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21 Best Travel Blogging Courses For Taking Your Blog Full-Time (Free & Premium)

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Looking for the best travel blogging courses that can help you take your blog full-time?

Then you’re in the right place!

Real talk: travel blogging can be extremely rewarding. It allows you to share your passions, be your own boss, get paid to be creative, and travel the world.

But, it can also be confusing, as you try to learn writing, Search Engine Optimization, social media, content marketing, list building, affiliate marketing, and more.

Yes, travel bloggers wear many hats. Luckily, though, you don’t have to learn everything on your own. Whether you’re eager to pursue travel blogging as a career or you just want to grow enough to spread a message or earn some side income, the following blogging courses can help.

The list below contains a mix of free travel blogging courses and paid travel blogging courses โ€” the latter of which offer a more premium learning experience at a cost.

Additionally, I share some important blogging tips for those wanting to grow and increase their travel blogging salary as well as recommendations for top travel blogging tools, podcasts, YouTube channels, and conferences.

Ready to learn how to create a profitable blogging business? Then keep reading to discover some powerful paid and free courses on blogging!

Note that the below list contains my own courses for bloggers as well as courses I’ve taken and loved. While you can find a full list of my blogging courses here, for this article I’ve chosen the ones that I truly think are the best for creators looking to grow and monetize a travel blog.

woman enrolling in the best travel blogging courses online
An online travel blogging course can help you learn essential skills faster and easier. Photo via IvoryMix.

Why You Should Enroll In A Travel Blogging Course

Before diving into the list of the best online blogging courses, let’s discuss the benefits of enrolling.

Blogging courses can help you see success faster and easier. When I started Jessie on a Journey in 2011, the first thing I did was enroll in a blogging course. I fully credit this decision to being what helped me to take my blog full-time within a year.

Instead of stumbling my way through content creation, Search Engine Optimization, social media, legal considerations, and monetization, I was essentially given a travel blogging roadmap through the online course.

Google doesn’t always have the (correct) answers. Sure, you can learn just about anything by Googling it; however, there is also a lot of outdated and incorrect information on the internet.

Of course, you want to research a course creator to make sure they really know what they’re talking about, though a good instructor will take you behind-the-scenes to show you what has worked for them.

Also keep in mind that most public-facing articles about growing a travel blog share general tips, but many don’t truly share the creator’s secret sauce โ€” though they will in their own courses, eBooks, and informational products.

Bonus: most blogging courses include lifetime updates, too!

Blogging courses often come with implementation resources. Whether it’s live calls, implementation workbooks and blueprints, community support, or something else, many blogging courses give you all of the resources you need to take action.

Best Free Travel Blogging Courses

Okay, now let’s dive into the actual travel blogging course recommendations, starting with a few that won’t cost you a dime. If you’re looking to join a few blogging courses for free, don’t miss:

1) Create A Profitable, Algorithm-Proof Blog (In 5 Steps)

travel blogger holding her laptop and smiling while on vacation in a tropical setting with palm trees

Looking for a travel blogging course that focuses on real income growth, not just traffic?

This free 1-hour training will walk you through a simple 5-step system to build a blog that consistently grows your audience, email list, and income โ€” without relying on algorithms or going viral.

You’ll uncover smart strategies to monetize through affiliates, products, partnerships, and more, along with the #1 shift that separates hobby blogs from profitable ones.

Oh, and there’s a special bonus just for attendees:

๐ŸŽ A free Opt-In Freebie Ideas Generator to help you grow your list faster with subscribers who are actually interested in what you offer.

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your seat.

2) 5-Day Profitable Product Launch Challenge

female travel blogger sitting on a yellow couch and smiling while doing an online blogging course

Want to launch a profitable product, but not sure where to start?

Join the free 5-day Profitable Product Launch Challenge and get step-by-step guidance to turn your blog knowledge into a sellable digital product.

Youโ€™ll learn how to:

  • Choose a product your audience actually wants
  • Map out your offer + pricing with confidence
  • Build an engaged email list to launch to
  • Create a strategic promo plan
  • Set yourself up to scale โ€” even after launch

๐ŸŽ Bonus: Along with an implementation workbook, you’ll get a Profitable Product Launch Checklist + 3 Sample Product Launch Plans so you’re fully set up for success!

