How to Start a Travel Blog: Make Money While Traveling

Creating a travel blog is a great way to document your hobby, create a community, and make money. If you put your mind to it, you can even quit your job and become a full-time professional travel blogger.

This guide contains a step-by-step tutorial on how to start a travel blog website – from researching your niche to the many methods of making money blogging.

We will explore each step in-depth, offer actionable tips, and answer frequently asked travel blogging questions. By the end of this article, you will have learned the basics of crafting a successful travel blog.

1. Research Your Niche

The first step of how to start a blog is to find your travel blogging niche. A blog niche is a particular topic that your blog content will mainly be about.

To become a successful travel blogger, establishing a niche is very important for many reasons.

Firstly, if you choose a niche and stick to it, you will have less competition and more opportunities to stand out.

Having a niche also makes it clear what your content is about and who its intended target audience is. If your blog content doesn’t have a unifying theme, it will be challenging to attract a loyal audience because not everyone will be interested in all the topics you cover.

In contrast, if you choose one unique topic and go in-depth with it, you will attract people who are already interested and want to read more about it.

You don’t even have to be an expert in the niche you choose. When you start a travel blog website, all you need is passion and curiosity. The more you write about the niche, the more authority you will have over it as time goes on.

Choosing a niche is also great for search engine optimization. For example, if you blog consistently about a specific topic, Google will associate that topic with your website. This will help your blog rank higher on Google, attracting more traffic and new readers.

The travel blogging community is increasingly saturated, which makes choosing the right blog niche idea all the more critical.

Here are some common examples of travel blog niches:

• Budget traveling. Caters to people who want to travel on a budget. Budget travel bloggers write content that often includes affordable travel tips and reviews of low-cost accommodation and cheap travel gear.
• Luxury traveling. Targeted at people who seek the most lavish traveling experiences. Luxury travel bloggers usually share reviews of exotic destinations and exclusive travel tips.
• Family-friendly traveling. The target audience is people who want to travel with their family. Family-friendly travel bloggers usually craft kid-friendly itineraries and review kid-friendly destinations.
• Solo traveling. For travelers who want to journey on their own. Solo travel bloggers usually write content that covers solo travel tips, especially how to stay safe.

As you may already know, your blog niche will be strongly related to your target audience. After all, you’ll be targeting people who have a connection to the topic you will cover and are interested in it, actively seeking more information.

There are many ways to get to know the target audience of your travel blogging niche. Here are some tips for targeting your niche audience:

• Social media. Browse social media platforms and observe your potential target audience. Take notes of how they communicate, what their needs are, and join in the conversation.
• Competitive research. Read up on other bloggers in the travel niche you have chosen. Read their content and analyze the areas that you can improve on with your content.
• Read comments. Comments on other blogs may include community feedback, which is great for content ideas.
• Statistics. Statistics are real-world data that can help you find content ideas, support your claims, and add authority to your content in general.
• News. When you start a travel blog, you must keep up with the latest news related to your niche so that your content remains relevant to readers.

2. Come Up With a Memorable Blog Name

After choosing a niche, it’s time to create a name for your travel blog. As a travel blogger, the blog name is a significant part of your blog’s brand – it’s important to get it right.

Your travel blog name is also one of the first things that new readers will notice. Although a good blog name is only a minor factor in building a successful travel blog, it’s still vital to make a positive first impression.

The blog name is also an opportunity to pitch your blog to new readers. It’s a great way to arouse interest and set expectations for your content.

For example, starting a travel blog with a funny name will give the impression that your content has a relaxed and entertaining tone.

Here are some tips and tricks to choose the best name for your travel blog website:

• Brainstorm words related to your niche. List words that are often used by people in your travel blog niche. For example, if your niche is family-friendly traveling, list words like “kids,” “babies,” “parents,” and “fun.” If you’re in a rut, use helpful tools like Related Words.
• Think about your target audience. Consider the language and style your target audience might be accustomed to when talking about the topic. Browse social media and other blogs in the niche to familiarize yourself with it.
• Consider the style of your content. Ask yourself how you’re planning to deliver your content. Is your tone going to be casual, serious, or something in between? Make sure that the blog name you choose reflects that.
• Make it simple and memorable. Avoid unnecessarily complicated words, phrases, characters, or numbers. Come up with a blog name that will be easy for anyone to remember. Ideally, it should be easily pronounced and spelled so that people can find it without trouble.
• Get creative. Don’t be afraid to experiment with unique word combinations and styles. For example, if it matches your blog’s tone, feel free to come up with witty puns to include in your blog’s name.
• Use the available tools and ask for help. Use online tools such as a blog name generator to help with your brainstorming. Pitch possible blog names to other people, especially members of your target audience. Ask them to choose which ones they prefer and can easily remember.

