The Blogger Roadmap
How to start your blog and monetise it
From "Dear Diary" to digital business.
What you'll learn
I grew That Travel Blog from 1,614 to 70,000 monthly pageviews from search in 18 months. This is the roadmap I followed.
- Taming the tech beast. How to set up a WordPress site without throwing your laptop into the sea.
- Google's good side. Mastering SEO so you can get traffic while you explore the world.
- Income on autopilot. A deep dive into affiliate marketing and digital products that turn readers into revenue.
- The art of the upgrade. How to professionally pitch hotels and brands for sponsored stays (trading value, no begging required).
- No filter. The honest truth about what it really takes to live this life full-time.
Building the foundation
Starting a blog involves immediate hurdles: hosting, domain names, niche selection, and content schedules. Analysis paralysis stops most people before they even write their first post. These two cover getting online without the headache, and then keeping the posts coming once the novelty wears off.
Grow your search traffic (SEO)
SEO is the single biggest reason my blog grew. Mastering search engine optimisation lets you grow your audience without spending all day on social media. This module covers keyword positioning, evergreen content, and how to analyse your competitors to rank higher on Google.
Monetisation & affiliate marketing
The first real income most bloggers see comes from affiliate marketing. This module covers monetisation properly, from digital products to the affiliate networks that work best for travel bloggers, and how to treat your blog as a business from day one.
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Digital Nomad Interviews How I Make Money While I Travel -
Make Money Blogging How to Make Money Blogging -
Make Money Blogging Quick-start Guide to Affiliate Marketing for Bloggers -
Make Money Blogging The Best Affiliate Networks for Travel Bloggers -
Make Money Blogging 10 Publications That Pay You for Travel Writing -
Make Money Blogging 10 Steps to Turn Your Blog Into a Business -
Digital Nomad Interviews Monetise Your Travel Blog with Gamintraveler -
Digital Nomad Interviews Make Money With Affiliate Marketing While Travelling -
Digital Nomad Interviews How a New Travel Blogger Makes Money: Hugging Horizons
Brand deals, Instagram & sponsored stays
Once you have an audience, you can monetise it beyond affiliate links. This module covers two: turning your Instagram following into paid brand sponsorships, and pitching travel brands and hotels for complimentary stays. Neither needs a huge following, just the right approach.
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Make Money Blogging Quick-start Guide to Get Paid for Your Instagram Posts -
Make Money Blogging How to Get a Top Post on Instagram (for Travel Bloggers) -
Make Money Blogging The Best Travel Hashtags for Instagram (2026 Guide) -
Make Money Blogging How to Stay at Hotels for Free Using Your Travel Blog -
Digital Nomad Interviews How to Get Sponsored Stays as a Travel Blogger: Tourist Exclusive
What we don't talk about
Travel bloggers and digital nomads rarely discuss the downsides of the lifestyle; it is easier to share the highlights. But to succeed long-term you need to be prepared for the grind. In 2014 I quit my job at 20 with no degree and no savings. These articles cover the lessons I learned the hard way so you do not have to.