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your seat.

3) 10 Powerful Ways To Make Money Travel Blogging

Are you ready to monetize your blog โ€” but aren’t sure how? This 1-hour blogging training course is here to give you clarity!

During the free workshop, you’ll learn 10 proven ways to increase your blogging income, with important tips to help you successfully implement each strategy.

On top of that, you’ll uncover common myths that may be holding you back from seeing success so that you can overcome them.

This workshop for bloggers also includes a special bonus that provides even more ideas for monetization for those who sign up โ€” 41 to be exact!

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your seat.

4) The Profitable Travel Blogger

travel blogging course emails
The New Strategy For Profitable Travel Blogging

This 5-day free email course shows you step-by-step how to start a travel blog and sustainably monetize it to create the profitable business of your dreams.

You’ll get a new lesson sent to your inbox every day, with each one building on the previous. The course covers niching down, branding your blog, growing traffic, social media, content creation, list-building, monetization, and more.

Here is what one student named Maggie had to say about the free online course for blogging:

“This step-by-step course contains so much free value. Jessie has an inspiring voice, and is truly focused on helping you build quality relationships with your audience.”

โžก๏ธ Click here to sign up.

5) SEO Crash Course

One of the most important topics you’ll learn as a blogger is SEO, which is why Keysearch’s SEO Crash Course is one of the best free blog courses you can find.

The 9-module course teaches you everything from beginner SEO tips to how to do keyword research to how to do on-page SEO and beyond.

By the way, if you agree that this is one of the best blogging training courses and end up wanting to purchase a Keysearch subscription for yourself, click here and use code “jessieonajourney30” for 30% off.

I personally use Keysearch for all of my SEO research and highly recommend the tool!

โžก๏ธ Click here to join.

6) Amplify Your Email List Challenge

best free travel blogging courses email marketing

If you’re looking to grow your email list as a blogger, then this 5-day free challenge is for you!

Each day, you’ll be sent a short but powerful lesson by email. Each lesson builds on the previous one, meaning that by the end of the challenge you’ll have a strategy for growing, nurturing, and monetizing an email list ready to go.

Remember: unlike with social media, you own your email list. Plus, it tends to convert higher than other platforms โ€” meaning that an email list is an essential asset for your travel blogging business.

Ready to learn how to use email marketing to grow your blog?

โžก๏ธ Click here to sign up.

7) The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast

While this isn’t exactly a blogging course, there are a few reasons I’m including it:

First of all, each episode shares a bite-sized step-by-step strategy meant to help you grow your blog’s traffic, community, and income. It offers up some of the best blogging tips for seeing success, and is hosted in a workshop style.

Moreover, it’s free to listen to.

Finally, I host a monthly podcast giveaway where you can enter to win the blogging masterclass of your choice! Options include:

  • How To Grow Your Blogging Income Through Facebook Ads
  • How To Land Paid Press Trips As A Travel Blogger
  • How To Make Money (Fast) With Affiliate Marketing
  • How To Start A Tour Company In Your Own Backyard
  • How To Start A Blog, Grow An Audience & Make Money
  • Build Your Blogging Profit Plan Masterclass

To enter, simply listen to the show and leave a review on iTunes. Then email me at jessie (at) jessieonajourney with your contact details so I can let you know if you won.

Bonus: if you are a blogger looking to start a podcast, here is my streamlined podcast workflow template.

โžก๏ธ Click here to subscribe to the podcast.

8) 3 Big Mistakes You’re Making On Pinterest (& How To Fix Them)

invitation to a free Pinterest course for travel bloggers showing the hosts as well as a free Pinterest workbook

Looking for the best free online blogging courses? You won’t want to miss this one!

One of the smartest ways to increase blog traffic is with Pinterest, which is both a social media platform and a search engine. This means that people use Pinterest to find solutions to their problems and answers to their questions โ€” which you can provide in your blog content.

But, it’s not as easy as simply sharing photos and graphics linked to your blog content. To really be successful, you need a Pinterest strategy โ€” which is exactly what this class delivers.

In this free blogging class, you’ll learn three common Pinterest mistakes that many bloggers make as well as how to fix them.