While you’re brainstorming for a blog name, don’t forget that it will be related to your domain name.

A domain name is the website’s address – for example, hostinger.com is the domain of the Hostinger website. You can choose, register, and buy a domain name from companies called domain registrars.

While there are nearly endless possibilities for choosing a blog name, domain names are unique. For example, there can only be one awesomesolotrips.com. Therefore, make sure that the travel blog domain you want is still available.

The pricing of domain names varies depending on each domain’s perceived value. On average, expect to pay about $10-15/year. If you add more features such as domain privacy protection, it’ll cost more.

Depending on which blogging platform you choose, you might be able to get a free domain name for the first year.

3. Pick a Blogging Platform

The next step of starting a travel blog is to choose the best blogging platform. In general, there are two categories of blogging platforms – content management systems (CMS) and website builders.

A CMS is a software that lets users create and manage a website through a user-friendly interface. With CMS, making a website becomes more accessible because people don’t have to code it from scratch. Take a look at how they compare in different categories in the graph below.

The free WordPress software is open-source and is the most popular CMS at the moment, with a 65.1% market share.

A website builder is usually a software-as-a-service (SaaS) that lets users create and manage websites easily. They are designed to help complete beginners create websites as fast as possible.

The majority of website builders are closed-source, such as Zyro, Wix, and Squarespace.

Of course, each platform has its strengths and weaknesses. However, for professional travel blogs, WordPress is overall the better option.

Compared to website builders, the free WordPress CMS offers more customization, control, and, most importantly, scalability. Migrating to a different platform can be a pain – it’s best to choose a future-proof option to grow your travel blog seamlessly.

So, in this guide, we will offer a step-by-step tutorial on how to start a travel blog on the WordPress CMS.

That said, before you install WordPress, you will have to choose a hosting company and a suitable hosting plan for your blog.

4. Set Up Web Hosting

To create a self-hosted WordPress account, you will need to purchase a hosting plan. Web hosting is a service that lets users rent server space and resources allocated with it to store websites or web applications.

A company that provides hosting is called a web host or a hosting provider. There are many hosting companies on the market, each offering various hosting plans at different prices.

For example, basic plans have limited bandwidth and are only meant for one website only, while more expensive plans may offer unlimited bandwidth and the space to host more than one website.

Choosing the right hosting provider and plan is very important to ensure that your WordPress blog runs smoothly. Pay attention to the following criteria when selecting a hosting company:

• Security. Make sure the hosting provider you choose offers proper security features such as data protection configuration, advanced security modules, and DDoS attack countermeasures.
• Speed. A fast-loading website is essential to provide the best reader experience and retain visitors. Choose a speedy hosting provider that has servers all around the globe, uses advanced and up-to-date web server software, and is proven to have fast server response times.
• Uptime. Uptime describes the percentage of time during which a hosting server is up and running. The current uptime industry standard is 99.9%, which you should prioritize when browsing web hosts.
• Support. You will be using your hosting for as long as your travel blog is online, so there will be many instances when issues may come up. In these cases, contacting the hosting provider’s support team will be the primary way to solve them. Make sure to choose a hosting provider that offers a pleasant and helpful customer experience.

Hostinger provides a variety of secure and fast hosting plans with a 99.9% uptime guarantee and 24/7/365 live chat support.

The types of hosting we offer include shared hosting, cloud hosting, WordPress hosting, and VPS hosting. We also offer a free domain name for one year with the majority of our plans.

Once you’ve purchased a hosting plan, install WordPress. Fortunately, most hosting providers, including Hostinger, have a tool that lets you install WordPress in an instant.

Once you’ve created a self-hosted WordPress account, the next step is to start customizing your blog.

