Yes, this doesn’t mean it’s a perfect world: the blogging industry at large is shifting — and big-time.

AI is suddenly upon us and changing the game; Google constantly releases a Core Update, and the world feels a little chaotic. (Just turn on the news, and you’ll feel all but despair.)

From my experience as someone who’s been blogging since 2013, and has been a full-time travel blogger since 2020 (yes, that very year), I’ve seen travel bloggers realistically making up to $10,000+ per month from ad revenue and affiliate income alone — depending on traffic, monetization strategy, and niche.

Most beginners earn little to nothing in their first year — that’s normal. You have to put in the elbow grease to get a shiny car!

Established bloggers (1 year+) diversify income beyond affiliates and ads, eventually into digital products, group trips, subscriptions, freelance gigs, and more. It’s all about how you want to build your blogging ecosystem.

How Much Do Travel Bloggers Make? Breakdown of My Travel Blogging Income

Let’s give the ways a travel blogger makes money a closer look:

• Affiliate marketing*
• Display ads*
• Digital products (e.g., maps, itineraries, guides)
• Photography licensing
• Paid brand deals (e.g., social media content, paid blog ads)
• Freelancing/services (e.g., travel writing beyond the blog)
• Group trips, retreats
• Coaching, courses, and more!

*Affiliates and ads are the core of a travel blogger’s PASSIVE income streams, but there are other ways to monetize with a blog and a brand.

There’s no “single paycheck” reality from travel blogging, which can make some risk-averse folks a little uneasy. I get it!

Personally, I have about 7 active income streams linked to my travel blogging business: ads, affiliates, paid partnerships, speaking engagements, private coaching, online course sales, and other digital product sales (e-books, workbooks, etc).

Real Travel Blog Income Estimates

I’ve been in this industry long enough to know there’s no “one size fits all” here.

Income and traffic are EXTREMELY variable and subject to each individual blogger and business. I’ve known bloggers with 50,000 monthly pageviews earning less than $500/month, and bloggers with 10,000 monthly sessions earning $2,000/month.

Traffic and income are not as closely aligned as most people think. However, I’ve pulled and averaged together the students in my Bootstrap Blogging Course, and have come up with the following estimates (ads + affiliates ONLY):

Beginner (0–10K sessions):

• $0–$1,000/month
• Mostly affiliates

Intermediate (10K–50K sessions):

• $1,000–$5,000/month
• Affiliates + ads ramping up

Advanced (50K–100K+ sessions):

• $5,000–$10,000+/month
• Strong affiliates + ads + affiliates
• Digital products + brand deals
• Group trips or other paid engagements

My Personal Blog Income Breakdown

My primary travel blog, with an average of 100,000 monthly pageviews, currently earns around:

• ~$6,500–$8,000/mo in affiliates (40%)
• ~$1,700–$2,500/mo with ads (10–15%)

On top of that, here are my average % splits on annual business income:

• 30% course sales / digital products
• 20% paid brand deals
• 10–15% private coaching + retreats
• 10% additional income from small niche blogs

What Actually Impacts Passive Travel Blog Income

The thing is, you really only need a strong affiliate strategy + ads to earn a full-time income from travel blogging (annual ~$60k+).

But to reach a six-figure blogging business, I’ve found that diversifying into digital products and community has been a game-changer.

If you are more socially inclined, you can engage more in group trips and brand deals. I love the passive nature of just blogging behind my laptop and monetizing from getting very intentional with my affiliate and ad strategy, personally.

This allows me more free time to build out more wealth-building opportunities: speaking at travel blogging conferences, releasing (and updating) my online blogging course, selling digital products (e.g., my Clarity Workbook), starting a podcast, and more.

How Long Does It Take to Make Money From Travel Blogging?

Gosh, this question is always a hot one!

Honestly, if you take one whole year of publishing every day (at least 5x a week), there’s no way you WOULDN’T be able to reach $10,000 months. Easy. But! Publishing every day is actually VERY hard.

Momentum with blogging, for me, builds over time. Especially if you are intentional and stick with it.

Here’s a recap of what to realistically expect — again, based on my experience! This can vary:

• Year 1: Learning + $1k-2k
• Year 2: Traction to $5-7k months
• Year 3+: Scaling to six figures!

If you take your travel blog seriously, you can grow quickly.

Case in point: my Nomad in Japan niche blog grew to $1,000 in affiliate income with <35 posts, 7 of which were the heavier money-makers. You can listen to my podcast episode on my niche travel blog case study here.

How to Increase Your Blog Income Faster

The reality is, there are no shortcuts to growing your travel blog’s income. You just need to put in the work.

1. Write high-intent affiliate posts (e.g., tours, activities, hotel guides, itineraries)
2. Build content clusters (make your case for strong SEO + EEAT)
3. Diversify income, while focusing deeply on one income stream at a time

I try to release as many resources as possible to help you scale your travel blog with purpose and profit: newsletters, podcasts, free trainings, and more! However, if you feel you need more direct guidance + community support, you’ll want to level up with us inside Bootstrap Blogging.

Have any questions about a travel blogger’s income? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!

Let me cut to the chase. This post is meant to be a little mash-up of my thoughts on what it will be like for bloggers this year. Google search results are already inconsistent, causing confusion in my Bootstrap community and the travel blogging community at large.

But what if we all just slow down, just for a second?

I want to disclose that this post is not dipping into strategy, but really (hopefully) into reality — and my insight as a long-time blogger. Feel free to skim, but truthfully, I want you to know this: Focus on what you can create.

That’s all.

My Thoughts on What Blogging Will Be Like This Year

1. Reality Check: Is Blogging Really Changing?

How you blog isn’t changing. At the very least, if you were blogging from a quality and experience perspective, it should not change.

What’s actually happening is that how blogs gain visibility is changing. Read that again, please!

While Google used to be the king of all search engines — aka people’s starting point for finding information — it is no longer. More people rely on AI and social media for finding info these days. So, let’s face it: Google is a business. An enormous one, sure… but “it” is feeling the impact of this worldwide shift in user search behavior, too.

They’re adapting to the AI landscape as well. And social media-style snippet previews. And, of course, why wouldn’t they? They want to grow too and not become irrelevant in our future.

So, I want you to stop thinking that blogging is dead; it’s not. Google/search engines still need to reference resources. Start treating your blog as its own library — hopefully full of valuable resources! Then, yes, Google will be happy to reference you.

In short, create more quality. You can always become a better writer, storyteller, researcher, and photographer. It all pours into a quality blog.

2. Quality + Depth Are the Baseline

That said, quality + depth is the “new” combo to aim for. Search engines want authority. Expertise. Ya know, the good stuff! Readers want depth.

They’re SIIIICK (as I am) of surface-level information that is regurgitated from AI’s arse. Sorry, but it’s true. Give me REAL voice, not an optimized language pattern machine.

I talk so much about quality and depth and strategy inside Bootstrap Blogging that I’m starting to get sick of myself, too. But, hey, that sh*t works.

3. Search Engines Still Score High

Yes, as I just said above — and to make it reallllyyyy clear here — the bloggers who are still prioritizing optimizing posts for ranking in search engines (not just the Googs), are still getting huge readership (ahem, ya girl hit 1 million annual this year, again!).

Remember, y’all, SEO is just the framework in which to put your amazing content. Use headings. Write logically, with a flow and all, make sure to answer the freaking query/search intent, and do internal links wisely to connect your relevant cluster posts! It’s really all you need.

Goal for 2026: Be so helpful in your blog posts that it makes people bookmark that sh*t.

I mean, you CAN still rank 1st in Google…

4. Blogs Are the Heart — Other Platforms Are the Arteries

I love a analogy in reference of blogging, know what I mean?

Essentially, blogging (IF YOU ARE A BLOGGER = IF YOUR MAIN GOAL IS TO GROW/MONETIZE A BLOG) should be at the core of your content creation — where you publish most and spend most of your time. Not social media. (Unless, of course, you want to start an Instagram vs a Blog.)

Social media (Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Threads, Substack) instead serves as outreach. Again, that is IF you’re blog-first. Are you blog-first? I dunno… you tell me…

For me, as a blogger, my blog is:

• Where I publish/create most
• Where monetization makes sense long-term

Therefore, social media content should point to something deeper—my blog—not replace it as my primary source of content creation or income. Otherwise, I would need to post frequently on social media to attract brand deals and generate income. And I don’t want to do that. Make sense?

5. Social/Visual Travel Inspiration Helps, Though

While more people are using social media for travel inspiration, your blog can still act as the ultimate resource, and social media as the shiny bits. The catch-all.

I’m not ignoring the power of social media. In fact, I think it’s an extremely wonderful tool for bloggers to extend their reach beyond Google.

How much you dedicate to it — and your intention behind using it — is up to you!

6. Yep, Email Is Still Underrated

I predict blogging in 2026 is gonna be more about “capturing” your audience. With traffic fluctuations, your blog audience might come, leave, and never come back (hopefully not).

The goal of email is to bring some of your blog audience to your email list. That way, you can re-reach a warmed-up reader with your new resources. Maybe a new ebook, course, or new affiliate guide…

While blogs are generally free to the public, email lets you make exclusive your additional research and insight. Email subscribers want to get to know the blogger behind the blog. So, show up. Storytell. Show off how cool you are! Grow your audience somewhere Musk-y Two Shoes and Meta-Dicks-Around-A-Lot can’t touch.