Additionally, you’ll get essential tips for creating a Pinterest workflow that actually drives traffic to your travel blog.

Bonus: at the end there is a Q&A answering important Pinterest questions to help you see success!

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your seat.

9) How To Get Your First 1000 Followers On Instagram

If you’re looking for the best free online blogging course that teaches how to grow and monetize a brand using Instagram, this online class is a great pick.

The class is hosted on the Later social media content management platform and is taught by Instagram marketing strategist Elise Darma, who will help take you from zero to 1,000 followers.

More specifically, you’ll learn:

  • How to brand your Instagram profile
  • What to post on Instagram to grow your account
  • How to create the perfect Instagram post
  • How to boost your engagement on Instagram

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your seat.

Best Premium Travel Blogging Courses

Looking for the best blogging courses? While some of the courses mentioned below specifically target travel bloggers, others teach information that can help all bloggers grow faster and easier.

10) Travel Blog Prosperity

monthly format topics for travel blog prosperity blogging course
A few of the many Travel Blog Prosperity courses you get instant access to!

Travel Blog Prosperity is a nurturing membership aimed at helping bloggers grow their traffic, community, and income through a mix of education, collaboration, and community support.

In fact, as soon as you grab your seat, you’ll have access to over 90 blogging courses and workshops, a few of which include:

  • How To Grow Your Blog Traffic
  • Crafting A Content & List-Building Strategy That Converts
  • Crafting A Highly Profitable Affiliate Strategy
  • How To Profitably Work With Brands As A Blogger
  • Bookkeeping & Taxes For Bloggers
  • How To Create A Cohesive Brand Across All Platforms
  • How To Create Content That Sells
  • How To Grow & Convert Your TikTok Following
  • And much, much more!

This is on top of other membership perks like a 15-minute onboarding call to help you create a game plan, paid blogger opportunities sent to your inbox every Monday, live monthly workshops and coaching calls, and more.

You even get instant access to over $2,300 in bonuses like rate card and social media templates, brand pitch emails, and a blogging workflow Trello board.

Want a visual? You can watch a video here introducing you to the Travel Blog Prosperity program.

A key reason to join is that it alleviates having to purchase a few of the best blogging courses. Instead, you have everything you need inside one program.

I’ve really aimed to create the best travel blogging course out there. And if you’re looking for a travel blog coach, this program includes this as well with the live calls.

โžก๏ธ Click here to join.

11) How To Land Paid Press Trips

best blogging course online about travel press trips
Creating content on a press trip. Photo via Jessie Festa.

For travel bloggers interested in working with tourism boards and brands to go on paid press trips, this in-depth course walks you through the entire process.

A few of the many things you’ll learn in this premium travel blogging course include:

  • A smart strategy for growing your Instagram following and engagement
  • Simple ways to position yourself as a premium blogger that brands canโ€™t wait to work with
  • How to turn unpaid press trips into paid invites, even if the host has no budget
  • Easy but effective ways to impress your press trip host and potentially work together again
  • How to create a rate card that helps you earn more than your base package
  • What you need to do to gain more confidence asking to be paid for your services
  • How to protect your privacy when pitching
  • And more!

The online course includes loads of templates, case studies, and bonuses to help you make landing paid press trips as a travel blogger a reality.

This is the best travel blog course for bloggers specifically interested in monetizing their blog through press trips.

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

12) Brand Pitch Bundle

Travel bloggers who want to work with brands won’t want to miss this bundle, which includes a number of resources that can help you land profitable blogger brand collaborations. A few of these resources include:

  • Brand pitch templates
  • An implementation workbook that walks you through what to do before, during, and after you pitch a brand
  • A recorded Q&A answering common questions related to working with brands as a blogger
  • An Instagram strategy workbook to help you increase engagement
  • A list of over 101 brands that work with bloggers
  • And more!

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your bundle.

13) 30-Day Blog Profit Plan Calendar

best travel blogging courses for profit planning

If you’re searching for a blogging resource that lays out exactly what you need to do to monetize your blog, this profit plan calendar can help.

It actually delivers a done-for-you profit plan in the form of a printable calendar. Each date on the calendar shares an action step with instructions.

