How to Start a Travel Blog and Make Money
Title: How to Start a Travel Blog and Make Money
How to Start a Travel Blog and Make Money
Looking to start a travel blog and make money? Here’s your guide to setting up your blog and using tools like Stay22 to boost your earnings.
This guide shows how to start a travel blog and make money covering setup, audience growth, and beginner-friendly monetization that won’t hurt UX.
Jump to:
• Step 1: Begin your blogging journey
• Step 2: Content creation
• Step 3: Build an audience
• Step 4: Monetization strategies
• Step 5: Advanced tools to boost earnings
• Step 6: Keep track of your success
• Step 7: Persistence pays off
• Bonus tips
• FAQ
Step 1: Begin your blogging journey
Choose a niche: focus on a specific angle such as budget travel, luxury, solo adventures, or family trips.
Pick a domain name: choose something catchy, memorable, and relevant.
Set up WordPress on a reputable hosting provider, install a fast theme, and ensure your site loads quickly.
Create your essential pages: about, contact, privacy policy, and disclosures.
Connect GA4 and Google Search Console to track performance from day one.
Step 2: Content creation
Build a 10–15 post starter plan:
• 3 destination guides
• 3 “where to stay in X” posts
• 3 “things to do in X” posts
• 1–2 itineraries
• 1 resources page
Use answer-first intros, short paragraphs, and original photos to build trust and improve rankings.
Step 3: Build an audience
SEO basics: keep one clear H1 per page, add descriptive H2/H3s, and interlink related guides.
Start an email list with a simple lead magnet tied to your most popular destinations.
Promote on 1–2 channels you can sustain, and avoid spreading yourself thin across every platform.
Step 4: Monetization strategies
Affiliate marketing: add contextual deep links inside “where to stay” and “what to do” sections.
Ads: introduce display ads once traffic supports it, but avoid formats that block core content.
Sponsored posts and digital products: add these options once you have steady traffic and a defined audience.
Step 5: Advanced tools to boost earnings
Let Me Allez
Build context-rich deep links across posts and route users to the OTA most likely to convert. It reduces leakage and lifts EPC without adding extra work.
Nova
Nova supports planning and booking flows that keep readers engaged until they choose an accommodation option. Use it once per page as a contextual CTA.
Step 6: Keep track of your success
Track CTR, conversion rate, and EPC by post and by partner.
Use UTM parameters on priority links.
Replace underperforming partners after 60–90 days to keep your monetization optimised.
Step 7: Persistence pays off
Update top posts quarterly with new prices, maps, and recommendations.
Consolidate thin posts into stronger evergreen guides.
Publish on a predictable cadence so readers and Google know your blog is active.
Bonus tips
• Use comparison tables where helpful
• Compress images and add descriptive alt text
• Add breadcrumbs and a jump menu for long guides
FAQ
How long does it take to make money with a travel blog?
Most blogs take a few months before earning meaningful income. Results depend on content volume, niche competitiveness, and search intent, but consistent publishing speeds up the timeline.
Do I need a large audience to start affiliate marketing?
No intent and placement matter more than traffic. Deep links inside high-intent content often convert even with modest pageviews.