5. Customize Your Travel Blog

Making your travel blog aesthetically pleasing and easy to use will leave a positive first impression on visitors and compel them to keep reading. This section will cover how to customize your blog’s look, functionality, and features.

Establish Your Branding

If you establish good branding, it will be easier to attract and retain your target audience. Having every element on your travel blog be on-brand will make your website more recognizable and memorable to new readers.

Before you start designing your blog or adding any content, consider your target audience and goals. Think about the message and the kind of impression you want to express through your travel blogging brand.

For example, if you’re a travel blogger who has chosen solo travel as the niche, it means your target audience will be aspiring solo travelers.

After conducting some research, you might find that aspiring solo travelers are excited about the idea of traveling alone but are anxious about going forward due to their lack of knowledge and experience.

In that case, you may want to craft your travel blogging brand message to communicate something along the lines of “This blog is a trustworthy, and accessible source of information for beginners who want to travel alone safely.” The goal of this message is to make sure the travel blog appears dependable and friendly.

After establishing your travel blogging brand message and goals, it’s time to express them through every element on your blog. This includes the colors, fonts, blog title, tagline, photos, images, and the writing style of the blog posts.

For example, if you want to appear as a travel blogger who’s friendly and accessible, use simple language and short sentences.

Remember – consistency is the key to strong branding. Make sure that every element of your travel blog is in harmony with each other.

If a new reader discovers your travel blog through a post, each element of that post should reflect your travel blogging blog brand in general. If the reader resonates with the branding of that one post, they will be more interested in checking out the rest of your travel blog.

Another important factor of a strong brand is uniqueness. Standing out among other bloggers will make you memorable to readers and companies who may want to work with you.

Pick a Theme for Your Travel Blog

A WordPress theme is a design template that can be applied to any WordPress website to change its overall look and feel. WordPress users can install themes from the official WordPress library or upload one they’ve downloaded from a third-party source.

When you’re browsing for the best professional theme for your travel blog, pay attention to these criteria:

• Pricing. If you’re looking for a paid WordPress theme, make sure that you’re getting good value for your money.
• Features. Check the theme’s information and find out whether it has all the features you need.
• Updates. Make sure that the theme is regularly updated. Out-of-date themes can be vulnerable to security breaches.
• Support. Check whether the theme offers dedicated support for its users and if it does, for how long.
• Uniqueness. Choose a theme that will make your site look different from your competitors. Make sure that the theme has the necessary customization tools to truly make it your own.
• Code quality. A theme with high-quality code will result in web pages being faster to load, making your blog an enjoyable experience for readers. You can check the quality of a theme’s code by using Theme Check.
• Mobile responsiveness. Mobile devices account for 54.8% of all web traffic, so making your blog mobile-friendly is very important. You can lose tons of traffic if your website doesn’t perform well on mobile.

While free WordPress themes may suffice for most blogs, some may significantly benefit from upgrading to a paid one. Here are some areas where free and premium themes differ:

• Number of features. Free themes usually have limited features, while premium themes have significantly more of them. For example, many premium themes include additional features such as page templates, multiple fonts, and custom-made elements.
• Frequency of updates. Unfortunately, many WordPress attacks happen due to security vulnerabilities found in outdated themes. Compared to a free theme, a premium theme is more likely to be updated frequently.
• Support channel. Most free themes don’t offer a dedicated support channel, while many premium themes do. With access to dedicated support, users who encounter an issue with their theme can ask for help.

Here are some travel blog themes we recommend:

• Blossom Travel. A freemium theme designed for building an elegant and feminine travel blog. It is fully responsive, optimized for search engines, and has unlimited color options. It also supports video banners and includes multiple custom-made widgets.
• Bingle. A free Elementor-based theme for multiple purposes. It comes with 11 prebuilt starter sites, including one that’s excellent for a travel blog. Bingle is also SEO-friendly and mobile responsive.
• Essence Pro. A sophisticated professional theme designed for bloggers in various niches. In addition to mobile responsiveness, it’s also WooCommerce-ready, supports the Genesis Framework for intuitive customization, and has accessibility features.
• Soledad. A multi-concept professional theme for various blogging purposes. In addition to a speed, SEO, and mobile-friendliness guarantee, Soledad includes 220+ prebuilt starter sites, including many that are suitable for travel bloggers. It also supports AMP for faster loading.