7. AI Is A Tool (Lol)

I feel like everyone is asking: Should I write my blogs with AI? Well, you can, but it doesn’t mean you should.

Good writers/bloggers don’t, because what would be the point in that? Like, I get it if you need to edit a paragraph. Or repurpose content (that you made). Or identify the name of a train type. Or brainstorm an outline for a blog because you’re stuck.

But the idea of creating a blog (we’re talking about personal blogs based on travel experience, right), with only AI-generated content, just feels absolutely useless to me.

If you have something to say, I hope you use your own voice to tell it. ‘Nuff said.

8. Focus on What You Create

In 2026, I’d love to see everyone stop chasing shortcuts with AI and with garbage, viral content. It’s SO boring. I would much rather read a 30-minute value-packed Substack than watch another trending 30-second reel that is valueless.

Because quality + depth TAKES TIME. Growing a business takes time. Planting a flower and watching it grow takes time. Making a good meal. Takes freaking time!

Focusing on what you create will take time. It will take ugly, messy time. It will take time away from posting every day. Time away from checking your stats or performance.

But I’m glad if it does. Because focusing on what you create SHOULD take you time.

Care about your work. Respect your reader.

9. Reconsider for Yourself What “Success” Looks Like

I recorded a podcast episode not too long ago about Redefining Success as a Blogger, and I think you might want to give it a listen.

I think blogging in 2026 will, essentially, be about:

• Publishing more authoritative, authentic posts
• Slower growth, deeper trust
• Clear expertise and lived insight
• A body of work you’re proud to stand behind (your blog as a whole — extending to your social media)

What do you think? How do you want blogging to look in 2026, or, let me ask, how does it ideally feel for you?

In mid-August, I was also teaching a weekend-long morning workshop on travel blogging at the Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference in California—a smaller, more intimate event that brings together some of the most inspiring travel writers, editors, and creatives I know.

Two very different conferences—one with hundreds of bloggers, YouTubers, and creators buzzing with traffic and income strategies and brand partnerships, the other a panel-style gathering in a bookstore focused on the craft of travel writing and photography. Both left me feeling similarly: reset, reinspired, and re-committed to my creative practice.

These events remind me that the heart of what we do isn’t just about traffic, engagement metrics, chasing the next big trend, algorithm updates, byline, or even income.

At its core, travel writing/photography—and travel blogging—comes down to stories, generosity, connection, and the sharing of those experiences and memories.

Here are a few of the key takeaways I took away from these conferences.

Takeaway #1: Create Stories, Not Just Content

In the blogging industry, “productivity,” output, and engagement metrics often get prioritized over creativity and storytelling.

SEO best practices, TikTok/Instagram trends, and “content calendars” dominate our daily to-dos.

I’m guilty of this myself—going days sending emails, replying to my course students, drafting social posts, or getting sucked into pouring over my analytics and income stats while ignoring the real, impactful work.

And while those things are useful and must be done to keep the business running behind the scenes, they sometimes distance us from the very reason we started creating or writing in the first place: the desire to share our authentic experiences.

As Sally Murphy (@welltoldsally) reminded us in her keynote at TBEX, we need to “be the keeper of stories.”

Storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest traditions, and lately, I keep seeing content online about storytelling as if it were another “trend” to boost growth and engagement.

When we reduce our work to regurgitated guides and keyword-stuffed posts or rehashed social content, we lose sight of the bedrock: damn good stories that inspire us to transform, to act. Shared experiences. Collective memory.

Rephrasing Sally, stories are how we process our experiences and pass them on to others. They’re how we remember (it’s scientifically shown that storytelling improves memory).

And when we choose not to lean into storytelling, we miss the opportunity to truly connect with our readers, to allow them to feel the impact and transformation we ourselves lived from our travels and diverse experiences.

Takeaway #2: Generosity Over Gatekeeping

One thing I always notice at these events is how much of the magic happens in between the “big stuff”: over coffee breaks, booth conversations, and late-night dinners and parties (and TBEX knows how to throw a party!).

At TBEX in Donegal, none of the sessions, parties, or networking moments would have been possible without people being more generous than they were asked to be.

Speakers freely gave advice between meetings. Participants engaged their time generously to help one another and promote local businesses.

Great things are created not because of contracts or transactions, but because of generosity in sharing with each other—ideas, experiences, memories, industry insight, and so on…

The same is true at Book Passage, where writers and editors—people who have been in this craft for literally decades—show up to mentor, encourage, and push the next generation forward, including me!

Even though I teach a morning workshop on travel blogging at Book Passage, it wouldn’t have been possible if I hadn’t first been encouraged and supported by the generosity of others who gently invite me to take up space and share my voice.

These moments remind me: when we give freely, without keeping tabs on how much “free advice” we’re giving, we end up creating something MUCH bigger than ourselves.

Takeaway #3: Relationships Are What Matters, Not Transactions

Over the years, I’ve built brand partnerships that have helped pay my bills and sustain my full-time travel lifestyle. However, I’ve also learned that the most rewarding partnerships are those rooted in relationships and respect, rather than just revenue.

My long-time collaboration with Travelpayouts is one of those.

What began as an affiliate relationship in 2022/2023 has evolved into friendship and mutual support. This week at TBEX cemented that for me when I had the opportunity to meet and spend a lot of time in person with my partnership and account managers.

For many bloggers and creators, the deal, invoice, and payout are top priorities. But not for me.

The best “deals” in this industry aren’t deals at all! They’re relationships and the connections you make and the memories you share.

I believe that in the travel blogging and content creator industry, you can choose to be a “business professional,” focused only on metrics and deliverables, or you can choose to be a human professional—creative, generous, collaborative. I much prefer the latter!

Takeaway #4: Are You Generating Abundance or Scarcity?

Walking into a conference, you can often feel the different energies in the room.

Not to point fingers, but truthfully, some people radiate abundance through confidence in their work, trust in their voice, and openness to opportunities. They’re not afraid to be seen as imperfect. To dance unabashedly, or to gladly be the underdog in the room.

Others, however, sometimes feel like they’re carrying the weight and fear of scarcity—fear of missing out, comparison, or competition.

Rarely, but sometimes, you can feel an “I’m better than thou” attitude due to years in this industry, or metrics being priority markers of success (for them). Those do not impress, however.

I would always, always prefer to be judged not by my success in numbers but by my character. If we engaged in conversation, even small talk, did I give you my full attention?

Was I living in the present, not distracted by worry or anxiousness about my upcoming session? Was I attentive during others’ speeches?

These are questions I tapped into throughout the conference and now, post-conference. Sometimes we can misstep, use a slightly sassy tone of voice, or unintentionally leave an unremarkable impression. It’s okay.

What matters more, to me at least, is that I put my best self forward, and that self is usually more generous, more joyful, more attentive toward others, because some people need that extra bit of you you didn’t think you could give. You can.

At both TBEX and Book Passage, the people who made the most out of their experience were the ones who leaned into abundance. They shared openly, celebrated others, and trusted that there is enough space for everyone to succeed.

It’s a reminder I try to carry with me: when we operate from courage rather than fear, scarcity loses its grip and we can float around and manifest abundance.

Takeaway #5: Like Calls to Like

Finally, a truth that always proves itself at these events: you won’t meet everyone. You won’t click with everyone. And you don’t have to! Not everyone will give back the energy you try to radiate.

You can be misheard, misunderstood, or misread in a room—easily. But it’s so important to trust in your nature and ability to be generous with your energy.

I deeply believe that the conversations and connections that find you are the ones meant for you.

The law of resonance/attraction, of “like calls to like,” is always at work, but it’s especially notable at conferences and in-person networking events like these.

The friends who sit next to you at dinner, the strangers you strike up a conversation with in the registration line or at the bar, the speaker whose words linger with you long after the session ends. Those moments are gifts and very targeted to each individual.

Everyone’s conference experience is unique.

And, I believe, there is an added bit of magic in noticing these “meant for you” moments in real time and leaning into them fully.

I have many, many moments to use as examples here from teaching at both Book Passage and TBEX conferences.

One that comes to mind from this week is when the seat beside me on one of the bus transfers became occupied and our conversation somehow dove into mindfulness, living in alignment, the Universe’s magic, and the Dao.

Final Conference Thoughts: Walking Away Recommitted

Leaving these back-to-back conferences, I’m reminded of why I started writing in the first place.

Not for pageviews or algorithms at all, but for the transformative power of stories. To be able to simply share my experience and worldview through two passions: writing and photography.

TBEX gives me the tools and opportunities to keep building a sustainable blogging business and network.

Book Passage reminds me to nurture my craft, to write not just for traffic but for meaning.

Together, these conferences keep me questioning my next move and, more so, to keep showing up messily—not just as a blogger or entrepreneur, but as a storyteller!

Because at the end of the day, travel blogging is not just about where we’ve been and what we did when we were there.

It’s about what those places did to us, and how we carry that forward in all that we are, in all that we do.

Have you ever attended a travel blogging conference like this? Did it leave you with new connections, lessons, or creative sparks? I’d love to hear your experience in the comments!

That’s how I met Don George, the editor-at-large for National Geographic Travel magazine, who, after multiple chance encounters across the conference weekend, graciously extended a warm invitation to come join him at the annual Book Passage Travel Writers and Photographers Conference in Corte Madera, California, which he founded and has been hosting for over thirty years.

Now, three years later since my first travel blogging conference, I look back with a deep sense of gratitude.

I’m so proud that little Bri was brave enough to walk confidently in crowded conference rooms and just be… herself. Because magical things have transpired!

