So… How Does Travel Blogging Actually Work?
We get that question a lot: “Wait…. is travel blogging your job?” Short answer: Yes. Longer answer: Buckle up!
Travel blogging can look like a dream job, and in some ways, it is, but there is a lot more involved than just travelling and taking photos. Travel Blogging is a full-time business that blends creativity, strategy, and a lot of behind-the-scenes hustle. At its core, a travel blog is a digital platform that allows us to share our tips, advice, itineraries, top things to do, photos, videos and more, all from our own adventures and experiences we’ve had while travelling.
But behind every journey is a whole lot of dedication and countless hours of hard work, including – researching new destinations, planning itineraries, calculating distances for walking tours or daytrips, (we use google maps a lot!!), downloading and editing photos and videos, uploading photos and videos, writing articles and travel guides, planning out our content months in advance, researching SEO (Search Engine Optimisation, so people can find our posts on google), responding to e-mails, watching YouTube videos on how to… do everything and anything, planning logistics for upcoming trips, creating ads, uploading content onto our websites, getting new posts and reels ready for social media, in hopes that we will entice new potential clients to follow us or join our mailing list, and a whole lot of figuring things out as we go!
So how do we make a living doing this? That’s the real question. Well, it’s a bit of a mixed bag. One of the most common ways is through joining affiliate programs with travel companies that we use, trust and would recommend to others, for example, Expedia, Viator, VRBO or companies that sell travel products. We create links for those companies, promote them on our website and if someone clicks on our link and makes a purchase through it, we get a small commission, for the referral, at no extra cost to our client. Once your travel blog is more established you could have sponsored posts, from brands that would pay to feature their company or product on your social media, or companies could pay to advertise on your website. As well, if the travel blogger has something to sell, like digital products, travel guides, Itineraries, photography, or travel planning services, that could be another way to monetize their business. We provide a service by turning our own experiences into well planned travel guides, helping to make your experience better!
In short, travel blogging is part creative strategizing and part entrepreneurship. It allows us to explore the world while building a community and a business at the same time. We’re grateful to be able to do what we love-and even more grateful for the people like you who read, follow, and support us along the way. We are very passionate about travelling and photography, but also passionate about the planning that goes into creating a fun and exhilarating adventure, we like to Focus on the Journey, from our first thoughts of where to go, to our last flight home and everything in-between.
If you’ve found value in our travel recommendations and planning, we invite you to book your next trip through our travel links on any of our blog posts on our website, (like this one, see below) or you can contact us directly for help. Your support allows us to continue exploring new destinations and sharing authentic experiences with you. Thank you for being part of this journey – we look forward to inspiring you and your adventures!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning that we would get a small commission if you decided to make a purchase through one of them, at no extra cost to you and you would be supporting our small Canadian business. This would allow us to continue creating informative travel content. All the businesses we are recommending are ones we use in our travels and feel comfortable doing so!
The following travel companies are ones that we have been using successfully for years and feel comfortable recommending. Click on any of these company names and book through that link to support our small Canadian business.
Expedia – For flights, accommodations, car rentals, insurance, cruises, packages, all-inclusive travel, and activities.
Hotels.com – accommodations and car rentals.
VRBO – vacation rentals, long-term stays, for homes, apartments etc.
Get your guide – activities, you can book everything from cooking classes, food tours and entry fees for some of the biggest tourist attractions around the world, to hop on hop off bus tours, whale watching and extreme sport excursions.
Viator – very similar to Get your Guide, you can book amazing activities and excursions of all kinds.
OMIO – this one is for train and bus travel in Europe.
Thank you,
From Wild Meadow Studio
A Travel and Photography Blog
Where we Focus on the Journey
By: Beth de Verteuil