The goal: that after 30 days you have a funnel with multiple sales points set up to help you earn income through your blog on autopilot!

The calendar also comes with a number of bonuses, including:

  • 5 Sample Funnels (to help you come up with your own funnel ideas)
  • Content Creation & Promotion Workflow Trello Board (to more easily create content that gets seen and brings more people into your funnel)
  • Email Template For Letting Sources Know They’ve Been Mentioned In Your Content (use this for a traffic boost)
  • The Great 31-Day Link-Building Challenge PDF (to help you acquire backlinks that can help you rank in Google search)
  • Email Marketing Strategy Workbook (that will help you map out your complete list-building strategy to increase funnel sales)
  • My Automated Welcome Email Sequence (to give you a visual of how to create this important part of the funnel)
  • High-Converting Landing & Sales Page Templates (to increase subscriber and buyer conversions)

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your calendar.

14) How To Start A Tour Company

If you’re not sure how to monetize your travel blog, one smart idea is launching tours. Hosting paid tours and experiences is not only a fun way to connect with your audience, but you can also charge a higher price for these types of offerings verse, say, eBooks and printables.

The course is based on my own experience selling photo tours in New York on my blog. As I grew it over time, I then started a full-service photo experience company called NYC Photo Journeys.

In this blogging course, you’ll learn:

  • How to create a profitable tour that stands out from the crowd
  • My favorite booking software and how to use it to make more money
  • Considerations when setting prices
  • Actions to take to get set up legally
  • Strategies for getting eyes on your tours
  • Tactics for increasing booking revenue
  • And more!

This is the best online blogging course if you specifically want to monetize your brand by offering local tours.

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

15) 30-Day SEO Action Plan Calendar

SEO Action Plan course for travel bloggers

If your goal is to grow your blog traffic, this action plan is for you.

In fact, you’ll learn how to optimize your website for Search Engine Optimize and increase your monthly page views with the help of this step-by-step calendar.

And that’s not all! By the end of the month, you’ll understand how to:

  • Optimize your website for speed & security
  • Define your niche and do proper niche research
  • Become an authority in the eyes of your audience & Google
  • Create an SEO-optimized site structure to help increase your traffic
  • Find keywords you can actually rank in organic search results for
  • Map out an intentional content plan that leads to traffic growth โ€” even if you’re a new blogger
  • Create an SEO-optimized blog post from scratch
  • Build backlinks to help your blog get on the first page of search results faster & easier
  • Use actual data to revive your old content for new traffic
  • Strategically increase your affiliate earnings for more passive income
  • And more!

Along with the printable calendar, you’ll also snag implementation bonuses like a tutorial teaching you 3 powerful keyword research strategies, a Content Creation & Promotion Workflow Trello Board, and an Annual SEO-Optimized Content Plan Spreadsheet.

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your calendar.

16) 30-Day Affiliate Action Plan Calendar

Looking to increase your affiliate income as a travel blogger? Then this 30-day action plan can help!

Featuring a step-by-step calendar as well as instructional videos, you’ll learn how to strategically increase your monthly affiliate earnings. Additionally, you’ll learn how to:

  • Build trust with your audience & Google (which can help you rank in organic search results!)
  • Choose which programs to apply to (that will really help you increase your income)
  • Optimize your old and new content for affiliate clicks
  • Attract people who are truly looking to make a purchase
  • Prime your annual content plan for profitsโ€“on your blog & beyond
  • Optimize your social content, emails, YouTube videos, podcast episodes, products, and more for affiliate clicks
  • Land collaborations with other bloggers & affiliate partners that can help you increase your income
  • And more!

Along with the printable calendar, you’ll also snag implementation bonuses like an organizational affiliate program spreadsheet, a tutorial showing how to find keywords that increase your affiliate income, a workshop going over creative ways to increase your affiliate income, and more!

โžก๏ธ Click here to grab your calendar.

17) Profitable Part-Time Blogger

For bloggers looking to grow a profitable blog while working part-time hours, The Profitable Part-Time Blogger by SEO expert Nina Clapperton is an incredible program that provides all the tools and strategies you need to succeed.