I’ve since been invited to speak at TBEX Alaska on SEO (with my brilliant co-host, Nina Clapperton of She Knows SEO), am speaking at TBEX Ireland (September 9–12, 2025; join us!), and have been humbly teaching travel blogging for the past two years as inaugral faculty member at that very same travel writing conference that Don George invited me to.

If this is any sign, let it be one of: Travel blogging conferences can change your life, if you go in with an open mind and a curious heart.

The conferences listed below are just some of the conferences and trade shows that allow for incredible, magical opportunities for connection and growth for travel bloggers, content creators, YouTubers, photographers, journalists, and the like.

I’m not a travel blogging conference queen, like some of my friends (hello, Ketti from Tilted Map!), who’ve been to nearly every conference out there.

But I’d still like to shed light on some of these conferences and give you some context on who and what they’re for.

Whether you’re just starting your travel blog or years into this wild world of content creation, travel blogging conferences can be a life-changing experience.

I’ve met so many wonderful, generous people through attending these conferences.

And, they’re FUN! The combination of education, networking, and activities makes the ticket cost well worth it, in my opinion.

Of course, the costs stretch beyond just the conference ticket and include international travel, booking a hotel, and detailed planning. But after attending (and now speaking at and teaching at them), I can confidently say: They’re worth it! Especially if you show up with intention.

In this post, I’ll break down:

• The top travel blogging conferences to consider in 2025
• What you’ll actually gain from attending
• Who they’re really for
• And how to make the most of your experience (even if you’re introverted or brand-new)

Top Travel Blogging Conferences for Creators, Writers, & Photographers

Here are some of the most well-known (and lesser-known) conferences for travel bloggers to keep an eye out for!

1. TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange)

• Who it’s for: Bloggers of all levels

TBEX is one of the largest and longest-running conferences for travel content creators. It combines educational talks with speed networking sessions with DMOs, brands, and PR reps.

You’ll meet hundreds of bloggers in real-life that I’m sure you already follow online! My first TBEX happened to be the one I spoke at (in Anchorage, Alaska), and I had SO much fun.

Not just because I was speaking and representing one of my most supportive brand partners, Travelpayouts, but because I got to totally GEEK OUT with Nina, and even meet a couple of my Bootstrap Blogging course members for the first time in person! As a course creator and blog coach, that felt so magical.

I’ll be speaking at TBEX Ireland in September, 2025! If you’re going, let’s connect!

2. Book Passage Travel Writers & Photographers Conference

• Who it’s for: Bloggers with a passion for storytelling

The Book Passage Conference is a more intimate, family-feel event focused on the craft of travel writing and photography.

If you’re shifting toward storytelling, freelancing, or publishing, this one’s the conference to attend.

It’s held in a bookstore called Book Passage, in Corte Madera, California, and features intimate hands-on workshops and mentoring from professional writers, editors, and photographers. And, we have a blast at karaoke night! Just saying!

Thanks to Book Passage, I’ve gotten to rub shoulders with the greats in the travel writing space. If you don’t believe me, just read the faculty list!

I serve as a baby faculty member at Book Passage and host a weekend morning workshop on travel blogging for writers, journalists, and content creators looking to expand their platform and income, on their own terms. Join us this August 14-17th!

3. Women in Travel Summit (WITS)

• Who it’s for: Women and gender-diverse travel creators

WITS Travel Creator Summit, the “largest gathering of women travel creators in the world,” is all about community, inclusivity, and professional growth for women in the travel space.

If you want a more intentional, inspiring conference vibe with actionable strategies and uplifting connections, this is perfect!

Next conference takes place in Chattanooga, Tennessee, May 29–31, 2026.

4. Traverse Events

• Who it’s for: UK-based (or EU-based) travel bloggers

Traverse hosts conferences and smaller “creator retreats” that aim to bring together industry partners with content creators through practical content creation workshops, brand collabs, and hands-on experiences. It’s moreso known for a relaxed, community feel and for having a ton of sponsor–creator opportunities.

5. WTM (World Travel Market)

• Who it’s for: Professional bloggers, journalists, tourism industry insiders

WTM is “where travel and tourism meet.” And while it isn’t technically a blogging conference, it still deserves a spot on this list!

WTM is a global travel trade show. But many hobbyists and professional bloggers attend to network with tourism boards, attend media-only events, and secure paid campaigns.

If you’re ready to pitch your blog as a business and grow your networking portfolio, WTM can be powerful!

6. NATJA (North American Travel Journalists Association)

• Who it’s for: Professional travel writers, bloggers, and photographers

NATJA has been offering annual conferences for the last 22 years. They also specialize in regional press trips focused on professional development and destination storytelling.

If you’re an advanced blogger looking to build credibility and connect directly with DMOs, NATJA is a great next step. However, like SATW (next), membership is required to attend!

7. SATW (Society of American Travel Writers)

• Who it’s for: Highly established travel writers and media professionals

SATW hosts one of the most prestigious conferences in the travel media world. It’s a selective event that provides access to top-tier editors, global destination reps, and vetted press trips with local partners.

Last year’s conference was hosted in Istanbul, Turkey, and apparently (according to my dear friend and National Geographic photographer legend, Bob Holmes), the event was a huge success!

Applications and membership are required, but the connections and credibility are unmatched! I’ve been an SATW member since 2023 and have been proud to be in a circle of fellow like-minded writers.

8. Smaller Retreats & Masterminds

• Who it’s for: Bloggers who want deep connection, strategy, and personalized support

Sometimes, the most powerful “conferences” aren’t conferences at all!

I’ve found through hosting my own Bootstrap Blogging Retreats—blogger community retreats with 8–12 people—can offer deeper transformation and support than large-scale events.

I host travel blogging retreats for the Bootstrap Blogging community designed to help bloggers clarify their niche, grow traffic, and monetize intentionally. But, mostly, they’re to connect in real life and advenutre together. If you’re craving in-depth guidance, connection, and coaching, you can learn more here!

9. TravelCon

• Who it’s for: Creators, niche bloggers, and micro-influencers who want to build a creator business

TravelCon, originally founded by blogger Nomadic Matt, disappeared for a couple of years, but is back for 2025 and 2026!

This is where I met Don George, Pauline Frommer (who is a long-time prized faculty member at Book Passage!) and Pico Iyer for the first time (then subsequently thereafter, thanks to Book Passage!), some of my online friends for the first time, Jeff Jenkins (who now has his own Nat Geo travel show), and top travel bloggers like Wandering Earl (who was so nice!).

This event focuses on helping travel bloggers build real creator businesses. Expect high-quality speakers and an expo hall packed with brands ready to collaborate.

The next edition takes place March 14–16, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona.

What You Actually Get Out of a Blogging Conference

I think you’ve already caught my drift with the example of my travel blogging conference story. These events are not just about taking notes during sessions. Here’s what you really get:

• Connections: Meeting PR reps, tourism boards/DMOs, and other travel bloggers can open doors you didn’t know existed.
• Confidence: Seeing how others pitch brands, present themselves, or build community helps you envision how to move forward and grow as a creator.
• Collaboration: Many of my most fruitful partnerships started from casual conversations at conferences!! (My collaborations with Intrepid Travel, Banff & Lake Louism Tourism, my invite to Book Passage..etc!)
• And, content! Conferences like TBEX often include pre- or post-conference tours, giving you fresh content and affiliate opportunities to write about in real-time, along with other like-minded bloggers. That’s why these are SUCH great opportunities for networking!

How to Prepare for Your First Blogging Conference

My best tip for attending your first travel blogging conference or trade show is to be yourself.

Yes, you can “optimize” by preparing these things in advance:

• Update your media kit with current stats
• Print business cards or create a QR code that links to your blog or Instagram
• Practice your elevator pitch so you feel confident introducing your blog
• Reach out to people ahead of time on Instagram or Facebook groups

BUT, seriously, the absolute best way to stand out from the sea of other travel bloggers all pitching their best-face forward, is to just BE YOURSELF.

Actually chat naturally to DMOs/tourism board reps like they’re friends, not employers.

It’s crazyyy how many bloggers I see put on their “professional, serious faces” at these conferences. Like y’all, please chill out — this industry is serious, sure, but it’s also such a wild card, and is so fun when you show up with intention.

That said, be generous. Be generous with your words, your time, and engagement in conversations. People can feel when you’re putting on a show or when you’re just trying to be real and connect naturally.

Bri’s Final Thoughts

You don’t need to go to every travel blogging conference to grow! In fact, if you overextend yourself just to try to increase your chances, you’re spreading too wide of a net and not inviting enough depth.

You also don’t need to befriend everyone! The best connections are nurtured. Remember that!

In any case, attending even one conference can give you the confidence and connections to really change your life and your business.

I’d especially recommend attending one if you’re feeling stuck, alone, or unsure what the next step is OR if you’re building and are at a pivotal moment where connections can launch you into the next stage of growth.

Either way, showing up in person—as timid and as weird as you are—can reignite your spark and help you see what’s possible.

And if you’re attending TBEX Ireland, Book Passage, or another conference this year or next, I’d love to see you there. PLEASE, if you see me out there in the wild, come say hi or drop me a message on Instagram @bucketlistbri / @bootstrapblogging .

Yep! And it’s been like this for over six years, so, before you think this is a trendy post, it’s not.

I’ve been using Pinterest for years, and have gotten hundreds of thousands of blog pageviews from it since I started blogging.

