Many of us travel from time to time but do you know what it takes to start a travel blog and make money from it? 

Blogging has become a great way of generating revenue for many people, even more so for those creators who share their experiences through travel blogging. Travel blogging is extremely famous and for good reason. 

For most people nowadays, researching a vacation destination before they hop on a plane is crucial. As a result, travel blogging is more popular than ever before and a great source of generating income. 

If the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us anything it is that we never know the uncertainties life can throw at us. So, we should always be prepared. Many people ended up losing their jobs in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

With no additional income stream to fall back on, people all over the world are having a tough time coping with an already difficult situation. 

To make sure one doesn’t fall into the same boat as many people around the world, everyone should have multiple income streams. And what better way to earn an income while doing what you love?

If you are looking into being a travel blogger and make money from it, then this guide is for you. Keep on reading to find the best travel blogging tips, tricks, and money-making hacks to get you started! 

How to Start a Travel Blog 

Before you start a travel blog, keep in mind that it is not an easy road. You will have to put in the time and effort. However, the hard work you put behind the scenes in your travel definitely does pay off in the long run. 

Starting a travel blog requires one to have the self-discipline to stick with it even the going gets rough. 

When starting a travel blog, treat it like a business because it is one. This will put you miles ahead of anyone else in the game because of your mindset. 

With that said, let’s dive into how you can start a blog about your travel adventures step by step. 

1. Start with Picking the Right Name

First thing’s first, the name of your travel blog! 

It all starts with picking the perfect name for your travel blog. Choose a name carefully as you will have to use it for the rest of your brand forever. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind while looking for the right name for your blog-

Make it Unique to You 

It is important to be original and offer something unique to the world. You may think you are original or innovative but type in the word you have in mind and you’ll realize a hundred other people are using the same name.

You do not want your blog name to be similar to that of other people or brands. You want a name that stands out and is true to you and your experiences. 

Brainstorm ideas and figure out what is unique about you. Ask your friends or family to help because oftentimes we don’t pick up on things about ourselves that they do.  

Make it Easy to Remember

Always pick a travel blog name that is easy for people to remember. Avoid using long or complicated words in your name that are hard to spell. This way, people are more likely to remember your blog name, making it easier to locate you on the web.

When it comes to blog names, sweet and simple is the name of the game. 

Start by thinking about words that best describe your blog. Look for their synonyms or related words. You should also think about words that may represent something unique about your travel blog. 

Be Strategic and Think Long Term 

Choose a name for your blog that will work for you even in the future. What this means is that you do not need to be too specific with your blog name. it may make sense to you now but that does not mean it will keep on making sense in the future as well.

Avoid using your age or specific destinations in your name. Unless and until you are only going to be dedicating your blog to one region, there is no need to put it into your name. you need a name that represents your expertise or niche as a whole.

Choosing a travel blog name that is too narrow in its meaning will make it difficult for you to grow your travel blog business in the future and collaborate with the right brands. 

Be Professional with Your Name

Like I said before, you need to treat your travel blog as a business because it truly is a business. Choose a name that can be used in professional settings with ease as well.

Your travel blog name should not stand in the way of brands trying to collaborate with you as it does not seem professional. 

Your travel blog is a business and as such, you need to treat it like one by giving it a professional name.  

Make Sure the .com is Available for Your Name

Before you go about confirming the name for your blog, make sure that the .com or domain name for the name you have picked is available. While this won’t make or break your travel blog, it is certainly much easier to remember. 

Blogs or websites ending with .ca or .org are harder to remember. Since .com is the standard that everyone remembers websites by, you should choose that as well over others as this is what will stick the most with people. 

Make Sure the Name is Available Across Social Media Platforms

Social media is crucial in every aspect of growing a business. Even more so when it is a travel blog. 

Whether it is Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest, you need to make sure that the blog name you pick is available across all social media platforms that you use. 

You don’t want to be telling people a separate name for your blog and another one for your Instagram. People simply won’t remember.

You want to make it as easy as it is for people to find you and this is the way to do it. 