Itโ€™s perfect for those who want to build a sustainable algorithm-proof blogging business in about 20 hours a week, with actionable lessons covering how to:

  • Create a clear roadmap to hit your blogging and income goals
  • Set up a website with automation and user-friendly architecture
  • Write content that attracts and engages your ideal audience
  • Use audience-first SEO strategies to grow traffic organically
  • Implement multiple income streams, such as affiliate marketing and digital products
  • Balance time effectively to grow your blog without burnout
  • Scale your business for long-term success

The course also includes worksheets, templates, and resources to help you implement what you learn, as well as access to a private community for support and networking.

What makes this program stand out is Ninaโ€™s practical and relatable teaching style, which breaks down complex topics into easy-to-follow steps designed for part-time bloggers.

Plus, the course is backed by a 14-day money-back guarantee.

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

18) 6 Months To 50K Sessions Masterclass

woman smiling at her laptop while taking a travel blogging course about SEO
Get excited to grow your traffic with these SEO-focused travel blogging courses.

This course โ€” also by SEO-expert Nina Clapperton โ€” can help you create an action plan for growing your traffic and getting your blog into Mediavine for a nice passive income boost!

Once you grab your seat, you’ll snag instant access to:

  • Step-by-step course that walks you through 6 targeted monthly action plans so you can maximize your time during your 6-month sprint to Mediavine
  • Guided videos that will help you conceptualize the tasks you need to accomplish and get to work implementing strategies quickly
  • A list of Nina’s favorite blogging resources so you can use the same tools as the pros
  • Blog FAQ section tutorial so you can find the best FAQ keywords to lengthen any post and bring in thousands of extra page views
  • Jasper.ai tips so you can quickly create high quality posts at a fraction of your normal writing speed
  • Topic specific 6-month timeline so you can prioritize tasks and spend less time second guessing yourself
  • Batch content formula to help you take advantage of your brain’s “flow” energy and ride the wave of increased productivity
  • Implementation bonuses like a Content Audit Checklist, an SEO Writing Checklist, and a workshop showing you how to track your progress
  • And more!

Keep in mind too that Google algorithms change constantly and you need to change up your SEO strategy to adapt.

With this course, you wonโ€™t need to figure this out on your own, as youโ€™ll have Nina by your side helping ensure your SEO practice is always up to date.

Ready to grow your traffic and increase your passive income?

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

19) Jasper.ai Course For Bloggers

woman taking notes during an online travel blogging course
The Jasper.ai Course For Bloggers can help you 10x your content creation! Photo via Sam Lion for Pexels.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is all the rage right now โ€“ and for good reason: it can help you seriously save time and streamline your blogging workflow.

But, if you’re still unsure of how to properly use AI to quickly create content without sacrificing quality, then this course can help.

In this blogging course, Nina Clapperton will show you how she’s been able to increase her output from one weekly 2,000-word article to over 50,000 words per week!

Actually, combined with SEO, utilizing AI is what helped Nina get her blog into Mediavine and scale her income to six figures.

Once you enroll in the course, you’ll get:

  • How to write blog posts 10x faster without sacrificing quality
  • The best Jasper commands for excellent outputs
  • How to write an SEO optimized blog post that ranks with Jasper
  • Writing affiliate articles such as hotel reviews, product reviews, and tour reviews
  • How to feed Jasper location and item-specific information
  • How to keep Jasper on track, and stop him from repeating himself
  • Nailing tone of voice and article structure
  • The best Jasper recipes and templates for success
  • Product and lead magnet creation with Jasper.ai
  • And more!

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

๐ŸŽ‰ By the way, Nina offers a variety of AI resources for bloggers. Click here to grab her AI blogging bundle at a discount!

20) Pinterest Popular

best traveling blogging courses about Pinterest

Of course, no list of blogging online courses would be complete without including a Pinterest course. Pinterest Popular, an all-in-one course by Pinterest Coach Nadalie Bardo, is fantastic.

The no-holding-back course takes you through Nadalie’s 3-step system for seeing success with Pinterest, showing you click-by-click how to get more traffic, subscribers, and sales using the platform.

During the 15+ hours of Pinterest training, you’ll learn everything from setting up your profile to designing click-worthy pins to growing your traffic with Pinterest SEO and beyond.

