Today, many individuals have a dream of embarking on a remote work journey across the globe and being their own boss. It’s a path that has been glorified, and rightfully so. The freedom to choose where you live and work is a truly liberating experience. However, reaching this desired destination is no easy feat, and most people who attempt to build an online business ultimately fail.
As the founder of The Broke Backpacker, one of the world’s largest travel blogs, I’ve gained valuable insight from my experience as a serial entrepreneur with over a dozen online ventures under my belt. My journey began fifteen years ago when I backpacked around the world with a daily budget of just $10. Along the way, I learned a tremendous amount about what works and what doesn’t when it comes to building an online income.
I discovered a passion for writing in-depth reports about my experiences living in a tent, hitchhiking, couch surfing, and living like a free spirit. My passion for personal growth through challenging travel pushed me to build up my travel blog and launch other projects along the way. Being on the road as a young and naive teenager with no money presented me with countless challenges. Taking risks and making pivotal decisions transformed my passion project into a sustainable source of income.
I want to share the key decisions that propelled my budget travel blog into a profitable business with over 1 million monthly users. So, buckle up and join me as we explore the moments that transformed my blog into one of the most well-known travel sites on the internet.
Here are 10 strategies I used to build my travel blog into a business:
1. Investing in a memorable domain name: Choosing the right brand name is crucial for any business. The Broke Backpacker immediately captures the essence of the site and its target audience. Aligning the domain name with the niche helped establish a strong brand identity and attract the right audience from the beginning.
2. Undertaking extraordinary adventures: By embarking on unique and off-the-beaten-path adventures, I captured the attention of readers and the media. Raw and detailed coverage of destinations like Venezuela gained viral attention, leading to powerful backlinks and increased traffic.
3. Launching expeditions to Pakistan: Being the first blogger to showcase Pakistan on Snapchat and offering guided tours generated significant interest. The success of these tours allowed me to invest further in growing The Broke Backpacker.
4. Embracing authenticity: By openly discussing taboo topics and sharing authentic stories, I built a deeper connection with my audience. The raw and unfiltered nature of my content resonated with readers, fostering trust and loyalty.
5. Full commitment: Successful entrepreneurs refuse to give up and fully commit to their projects. I dedicated two years of intense work in Chiang Mai, putting travel goals on hold to focus on the blog. Sacrifices were made, and self-belief was challenged, but the unwavering commitment paid off.
6. Building a strong team and outsourcing tasks: As the blog grew, investing in a talented team became essential. Outsourcing tasks allowed me to focus on my strengths and allocate resources effectively.
These are just a few of the strategies that played a significant role in turning my travel blog into a thriving business. By implementing these tactics and staying resilient, you can realize your dreams of being a successful digital nomad entrepreneur.