2. Install WordPress and Learn How to Use it

WordPress is a platform that provides you with design templates that you can use for your blog. It is, by far, the easiest, quickest, and most convenient option for beginner bloggers to start out. 

When creating a blog on WordPress, you want a self-hosted account. This will give you full control of your website, allowing you to advertise and use Google Analytics for your blogging business. 

3. Start Developing Your Brand  

You need to cultivate your brand’s personality right from the very beginning. This means choosing the right colors, logo, and the overall design. 

Your logo should emphasize what your blog represents while also using the right colors that make you stand out and look professional. 

You can design your own logo or pay someone to do it for you. 

If you want to design your logo by yourself, do some color research on Google and see what colors perform the best. You can then use tools like Photoshop. If you are a complete beginner, Canva is a great option. 

4. Learn the Ins and Outs of Writing a Travel Blog 

Starting a travel blog is easy. However, keeping it going is not. Which is why you need to prepare the best you can before you embark on this journey. 

Learn the ins and outs of writing for a travel blog by taking some online courses. Learn blogging best practices like search engine optimization (SEO), how to generate traffic to your website, how to build an audience, how to target the right audience, how to market your travel blog, and so on. 

How to Make Money from Your Travel Blog 

To make enough money off of your travel blog to the point that it allows you to live a comfortable life and helps you pay the bills, you need to diversify your income streams.

Here are a few ways to do that- 

1. Work as a Virtual Assistant on Other Established Blogs

A great way of making money from your travel blog is to first start out by writing for established bloggers.

Working for an experienced blogger will help you understand how the world of online blogging works. You can use that knowledge and get a head-start in your own blogging journey. 

Facebook groups are a great resource to have as they let you network with people having similar interests. These groups can give you an insight into what people are looking for. 

Moreover, attend industry events like TravelCon and Women in Travel Summit to network with other bloggers and gain insider knowledge into the world of blogging. Pitch your virtual assistant services to these bloggers and seek new opportunities. 

While this seems like a long stretch, you should never fail for a lack of trying. Reach out to a blogger you like and offer them your services. 

2. Get Involved in Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is one of the most common ways of making money from your travel blog. 

You don’t have to worry about building a huge following before starting affiliate marketing. Even if you are just starting out, having affiliates in mind and recommending their products on your blog is going to pay off.

Affiliate marketing takes time to take off but it certainly is worth the wait. That’s because once it gets going, it is the best source of passive income available on the internet. All you have to do is just sit back, relax, and watch the money roll in more and more people use your affiliate links.  

3. Earn Money by Placing Ads on Your Blog

You will ad revenue based on the traffic your blog receives and the views those ads get. 

While ads are not the prettiest addition to your travel blog, most readers don’t usually mind them. Therefore, it doesn’t hurt to place an ad on your travel blog. Moreover, your followers will be happy to see you making money. 

4. Start a YouTube Channel Around Your Blog and Monetize it

YouTube is a great way of expanding your travel blogging efforts and establishing an additional income stream. 

Similar to the blog, your YouTube channel would require hard work and consistency. However, do not let that discourage you. Be consistent in your posting your YouTube content. 

Human beings are visual creatures. People are much more likely to watch a video than read about their experiences. 

Who knows, may YouTube will become your main source of income along with your travel blog. Put in the effort and you will see the results!

5. Create and Sell Your Own Products and Services 

Some of the most successful bloggers have one thing in common: they have their own specific services or products to sell. 

From an e-book to a course to your own merchandise, there are a plethora of options to choose from when it comes to selling something. 

Keep in mind that the more creative you are in this area, the more people will buy your stuff even if they don’t read your blog. 

Creating and selling your own products is a long game, though. You would have to collect a considerable audience before you launch a product that you want people to put their money in. 

The Bottom Line

To start a travel blog and make money from it requires a fair bit of effort. This effort, however, pays off in the long run when you are able to generate multiple income streams out of it and earn money while relaxing on a beach in Miami. 

Never forget the power of the internet. Make worthwhile steps in the right direction and you will see growth in both your business and your money. 

The travel blogging tips and advice offered in this blog post will take you a long way in establishing a successful travel blogging business of your own. 

Start now!