Installing a WordPress theme is simple. You can either install one directly from the WordPress dashboard or upload a .zip file of the theme and install it.

To make the look of your site even more unique, customize it further by using the theme editor. Some themes also support drag-and-drop page builders like Elementor which let users tweak theme elements in real-time and in more detail.

Create a Logo and a Slogan

A logo is a visual representation of your blog’s brand. It can be in the form of a lettermark, wordmark, symbol, or something else. A great well-placed logo can communicate the essence of your brand and make it more recognizable.

Take a look at the logos of some of the most prominent travel blogs and what makes them great:

• Expert Vagabond. This travel blog’s logo has an illustration of the person running it, giving a personal touch to the brand.
• Hand Luggage Only. The logo is a simple wordmark that looks handwritten and fits the overall branding of the blog perfectly.
• Adventurous Kate. This travel blog caters to solo female travelers and its logo gives off a fun, feminine, yet bold impression. This is achieved by using a combination of a script-style font and an elegant font in all caps.
• Travel Freak. With a bold font, bicolor scheme, and a simple line graphic illustrating a mountain, this blog’s logo is simple yet dynamic.

There are several ways to create a logo for your website. Before you actually make it, it’s imperative to have a clear idea of what you want your logo to look like, what message it should send, and how it should relate to your overall branding.

Don’t hesitate to create different sketches by hand. Consider which one will fit your brand and blog design the best. If you’re unsure, consult other people – preferably members of your target audience.

Next, choose a method for creating the final digital version of your logo. If you’re well-versed in graphic design, using software like Photoshop is the best way to go.

Alternatively, you can use a free logo maker or hire a professional graphic designer to create your logo. Of course, free logo makers have their limitations, but they’re worth looking into if you’re on a tight budget.

On the other hand, hiring a graphic designer can get you a high-quality logo. You can hire an agency or a freelance designer on websites like Upwork or 99designs.

For the best result, find a designer whose style you like most. Then, communicate your ideas and needs fully before hiring them.

Next, create a slogan for your travel blog. A slogan or a tagline can clarify what your blog is about, especially if your blog name alone doesn’t do it.

For example, the blog name “Traveling Terry” does signify that it’s a travel blog, but only in general. If it comes with a slogan like “Solo travel guides for beginners,” new readers will immediately understand what to expect from the blog’s content.

The process of creating a blog slogan is similar to creating a blog name. This time, however, you can use more words, giving you more room for experimentation. If you’re not sure where to begin, remember your brand’s message and brainstorm from there.

Fortunately, many tools can help you generate a slogan if you’re feeling stuck. Zyro’s AI Slogan Maker, for example, can create phrases based on the keywords you enter.

Design Your Travel Blog

The design idea for your blog must also align with the branding you’ve established in the previous step. For the best results, every design element must contribute to creating a consistent experience throughout the blog.

For example, if the tone of your content is playful, it would make sense to use a bright color scheme, sans serif fonts, and animated elements in your blog. Make sure that the design of every page and post is harmonious for consistency.

Creating a unique experience for readers can do wonders for your blog. Of course, the actual content of your blog is what matters most – however, how you present it is also important.

Last but not least, make sure that your blog is easy to use. A website that’s difficult to navigate can frustrate visitors, making it more difficult for them to explore content. Creating a sitemap will help SEO and make it easier to ensure a pleasant user flow.

While web design is very important, do not overdo it to the point where it complicates your blog. When in doubt, always keep it simple. Above all, put your content first.

For inspiration, check out these well-designed travel blogs:

• 12hrs. This travel website executes its concept very well with intuitive navigation and a unique layout. Their “12hrs In…” series, for example, uses full-page photos, large headings with colorful backgrounds, and slideshows to create an immersive reading experience.
• Salt in our Hair. An excellent example of a stunning blog that puts user-friendliness first. For instance, the navigation menu categorizes travel destinations by continent, making it easier to find the content you want. Aesthetically, the blog uses muted colors, playful fonts, and uniquely framed photos to create a dynamic look.
• Anywhere We Roam. A great example of a simple yet effective web design. This travel blog uses large, striking headers to invite readers to keep browsing. The abundance of white space elevates the writing and images.

