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 strategy 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 strategy 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 the moment, 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 easy 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 revenue streams?
- Is there nonetheless room for brand new journey bloggers to reach such a aggressive area of interest?
- Do it is advisable to journey often to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the street continually?
- What instruments and tools are necessary for working a profitable journey weblog? Do rookies want to speculate quite a bit 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 easy methods to begin your personal journey weblog, this interview with Jessie is for you. She’ll break down her journey and share recommendations on every thing from affiliate marketing online 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 gives 100+ programs and workshops, and a supportive group 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 for those who use my affiliate hyperlink, you possibly can be part of proper now. You may also 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’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+ every year as a journey blogger, and how one can get began too.
How I Make Cash With A Journey Weblog Enterprise
Really helpful 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 assets on-line for solo vacationers, and after going by the difficult means of planning a 3-month solo backpacking journey by Europe, I wished to assist others extra simply plan their very own solo journeys.
Moreover, I wished to create a enterprise that might permit 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 capable of start incomes a gradual revenue from it, and immediately 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 Picture Journeys (my picture 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 capable of 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 beneath in query #5.
I additionally attempt to diversify my visitors and income streams as a lot as attainable 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 attainable, corresponding to by creating gross sales funnels to promote my digital merchandise.
3. Why did you resolve 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 might permit me to earn a dwelling from anyplace in order that I might 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 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 being profitable 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 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 targets I’m keen about and initiatives I’m enthusiastic about. Moreover, I can work from anyplace on the earth—or select to take day without work, as a result of I’m the one approving trip time. 😉
With journey particularly, you possibly can select to monetize your journeys, corresponding to by writing weblog posts that comprise advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks or working with sponsors.
Don’t get me fallacious, working any kind 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 just’ve traveled to due to your journey weblog?
My favourite place is normally wherever I’ve simply been! 🙂 Lately, I visited Kyrgyzstan and Tanzania—each of which have been completely unbelievable.
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 revenue 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 considering that writing in itself will ultimately result in revenue.
Sure, your content material can—and may—be worthwhile; however, to actually earn a dwelling 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, among the most important revenue streams for journey bloggers embody:
- Online marketing
- Working advertisements (for 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 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 rookies want to speculate quite a bit to get began?
At first, I’d advocate investing in good internet hosting with security measures and constant uptime, a light-weight theme with assist, and a premium key phrase analysis device in an effort to optimize your web site for Search Engine Optimization (search engine marketing).
As you develop, you could 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; nonetheless, 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 positively need an electronic mail advertising and marketing platform, like Mailerlite or ConvertKit, which generally provide 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 (one in all my most important merchandise) prepared for the next month
- Creating content material and doing outreach to land collaborations and sponsorships
- Creating and scheduling any content material obligatory for my subsequent upcoming development challenge
- I select one “development challenge” per thirty days that’s meant to assist me develop my visitors and/or revenue—corresponding 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, one in all my merchandise is my NYC picture 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 seems to be like a fairly typical workday, although I can take a break day if I would like, transfer issues round, and work from anyplace.
As a journey blogger I additionally journey quite a bit, so some weeks I’m on the street. As an illustration, 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, photographs, and video clips to make use of in future journey content material I’ll create as soon as I’m again residence.
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 manner.
As soon as you recognize 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 marketing 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 listing, as I believe that is extra necessary than ever. This fashion, you possibly can flip one-time readers into devoted group members and seize that visitors on an inventory 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 ideas for rookies?
Don’t overthink pitching. Go into as for those who’re having a dialog and sharing an concept for a mutually helpful partnership (vs asking the model to offer you one thing).
Earlier than you do that, attempt to pinpoint what you deliver to the desk. Perhaps it’s affect, a particular viewers, a artistic content material creation type, or one thing else.
You possibly can watch a current YouTube video I shared for an precise pitch template that I’m 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 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 most important subjects—usually known as “content material pillars” —that you just’ll create content material round. This may provide help 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 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 possibly can 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 marketing is necessary, I like to recommend implementing a number of different visitors methods—like Pinterest, Fb, and Flipboard—and constructing an electronic mail listing to seize your visitors and switch one-time guests into repeat readers.
Your electronic mail listing can assist you develop each your visitors and revenue, as you possibly can 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 should utilize your content material to develop your visitors to develop your revenue.
As an illustration, you possibly can monetize content material straight by affiliate hyperlinks and advertisements. Or, if in case you have your personal product, you possibly can create content material that might entice your splendid consumers and get that product in entrance of them.
13. Do it is advisable to journey often to take care of a profitable journey weblog, or are you able to weblog about journey with out being on the street continually?
It depends upon your particular area of interest. As an illustration, for those who run a weblog about Paris journey and you reside in Paris, you gained’t must journey in any respect.
Nevertheless, for those who cowl many locations you’ll need to be sure to’re both touring frequently otherwise you contract or rent writers who can assist 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 fascinated with their weblog as a enterprise.
Many bloggers merely suppose they’ll optimize their content material for key phrases, develop their visitors, and monetize with advertisements and affiliate hyperlinks.
To actually construct one thing sustainable and long-lasting, I like to recommend fascinated with your weblog as an precise enterprise—together with having your personal merchandise/providers—and your content material as a device for rising the enterprise.
15. What are the challenges of working a journey weblog, and the way do you overcome them?
One of many largest challenges for journey bloggers is maintaining with altering algorithms.
As an illustration, within the final 12 months, we’ve seen quite a few massive Google algorithm updates which have utterly 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 way in which their algorithms work.
Due to this, it’s necessary to:
- Sustain with adjustments and be adaptable
- Diversify your visitors and income streams
- Have an electronic mail listing, 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 visitors and revenue by a mixture of schooling, collaboration, and group assist.
When you login, you’ll have instant entry to 100+ programs and workshops. This contains the Core Curriculum, which takes you from setup to wage and teaches you easy methods to get setup for visitors and revenue success.
From there, you should utilize the included Running a blog Technique Roadmap to deliver every thing collectively and create a marketing strategy for your self.
That will help you construct this out, there are further workshops and trainings that educate methods associated to branding your weblog, rising your visitors, rising your electronic mail subscribers, launching and advertising and marketing services, 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 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 present have over 200 members. It’s a very supportive and nurturing group 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 to 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 be taught extra about Journey Weblog Prosperity.
Are you curious about beginning a journey weblog?
Really helpful studying:
