If you’re still rocking with me from 2009, you’re a rockstar and I love you! As many times as I’ve changed my mind, shut down, restarted and refocused my blog, I probably would’ve quit me. But, thank you — your constant and unwavering support is why I continue to write, explore, expand, discover and share!
This year, I’ve got big, or should I say MAJOR plans. Well every year I do, but I tend to fall off mid-year, but this YEAR I’ve dubbed the year of more. The year of spitting in the face of fear and the year of being more transparent and more open and not shrinking or playing small or whining about how much of a failure I really feel I am.
In the last couple of days, I received a few emails and messages about blogging in general and how I was able to break into the travel blogging world. In the spirit of transparency and honesty, I thought it would be a good idea to just write a general post for anyone else who may be wondering what goes into blogging & travelling in general.
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, if you have any that I haven’t answered, feel free to drop me a comment or send me a message on social media.
The Truth About Travel Blogging
How Did You Get Into Travel Blogging: I was always in love with writing and telling stories, so naturally, blogging was a perfect fit for me. The internet made it possible to become my own publisher, so one day I just decided to go for it; I created a blog in 2009 and just began putting my thoughts into the atmosphere. At the time, I decided to write about celebrities, music, entertainment, movies and whatever else made sense to me. After a few years, couple hundred thousand hits, it stopped being fun. It stopped being a passion. I shut it down and found a ‘real job’. A few years later I realized that it wasn’t blogging that I wasn’t passionate about, it was the subject matter. I restarted my blog in 2014 and focused on what I loved to do, travel! I find that a lot of people go through this situation. At first, it can be disheartening, but once you find what you love to write about, it brings back the initial memory of why you first started blogging.
How Much Money Do You Make Travel Blogging: Are you ready for this? I’ve made more $$$$ blogging about other things than I have ever made off of travel blogging. Let that sink in. For me, blogging isn’t about the money, or the “fame”, and that’s super important. Yes, there are bloggers making millions off of blogging, but I am not one of those persons yet. You should never get into anything solely because of the money or recognition. If this is the sole reason for you to start a blog, you have to start somewhere. For me, I LOVE sharing my experiences with people and teaching that it is possible to travel to the ends of the world if that is what you want to do. My currency is in the messages and comments that I get from people all over the world who thank me for showing them the world and being an inspiration. With that said let’s be clear… #IWanntGetPaidOneDayTho
Do You Pay For Your Trips: Yes, I’m not married to a drug dealer and I don’t turn tricks. I work a 9-5 and have multiple side gigs and I save like crazy. I am very frugal, aka CHEAP! I don’t have a phone plan, I pack lunch, I don’t have a car note, I don’t do loans (except a tiny student loan that I had no choice but to get), and I don’t have kids. In most cases, travelling, same as any goal you may have, is not a matter of wealth, it’s just a matter of how bad you want it. People will find money for things that they want to do or buy, like clubbing or buying weave. I have also written quite extensively, so feel free to take a look!
Can Anyone Become A Travel Blogger: Anyone can wake up one day and become a blogger or a more specifically a travel blogger, that’s the world we live in. Will you enjoy it is another thing! In anything you do in life, you must have passion and you should do it for the right reasons. I hate to break it to you but blogging is hard work and if you’re not passionate, don’t waste your time or money. But, if you are, it can be one of the most rewarding things you can do in life. Travelling is the greatest teacher and we can all learn something from getting out of one’s country. I’ve gotten some of my best business ideas from travelling the world!
How Do You Travel So Much: I get this question a lot! I’ve also written about it here! So feel free to dig deeper! But, as a person who holds down a full-time job, I do travel quite a bit. I use my casual days, vacation days, days in lieu and weekends to travel. When I plan my year, I base it on my budget and how much time off I have each year. My budget dictates where I’m going and I usually budget for two major trips a year which usually lasts up to 7 days max. I use weekends mixed with holidays to make “smaller” trips and last but not least I also capitalize on business trips.
What If I Want To Blog About More Than Travel: Travel isn’t the only thing in life that I enjoy, yet it’s a major component of my blog. Narrowing my niche when I restarted my blog was essential, it helped me to focus and not be all over the place! It helped me to get back in the game while not being overly exhausted. Do I want to blog about more than just travel, of course! It just has to make sense for me. I want to be able to create consistent content without “falling off”. This year I made a concerted effort to blog about more than just travel, so yes it is possible to love and blog about more than one thing. Many people start blogging by covering everything and then focusing their content. It’s honestly up to you and what you are able to handle. My suggestion is to start small and focused and then expand.
And there you have it! Super facts on travel blogging. While blogging has become super trendy, popular and overcrowded there is still room for more quality blogs. Blogging is not a get rich quick profession. It takes hard work, consistency and a little creativity, but its possible to create something beautiful that pays the bills.
If you’ve got a question I may not have touched on, need some advice or would like to collaborate, drop me a comment or send me an email!
LET’S KEEP IN TOUCH!
