How to Create a Travel Blog That Grows and Makes Money

If you’re looking for a sign to start a travel blog, then this is it.

“But Chipo, isn’t travel blogging a saturated industry?” you might be wondering. Well, friend, don’t let that stop you.

While travel blogging is a growing industry, there’s a demand for creators like you. Over 80% of travel planning is now taking place online – which means more people are looking for sites like yours (well, if you decide to get started) for guidance.

And that’s all you need to know that yes, this is your time.

If I let “freelancing being a saturated field” stop me from jumping in, I wouldn’t be here ten years later writing this to you. 

I hope that’s convinced you to move from “Hard no” to “Okay, I’m listening. Because this tutorial only gets better.

I’m going to show you how to create a travel blog that doesn’t look like the 1000s out there and uniquely reflects your personality.

Sounds good? Great! Let’s get started.

Step 1: Pick a Niche That’s Specific Enough to Stick (But Flexible Enough to Grow)

Before you touch a theme or write your first post, you need to get clear on who you’re talking to – and why they should care.

Starting a new venture becomes a lot less intimidating when you realize you’re not trying to reach everyone. You’re looking for your people.

Of course, that doesn’t mean you have to hyperfocus on being the most “unique” travel blogger on the internet. It’s about being strategically specific so that when the right person finds your blog, they instantly think, “Oh, this is for me.”

Think of your niche as the backbone of your blog’s content, SEO, lead magnets, affiliate offers — everything.

💡 What works?

• Solo travel for women over 40

• Exploring Southeast Asia through street food

• Remote work + long-term travel with a small dog and spotty Wi-Fi

• Travel blogging tips for Australian millennials

😬 What doesn’t?

• “My travel adventures”

• “A little bit of everything”

• “I’ll figure it out later”

And don’t stress about locking it in forever. Your niche can evolve — but leading with clarity helps you start a travel blog with direction (and gives your readers a reason to stick around).

Step 2: Build Your Blog on WordPress and Thrive Suite (Because That’s What Scales)

Yeah, this part is non-negotiable for me. I could waste your time listing 1000 different travel blog design theme options to try out, but that won’t help you (or me, to be honest).

I’m sharing what I’ve seen work when it comes to building websites. If you’re here to create a travel blog, you want it to make money. You want to build an audience for your blog. You want to turn it into a successful brand people won’t stop talking about.

A random theme on ThemeForest, or leaving you with a list of drag-and-drop platforms to go through will lead to a lot of stress.

I don’t want you struck in a few weeks filled with regrets about your travel blog design.

So, that’s why I’m telling you to start smart — with WordPress and Thrive Suite.

This setup gives you full control over how your blog looks, how it performs, and how it turns traffic into income. It’s the difference between building a temporary travel journal and setting up a platform that can grow with you for years.

I’ve used it, I love it, and I even ended up writing for the company. Plus our customers love these tools, too. Look:

Right, back to the tutorial.

✅ Start with this combo:

• Hosting: SiteGround or Hostinger (want to review more WordPress web hosting options? Check this list)
• Theme: Travel by Thrive Themes – it’s a stunning theme that evokes wanderlust the moment you see it
• Website Building Tools: Thrive Theme Builder + Thrive Architect – customize everything from your blog layout to landing pages, no code required
• Lead Capture: Thrive Leads – create high-converting opt-in forms that match your brand and segment your audience

💡 All of these tools (except the hosting) are part of Thrive Suite, which means they’re built to work seamlessly together — no plugin conflicts, no messy integrations, just a smooth workflow from setup to scaling.

Everything is designed to work together. No clunky hacks. No plugin drama. No wondering why your homepage looks fine on desktop but broken on mobile.

If you’re serious about growing your blog and building something long-term, this is the kind of setup that makes the hard stuff feel simple — and the simple stuff feel fast.

Tip: Want a deeper look at what hosting a website and building from scratch looks like? Then this tutorial is right up your alley.

Step 3: Plan Your Blog Like a Business (Before You Write a Single Post)

When people ask, “Why do you want to start a travel blog?” Or a business or new venture. Do you ever feel pressured to say “Oh I want to make a change” or “It’s my life-long dream”?

I need you to throw that out the window.

Now, if you’re learning how to create a travel blog because it is a dream or you want to leave your mark in the world, that’s admirable. But let’s be honest too: you’re here to make money travel blogging.

You aren’t doing all this research to earn it back in “difference”. And that’s okay! Nothing wrong with wanting to generate revenue (especially in this economy, am I right?)

Your website is your business. Which means planning is everything before you start booking flights or purchasing equipment. Don’t make the mistake most travel bloggers make by jumping straight into writing… and then wonder why no one’s reading, subscribing, or buying.

Before you even touch your first blog post, map out what you want your readers to do (Subscribe? Download a freebie? Book a consultation? Buy a digital guide?) 

You also need to make sure you know who your audience is and what they’re looking for. We call this building your buyer persona and mapping the customer journey – click those links to dive in more)

When you know the action, you can build your blog around it.

🧭 Start by creating these key pages:

• Homepage – Focused on one clear action, not just a photo gallery
• About Page – Tells your story and links to your lead magnet
• Lead Magnet Page – The freebie that gets them on your list
• Start Here Page – A guided intro to your best content

And you can easily set this all up, in a few clicks, with the Thrive Theme Builder setup wizard.

Thrive Theme Builder is where you set up your custom website structure (in less than 30 minutes) and then you’ll use Thrive Architect to customize your website pages and turn them into your unique space.

It’s easy to set up and even easier to maintain – and that’s what you need when you’re building a travel blog.

Step 4: Write 5 Blog Posts That Actually Do Something

This is where the fun starts – writing. 

And I’m sure you have a few ideas. Stories about travel when you were a kid, travel hacks you’ve learned along the way, and a few product recommendations. Good ideas, but they can wait.

You’re probably tired of me saying this again – and that’s okay – but I’ll keep saying it.

Plan. Plan. Plan.

You need to start strong when it comes to blogging and your first 5 posts set the tone.

They’re the foundation of your blog’s authority, traffic, and conversions. So, work on nailing these five first.

📝 Start with these five:

1. Your Story (with a CTA): Share how you got into travel and link your opt-in or freebie somewhere natural. People remember stories, but they act on value.

2. A Complete Guide Post: Think “Everything You Need to Know About Visiting [Place]” packed with useful info, affiliate links, and Pinterest potential.

3. A Comparison or Listicle: These rank well and are easy to monetize. Example: “Best Travel Backpacks Under $100” or “5 Cities That Beat Paris (and Why).”

4. A Behind-the-Scenes: “How I Travel” Post Let readers peek into your process — your gear, your hacks, your budget style. It builds trust fast.

5. A Tools or Resources Post: Perfect for SEO and affiliate links. Round up the apps, websites, gear, or systems you actually use on the road.

🧠 If you’re using Thrive Architect for your blog, you can easily add opt-in form templates for quick lead generation. As you get comfortable with using your tools, you can dive into Thrive Leads and start experimenting with different tricks to grow your email list.

These posts aren’t just filler. They do the heavy lifting while you're off exploring — attracting traffic, building trust, and planting the seeds of income.

Step 5: Make Your Blog Searchable (So People Can Actually Find You)

You can write the most brilliant guide to Santorini on the internet – but if it’s buried on page 17 of Google, it might as well be handwritten and stuffed in your sock drawer.

Aiming for page 1 is a little ambitious, especially if you’re new, but you should focus on having a good presence on search engines first. That forms a good foundation for optimizing your posts later on to hit the first page.

Also, good travel blog SEO goes beyond chasing algorithms. Your focus should be on making it easy for real people to find answers through your content. They can’t do that if your site isn’t visible.

So, to keep your platform from becoming a needle in a haystack, practice the SEO basics first. We already spoke about keyword research earlier (for a bit). Keep at it. You can use a free tool like Google Keyword Planner. SEO tools like Ahrefs or Semrush might be too pricey for you – especially if you’re just starting – but sometimes they offer their keyword search tools for free (it’s just a process to actually get to them).

🔍 Focus on these other beginner-friendly basics:

• On-page travel blog SEO – Title tags, header structure, image alt text, and meta descriptions all matter. Think clear, not clever.

• Internal linking – Guide your reader through your blog like a curated journey. Use Thrive Architect to drop links that make sense and keep them exploring.

• Mobile-first design – Most of your traffic will come from phones. The Travel Theme is already optimized for this, so you’re ahead.

💡 Personal Tip: I've found the All in One SEO (AIOSEO) plugin to be incredibly helpful. It offers real-time content analysis and takes care of the technical stuff (schema markup, XML sitemaps, etc.)  — all within your WordPress dashboard. It's beginner-friendly and has made my SEO strategy a lot simpler.

💡 SEO doesn’t need to be your full-time job. Get the basics right, use tools that support your growth, and let your content keep working long after you hit publish.

Step 6: Design Your Blog to Convert, Not Just Impress

Right, back to the big goal: conversions. 

If you follow the setup steps 1 to 4, you won’t need to worry about your site not looking good. It’ll look great.

But, we need it to work, too. So this is where you focus on making your blog conversion-focused (which basically means ensuring you provide clear opportunities for your website visitors to take action while they’re interested)

🎯 Here’s how to build a travel blog that converts:

• Add a clear CTA to every page and post – Whether it’s a button, link, or embedded form, always give your reader a next step.

• Use lead magnets that solve real problems – A printable packing list, a city-specific itinerary, or a “first time in [destination]” guide can work wonders.

• Segment your opt-ins – With Thrive Leads, you can create different offers for different types of readers (think: backpackers vs digital nomads).

• Use landing pages, not just blog posts – The Travel Theme comes with pre-designed landing page templates that make promoting an offer feel seamless.

💡 Most visitors will leave your blog without doing anything — unless you show them where to go. Strong CTAs and smart design make that decision easy for them.

This is where Thrive Suite really pulls ahead. You get everything you need to create a conversion-focused website. All your tools work well together, you aren’t breaking the bank, and you’re guaranteed quality templates.

But if you need a little more help making sure you’re hitting every point, this conversion optimization checklist can help make that happen.

Step 7: Map Out Monetization Before You Need It

Show me the moneeeey…

You can imagine saying that once you’ve got your monetization plan on lock and your travel blog is up and running.

And planning this process happens before you get consistent traffic to your website – not after. 

Because, imagine showing up at a new store, among a crowd of other interested potential customers, and they’ve had to close their doors because they don’t have prices for their products. That would be weird, right? And very unfortunate for that store because they would have lost a lot of money and might struggle to get on top of things.

That’s similar to what’ll happen to you if you only start trying to monetize your site once you’ve got a steady stream of traffic. 

Good thing you aren’t going to do that. You’re going to be smarter than that.

If you start planning for income early, it’ll be easy to promote your travel blog.

💸 Choose monetization methods that match your niche and content style:

Affiliate Marketing

Promote the tools, booking platforms, or gear you already use and love. Start by sprinkling links into your guide posts and resource pages. Thrive Architect makes it easy to showcase affiliate products without screaming “ad.”

Sponsored Content

Once you’ve built trust and traffic, you can pitch brand partnerships. Use your About page, Media Kit, or Start Here page to show that you’re not just a traveler — you’re a value-packed content partner.

Digital Products

Sell your own stuff: destination guides, itineraries, budget planners, or even photo presets. Thrive Architect + Thrive Apprentice makes this setup surprisingly simple, even if you're not “techy.”

Memberships or Private Content

Got a tight-knit community forming? Offer exclusive content like behind-the-scenes planning, Q&As, or city-specific downloads. It’s a great way to consistently make money travel blogging. Start building your email segments now (with Thrive Leads), so you know who’s most likely to say yes later. And if you want to learn how to start a membership site, this tutorial is for you.

🧠 Think of monetization like a layered map. Don’t try to do everything at once — but know where you’re headed, so your blog structure supports it from day one.

Cover Your Legal & Ethical Bases (Without the Headache)

Before you start collecting emails or adding affiliate links, make sure your blog’s covered where it counts:

• Privacy Policy + Terms & Conditions
• Affiliate disclosures on any monetized content
• GDPR-compliant opt-ins (yes, even if you’re not in the EU)
• Licensed images only — or use your own
• Respect for local cultures in your content + photos

Step 8: Build an Audience for Your Travel Blog (That Actually Engages and Buys)

Remember those lead magnets we talked about earlier? Here’s why they matter: getting someone’s email is like being invited into their inner circle. It’s personal. It’s permission-based. And it’s where your real marketing begins.

You don’t need 10,000 followers. You need people who care about what you share — and want more of it. The goal isn’t just traffic. It’s connection. Because the most valuable part of your blog isn’t your design or your post count. It’s your email list.

That’s where trust is built — and where conversions happen. In fact, 60% of consumers have purchased something directly from a promotional email. That’s not a side channel — it’s your most powerful sales tool.

Here’s how to start building that relationship:

• A welcome series – A simple 5-email sequence that shares your story, delivers a freebie, and introduces your best content (and monetized recommendations).

• Regular updates – Weekly or monthly emails with tips, behind-the-scenes insights, or destination inspiration.

• List segmentation – Use Thrive Leads to show different opt-ins based on reader interest (think: “Europe travel tips” vs “remote work hacks”).

• Collaborations – Team up with other bloggers for guest posts, email swaps, or co-created freebies. It’s a great way to grow your list and your credibility.

🔥 Pro tip: A smaller, segmented email list will outperform a massive, disengaged one every single time. Start strong, and scale with intention.

Step 9: Scale from Travel Blog to Travel Brand

Once your blog is live, your content is flowing, and your audience is growing — don’t stop there. This is where things can get really exciting (and profitable).

Think beyond posts. Start thinking offers, systems, and brand strategy.

🧱 Here’s how to start scaling:

• Create landing pages for new offers – Use Thrive Architect to launch digital products, freebies, or affiliate campaigns fast.
• Add testimonials and social proof – The Travel Theme includes pre-designed sections to showcase feedback without fiddling with code.
• Track what’s working – Use Google Analytics to monitor where your traffic comes from and which pages convert. If that sounds overwhelming, MonsterInsights gives you a clean, user-friendly way to view your GA data right inside your WordPress dashboard.
• Refine your funnels – Every key page should lead somewhere. Use Thrive Leads + Architect to optimize calls-to-action across your site.

🧠 Shift your mindset: You’re not “just” blogging anymore. You’re building a system that brings in leads, income, and long-term momentum — even while you’re on the move.

How to Create a Travel Blog: You Don’t Need a Huge Budget or a Viral Moment — Just the Right Start

You now know how to create a travel blog that actually works — not just one that looks nice on a desktop and gets ignored everywhere else.

You’ve got the tools. You’ve got the plan. And hopefully, you’ve ditched the idea that you need to “figure it out as you go.”

Because building a travel blog that earns, grows, and evolves with you? That doesn’t take luck. It takes a smart setup, the right systems, and a little bit of stubborn consistency.

And you’re way more ready than you think.

🎁 Ready to turn that travel blog idea into something real? Use the Travel Theme by Thrive with Thrive Suite to launch a site that looks great, grows fast, and actually earns while you explore.