While that doesn’t compare to the 3.5 million+ reads I’ve gotten from Google over the years, that’s still pretty nice.

From my experience, Pinterest has changed multiple times over the past few years. So many changes, actually, but similar to Google, one thing stands true: Pinterest loves fresh, quality content. And yes, that’s because it’s a visual search engine.

At one point, though, Pinterest’s growth for blogging felt like a frenzy.

Does anyone remember those Pinterest-Blogger Facebook groups pinning 100x a day? When we’d all pin each other’s content to try and boost reach? Back then, Pinterest became about posting quantity over quality (whereas it’s always truly been about the reverse).

And who remembers ‘Idea Pins’ and Pinterest for Creators that didn’t live out the night?

For a little while, all of the shortcuts seemed to work. But like many things, it became spammy and lost its effectiveness.

Still, for those who were paying attention, the core strategy of Pinterest never changed: Create beautiful, clickable pins tied to actually helpful blog content.

Pinterest requires more slowness through consistency and a clearer understanding of how the platform actually works. Bloggers who do well with Pinterest are using Pinterest SEO tactfully.

I just ran an audience analysis on my own account and discovered that throughout 2024, I received 9,500–10,000 outbound clicks per month on Pinterest to my travel blog, Bucketlist Bri. That’s more than I realized!

Now, in 2026, Pinterest remains a reliable, long-term source of blog traffic for me, but it’s definitely dipped—now I get 150-200 clicks per day (roughly 5,000 clicks—so about half!). For travel bloggers like me, that can be a huge loss in traffic and income, especially ad revenue.

In fact, some of my best-earning Mediavine posts, with the highest RPMs, come from Pinterest traffic. That’s saying something!

As I said, I’ve been using Pinterest to support my blog growth for over six years. My growth and knowledge didn’t come from a course or from an expert, but rather just keeping up with it over time.

I know that if I had applied these tactics more consistently, perhaps at the recommendation of a Pinterest growth expert, my growth could have been even bigger. But the reality is that I wasn’t doing a Pinterest-first blogging approach. I spent most of my time on SEO.

My growth on Pinterest, I’d wager, really came from the minimal-effort habits I built by testing what worked on my own blogs through trial and error, pin after pin, and applying them over a long enough period to see the payoff.

Again, there was a time when Pinterest drove over 10,000 clicks a month to my travel blog. Now that number sits closer to 4,500, but the difference is effort. I haven’t actively pinned in months.

And some of my top pins in the last 30 days are ones I uploaded in 2020.

How crazy is that?

That kind of traffic only comes when you’ve built a strong foundation. The drop is expected, and it reflects Pinterest’s current priority: fresh content (and also my current energy: one of “butter spread over too much bread.”)

For travel bloggers today, Pinterest is still an incredible source of blog traffic, much more than social media, which can feel so explosive.

A Quick How-to Guide to Pinterest for Travel Bloggers: Is It Still Worth It?

Some creators confuse Pinterest with social media. But it’s not that. It’s a visual search engine, and that’s always been why it’s such a great source of evergreen traffic.

People don’t come to Pinterest to follow creators; they come to search, get inspired, and even learn a thing or two. Pinterest users know what to expect from Pinterest, in that they know they need to click OUT to access the resource they found in the feed.

As I briefly mentioned above, Pinterest group boards were everywhere in 2018 and 2019. It was common to join dozens of niche-specific boards and repin each other’s content to gain reach. For a time, it worked. But like most shortcuts, it became saturated and spammy. Pinterest adapted, and those same group boards began to harm rather than help visibility!

What’s working now is simpler and is what I’ve always been doing (with months of disappearing, lol):

• Creating fresh pins regularly
• Using clear, search-based pin titles and descriptions (that means Pinterest keywords and SEO)
• Publishing quality blog content that answers a specific question!
• Posting consistently over time—not constantly, just consistently. Not all at once, or all to the same board.

I’m also seeing Pinterest really boost travel photography on its own, without call to actions (aka on-image text overlay).

Not always, but most of the time, some of my most “vibey” photographs get well-circulated on Pinterest because they’re exactly that—good photographs that inspire you or spark your wanderlust. Unfortunately, not many travel bloggers are good at both. Some are, but most, I’m afraid, aren’t!

What You Actually Need to Grow Your Travel Blog with Pinterest

If you were to start a new Pinterest account for your travel blog right now, here’s what I’d tell you to focus on.

1. Use a Business Account

You’ll need to set up a free Pinterest Business account to claim your website and access analytics. This lets you track which pins are performing and what people are actually clicking.

2. Create Clean, Searchable Boards with Keywords

Like with search engines and blog SEO, Pinterest also relies on SEO and keywords to rank its content.

Create boards that align with your blog categories, and don’t get too vague or too nested.

Boards should clearly reflect the topics you want to be known for, and while you can have large “umbrella” boards, you should get specific for users. Instead of just “USA,” create boards for national parks, road trips, and specific states. You can get very specific, but don’t make the content too nested.

3. Enable Rich Pins

Rich Pins essentially pull metadata from your blog and add it to the pin itself. As Pinterest says,

“Rich Pins are Pins that automatically sync information from your site.”

For posts, that’s article metadata such as title and description. It’s a small backend step that improves visibility, but it won’t make or break your Pinterest strategy. When synced, they also update with your blog.

While helpful, I don’t think Rich Pins have contributed to my success on Pinterest over the years. That’s more about this next step.

4. Strong Visuals and Text-on-Image Pins

Pinterest is visual-heavy and most importantly, visual-first. They literally say it on their creative best practices page, “Visuals come first.”

So, if your pin doesn’t catch attention, it won’t get clicked.

Good travel photography is key, so use your best photos, such as images that show movement, culture, nature, or storytelling.

Don’t upload photos or create a Pinterest grid with a large picture of you smiling. No one will want to save a pin with your portrait on it.

A second strategy, to use in combination with the first, is to add easy-to-read, bold text overlays to your original travel photography and frames. The more relevant it is to the post, the better.

Without inspiring visuals, even the most SEO-optimized blog post won’t perform, and the same is true for Pinterest. Users decide to click in seconds.

Pins need to inspire, let your blog educate!

5. Multiple Pins per Blog Post

You don’t need to overdo Pinterest and pin 10x per blog, per board, per whatever.

Design or bulk upload just 3–5 vertical pins (1000 x 1500 px) for each post, then schedule them all at once. Sometimes I even just do one.

Each one can highlight a different angle or headline, or tweak the CTA slightly.

I use and create my own Canva Pinterest templates to speed up my workflow and rotate between different layouts. I teach you how to make your own inside my travel blogging course.

6. Keyword-Rich Titles and Descriptions (Written Naturally)

Again, Pinterest SEO is similar to blog SEO: you need to write naturally and use terms your audience actually searches for.

Instead of vague phrases like “Adventure Awaits,” write something specific that actually describes your blog post about the “10 Things to Do in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.”

Descriptions should feel natural and avoid keyword stuffing (same as a blog post) but you should include multiple variations of your main topic.

Think of it like, how can I rewrite this mini summary over and over again so that it’s unique each time?

Pinterest needs that context and keywords. It analyzes not just your image for relevancy, but also title and description and the board you place your Pin into.

Think like your reader: what would they type in and how can you use that to your SEO advantage?

Examples:

• “Japan 2-week itinerary with packing tips”
• “ 1 week Morocco itinerary solo female travelers”
• “Best cheap hostels in Lisbon for solo travelers”

Again, avoid keyword stuffing and write like a real person trying to help someone plan a trip.

7. A Regular Pinning Routine

You don’t need to pin daily (or even monthly, in my case)!

Even posting new pins once or twice a week can help “sustain” your account.

Whenever I publish a new blog post, I usually upload or bulk upload the best photos and 1–2 Pins (with text overlays).

If you publish one new blog post each week and create 3–5 pins for it, that’s a good, minimal way to stay consistent without overdoing it or risking burning yourself out.

Pro Tip: While Tailwind used to be the go-to for scheduling Pins, you can now use the built-in Pinterest scheduler.

Final Thoughts: What Pinterest Can & Can’t Do

Pinterest won’t replace good blog content. For example, if I see a beautiful Pin and then do an outbound click to read that blog, but find the intro TERRIBLE, I will hop off right away.

So, don’t try to “trick” Pinterest users by over-delivering on the Pin and under-delivering on the blog value. It won’t fix vague blog posts or thin affiliate pages. It also won’t deliver overnight results.

What Pinterest can do for your travel is grow your traffic with your existing content, improve ad earnings through targeted Pinterest-style posts, and, best of all, give your blog two legs to stand on beyond the behemoth of Google.

Pinterest, in my experience, works best when used as something like a support system paired with evergreen SEO for search engine/Google traffic.

When you approach it minimally but intentionally (it always goes back to intention, doesn’t it!), Pinterest becomes a reliable but low-effort source of traffic over time.

At the end of the day, Pinterest is no longer about chasing social media trends or going viral (it used to want to, but then rebranded back to itself).

Pinterest, like blogging, is a long-term game.

It requires consistency over time (doesn’t mean you have to be present every week) and actually understanding what your audience is searching for on a visual platform that they aren’t getting from the search engine angle.

So, USE your travel photography!!!

If you’re just starting out, focus on getting the basics right, including creating clean boards optimized for Pinterest SEO, good photography, and thoughtful pin design. But don’t overcomplicate it. You’ll see that you can let your pins work for you in the background.

This is the approach I teach inside Bootstrap Blogging, my signature travel blogging course and coaching program. There is a fully dedicated Pinterest Module inside the course alongside SEO, monetization, media best practices, long-term content planning, mindset, and more!

Have any questions about starting (or rebooting) a Pinterest account for travel blogging? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!

The latest June-July Google core update just doubled my blog traffic—and my Bootstrap Blogging students are seeing the same!

Members inside the course are hitting numbers unlike ever before (65K, 96K!!), but it’s not because of what any one of us did in one or a few posts.

It’s rather the systems and the process of what I teach: good, long-term SEO (which goes beyond technical SEO). I have built my blogging businesses with SEO-storytelling in mind, which have all withstood major updates (even if they took dips!).

Again, no, we’re not doing anything fancy or spammy or overly optimized! In fact, those who over-optimized for SEO are likely to have gotten hit. Right now, we’re seeing that those who simply write helpful content, answer real search intent, and build intentional blog ecosystems are the ones who withstand the test of time. That’s it.

But here’s the thing that annoys me: Most bloggers STILL aren’t doing that. I’m seeing more and more online threads about blogging being dead.

Even now, most creators are still stuck in the Instagram grind or chasing TikTok trends, hoping something goes viral. Meanwhile, those of us with strategic blog content are slowly growing and it’s not because of any single post—it’s the collective, and it always comes back to process.

The work of a blogger isn’t flashy or front and center. It’s quiet and behind-the-scenes. It’s sitting and writing. It’s not easy in the sense that you can just grow to 50K or 100K pageviews overnight. SEO and organic traffic growth (and more importantly, SEO traffic steadiness) takes years!

More on this below!

IS SEO and Organic Search Traffic Still Relevant for Travel Blogging?

SEO Is Still Relevant for Bloggers and the Latest Google Update Proves It!

In this last algorithm update, Google continued its long-standing push toward rewarding high-quality, original, helpful content.

Their guidelines for creators have remained nearly unchanged for years: Create helpful content.

“There’s nothing new or special that creators need to do for this update as long as they’ve been making satisfying content meant for people. For those that might not be ranking as well, we strongly encourage reading our creating helpful, reliable, people-first content help page.”

Here’s what the update did for Bootstrappers:

• Multiple students inside the Bootstrap Blogging course gained significant traffic, some doubling their sessions from blog posts that had been sitting stagnant for months!
• One of my newer SEO-focused posts shot up to the first page within weeks!
• Niche blogs, such as my Nomad in Japan blog, which are long-tail in nature, also saw growth jumps and converting even with little traffic (give it time, it’s a new baby blog!).

This feels like a HUGE win for us bloggers who:

• Stay the course
• Write for humans but optimize tech specs for search engines
• Build topic clusters/content hubs and internal links intentionally
• Don’t rely on shortcuts—just strategy, story, and structure!

Because we’re finally seeing our numbers bounce back to levels we had before Google rolled out like seven core updates from late 2023 through early 2024. 100,000 MPVs—here we come! (Again!!!)

SEO Is Still the Smartest Way to Grow Your Travel Blog

SEO is not dead, but it’s slowly evolving. And the bloggers who adapt, who show up with real value and consistency, are going to see the most change but also the most reward.

Inside Bootstrap Blogging, I teach you exactly how to:

• Find high-impact/intent keywords
• Structure blog posts that rank and convert
• Build a content strategy that grows with you and actually feels GOOD
• Earn from your blog through ads, affiliates, and beyond

And I’m not talking about building faceless niche sites that are content machines or are heavily outsourced with writers.

I’m talking your voice, your stories, and a sustainable blog business that still gets you excited to show up.

If you want to finally stop guessing what to write and start building momentum with your blog, Bootstrap Blogging is where we begin!

Later, when I started my first WordPress travel blog in 2015, I had a little idea what I was doing—but I did have stories I wanted to tell, photos I wanted to share, and a desire to document my travels.

I was already making money blogging from a niche site I had started in 2014, but still, I didn’t REALLY get started until 2019.

What I didn’t expect was that this little blog would eventually grow into a full-time income and location-independent lifestyle.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering how to start your own travel blog now, as we approach the mid-way mark of 2025. Is it worth it?

Maybe you’re tired of creating content for brand promotion on social media. Maybe you want more creative freedom. Or maybe you just feel that itch to write and publish something uniquely yours.

This guide will walk you through exactly how to start a blog for beginners—step by step—with intention and purpose.

How to Start a Blog in 2025 (for Beginners)

Step 1: Get Clarity on Your Blog’s Purpose

Before we dive into hosting or WordPress, let’s zoom out. Why are you starting this blog in the first place?

Your blog’s purpose and niche shape everything, from your blog name and branding to how you grow and monetize it. Don’t stress about being “perfectly niched” from day one, but do spend time reflecting on:

• What you want to share
• Who you want to help or inspire!
• The type of content you enjoy creating

For example, my first “real” travel blog, Bucketlist Bri, started as a personal travel diary and was called Sharing Wanderlust, Living with Wanderlust, and Bits of Bri. (LOL, RIGHT.)

But over time, it evolved from a diary of sorts into a professional blog that blends SEO guides with impactful storytelling. You’re allowed to evolve, too, so this step doesn’t have to feel so stuck.

If you want CLARITY in your blog’s vision and strategy, then sign up for my clarity waitlist to get your hands on my clarity workbook!

Step 2: Pick a Blog Name, Buy Your Domain (& Web Hosting)

Your blog name is what you’ll naturally start with. It doesn’t have to be perfect, or forever, but it should be:

• Easy to spell and remember
• Available as a .com domain
• Aligned with your vision or vibe
• Intentional for your content / niche

I recommend doing your domain name purchase AND setting up your web host at the same time. It’s so much easier. Expect to pay around $10–15 per year for domain names.

Tip: Don’t get stuck here. Pick something that feels good and start. You can rebrand later (I’ve done it).

Step 3: Choose a Hosting Provider

Hosting is what makes your blog live on the internet. For new bloggers, I recommend:

• BigScoots — Super fast, secure, and worth every penny. Their support is unmatched and now I have 6 domains hosted with them! I’m paying around $1300/year for all of my sites, and I can’t stress how important it is to have a good web host. It’s literally the bedrock of your business.
• SiteGround — More budget-friendly option to get started if you’re not ready to invest in premium hosting. SiteGround is who I hosted with when I grew my blog to 50,000 sessions per month.

Once you’ve chosen a host, you’ll install WordPress (your hosts can do this with one-click setups!!!), and you’re ready to install a theme.

Step 4: Install WordPress and Set Up Your Theme & SEO Essentials, Plugins, and Analytics

WordPress.org is the best choice for travel blogging. It’s flexible, SEO-friendly, and you own your content. (Avoid WordPress.com, which is more limited.)

After installation, choose a theme. I personally love:

• Kadence (free or pro, framework + child themes) – Lightweight and customizable
• 17th Avenue Designs (child themes built for Kadence framework) – Beautiful themes for lifestyle and travel bloggers! I had a 17th Avenue theme to grow my travel blog to 50,000 sessions. Now, they have updated child themes built for the fast Kadence framework, too.

Customize your logo, colors, and navigation menu, then start prepping your essential pages: About, Contact, Blog, Legal, Destinations.

Now is the time to build out a smart site structure. Connect Analytics. Do all the polishing. There’s a checklist involved, but nothing to difficult a total beginner couldn’t do!

Doing all of this setup alone can be challenging, and to be honest, MOST people do it wrong. This is where having a blueprint like my blog course really helps you start from scratch and get solid foundations from the get-go. I cover all of this step-by-step inside the course.

Step 5: (Plan &) Write Your First Blog Posts with Great SEO

A lot of people get stuck here, thinking their first post has to be perfect.

It doesn’t. It’s actually gonna feel really… weird?

It’s not going to be an “all-in-one” itinerary. It’s not going to feel ‘complete’. It’s probably going to be something random as hell. But publish anyway!

Start with 3 to 5 posts that add to your primary content cluster or share a personal story:

• Your experience or review of that fun activity
• A travel itinerary (maybe a 3-day?) for a place you love and know VERY well
• A gear list, roundup, or budget guide!

Tip: Your blog will feel more like you the more you publish, as you’re building your archive, your personal library.

Just start writing and let it evolve. Then, you can build high-converting landing pages once the content comes together. But first, you need content!!!

It goes without saying that you need to learn good blog post SEO. Not just website/technical SEO. Blog post SEO can also be just a checklist, but it’s more than that. It’s about your EEAT, trust, and storytelling. It’s about your writing!

Step 6: Start Growing and Monetizing

You don’t need a huge audience to start earning from your blog. You do need clarity, consistency, and strategy.

My top monetization methods:

• Travel affiliate marketing — I use Travelpayouts and Stay22, and most of my affiliate income comes from hotel and tour commissions.
• Ads (once you hit around 10K to 50K monthly sessions). I’m on Mediavine for all of my sites!
• Digital products, or brand collaborations

Read more: Blog Ads vs Affiliate Marketing

Tip: Treat your blog like a business from day one, but build it in a way that aligns with your values, not someone else’s way of doing things. It can be hard on your mindset to compare with other creators, so just do you, boo! Lean into your unique story and perspective!

What to Do After Starting Your Blog?

Starting your travel blog is the first step. Now, it’s time to nurture it, maintain it, and POUR ALL THE LOVE IN.

I created my signature Bootstrap Blogging Course to guide you from blog setup to strategy and monetization. If anything, it will help you get unstuck and focus on what actually matters for growth.

TLDR; if you are a complete beginner, getting set up when starting a travel blog is just ONE part of it. Starting a travel blog (aka making it successful) is the complex part—it’s the process part.

If you’re not sure whether you want to start a blog vs an Instagram, read my guide for the differences between the two business models. And drop your questions in the comments!

To which I’d say, I would have made a lot more had I published this Q&A-style post back in the day.

Join the countless people who have asked me this question, all of whom I have answered the same way over the last decade:

It depends.

IT DEPENDS!!!!!

One more time: It depends!!!

One more go??

It de-pends!

Now, realistically? Let me give you my favorite short answer: 75 posts.

The long answer? Read more below.

How Many Blog Posts Do You Need to Monetize Your Travel Blog?

Some travel bloggers monetize with 150 published posts. Some with 50. Some manage 4-figure monetization in six months, while others take two years.

My best record? 7 posts. Or was it 3? (Anyway, it was thanks to getting the site up and running fast and monetizing with AI tools like automatic hotel boxes and affiliate links, thanks to Travelpayouts.)

The most realistic answer is none of the above. Your earnings come down to several factors:

• Your strategy (what kind of posts are you publishing? how often?)
• Your writing (are you a decent copywriter or do you kinda suck? sorry…)
• Your affiliate programs and how you include them (goes back to strategy)
• Your trustworthiness (the whole E-E-A-T thing)

And so much more, but I digress.

So… Is the Answer 75 Blog Posts?

Why do I suggest 75 blog posts?

Well, I’ve had eight blogs in the last ten years:

• my first; a cat blog, est. 2014 (still own)
• castor oil + natural beauty blog (sold!)
• Tennessee destination blog (selling?)
• a 9–5 sister travel blog (on hold)
• my travel blog (hello, Bucketlist Bri)
• my second travel blog (konnichiwa, Nomad in Japan)
• an abandoned tropical travel blog (wait, is that it?)

I feel like I’m missing one.

Anyway, between these blogs and the 100+ blogs I’ve helped monetize through my course, the average success for monetization, as in, “I’ve hit [at least] 4 figures from blogging!” is around the 75-post mark.

I know, right!

Most often, I’ve seen my blogs really rack up traffic around the 30-40 published post mark. Sometimes more, sometimes less. Again, it really ALL depends!!

What’s unique about 75 is that this amount will roughly translate into a year. Give or take. Could take you 3 months if you were publishing like a mad person (or had a team).

But the solo blogger will average 1-2x posts per week, missing a few here or there.

So, a year into your blog building, you’ll see great traffic leaps and, with that, income leaps too.

But, again, this is just me theorizing here! You could already be at 100 blog posts and still see $0 in income. And if that’s the case, yikes! Lol. You’ll want to seriously reconsider your strategy and/or writing. Probably both.

So, 75 is a good benchmark just to see where you’re at. If you have an upward trend in Search Console, you’re already earning, then that’s a great sign.

If you’re not… time to pivot.

My Final Thoughts: Give Yourself a Year

In short, give yourself a year of consistent publishing (consistent in that you don’t publish all 75 at once and then disappear for 9 months to give birth to a new project).

Give yourself a year. Give Google a grace period to figure your website out. Give yourself some breathing space.

If you keep going, you literally cannot not see some traffic or income.

But, are you building upon solid foundations? Are you writing or blogging with clarity and intention?

It depends…

Where are you currently in your blog journey? Are you under or over the 75th blog post—and, what’s your traffic/income look like?

Whether it’s to start a travel blog, write a book, pitch a travel magazine, post every day on Instagram…

Too often, we wait for people to “approve” of our decisions, as if that will legitimize our thoughts and desired actions.

Have you ever found yourself seeking out someone’s advice or thoughts about what you want to do?

If you should?

I’m guilty of it, that I know.

With travel blogging, I felt extremely hesitant to start. While I had bought my first travel blog domain in November 2015, I didn’t feel “legitimate” enough to call myself a blogger.

Who am I to say that? I don’t have any traffic or earnings yet, I would think.

I even got made fun of for loving the word “wanderlust.” (And it was, at the time, heavily used on my blog and travelgram.)

And now, looking back, I’m so freaking glad I gave myself the green light to go ahead and do what I knew I wanted to do. I allowed myself to be messy and imperfect online. To be “cringe.”

Because I wouldn’t be the financially-independent, debt-free, six-figure business owner, world-traveling digital nomad that I am now if it weren’t for the debt-stricken, broke, wanna-be-blogger just getting started (and wishing even then that she had started sooner!).

If you’re feeling stuck waiting for someone (or something) before taking action on what you already know you want to do, then read on.

I’m going to share a little bit more about this crucial mindset shift that can help you unstuck yourself and finally give yourself the permission you’ve been after.

How to Unstuck Yourself & Give Yourself Permission (to Blog)

A lot of content creators come to me for blogging advice because they feel stuck.

And if that’s your case, you’re in the right place. This is part of the reason why I started my own travel blog course and began offering personalized blog coaching.

Feeling stuck is a symptom of a deeper mindset block.

And what I help people with blogging potential do is to find those blockages and then work at removing them.

When this happens, we see a really powerful mindset shift take place: one of self-trust (and permission).

When you finally see your vision clearly (thanks to removing those blockages), you begin to trust in your process, which will lead you to your desired goal.

This is why, suddenly, it feels like, “Ah, I can begin now.”

But in reality, nothing prevented you from starting sooner.

This is why I always say blogging is 90% mindset and 10% strategy.

Anyone can build and monetize a travel blog, but mindset halts most bloggers on their journey before they can even see the fruits of their labor.

The key to unstucking yourself is removing your mental blocks.

Examples of Mental Blocks Preventing You From Blogging

The ways we “stuck ourselves” varies from individual to individual.

I rarely see two clients have the same exact mental blockages, but every single member will have their own roadblocks at multiple points in their blogging journeys.

A few of the most common mental blockages I see are:

Waiting for permission.
To start, usually, but sometimes some do start—partially. For example, with a temporary override by enrolling in a course or getting a coach like me to help; but still waiting for permission if the core issue wasn’t resolved.

Not trusting one’s own direction.
This looks like kinda knowing already what you want to do, but having a lot of resistance and struggling with self-doubt about it).

Having too many options and not enough focus.
Not having clarity makes it easy to deprioritize your primary goal by doing other things that make you feel productive and yet you never advance forward with what you really want to do.

Not trialing anything because it’s not 100% guaranteed certainty.
Most people don’t even set out to try because it feels too uncertain. Too lofty, too scary. We often want guarantees that our projects are going to work when we set out to do them. But it doesn’t work that way.

Trying, then giving up, because the “trial” wasn’t successful enough (didn’t meet expectations).
In some cases, I see people start out strong (with conviction and trust in the process) and then see them slowly become hopeless because the growth or “reward” wasn’t matching the initial output of energy. So, it makes it feel like a failed attempt. This is tough to get out of. It requires more trust when you have almost none left to give.

…And there are more!

Tips & Ways to Resolve These Blogging Blockages

I won’t bore you with a full meditation or a list of things to do to get unstuck.

But I will offer a couple of remedies that have personally helped me and my blog clients get unblocked and move forward.

• Take time journaling about this feeling, just to see where it leads
• Read motivational books about writing, art, and business (see my Resources for my recs)
• Map out your travel blog’s spider web (what are you writing about? what are you prioritizing?)
• Make a list of the next ten blog posts you’d ideally want to write first (and why?)
• Write a full page of affirmations that speak or resonate deeply with you

These may seem easy, but implementation can be tricky. However, I encourage you to challenge yourself and, again, trust yourself.

If you need additional help, consider grabbing my Blogging Clarity Workbook.

It’s a giant, soulful, guiding handbook to help you uncover your blockages and work through them so you can start (or realign) your travel blog on firm foundations.

But instead of talking about all of the crappy, negative (even if realist) trends right now in travel blogging, I wanted to make a post about what strategies I used (and still use) that actually GREW my traffic to 100,000 monthly pageviews.

While my traffic has since dipped below that, these are foundational, core strategies that I teach inside my Bootstrap Blogging course and that have helped members reach 50,000 sessions.

In the course, I dive deeper into each strategy but here are just ten of the ways I grew my traffic post-pandemic and why (and how) I am doing this today to maintain and update old posts and get high rankings on new posts.

Let’s dive in.

PS. These are not numbered so you don’t think about them in order of importance.

Focus on Helpful Content & Organic Traffic (SEO)

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization (you won’t make me spell that out all the time, will you?), is the main driver of blog traffic—yes, even now. Still now.

Evergreen SEO (as in, long-term, sustainable, SEO—not something seasonal or trendy), is here to stay.

Evergreen SEO is many things, but it’s not shortcuts. It’s not “black-hat SEO” which refers to slightly shady tactics to trick crawl bots.

Essentially, my SEO is good SEO. It’s white-hat (think “purist”), reliable, and pretty stable.

In my last ten years of blogging, my SEO strategy hasn’t changed much.

Basically, write better, original content.

And then, go through your SEO checklist. Some of my to-dos are:

• Properly sizing, compressing, naming image files
• Cleanly structuring posts with proper title tags, headings, and formatting
• Filling out essentials as in descriptions, title tags, alt texts, and making sure I have an eye for detail (headings should have a waterfall hierarchy that makes sense…)
• Ensuring internal links connect my clusters/content hubs and are logical…
• And much, much more!

