love of journey. I used to be decided to seek out—or create—a job that will enable me to earn a residing from anyplace 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 frequent 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 might I. So I did!
4. What do you get pleasure from most about operating a journey weblog?
The power 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 targets I’m enthusiastic about and tasks I’m enthusiastic about. Moreover, I can work from anyplace on this planet—or select to take break day, as a result of I’m the one approving trip time. 😉
With journey particularly, you’ll be able to select to monetize your journeys, similar to by writing weblog posts that comprise advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks or working with sponsors.
Don’t get me fallacious, operating any sort of enterprise, together with a weblog, is tough work; however, there are a number 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 normally 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 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 largest 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 targets, monitor success, and tweak your technique as wanted.
Constructing on this, a few of the essential earnings streams for journey bloggers embody:
- Internet online affiliate marketing
- Operating advertisements (as an example, I’m a Mediavine writer)
- Launching services
- Working with manufacturers and tourism boards on paid campaigns and press journeys
- Freelance writing and creating content material for manufacturers (whether or not by means of 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 lots to get began?
To start with, I’d advocate investing in good internet hosting with security measures and constant uptime, a light-weight theme with help, and a premium key phrase analysis device so to optimize your web site for Search Engine Optimization (search engine optimisation).
As you develop, chances are you’ll spend money on different instruments, as effectively. It simply is dependent upon your technique.
For example, I personally pay for Later to schedule my Instagram posts and plan my feed; nonetheless, I additionally know many bloggers who use Instagram’s native scheduler or publish in real-time without cost.
Additionally, many important instruments are free to begin. For example, you’ll undoubtedly need an e mail advertising and marketing platform, like Mailerlite or ConvertKit, which usually provide free plans to get began.
8. What does your typical work schedule seem like as a journey blogger? What number of hours per 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 essential 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 challenge
- I select one “progress challenge” monthly that’s meant to assist me develop my site visitors and/or earnings—similar 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, certainly one of my merchandise is my NYC picture excursions and shoots, which I launched after having so many readers asking me to indicate them round New York. This implies there are days after I’m in particular person with these purchasers.
Once I’m engaged on the above, my day seems like a fairly typical workday, although I can take a time off if I want, transfer issues round, and work from anyplace.
As a journey blogger I additionally journey lots, so some weeks I’m on the highway. For example, I simply bought again from spending two weeks touring round Tanzania.
Whereas touring, I’m not likely on my laptop computer; nonetheless, I’m taking notes, pictures, and video clips to make use of in future journey content material I’ll create as soon as I’m again house.
9. Is there nonetheless room for brand new journey bloggers to achieve such a aggressive area of interest?
Completely, although I’d area of interest down extra than simply “journey”. Actually purpose to construct a enterprise that helps a particular viewers and in a particular approach.
As soon as 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 to create—as they are going to all be an extension of your mission.
10. How has your strategy to search engine optimisation developed as Google’s algorithms have modified through the years?
I’m lucky that I’ve all the time been targeted on rising and nurturing an e mail record, as I feel that is extra essential than ever. This fashion, you’ll be able to flip one-time readers into devoted neighborhood members and seize that site visitors on a listing you personal.
Moreover, I like to recommend diversifying your site visitors sources in addition to desirous 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 ideas for rookies?
Don’t overthink pitching. Go into as should you’re having a dialog and sharing an concept for a mutually useful partnership (vs asking the model to present you one thing).
Earlier than you do that, attempt to pinpoint what you carry to the desk. Possibly it’s affect, a particular viewers, a inventive content material creation model, or one thing else.
You may watch a current YouTube video I shared for an precise pitch template that I’m 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 advocate 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 essential subjects—typically referred to as “content material pillars” —that you simply’ll create content material round. This may enable you 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 count on to be in your weblog—and you then’ll do key phrase analysis to seek out low-competition key phrases (ie search queries) you’ll be able to create content material round and rank for. Beneath is a useful video I made:
Whereas optimizing your web site and content material for search engine optimisation is essential, I like to recommend implementing just a few different site visitors methods—like Pinterest, Fb, and Flipboard—and constructing an e mail record to seize your site visitors and switch one-time guests into repeat readers.
Your e mail record will help you develop each your site visitors and earnings, as you’ll be able to 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 essential piece of the technique: monetization.
As talked about above, it’s essential to implement and develop income streams. Then, you should utilize your content material to develop your site visitors to develop your earnings.
For example, you’ll be able to monetize content material immediately by means of affiliate hyperlinks and advertisements. Or, if in case you have your individual product, you’ll be able to create content material that will appeal to your very best consumers and get that product in entrance of them.
13. Do it’s essential journey ceaselessly to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the highway consistently?
It is dependent upon your particular area of interest. For example, should you run a weblog about Paris journey and you reside in Paris, you gained’t must journey in any respect.
Nevertheless, should you cowl many locations you’ll need to be sure you’re both touring frequently otherwise you contract or rent writers who will help create content material.
14. What are some frequent errors new journey bloggers make, and the way can they keep away from them?
The most typical mistake new bloggers make isn’t desirous about their weblog as a enterprise.
Many bloggers merely suppose they’ll optimize their content material for key phrases, develop their site visitors, and monetize with advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks.
To actually construct one thing sustainable and long-lasting, I like to recommend desirous about 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 largest challenges for journey bloggers is maintaining with altering algorithms.
For example, within the final 12 months, we’ve seen plenty of large 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 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 frequently change the way in which their algorithms work.
Due to this, it’s essential to:
- Sustain with adjustments and be adaptable
- Diversify your site 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 have got? How can it assist journey bloggers? Is that this for brand new bloggers?
Journey Weblog Prosperity is a web-based membership devoted to serving to journey and life-style bloggers develop their site visitors and earnings by means of a mixture of training, collaboration, and neighborhood help.
When you login, you’ll have fast entry to 100+ programs and workshops. This consists of the Core Curriculum, which takes you from setup to wage and teaches you methods to get setup for site visitors and earnings success.
From there, you should utilize the included Running a blog Technique Roadmap to carry 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 train methods associated to branding your weblog, rising your site visitors, growing your e mail subscribers, launching and advertising and marketing services, rising your affiliate earnings, 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 at the least 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 at the moment have over 200 members. It’s a extremely supportive and nurturing neighborhood that will 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 to your first month.
➡️ Click on right here and use code “MAKINGSENSE9” at checkout to snag the deal.
Simply observe 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 may click on right here to be taught extra about Journey Weblog Prosperity.
Are you curious about beginning a journey weblog?
Beneficial studying:
