I often get asked about how to start travel blogging and the resources I use for my website. I have compiled a list of travel and blogging resources that have been helpful to me. I hope these suggested resources help you too.
Blogging Resources
Blogging Guide Book
The book is written in the simplest way for a beginner to understand blogging. I have been taking help from this book in learning how to properly use Cpanel, Domain authority-related doubts, SEO and the right plugins to choose for my site and more.
Not only the book guides how to start blogging from scratch but also leads you to insights into how to earn and sustain your website. The book has helped me grow as a travel blogger.
Blogging Courses
Mentor – Jessie Festa from Jessie on a Journey
Join her Free Course Profitable Travel Blog Makeover and turn your existing travel blog into a profitable business.
To access the complete resources and receive direct support from her, you can apply for the paid Travel Blog Prosperity course by Jessie. Use the code GROWYOURBLOG9 to access the Travel Blog Prosperity Course at just $9 for the first month.
Other courses provided by Jessie are –
How To Start A Blog, Grow An Audience & Make Money
Build Your Blogging Profit Plan
How To Make Money (Fast) With Affiliate Marketing
How To Land Paid Press Trips As A Travel Blogger
Brand Pitch Bundle – The art of pitching brands (list of 101+ brands that work with bloggers included)
One-on-One Blogging Consultation
Custom Brand Proposal Template
Click here for the list of all other Blogging Courses taught by eminent travel blogger Jessie Festa.
Mentor – Sharon Gourlay from Digital Nomad Wannabe
Jitaditya Narzary who runs an 11-year-old travel blog – The Travelling Slacker, recommended me the Facebook group of Sharon – Digital Nomad Wannabe.
Sharon’s tips and the Q&A of the active community of bloggers in her Facebook group have helped me a lot in my blogging journey so far.
You can Sign Up for both her Free and Paid Blogging Courses –
SEO Fast Track: Drive consistent traffic to your blog daily – A proven strategy by Sharon.
Free 7-Day Link Building Challenge – It has been instrumental in increasing my Domain Authority (DA).
Free SEO Checklist: Download the steps for writing & optimizing your content to rank faster.
Free 5-Day Goal Setting Challenge: Set Tasks & Plan your Blogging goals for the next 12 months.
Free 7-Day SEO Boost Challenge: Work daily on tasks shared by Sharon to increase your organic traffic and make more money.
Helpful Blogging Websites
I mostly visit the following blogging websites to clear my doubts regarding blogging –
Bloggers Passion by Anil Agarwal
Digital Nomad Wannabe by Sharon Gourlay
Helpful Facebook Groups for Blogging
Bloggers Passion VIP Group by Anil Agarwal
DNW – Making Money from Blogging by Sharon Gourlay
Link Building + Guest Posts + Collabs (Travel Bloggers)
Travel Collab Post Opportunities.
Buying Domain Names
The most common platforms for buying domain names are – GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger, and Automattic among others.
Hosting Platforms
Hostinger
Hostinger is a well-known hosting provider throughout the world based in Kaunas, Lithuania (Europe). I bought its hosting plan at a discount for 48 months for my new site in November 2022.
You can use my Hostinger referral link to get a 20% discount.
Claim 20% discount on HostingerPlugins
RankMath Pro:
This SEO Plugin helps you rank better on search engines like Google. A few of my articles like Phe Phe Falls, Mawlyngbna, and Japfu Trek are ranking at the top of the first page on Google search.
After using RankMath’s free version for a year, I bought the Rankmath Pro version in April 2022. The SEO-optimized articles have been performing better on Google search results since then.
Here’s why I shifted to RankMath Pro-
- Allows more keywords to optimize the article.
- The FAQ schema by RankMath helps you bring more search traffic.
- Gives analytics for keywords.
- You can join RankMath’s exclusive Facebook group.
- Can access SEO tips and Detailed Tutorials in their Facebook group.
- Can track ranking keywords.
- Has the Table of Contents Feature.
- It is affordable – The best part!
You can check and compare all the features of the RankMath Pro plugin by clicking here.
Akismet Anti-Spam
The Akismet Anti-Spam plugin helps you filter and delete spam comments on a page or an article.
W3 Total Cache
W3 Total Cache Plugin is one of the best free cache plugins for your site. I used W3 Total Cache for the last three years.
WP Rocket
If you ask any top blogger, WP Rocket is what they will suggest. I bought WP Rocket in March 2023. My site speed has increased and I have been able to pass the tests on Google Pagespeed Insights.
Please Note – Google gives more weightage if your website loads faster. Get a 20% discount by buying the yearly subscription to WP Rocket using my referral link.
Get WP Rocket for Bloggers
Easy Table of Contents
I have been using the Easy Table for Contents plugin for the last three years.
WordPress Theme
Generate Press
It is by far the best theme I have used so far. I got a free subscription by participating in a giveaway of Bloggerspassion Blog in November 2022.
In November 2023, I bought the theme by myself. I will soon be writing a review of my experience and how it helped me pass Core Web Vitals, thus increasing my site speed.
I love the Site Library of Generate Press. It has different templates of themes that you can apply to your site according to your requirement.
SEO Tools
Keysearch
It provides – Keyword Research, Competitor Analysis, Explorer (domain overview), Rank tracking and Intelligence, YouTube research, Content Assistant, Backlink checker and many more features.
Keysearch is the best keyword research tool recommended by bloggers. I have been using it since March 2022.
Use this code KSDISC to get a 20% discount.
Free Blog Analysis Tools
Semrush -It allows 10 searches per day.
Ubbersuggest by Neil Patel – It allows 3 analyses per day.
Ahref – It Shows a limited analysis of your website in the free version.
Moz – Allows 10 analysis results per month. You can check a site’s domain authority on Moz – 3 results per day.
Site Monetization Platforms
Amazon Affiliate
Promote products available on Amazon that are related to your niche. Become an Amazon Associate by participating in their Amazon Affiliate Marketing Programme.
I started earning from the Amazon Affiliate program in 2021. I also have a storefront on Amazon. I have compiled a list of products related to travel, culture, blogging and guides. You can shop from the storefront shown below if you find the products relevant to you.
Travelpayouts
Travelpayouts is one of the largest affiliate platforms for travel bloggers worldwide. Here’s why you should join –
- You can Sign Up and apply to travel companies that have affiliate programs such as Booking.com, Agoda, Tripadvisor and others through Travelpayouts.
- It is easier to apply and be accepted.
- It is easy to earn too.
Learn how to use Travelpayouts by reading this guide.
The following widget of Booking.com is a part of the affiliate program approved via Travelpayouts. If you book through the widget, I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Google AdSense
The ads you see on our site are provided by the Google AdSense Platform. Though earning via AdSense takes time, blogging consistently and producing quality traffic generating relevant content will increase the earned revenue.
Mediavine
Mediavine is by far the highest-paying Ad Platform for Bloggers. I haven’t reached its eligibility criteria of having 50,000 sessions on our website in the past 30 days (as per Google Analytics). I hope to achieve it soon.
Ezoic
Ezoic is ads monetization platform. You can learn more about the ad platform by reading this review article of Ezoic by Sharon Goulay on her site – Digital Nomad Wannabe.
Travel Resources
Where to book Hotels?
Where to Book Hostels?
Where to Book Tickets for Buses, Cars, Trains & Flights?
Other Helpful Travel Resources
Airalo – Airalo offers eSIMs that enable travellers to effortlessly obtain and activate digital data packs for more than 200 countries/regions. Travellers can quickly establish connectivity upon arrival, allowing them to stay connected regardless of their location worldwide.
How to receive and send money abroad?
I use both Wise & Paypal to receive money for freelance work and payments for my blog.
Travel Gears
I buy the majority of my travel gear from the following platforms –
1. Amazon
You can buy it on Amazon too.
I have bought DJI Pocket 2 – Creator Combo for creating videos and podcasts.
I also use this MAONO AU-A04 Condenser Microphone Kit (Black) for podcast audio recording. It is beginner podcast equipment.
Read about 25 Helpful Travel Essentials suggested by Travel Bloggers around the world.
2. Decathlon
Decathlon needs no introduction. It is a go-to option for all adventure lovers. The jacket, trek pants and hiking shoes as seen in the above photo are from Decathlon.
3. Flipkart
North East India Travel Resources
If you are planning to explore India and particularly North East India, the following are a few websites, travel books that you can refer to –
1. Websites
1. Travelling Slacker by Jitaditya Narzary
2. Periplus Northeast by Jitadiya Narzary
3. Unconventional and Vivid by Upasana Kakati
4. Travel Diary Parnashree by Pranashree Devi
2. Books
1. Immersive Arunachal by Jitaditya Narzary
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