Internal Linking to Clusters

Hehe, as I mentioned above, internal linking is on my SEO to-do list (so it should be on yours, too).

It’s important and mentioned twice for a reason. That’s all I should say, but I’ll add more:

Make sure every single post ties back into your content hubs in a way that makes sense. Point to your pillars. Link out from your pillars to supporting guides.

Make the web make sense for readers!

Share Every Post on Pinterest (With Pins & Text)

I do a deep dive in my course about Pinterest growth for blogging, but essentially, it’s a visual search engine you should not ignore.

Read more in my post about Pinterest for Travel Bloggers

Create a pin (with on-image text) for the blog post, and also post your blog images/photography (your best!) as well.

Pinterest LOVES aesthetic travel photos for inspiration.

Turn Posts Into Reels or Carousels That Drive Traffic

Stop creating content on social media as the end goal, and make content on social media that drives traffic and visibility back to your blog!

Now with ManyChat and LinkDM, this is easier than ever before. I wish Instagram had worked like this five years ago!

Read also: Starting a Travel Blog VS an Instagram: Which One to Choose?

Write Posts with Evergreen Potential

This should be obvious, but writing blog content for trends is a short-term strategy.

Evergreen posts that re-rank each season is the way to go.

Pro tip: Make sure you’re writing content that is evergreen for year-round, not just pouring all your time into summer or winter searches only…).

Create Content Hubs to Build Topical Authority

If I numbered this list, this would be number one…

PAY ATTENTION!!

You can’t just post one blog post about one destination or topic and expect to rank above your competition.

(Sometimes it works, but rarely…).

The more you blog about one topic / destination / purpose, the more authority you build. Which means the more you rank higher because hint hint: YOU become the resource!!!

Audit Older Posts for Broken Links or Clarity

You’d be surprised at how much internal links (there’s that again ) can strengthen or weaken your overall website SEO.

“Plugging in” old content back to new content, giving old content a refresh, and adding new content to a cluster can make your posts all rank higher.

Think about it as work for the collective good!

Email Outreach to Featured Brands & Businesses

For a natural backlink incentive, there was a period during my travel blog growth where I would email all the businesses, brands, websites, shops, etc., featured in my posts with, “Hey! Look! I mentioned you in my post. Reshare?” kind of message.

Sometimes, it went ignored. Othertimes, it soared! (Yay, I rhymed!)

If anything, it was a small 10-minute task to roundup the emails of all the people and small businesses I featured. Many would share on their socials. Some would offer a link back to my blog.

Whatever it was, always felt like a win because of the appreciative messages I received. You never know whose day you’re gonna make!

Reply to My Readers’ Comments & Emails Thoroughly

I think this didn’t help blog traffic growth so much as reader retention.

Wow, it works wonders to be human, eh? So many bloggers I know just ignore their readers’ comments and emails with a sort of shameful attitude. “I don’t have time for that.”

If I ever grow too big to be dismissive of my audience, then I’m in the wrong business. I know what it feels like to be on the other end of the stick and go ignored.

I believe being overly-generous with my value on the blog (and in emails) has been so pivotal in having repeat readers who’ve undoubtedly helped support my blog during tough times (like updates or algo changes).

Ask for Feedback & Spread the Word

In my first two years of growing my travel blog, I would often post really big guides to places I lived in and cared about deeply in Facebook groups for X destination, for two reasons:

1. To get genuine feedback on my post by locals. Hey, what do you think? Did I miss anything?
2. To get clicks and new readers to my closest readership base.

Doing this could backfire sometimes, as not everyone sees the value in writing about deeply misunderstood, underrepresented, or under-researched places or topics.

In most cases, though, it would get my posts seen quicker, shared more in circles by appreciative, like-minded folks, and thus Google would eat up my growing spider web faster.

Do Blogging Sprints & 30-Day Publishing Challenges

Bonus! This is technically #11 in case you were counting…

One of the biggest growth periods of my travel blog (2021) was when I was determined to reach 50,000 sessions and apply to Mediavine for ad monetization.

It was a cold winter in Chiapas, Mexico, and I decided to get up every day at 6AM and blog. Just blog. In afternoons, I would write for my freelance client (cause ya girl still had to pay bills), then I would finish off the post I had drafted earlier, edit photos, and publish. I published roughly twenty times in a core content hub and increased my traffic by 12,000 page views.

Google really began to see me as an authority and that’s when all of my posts began to rank first one after the other. Now, whenever I do big content hub builds, I still see my traffic increase.

What did you learn from this roundup? If anything, I hope it’s that growing a travel blog to 100,000 monthly page views is possible—even now, amid all the chaos and changes.

But is there one that pays bloggers more (and for travel bloggers, in particular)?

As a beginner blogger, your goal is to likely to monetize as quickly as possible. And so, you’re wondering whether you can (or should) start with blog ad revenue or affiliate marketing first.

The answer is both, actually.

Both are legitimate, scalable methods for blog monetization. But, they’re very different from each other and rely on various factors for growth and maintenance.

In this post, I’ll briefly break down how each works, how to maximize earnings, and whether (in my experience) affiliate commissions rack up more than passive ad revenue (or vice versa!).

Blog Ads vs Affiliate Marketing: Which One Earns Bloggers More?

Monetizing with Blog Display Ads

Blog ads, or display ads, are your ticket to true passive income.

Passive income is when you can earn money passively and blog ads are the epitome of passive—you literally do nothing.

Well, first, you put in the active work to grow your blog traffic. That’s how you reach the minimum thresholds to even get display ads on your site.

Then, once you hit a certain traffic threshold, you can apply to ad networks.

A few years ago, the threshold was high. Now, however, you can apply to popular ad networks such as Journey by Mediavine with as little as 10,000 monthly sessions.

Once the scripts are installed on your site (which the ad network takes care of), you can start earning from views.

Blog display ad earnings are based on RPM (rate per mille, or one thousands sessions).

Meaning, the more traffic (readers/people seeing your content) you get, the more you earn.

Sounds great, right?

But there are downsides to blog ads.

• You have to reach the minimum threshold (usually 50,000 sessions, but now it’s possible to monetize from 10,000).
• RPMs are decreasing as cookies and AI Overviews enter the scene
• Hard to scale unless you get more traffic (unlike affiliate marketing)

So, blog ads, while passive, are difficult to scale because traffic growth is usually a slow burn.

How to Make More Money with Blog Ad Revenue

• Invest in organic, evergreen SEO to bring consistent traffic
• Improve your site/page speed and reader experience to keep RPMs high
  • Break up paragraphs, use more original images, increase word count, etc.
• Use sticky ads, sidebar units, and in-content ads to increase ad visibility (without going overboard)
  • Too many ads can slow down your site and hurt user experience (UX) so sometimes, it pays more to turn of ads for certain pages (especially affiliate-rich posts)
• RPMs can fluctuate based on seasonality and niche!

What’s a good RPM in the travel blogging industry?

Typical RPMs range between $10–$40 per 1000 views, but this can spike during Q4 (during busy buyer seasons) or if you’re in a “high-value perceived” niche like food, travel, news, finance, or health.

My personal best in the travel blog niche (with only 40% US audience) was when I earned a little over $150 per day from display ads (I had an RPM averaging around $55/1k views and roughly 3.3k sessions per day).

However, I’ve interviewed fellow travel bloggers (with 95%+ US/Canada readership) who were earning $500 per day. (So, it really depends on your content, your style of posts, your demographics, etc.)

Monetizing with Affiliate Marketing

Then, we have affiliate marketing.

In travel blogging, that usually means travel affiliate programs that allow you to monetize from linking to travel brands.

For example:

• Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com (hotel commissions)
• GetYourGuide, Viator, Klook (tours, attractions, tickets)
• Travel insurance, gear, transport (e.g., eSIMs, products, trains, buses)

You can earn commissions by joining travel affiliate programs and promoting hotels, tours, etc., in your travel content (which naturally suits!).

When a reader clicks your affiliate link and makes a booking, you earn a percentage of the sale.

And commissions vary per program; 8-10% for tours, 4-5% for hotels, etc.,.

Affiliate marketing, unlike blog ads, is scalable without adding on heaps of traffic (though, of course, your affiliate income will grow with more traffic, but you can already optimize posts with low traffic and still improve your click-to-conversion rates).

Simply said, you don’t need to rely on traffic thresholds to get started monetizing with travel affiliates. That’s why affiliate marketing is great, but also tricky.

Because successful affiliate marketers know how to write copy well. They know how to connect with the reader’s buying intent.

Another “downside” (really, just a difference) to affiliate marketing compared to blog ads is that affiliate marketing requires your active attention.

• It takes time to build SEO traffic and rank for “profitable” keywords
• You need to test and experiment with your affiliate content before seeing consistent earnings
• You need to maintain and optimize copy to ensure optimal conversion

Thanks to AI-powered affiliate tools, travel affiliate marketing is much easier to scale than it used to be. However, it still requires some active effort on your part.

Exactly how much traffic do you need to make money with affiliate links?

That’s hard to say.

You can monetize and receive your first commissions with 100 views, or even 10. It’s all about how well you optimize and present your copy. It involves SO much more than just linking to affiliates here and there. It really goes down to psychology, trust, and how well you inspire and resonate with your reader.

How to Create High-Converting Affiliate Content

• Write affiliate-rich travel reviews, gear lists, where to stay guides, or comparison posts
• Target buyer-intent keywords like “best carry-on luggage for Europe” or “how to get to Mt. Fuji by shinkansen”
• Share your personal experience to build trustworthiness (important for conversions)

What are the best travel affiliate programs?