Page builder plugins like Elementor and Beaver Builder are excellent for DIY, code-free web design. Alternatively, hire a professional to do it. You can find a cheap web developer or designer on freelancing platforms like Upwork.

Install the Necessary Plugins

WordPress plugins let you easily add extra features to your website without having to edit its code. Some plugins elevate the experience of visitors, while others help website administrators perform their tasks more efficiently.

With 59,000+ WordPress plugins available in the official library, it’s safe to say that there is a plugin for nearly every need.

Installing a WordPress plugin can be done straight from the WordPress dashboard by going to Plugins -> Add New. Users can also install a plugin downloaded from another source by uploading the plugin file – navigate to Plugins -> Add New -> Upload Plugin.

Here is a list of the best WordPress plugins for travel blogs:

• Yoast SEO. The most popular SEO plugin that’s packed with numerous features such as automated technical SEO, title and meta description templating, and SEO analysis to help users write content that will rank on search engines.
• MonsterInsights. This plugin integrates Google Analytics into your blog. You’ll be able to access detailed visitor information right from the WordPress dashboard.
• Wordfence Security. A security plugin that protects your blog from malware and hacker attacks. Its signature features include a firewall that blocks malicious traffic, a malware scanner, and two-factor authentication login.
• Akismet Spam Protection. The comments section is an excellent space for a travel blogger to connect with their readers. Unfortunately, spam comments that may contain malicious content are rife on WordPress. This plugin automatically filters incoming comments that look like spam.
• LiteSpeed Cache. If you use LiteSpeed-based hosting like Hostinger, this plugin is essential to ensure the best performance. This all-in-one website acceleration plugin works at the server level to increase site speed.
• Smush. Most travel blogs have tons of images, which can quickly decrease the performance if not managed properly. This plugin lets travel bloggers optimize, compress, and lazy load images to ensure good-looking visuals and a speedy site.
• Geo Mashup. As a travel blogger, you may want to attach your location information to your articles in the form of an interactive map. This plugin lets you use various map providers, including Google Maps, OpenLayers, and Leaflet.
• Blog2Social. Promoting your posts on social media is easier with an automated tool like this plugin. It lets users schedule auto-posts of their articles on various social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.
• Creative Mail. Email marketing is an excellent way to reach your audience directly. This plugin lets you build email lists and create email marketing campaigns right from the WordPress dashboard.

It’s best to install only the plugins you need. A WordPress website with too many plugins can slow down, negatively impacting user experience.

6. Set Up the Pages

The next step of starting a travel blog is to create pages. Pages usually contain static content. Examples include the About and Contact pages.

Some pages can be dynamic, such as the Home page, which may update whenever there’s a new blog article. They only need to be set up once in the beginning – all you have to do is add certain blocks or widgets, and the content will update automatically.

Many travel blogs employ several custom pages to help users navigate the different types of content quickly.

For example, Expert Vagabond has custom pages titled “Destinations,” “Travel,” and “Nomadic Life.” These pages contain links to other pages or articles that fall under the same category.

To create a page, log in to the WordPress admin dashboard and follow these steps:

1. On the left sidebar, go to Pages -> Add New.
2. You will be taken to the block editor, where you can add the page’s title, write text, and configure its settings.

3. You can also add blocks from the blocks library, which lets you add various types of content and widgets.

4. Once finished, select Publish.

If you want to make certain pages appear on the blog’s navigation menu, change the navigation settings by going to Appearance -> Menus.

7. Publish Your First Blog Post

Finally, it’s time to start writing your first blog post as a travel blogger. The key to a successful travel blog is having a well-planned content strategy and posting consistently.

Before you start writing articles for your travel blog, you should decide on their topics first. To write valuable, attractive content, choose topics you’re interested in.

A good place to start is to ask yourself why you’ve decided to take up travel blogging in the first place. A unique perspective will make your content more interesting. Even if you’re not an expert, palpable passion and curiosity will attract readers.

When choosing a topic, consider whether your target audience will be as interested in it as you are. A successful blogger writes for both themselves and the audience. To find out whether a topic is worth writing about, conduct keyword research.