Additionally, you’ll snag a number of bonuses, like:

  • The Ultimate Pinterest Tracker to keep you and your pins organized
  • Course Notes and Worksheets for every lesson (so you donโ€™t have to worry about taking notes)
  • $30 Tailwind Credit (for new sign-ups)
  • Extra tech training for Canva, Social Warfare, Tasty Pins, Grow Social, PinInspector, and more

Plus, Nadalie is constantly updating this Pinterest course for bloggers to ensure all of the lessons taught are accurate.

In my opinion, this is the best blogging course if you want to master Pinterest!

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll.

21) Outdoor Creator Academy (40% off!)

Outdoor Creator Academy logo
Photo via Chad Lubinski

The Outdoor Creator Academy is for outdoor enthusiasts who dream of earning a full-time income with part-time workโ€”without needing an established following.

Inside the course, you’ll learn how to go from being an aspiring creator to a professional, independent UGC creator with the skills, tools, and income to live a lifestyle they loveโ€”working less while earning more.

More specifically, you’ll learn how to land UGC partnerships, build an impressive portfolio, create high-performing content, secure monthly retainers for consistent income, and grow your own audience to also land influencer collaborations.

Along with the step-by-step course, your enrollment includes:

  • 30-Day Action Checklist to fast-track your results
  • UGC Outreach & Pitch Templates to pitch like a pro
  • UGC Contract Template to help protect your work
  • UGC Creator CRM Tool to stay organized
  • Outdoor UGC Creator FB Group for networking, feedback, and growth

โžก๏ธ Click here to enroll & use code “webinar” for 40% off.

woman taking the best travel blogging courses online
Learn how tips and tricks by enrolling in top blogging courses. Photo via IvoryMix.

Considerations For Choosing The Right Travel Blog Course

Are blogging courses worth it? As a course creator who puts her heart and soul into what she puts into the world, as well as someone who has been able to drastically increase her income thanks to online blogging classes, my opinion is that they absolutely can be.

Of course, not every travel blogging course is created equal. A few things to consider when choosing which blogging course to enroll in include:

Instructor expertise. Is the course creator truly an expert on their topic? For instance, if you’re looking for a course on how to become a full-time travel blogger, you’ll want to make sure the instructor themselves is a full-time travel blogger.

This may sound obvious, but I’ve seen so many blogging courses created by total newbies. If in doubt, email and ask them. You can also follow them on social media, subscribe to their newsletter, and take part in any of their free events โ€” like free webinars and free challenges โ€” to get a taste of their teaching style and expertise.

Blogging course value. This doesn’t mean you should purchase the cheapest blogging course, but that you should make sure the course value is higher than the actual price. Really look at what is included, what transformation is being offered, and the expertise level of the instructor before enrolling.

Course format. This may be a personal preference, but I think in this day and age a premium course should consist of mostly video lessons. For me, the real benefit of an online blogging course is getting to look over someone’s shoulder and see their strategies visually.

That being said, everyone is different, and there are some really high-quality text-based courses out there. Just make sure to consider your own unique learning style and enroll in a blogging course that matches.

Course support. What kind of support is offered with the course? If it’s a premium course, you’ll definitely want to have a way to ask questions. I personally love when courses include some kind of community networking aspect, like a private Facebook group, though you may be fine with simply being able to connect one-on-one with the instructor as needed.

Testimonials. What are past students saying about the course? Most course creators will have testimonials listed right on the sales page, though if they don’t feel free to reach out to them and ask what kinds of success past students have seen.

travel blogger creating Instagram Reels on her phone
See success as a travel blogger with the help of a step-by-step course. Photo via Jessie Festa.

How To Become A Travel Blogger: Top Travel Blogging Tips

Now that we’ve gone over some of the best free blogging courses and premium blogging classes, let’s chat about some important tips for travel blogging:

-When it comes to travel blogging for beginners, one important step many people skip is creating a business plan for your blog. Realize that writing in itself does not lead to income and that to make money you need a plan that involves implementing revenue streams, which your content can support. This will really help you monetize your blog from day one.

-In terms of what travel blogging platform to use, WordPress.org provides the most flexibility for bloggers who want to grow and monetize their sites. Yes, there is a learning curve; but, once you get the hang of it you’ll be able to create whatever you’d like and can choose your own hosting (which is very important for having a speedy website).

