Start Your Travel Blog

Start to Your Blogging Journey!

Starting a blog is an exciting path to sharing your unique voice with the world. Yes, there are hundreds of other travel bloggers online and it will be a lot of work, but no one has the same experiences as you.

There’s a lot to learn when it comes to starting your site and I’m here to help get you started.

I’ve curated a list of tools that I currently use for my blog. Here’s everything you need to get started, optimize your blog, and turn it into a successful business.

Start Your Travel Blog

Disclaimer: Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. I may earn a commission if you click on the link or make a purchase using the link at no cost to you. Review the full disclaimer here.

Blogging Platforms and Hosting

  • WordPress.org: If you’re planning to monetize your blog, starting with WordPress is crucial. It’s a robust platform that offers extensive flexibility and scalability. Avoid platforms like Squarespace and Wix if you’re serious about blogging—they might be easier to use initially but lack the control and advanced features that WordPress offers.
  • Kadence Theme: I use the Kadence Theme because of the flexibility it offers, SEO-friendliness, and is already optimized for site speed, making it the #1 choice for bloggers focused on both design, functionality and user experience.
  • Bluehost: I was on Bluehost for my first year of blogging. It’s a reliable and affordable option for new bloggers. It’s a great starting point due to its cost-effectiveness, though it’s wise to consider migrating to more robust hosting solutions as your blog grows due to limitations in speed and scalability.
  • Lyrical Host: I love Lyrical for its amazing support team and services tailored to blogging needs. Known for its outstanding customer support and community-focused benefits. My site speed increased drastically just by switching to them. If you are migrating from another hosting platform, they will handle the migration from start to finish. You can use remotelifestyle10 for 10% off your hosting plan!

SEO Tools

  • Google Search Console (free): I use Google Search Console to track how my pages and posts perform in search engine results.
  • Google Analytics (free): I use GA to monitor my site’s traffic and understand my audience’s behavior.
  • MOZ DA Checker (free): I check my domain authority regularly with MOZ DA Checker.
  • Rank Math (free): I use Rank Math on my WordPress site to get SEO suggestions directly in the editor—it makes optimization so much easier.
  • Keysearch (paid): I find Keysearch invaluable for affordable and effective keyword research; perfect for bloggers just starting out.
  • Link Whisperer (free but recommend the paid version): I use Link Whisperer to automate internal linking strategy, which saves my so much time.

Email Marketing and Conversion Tools

  • ConvertKit: I manage my email list with ConvertKit. It’s perfect for automating my campaigns and keeping in touch with my audience.
  • ConvertBox: I use ConvertBox to engage visitors with personalized offers, which has significantly increased my conversion rates. And the pop-ups are really pretty!

Graphic Design and Content Creation

  • Canva (free): I create all my freebies, Pinterest pins, and any other graphics I may need with Canva. It’s free and incredibly user-friendly.
  • ShortPixel (free but recommend the paid version): I use ShortPixel to optimize my images, which helps my pages load faster and keeps my site performance high.
  • Tailwind (free): I use Tailwind for scheduling all my pins on Pinterest

SITE Security

  • Login Lockdown: I manage the security of my WordPress site by using Login Lockdown to limit failed login attempts.

AI Writing and Content Assistance

  • ChatGPT and Jasper: I use these AI tools to generate content ideas and draft post outlines. They are assistants to enhance your creativity and make the writing process smoother and more efficient, not to replace your authentic voice.

Monetization

  • Travel Payouts (free) and Amazon Affiliate (free): I monetize my blog by linking to travel products, tours, and experiences through these affiliate programs, earning commissions that support my blogging.

Educational Resources

  • She Knows SEO Roadmap by Nina Clapperton: This is the most comprehensive blogging course I’ve taken. Nina is an expert travel blogger and SEO specialist. She’s helped dozens of clients grow their blogs to 50k sessions in niches from finance to photography to travel and more! Nina is so engaged and responsive to her students in her Facebook group. In my opinion, the greatest asset of her course and community is her commitment to staying on top of the ever-changing blogging industry, which in turn ensures that her students do, too.
  • Blogger Legal Bundle from a Self Guru: I ensure my blog is legally compliant by using templates and guides from this bundle, covering all necessary disclosures and policies.