I am an affiliate of multiple travel affiliate programs (e.g., Booking.com, Viator, Klook, Airalo), all of which are accessible and available to join through Travelpayouts. I also earn from hotel commissions through Stay22.

So, Which Earns Bloggers More?

Let’s break it down (these thoughts or estimates are just based on my averages across multiple blogs, so take them as just that—averages).

• Blog ads typically earn between $10–$50+ per 1,000 sessions (RPM). Let’s say it’s $30 on average.
  • At 2k sessions per day, that can mean ~$20–$100/day from ads ($600–$3000 per month). Passive income.
• Affiliate links (in one post, for example) can earn anywhere from $50–$500+ per post per month if well-targeted and ranking first! Heck, just ONE juicy (*cough*, expensive) hotel conversion can make you several hundred dollars. (Those are bit more rare, unless you’re frequently promoting luxury hotels, but ya never know! I get lucky sometimes with big spenders, haha.)

To put that into perspective, one affiliate post can outperform your entire monthly blog ad revenue if it’s targeting the right keywords and audience (and demographic—a US-based audience will generate more display ad revenue than a heavy international audience).

However, unlike ads, affiliate income isn’t entirely passive—it requires a more active strategy and ongoing optimization over time.

That’s why getting better at your blog writing helps you not only rank higher in search engines, but also make more money from affiliate marketing!

Key Factors That Affect Display Ad Earnings vs Affiliate Commissions

Blog Ads:

• Your audience demographics (is your audience North American readership or Asian? Brands bid higher on consumer markets, which is why Q4 (i.e., Christmas) always sees higher RPMs/ad earnings
• SEO quality and traffic source
• Ad blockers and browser cookies
• + more

Affiliate Commissions:

• Product [tour/hotel/etc] relevance and trust
• Your writing and ability to naturally inspire and “sell”
• Your travel blog niche and reader persona (luxury travel ≠ budget travel)
  • Example: Luxury hotel commission will fetch higher commissions than hostel recommendations
• Cookie duration
• Commission rates of each affiliate program
• + more

The Goal? Use Both Ad & Affiliate Earnings to Monetize

The key to building a sustainable travel blog is to diversify your income, so you’ll absolutely want to (eventually) have sound strategies to increase both display ads AND affiliate commissions.

The ultimate power strategy is to combine both monetization methods.

• Optimize display ads on YOUR blog, where possible (that sometimes means turning it off for some posts/pages, such as on affiliate-heavy posts to remove intrusive ads near your CTAs)
• Focus on combining text affiliate links and visual affiliate widgets on affiliate-rich posts (travel itineraries are great for this!)

Before monetization, think about user experience (UX). That’s what will truly help you scale your blog. It’s the long-term solution. Don’t take shortcuts!

Want my help choosing travel affiliate programs, writing buyer-intent posts, or applying to ad networks?

Drop your questions in the comments, or check out my Bootstrap Blogging Course for travel bloggers.

Should I start a blog or an Instagram (and which one to start first)?

This question ALWAYS comes up with my blog coaching clients. Should I focus on my travel blog or my Instagram?

And it’s great question—and one that I’ve personally found myself teetering between before.

But there’s only one answer I keep coming back to:

Travel blogging is my core CPU.

It’s the heart, the center, the epicenter of everything I do. Instagram, on the other hand, is the supporting limb, branch, or vein.

But if you’re just starting out, I get it. It’s hard to choose.

But after nearly a decade of blogging and content creation, here’s my honest take on how you can build something sustainable, not just shiny.

Blogging VS Instagram: Why Start a Blog

Let me simplify and start clear: Blogging (travel blogging, specifically) isn’t better than a travel-focused Instagram.

The two are great—and are usually suitable for different personalities.

If you’re a quiet, reflective person who absorbs their experiences and likes to take time with their content, you’ll probably enjoy blogging more than Instagram.

The two have two different natures, understandably:

• Blogging is long-form. Reflective. Intentional. Slow-burning.
• Social media is short-form. Quick-burning. Practical. Punchy. Trendy.

Also, unlike social media, a blog doesn’t rely on algorithms or trends. It’s yours. However, it does rely (in part only!!) on search engines (in the case of organic ranking).

Here’s what a blog gives you.

1. Evergreen, Sustainable Content

People are still Googling and long-form content is IN.

A well-written blog post can bring in traffic for years, especially when it’s optimized for SEO.

While an Instagram post might disappear after 48 hours, your blog content sticks around and keeps working for you (and keeps earning passive income through ads and affiliates).

An Instagram account requires constant attention. It’s like a wee baby in need of feeding and burping.

A travel blog is like a moody teenager. It wants you to sustain it, but mostly leave it alone. It will come to you when it needs maintenance or support. It lets you sleep.

2. Ownership Over Your Content

This is an old reason to pick a blog over an Instagram, honestly… But it still is legit!

Essentially, you don’t own Instagram/Meta. If your account gets hacked, shadowbanned, or the algorithm changes, your audience and content go with it.

Your blog is built on your domain, your words, your terms. Even if Google updates tank your traffic, you can bounce back. There are other ways to get traffic (through, ironically, socials but not only—direct traffic, email audience, Pinterest (i.e., visual search engine), etc.

3. Blogging Is About Building Passive Income

Blogs monetize best through affiliate marketing, ads, digital products, and email funnels all while letting you stay behind the scenes (if that’s your thing—it is mine).

Aka, [travel] blogging is mostly passive after you put in the active work.

It’s a slow, sustainable burn. Whereas Instagram (you already know what I’m going to say, don’t you), is a quick burn.

If you’re not constantly fueling the fire that is your social media algorithm, no traffic, no sales, no brand deals come from it. As soon as you stop being active > it becomes inactive.

Blogging is active > passive > passive. Instagram is active > active > active. That should make sense (does it?!).

But… Instagram Can Help Your Blog (& Still Matters)

That said, I won’t pretend Instagram isn’t important!

It’s often the first place people discover you. Or, if not the first, it’s where they WANT to discover you and follow you. They want to connect. See your behind-the-scenes. Who is this blogger?

Plus, for better or worse, we live in a social media world. Visual, fast, and, well, sometimes stupid. Social media is brainrot.

But perfect for storytelling in bite-sized pieces, if you are intentional about it. It’s an extremely powerful tool, and to that, I bow.

Here’s what Instagram offers, in contrast:

1. Faster Reach & Visibility

With Reels, stories, and trends, you might grow your audience faster than with a blog—at least with consistency (my biggest struggle).

Like post a lot, post fast, post frequently, and you’ll gain traction. Eventually. But then…

What are you going to do with that following? That’s the most important question to ask yourself.

Why do you want followers? Because that shouldn’t be the end goal.

Followership is NOT enough. You need a product to sell. You need a pitch template to send off to brands. You need a purpose.

Why are you contributing to the noise??! It’s a good question to ask yourself.

2. More Instant Daily Connection

Instagram is where people get to know you.

It’s casual, real-time, and builds trust. It’s where you can show the behind-the-scenes of your blog or business. And that’s very key to selling online.

3. Big Brand Collab / Earning Potential… But

If you want to pitch UGC or creator-style partnerships, Instagram is where brands look first.

Brands don’t see the value in blog marketing as much as they do in influencer/creator marketing. Despite the SEO juice and evergreenness of blogs, Instagram is louder. So it gets more attention. (Again, such a baby!)

The big bucks on Instagram come from working with big brands (I’m talking 5–6 figure brand deals for posting online!). BUT (and a big but at that…), you need the audience. Not that you need a big audience, you just need BIG social proof.

You can be a small but mighty creator, but you need proof of impact.

And this is where you’ll also create lucrative opportunities for yourself on Instagram through digital products, hosting retreats, and more.

Impact, story, and authentic influence are what it is all about, at the end of the day. (That goes for whether you choose to start a blog or an Instagram).

So… Which One Should You Start, Blog or Instagram?

I will tell you what I advise all the creators who take my blogging course: Get clear on your intentions first.

And then you can ask me a hundred times, and I’ll always say: Start your travel blog first. (Or just focus on it more than socials, if your goals align with the blogging lifestyle vs the Instagram lifestyle.)

A blog is your digital foundation that you can bridge your social posts back to. It’s your center from which everything pours.

Your blog is more capable of sustainable, long-term income. It’s where you can attract, not chase real impact and purpose (with Instagram intentionally layered in, as well).

The magic happens when the two work together:

• Blog brings traffic → affiliate/ad income → super fans → authority
• Instagram brings reach → connection → community → funnel to blog

Obviously, I’m biased. You are reading a literal blog post on a travel blog coaching website, after all.

But, I do love my Instagram community, which I’ve nurtured for 8+ years. Literally. I’ve been on there before Mosseri. I’m a millennial who used the sepia Instagram filter and had to hustle to get to my first 10K just so I could unlock the Instagram link in the Stories feature.

But my travel blog? It’s given me everything: financial freedom, purpose, and a sense of community.

Not just followers. But a real, sustainable business that has attracted book writing opportunities, speaking gigs, a worldwide readership, a thriving social community, and a genuine impact.

Need help getting started?

Join the course to get clear on your blog niche, purpose, and strategy—and finally start that blog you’ve been dreaming about!

Because it’s not too late. But hello, it is time!!!

Seriously. Stop waiting, start your blog. Like right now.