-Blog traffic is really the powerful ingredient that can make all of your blogging goals a reality, whether you want to spread an important message, work with brands, sell digital products, get your blog into Mediavine, or something else. That is why it’s smart to learn traffic-generating strategies like Search Engine Optimization, Pinterest, and how to grow your blog through collaboration.

-Instead of writing whatever you feel like, focus on covering travel blog post topics people actually want to read. You can figure out what these topics are by doing SEO research using a tool like Keysearch (code “jessieonajourney30” gets you 30% off). Once you know what you’ll write about, learn how to write blog posts faster to save time.

-Blogging about travel can be challenging, but if you stay focused and organized, you can absolutely take your blog full-time within a year. Just be patient, especially when it comes to SEO, as it can take months for your website to rank in search results โ€” and even longer for Google to really trust you enough to put your content at the top of its results. But once you start ranking, you’ll be able to get in front of new eyes and grow your traffic.

female travel blogger working on her laptop near a window
Learning how to work smarter (instead of harder) can help you grow your travel blog faster. Photo: Y-Boychenko via Depositphotos.

Best Blogging Tools

Here is a list sharing my favorite tools and plugins for bloggers, a few of which include:

Big Scoots, my preferred hosting company and one that is praised by many bigger bloggers for its speed, support, and feature-rich packages.

Kadence is a lightweight, SEO-friendly theme. You can pair it with a Memories or Postcard Child Theme from The Site Stylist to make it really beautiful and eye-catching. Get $10 off a Site Stylist child theme with code “JESSIE”.

Google Analytics and Google Search Console, two free tools from Google that will help you monitor โ€” and grow โ€” your blog traffic.

WP-Rocket, a caching and performance optimization plugin that can help you create a better, faster user experience for website visitors.

Keysearch (code “jessieonajourney30” gets you 30% off), my favorite tool for doing the important keyword research that helps my blog posts rank in Google search results.

RightBlogger (free plan offered). Use the power of artificial intelligence to easily create and promote your content! Jasper can help you quickly craft marketing copy, come up with content topics, outline and draft content, and more.

Top Travel Blogging Conferences

Conferences are great for networking with other bloggers and potential collaborators. It’s also possible to land paying brand partnerships at travel blogger conferences, like:

Women In Travel Summit. Want to learn how to be a travel blogger? This conference, which takes place annually in North America and Europe, is all about empowering women through networking and education. There is also a built-in travel blogger course component, as sessions are recorded to rewatch at home.

TBEX. This is the longest-running travel blogger conference, with strategy workshops and networking events. It takes place annually in North America, Europe, and Asia. It also includes one of the best blog courses, as you get session replays included.

TravelCon. Originally started by successful blogger Nomadic Matt, this conference will teach you strategies for starting, growing, and scaling a travel blog. You’ll also have the opportunity to network with brands and land collaborations.

attendees watching the best travel blogging courses at the Women In Travel Summit
Speaking about how to host a giveaway as a blogger at the Women In Travel Summit

Top Podcasts For Bloggers

The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast. This is my podcast, which shares bite-sized strategies for bloggers wanting to grow their traffic, community, and income. A few popular episodes include 6 Steps For Choosing A Blog Niche & Pinpointing Its Purpose, How To Pitch A Brand Collaboration Proposal With Confidence, and 13 Clever Ways To Boost Your Travel Blogging Income.

Smart Passive Income. In this podcast, Pat Flynn has insightful conversations with entrepreneurs about how to grow a successful online business.

Goal Digger. This live workshop-style podcast by digital marketer Jenna Kutcher will help you set and achieve your online business and blogging goals.

YouTube Channels

Make Money Travel Blogging with Jessie Festa. This is my YouTube channel, sharing step-by-step strategies for travel bloggers who want to take their blogs full-time. A few popular videos include:

Yes To Tech. If you struggle with tech as a blogger, Marina of Yes To Tech shares helpful tutorials that can make this easier โ€” so you can focus on actually growing your blogging business.

Nadalie Bardo. Struggling with Pinterest? Nadalie shares powerful tips and tricks for seeing success with the platform.

What travel blogging courses would you add to this list?