How To Write A Travel Newsletter People Actually Read (In 20 Minutes!)
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*A big thanks to Travelpayouts for sponsoring this episode
Creating a travel newsletter isn’t just about sending emails. It’s about growing an engaged list, building community, and creating a reliable source of traffic and income.
But how do you decide what to include so readers keep opening, clicking, and converting?
That’s exactly what our guest, RV blogger turned email marketing expert Liz Wilcox, will be breaking down for us.
Her email marketing strategies have built a multi–six-figure business, fueled a membership community of thousands, and even delivered a 100% conversion rate on a digital course launch—an almost unheard-of result in online marketing.
Today, she’ll be sharing her best tips to help you do the same. You’ll learn:
- A 20-minute newsletter framework that works
- How to grow your email list (fast) without ads
- Newsletter cadence, segmentation & connection
- Driving real blog traffic from email
- Monetizing your newsletter without being spammy
- And more
By the end, you’ll have a clear travel newsletter strategy for growing your blogging business!
💻 Bonus: This episode of The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast includes options for learning through audio, video, or a text guide below!
💡Quick travel newsletter tips:
-Send your newsletter at least once per week to stay top of mind for your audience.
-Don’t overcomplicate things. A personal update, one helpful story or tip, and a PS with links is all you need to include in your email.
-Ask simple questions in your emails to encourage subscriber replies, which can help your future newsletters hit their inbox (vs their spam or other folders).
🎁 Join Travelpayouts with code “JESSIE” for a $25 bonus on your first payout (new users only) and get access to affiliate links you can use to monetize your travel newsletter.
🎁 Grab my free Travel Blogger Resource Library featuring a Travel Newsletter Creation Cheat Sheet based on Liz’s tips! You’ll also get access to 75+ resources that can help you grow your traffic, email list, and income.
🎁 Snag Liz’s free Email Marketing Toolkit, which includes a Welcome Sequence, 3 Newsletters, and 52 Email Subject Lines.
Creating An Engaging Travel Newsletter [Audio & Video]
Step-By-Step Travel Newsletter Strategy [Guide]
The following is a summary of the podcast episode sharing tips for creating a travel blog newsletter. It is transcribed as best as possible, with paraphrasing included. For the full strategy, make sure to listen to the audio or video version of the podcast above.
1) Thank you for taking the time to share your tips! Can you share how you got into email marketing?
Sure! I started out as a travel blogger in the RV space. Every podcast, webinar, or training I attended, people kept saying, “I wish I had taken my email marketing more seriously.”
So instead of focusing only on SEO or Instagram, I decided to take email seriously from day one. Literally, the day I launched my RV travel blog, I launched my email list.
My first message was simple: “Hey, I’m starting this blog about RV travel. Join if you want to tag along!” Three years later, my list had about 20,000 subscribers.
I eventually sold that blog when I stopped traveling full-time, and now I teach bloggers and creators how to use email to connect with their audience and make a consistent income at LizWilcox.com.
2) What are your favorite strategies for growing an email list?
When you’re first starting to grow your travel email list, get on social media and let people know. Make it sound exclusive, like a VIP space where people get your best travel tips or behind-the-scenes stories.
Or, you can take it a step further and create a freebie (lead magnet), like a free checklist, cheat sheet, or resource library. Think of it like your first day of class. What do you want new subscribers to know or have right away? That’s your freebie.
In terms of promotion, don’t just invite people to join your email list once. You’ve got to mention it often. If you’re a blogger, that could be every few days or weekly—just like any other piece of content.
Another great strategy is collaboration. When I was a travel blogger, I linked arms with three other RV bloggers. We shared each other’s freebies, co-hosted digital summits, and grew together. You don’t have to network up—just find peers at your level and support each other.
Speaking of cross-promoting freebies, one of my favorite ways to do it is through swapping guest emails:
3) One struggle for many travel bloggers is understanding what to actually put into their newsletter—especially if they cover several different destinations or travel styles. Where should they start when it comes to creating a newsletter format?
I call it the 20-Minute Newsletter Framework. Here’s how it works:
- Start with a quick personal update—just 2–3 sentences.
- Here’s an email newsletter introduction example: “Hey, I finally made it to Greece!” or “This week I wrote five new blog posts.”
- Hit Caps Lock and type something like “ANYWAY…” to transition. Then share your main content—maybe a story, tip, or a resource your readers will love.
- Add a PS section at the end with 2–3 links for different readers. For example:
- “If you travel full-time, here’s my new RV guide.”
- “If you’re just getting started, here’s a video to watch.”
- “If you’re planning your next trip, here’s a fun packing list.”
That way, you can serve different types of readers without writing multiple emails.
4) How often should creators be sending out their newsletter?
Once a week is perfect. If that’s too much at first, start monthly and work up.
Weekly emails keep your name top of mind and show readers you’re serious about your blogging business. People are more likely to click when they hear from you consistently.
5) What are your favorite strategies for writing engaging newsletter content that keeps readers opening and clicking?
The best travel email newsletters don’t overthink the writing. Instead, these creators focus on being themselves first and foremost.
Imagine you’re writing an email to a friend about your travel experience, and do it in your own unique voice.
I built my audience by being slightly sarcastic, honest about the messy side of travel, and not afraid to share real stories. Figure out what people like about you, and put that personality right up front.
Also, visuals help! Add GIFs, photos, or short clips that make your emails more fun and clickable.
🎁 Don’t forget to grab your free Create An Engaging Travel Newsletter Cheat Sheet inside Travel Blogger Resource Library! You’ll also get access to 75+ resources that can help you grow your traffic, email list, and income.
6) How do you recommend segmenting or personalizing emails if a blogger covers multiple niches?
Start simple with tags, not full-blown segments. Tag people based on what they signed up for or which links they click.
After a few months, see which tags are actually active. If only three people ever click your “Alaska” links, you probably don’t need a whole segment for it.
Once you’re consistent with your weekly emails and see clear interests (like “Europe” vs “Road Trips”), then you can start segmenting.
And remember: even when you segment, don’t go silent with everyone else. Send all-list emails sometimes. Just because someone clicked “Alaska” doesn’t mean they’re not dreaming of Italy now.
7) Do you have any go-to subject line strategies that tend to get higher opens?
Have fun with it. People can feel when you’re enjoying yourself.
My favorite subject line ever was “Can I have $9?” It got mentioned in a webinar once as someone’s all-time favorite. It worked because it was honest, a little cheeky, and totally “me.”
Keep travel email subject lines short—3 to 5 words max. Most people read emails on their phones, and long subjects get cut off.
And here’s a trick: try one-word subject lines! I’ve done this for over a year and seen amazing results. Words like “Alaska,” “Storytime,” or “Tell me” stand out in a crowded inbox because they’re so simple.
8) What are some ways bloggers can use their travel newsletters to increase website traffic?
Keep it specific and simple. Instead of saying, “Read my latest blog post,” say, “If you’re going to Alaska in the next 3 months, you need to watch this 5-minute video.” The more personal and direct you are, the better.
Also, make links long and obvious. Don’t just hyperlink “click here.” Most people are on mobile, half of us need new glasses, and tiny links get missed!
And don’t overload your emails with images. One or two clickable photos are plenty, while too many can hurt your deliverability.
Finally, your welcome sequence is the most important place to get clicks. Make sure subscribers have to click to get their freebie instead of auto-downloading it. That trains them to engage from day one.
9) What are the best ways to share affiliate links in travel newsletters to increase conversions?
Your email newsletter is one of the best places to share affiliate links, but make sure you’re being honest.
Only promote products you actually use or love. Say, “This is an affiliate link, but here’s why I’m sharing it—and why I personally use it.”
That transparency builds trust. Plus, it’s required by law to clearly disclose when you’re using affiliate links.
Also, don’t be afraid to be a little salesy when promoting affiliate links. We live in a capitalist world—selling is normal! You’re helping people solve problems.
And when you share affiliate links, do it through stories. For instance, you might share a story about how travel insurance reimbursed you after you visited a hospital abroad or lost your luggage. That’s what makes people click and buy.
Monetize Your Newsletter With Travelpayouts
By the way, if you’re building a travel newsletter, monetization should be part of your strategy from day one.
With Travelpayouts, you can easily turn your recommendations into revenue by promoting trusted travel brands your readers already love — from flights and hotels to activities.
Whether you’re sharing travel tips, destination guides, or product reviews, you can seamlessly add affiliate links that match your content and help your audience plan their trips while you earn commission for every booking.
If you’re ready to make your newsletter not only engaging but profitable, join Travelpayouts to start earning from your content today.
➡️ Click here to sign up for Travelpayouts. New users can enter code “JESSIE” to get a $25 bonus on their first payout.
10) For bloggers with products, how can they use email marketing to make regular sales?
Plan out your product launches on a 90-day calendar so you know what you’ll promote and when.
Before the launch, start seeding the topic. If you’re launching an RV course, start talking about maintenance tips a month or two ahead. Then, during your launch week, send one email per day with different reasons to buy.
Casually mention your product between launches by sprinkling it into your newsletters. Add a quick mention in your PS section like, “Tired of spending thousands on repairs? Check out my RV maintenance course.”
And don’t stress about repeating yourself. Most people either didn’t see it the first time or forgot. You’re not the center of their inbox universe!
11) What are some common newsletter mistakes travel bloggers should avoid?
1) Your emails are too long. Get to the point and add your links early. If you give people too many photos, buttons, or stories, they’ll get overwhelmed and click nothing.
2) Not asking for replies. A quick “Have you ever been to Alaska? Hit reply yes or no” can do wonders. It builds connection and helps your emails stay in the inbox instead of spam.
3) Don’t feel pressured to be “on” all the time. If you don’t have a story this week, just say that. Something like, “Hey, it’s been a quiet week—no wild adventures, just catching up on blog content. Here are this week’s resources” can work great for email engagement.
12) Thank you for sharing your email marketing wisdom! What is the best way for people to connect with you?
Of course, I want you to join my email list! As a thank you, you’ll get my free Email Marketing Toolkit, including:
- A done-for-you Welcome Sequence
- 3 newsletter templates (to help you get clicks, replies, and sales)
- Plus, 52 email subject lines for a whole year of prompts
It’s totally free, and it’ll help you write better emails without overthinking every word.
Travel Newsletter Ideas
Need help designing a creative travel newsletter? Here are some prompts to help get you started, though be sure to keep your own audience and blog niche in mind:
- Share one funny, inspiring, or totally unexpected story from your latest trip
- Break down your unique method for booking flights, finding value-friendly hotels, etc.
- Drop a quick travel hack that saved you time, money, or stress
- Share the story (and settings!) behind a favorite travel photo
- Highlight an under-the-radar destination or experience your readers might not know about
- Compare a destination you visited years ago vs. now
- Break down your go-to gear or packing essentials for a specific trip
- Share one local tradition, food, or custom that taught you something new
- Tell a travel fail story and the lesson that came from it
- Curate content around a theme like “Best Fall Getaways” or “Dreamy Train Trips”
This list is not exhaustive. It’s meant to be a starting point for mapping out a newsletter for travel that is valuable for your audience and fun for you to write!
Travel Newsletter Examples
Need some inspiration? Check out some of the best travel newsletters out there:
- Jessie on a Journey (shameless plug!)
- Adventurous Kate
- Wandering Earl
- Nomadic Matt
- Two Wandering Soles
- Nomadico — this one is especially great if you’re interested in creating a Substack newsletter
Recommended Email Marketing Platforms & Tools
Kit (30-day free trial of their Creator Plan included, no credit card required). A creator-friendly email platform designed for simplicity, perfect for bloggers who want engagement tools without complicated automations. They also have additional features to help you grow and monetize, like a referral system, a Creator Network, a commerce platform to sell digital goods, and more.
MailerLite (30-day free trial included, no credit card required). Intuitive and affordable, with strong automation, tagging, and landing page features ideal for travel creators growing their lists.
ManyChat (30-day free trial of their Pro Plan included). A powerful tool for capturing email leads via Instagram, WhatsApp, and Facebook — perfect for bloggers using social media to grow their newsletter.
Bonus Strategies For Growing An Email List
Learn how to:
- Start & scale a paid newsletter
- Create a free personality quiz that grows your email list & income
- Monetize your opt-in freebies in 6 different ways
- Make Instagram Reels that grow your email list & income
- Create an email course that grows your list & income
➡️ Click here for the full Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast episode list!
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Creating A Travel Newsletter Strategy: Final Thoughts
Creating a travel newsletter doesn’t have to be complicated. By using Liz’s simple formula, you can write engaging emails that connect with readers and convert in less time.
If you’re stuck on what to send, try experimenting with new travel newsletter topic ideas that share stories, tips, and insights your audience will love.
And don’t forget that great travel newsletter design isn’t about fancy templates. It’s about clarity, consistency, and making your reader feel like you’re writing just to them. Start small, show up weekly, and watch your community (and clicks) grow.
🎉 Don’t forget: You can grab my free Travel Newsletter Creation Cheat Sheet inside the Travel Blogger Resource Library, which also includes 75+ resources for growing a profitable blogging business.
➡️ Click here to access the free Travel Blogger Resource Library!