In SEO, keyword research is the practice of finding search engine terms to include strategically in content like blog articles. It involves choosing a particular topic that will target a specific keyword you’d like to rank for.

To conduct keyword research efficiently, use a keyword research tool like Ahrefs or SEMrush. If you’re on a tight budget, there are free tools you can employ instead, such as Free Keyword Generator, Answer The Public, and Keyword Surfer.

For your first blog posts, it’s best to target niche, low competition, long-tail keywords over those with extremely high search volumes. That way, you’ll have better chances of ranking high on search engine results pages (SERPs) as a new blog.

For example, it will be easier to rank high on Google by targeting “best budget hotels bali” instead of “best hotels bali.”

Once you’ve done keyword research, start writing the blog post.

Creating a post on WordPress is very similar to creating a page, as you’ll also be using the block editor. To create a new post, log in to the WordPress dashboard and go to Posts -> Add New and begin writing.

For the best results, create an outline and a draft. Once you’ve finished writing, carefully edit and proofread your article. Don’t hesitate to make dramatic changes if you feel the article is off. For example, try rearranging the structure or deleting irrelevant or bloated sections.

You don’t have to be an excellent writer when you start a travel blog. If you practice and commit to improving your writing skills, you will eventually produce articles that you will be proud of. Just make sure that your content is original and easy to understand.

It’s also important to keep in mind that every article must answer the keyword’s search intent. In other words, the content must answer the readers’ questions they had when entering the keyword into Google in the first place.

To make your content more attractive, add visuals to illustrate places or destinations. Relevant, high-quality images help break up text and improve overall readability. While using original images is the best option, you can use stock pictures if you don’t have your own.

In addition to images, you can also embed videos in your articles to create a more immersive experience for your readers.

To further increase the chances of ranking high on Google, optimize the content of the article and its metadata using the Yoast SEO plugin. Once activated, the plugin will appear near the bottom of the text editor, offering real-time suggestions and tools.

For the best search engine results, make sure to implement other SEO tips.

Finally, when you’re done with the article, click Publish.

8. Promote and Grow Your Audience

If you want to be a successful travel blogger, publishing articles is just the beginning – you will also have to promote your blog. This step is all about driving traffic to your travel blog and getting people to read your articles.

Here are the most common ways to market a blog and grow your audience:

• Search engine optimization. Optimizing your travel website for Google is one of the best ways to promote it for free. Targeting specific keywords when planning articles and using the Yoast SEO plugin can help your articles rank higher, increasing the chances of gaining new readers.
• Social media marketing. Share your blog articles on social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Each platform has its strengths – for example, Twitter is great for executing word-of-mouth marketing campaigns, while Instagram and Pinterest are great for visual-heavy content.
• Email marketing. With email marketing, you can reach your audience and personalize the message for each person. On your blog, invite people to sign up for your newsletter. As an incentive, you can promise exclusive content with the newsletter.
• Write guest posts. Guest posting involves writing articles for other blogs to promote yours. It’s also a great way to network with other blogs in the niche.
• Join travel forums and communities. By doing this, you’ll be able to communicate with other people in your niche and share your blog articles when appropriate. Make sure to abide by the forums’ rules, though – some don’t allow self-promotion.
• Pay-per-click ads. With platforms such as Google Adwords, Facebook Ads, and Instagram Ads, you’ll be able to advertise your blog. Keep in mind that this method is not free.

When you’re just getting started, feel free to experiment with different approaches to find the ones that work best. That said, while there are a lot of ways to market your blog, it’s best to focus on just a few. It’s better to execute two excellent marketing campaigns than have ten subpar ones.

To determine the success of your marketing campaigns, use proper tools. Google Analytics, for example, will let you view and analyze traffic metrics. It is a very helpful tool to measure the growth of your travel blog.

9. Make Money with Your Travel Blog

Once your travel blog has taken off, there will be many opportunities to make money blogging. If you manage to do it successfully, you may be able to focus on your blog full-time.

How much money you make will depend on how good your income strategy is and the number of income streams you have. The following are common ways to make money as a travel blogger:

• Advertising. Display ads on your travel blog by signing up with ad networks like Google Adsense, Mediavine, and Ezoic. Keep in mind that some ad networks require blogs or websites to hit a certain number of visitors before being allowed to sign up.
• Affiliate links. By being an affiliate of a brand or an eCommerce marketplace like Amazon, you will make money every time people use your affiliate links to purchase products. Affiliate networks that you can sign up for include ShareaSale and SkimLinks.
• Sponsored posts. When you’ve gained enough traction, brands may contact you to commission blog articles. You can also pitch an article idea to a brand to see if they are interested in sponsoring you. Alternatively, feel free to sign up on influencer networks like Cooperatize and Linqia.
• Paid press trips. Tourism boards and public relations firms may invite you to travel to certain destinations with all expenses covered, offering to pay you in exchange for deliverables such as articles and social media posts.
• Exclusive content. Make money selling exclusive content such as ebooks, courses, merchandise, and photo editing filters.

Keep in mind that most bloggers will need at least a year of work before they can start making money blogging. The key is to be patient and keep working towards your goals.

10. Take Blogging Courses to Scale Your Site Even Further

This guide covers the basics of how to start a travel blog. If you want to get serious about it and make it a full-time job, reading this guide will be only the beginning of your learning process.

To get closer to building a successful travel blog, you’ll have to seek insight from experienced bloggers and study proven strategies. Here are some of the best online blogging courses you can enroll in now:

• Blogging Masterclass: How To Build A Successful Blog In 2021. A beginner-friendly blogging course that covers everything from the basics to advanced tips and strategies. You’ll be given a step-by-step tutorial from finding a niche to generating revenue from your blog. Lifetime access costs $149.99.
• Superstar Blogging by Nomadic Matt. This course by travel blogger Nomadic Matt offers effective strategies to help you build a successful travel blog. The $99 course features extensive tips and tricks.
• Complete SEO Course for Beginners by Ahrefs. This free course will take you through SEO concepts and actionable tips, from keyword research, link building, and technical SEO best practices.
• Making Sense of Affiliate Marketing. A beginner-friendly course that will guide you step-by-step through affiliate marketing strategies. You will learn how to increase your blog’s income significantly without turning away readers. You can access this course for $197.
• Social Media Marketing Mastery. This course covers social media marketing on multiple platforms, including Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. You’ll learn tips about making money on each platform and running high-quality ads. Lifetime access costs $149.99.
• Travel Blog Prosperity. A travel blogging course and a membership community where you can learn strategies to succeed in the travel blogging industry. You learn how to start a travel blog along with proven traffic, email, and income strategies by signing up for $49/month.

Conclusion

Travel bloggers explore the world, share their experiences, and attract a readership while making money off their content. It’s no wonder that many people are interested in becoming successful travel bloggers.

Although starting a travel blog is exciting, it can also be intimidating, especially since the travel blogging industry has become quite saturated.

In this tutorial, we have provided a step-by-step guide on how to start a travel blog using WordPress:

1. Research your niche. Choose a specific topic to establish what your content will focus on.
2. Come up with a memorable blog name. Brainstorm and choose a blog name that’s simple yet catchy to make a good first impression.
3. Pick a blogging platform. CMSs and website builders have their pros and cons. For a travel blog, WordPress may be best as it offers extensive customization, control, and scalability.
4. Set up web hosting. Choose a hosting provider and a hosting plan with enough resources so your travel blog runs smoothly.
5. Customize your travel blog. Establish your branding, choose a theme, create a logo and a slogan, design the look of your blog, and install the necessary plugins.
6. Set up the pages. Pages feature static website content. Examples include the About and Contact pages.
7. Publish your first blog post. Conduct keyword research to find a worthy topic for an article, write and edit it, add images or videos, and optimize it for search engines.
8. Promote and grow your audience. Choose the marketing methods that are suitable for your travel blog, such as social media and email marketing.
9. Make money with your travel blog. Once your travel blog takes off, monetize it by including ads, featuring affiliate links, and writing sponsored posts.
10. Take blogging courses to scale your site even further. Learn blogging in a more in-depth manner by taking online courses. They will teach you how to manage and scale your travel blog.

We hope that this tutorial has been helpful. Good luck with launching your own blog – we wish you an exciting travel blogging journey.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Start a Travel Blog