“Wander to Wealth: How I Turned Travel into a Viable Online Business with 2 websites that do generate occasional commissions.
Unknown cities, one laptop, and one mobile phone – that is all I have used since I ditched the full time job for an employer and built an online business from the back of a tuk – tuk in Thailand to a Palace garden in Paris. If you are anxious to see the platform I used to build this website, then scroll down for the Wealthy Affiliate Link (this is really becoming a viable online business for me.) Otherwise, read on:
Ever heard the saying “shoot for the stars, and you’ll land on the moon”? When it comes to starting an online business, setting ambitious goals is a lot like that. It’s about dreaming big but also being real about what you can achieve. Finding the sweet spot between too comfortable and a bit out of reach is where growth happens. When you first start with the free tier of Wealthy Affiliates, they will ask you what your monthly income goal is (from an online business) and what your comfortable lifestyle income goal is. I answered with USA $1,000 and $3,000. Eventually, after I found other people answering much more, I decided that I better update my answers a bit. I guess you have to “Shoot for the stars.”
Creating a travel blogger website has turned into a passion for me I love travel and sharing the experiences I have had in travel. And as frosting on the cake, I do make a few commissions here and there. Work, Save, Travel, Repeat Has become my motto. Work with diligence, save the dollars you can, travel to your hearts desire, repeat with due diligence. And all the while CREATE THAT TRAVEL BLOG WEBSITE to share your experiences and information with others. We must include travel logistics as well as our experiences. We must offer true value with our content because people really do have questions to be answered.
So, how do you know where your true passions lie and which of them can turn into a money-making venture? It starts with some good old soul-searching. Consider what draws you in—hobbies, things you actively do in your spare time, or even problems you’ve faced and solved. These are often signals of a larger passion and can be the bedrock of your online business. For me it was really easy to choose my passion, my niche; travel and life experiences because I have a stack of at least 20 journals / diaries that I have written since 1987 when I made my first overseas trip to India. This was long before cell phones and laptops which means, I do not have photos nor videos of my earliest trips.
Once you’ve got a solid idea, creating a vision board can help keep you laser-focused. Pin up quotes, images, or goals that remind you why you started this journey. It’s not just for décor; it’s your personal billboard for ambition. My main concern right now is making sure my travel and life experiences work is kept in its own place and my affiliate marketing has its own place. This is what I am working on now. I am building one website as a travel blogger and another website as an affiliate marketer.
Ever heard of SMART goals? Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. This framework works great. Here’s an example: rather than saying, ‘I want to make money online,’ pivot to ‘I want to earn $500 a month within the first six months through affiliate marketing.’ See the difference? It’s precise—and way more motivational. When I first started with Wealthy Affiliates, I set a small goal that I thought would be easy for me to eventually achieve and be happy with. But really, would I have been happy with that? No, not really, so I changed my goal to something I WOULD be happy with and that is what I am working towards.
Don’t forget, tracking your progress is just as crucial. It might be through spreadsheets, apps, or even old-school journaling. Whatever keeps you in check and helps adjust your strategies as needed. You’ll catch those goals by surprise before you know it. We do have to keep updating our websites and refer to site kit and google analytics to watch our websites’ performance.
Building Community: Leveraging Your Passion to Connect
Picking a niche isn’t just about what you know; it’s about what you love. This affection transforms into authenticity, and that’s what draws others in. Whether you’re into vintage toys, vegan baking, or tech gadgets, there’s a community out there that shares your enthusiasm. In my case, I love travel to such an extent that I may even be addicted to it. So, it would make sense that I should try and make some money with my passion of traveling to different cities, states, and countries. I just have to focus on a certain aspect of the travel niche because this is a very popular and competitive niche.
I am a family traveler with an occasional solo trip so that is my focus. Multigenerational family travel and travel planning for seniors are my focuses in my niche because that is where my life is right now. Of course, I will finally narrow my niche down to just travel planning for seniors but I am not quite there yet.
Social media is your connection powerhouse. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or niche-specific forums are where you want to hang out. Engage genuinely, share your journey, and listen to others. Before you know it, you’ll have a group of people who are as passionate as you are. I have been using Instagram, Pinterest, Google Maps, and YouTube for the most part. I do have a Facebook account but I do not get to it very often. I keep up with all of my subscribers on Instagram and YouTube several times a week and I get to Facebook three or four times a month.
Storytelling is the glue of any community. Share your experiences, the ups and downs, and the lessons you’ve learned. This not only adds value but also builds trust and camaraderie. People remember stories long after the details have faded. You will put your social media links on your website profile page. And you will have links to your website included in your social media profiles.
Don’t shy away from collaborations. Guest blogging, partnership leverage, and joint projects are brilliant ways to reach new audiences. Everyone benefits, making it a win-win. Plus, it’s a great way to learn from others without reinventing the wheel. I see such collaborations on Instagram a lot now. I am not very good at this part but I have recently joined a few facebook groups. I also signed up with Benable which is fairly sociable without a bunch of ads popping up all over the place. A lot of my commissions come through Benable.
Harnessing Resources: Achieving Goals with Wealthy Affiliates
If you’re serious about making it big in the online business world, then Wealthy Affiliates could be your perfect platform. This platform is more than just a learning hub; it’s a comprehensive toolkit designed to guide newbies and pros alike. You can go to my Wealthy Affiliates review article to investigate further. Just click on this link to check it out for free.
Picture this: access to top-tier training modules, an engaged community, round-the-clock support, and the best part—a pathway to earning while you learn. It’s like having a personal coach who’s available whenever you need. I have done more with this website in 4 months than what I was able to do in 2 years with my previous website which was really just a hobby.
Learning doesn’t stop at tutorials. Mentorship plays a key role in refining your skills. Through Wealthy Affiliates, you can connect with experienced leaders who’ve been through the grind. They’ll share their strategies, helping you to not only avoid rookie mistakes but also accelerate your growth.
And let’s not forget the success stories—a goldmine of inspiration right at your fingertips. These stories offer real-world insights and practical tips from those who’ve turned their goals into reality with Wealthy Affiliates.
Ever thought about passive income? That’s where affiliate networks come in. Wealthy Affiliates makes it simple to tap into various networks, find products that align with your niche, and earn commissions while you focus on growing your brand.
Patience and Persistence: The Key to Sustaining Long-term Success
When it comes to running an online business, sticking with it over the long haul is way more than just about showing up every day. Consistency isn’t glamorous, but it is essential. Day in and day out, it’s those small, steady steps that inch you closer to your big dream.
Many folks fall into the trap of expecting overnight success, only to be disappointed. The truth? Most success stories happen over time, not overnight. Analyzing timelines and setting reasonable expectations helps keep your panic at bay when results don’t roll in instantly. Keep your eyes on your own progress, rather than comparing with others.
Online business also involves connecting to many platforms besides your website. I have a link section on my website profile page with links to a couple of my social media accounts.
You’ll bump into roadblocks, no doubt about it. It’s how you bounce back from those hurdles that counts. Resilience is what carries you over the rough patches. View setbacks as learning experiences rather than failures. Every hurdle cleared adds to your experience, making you wiser and more prepared. I run into lots of hurdles, especially those pesky SEO notifications (things like “Your Meta Description is too long” or that my post has no content that can be recognized). I just go back and adjust what has to be adjusted then move on. Small steps with an occasional step back will get you through to success.
And hey, celebrate the small wins. They might seem insignificant now, but they’re stacking up towards your larger goals. Recognizing these victories keeps your motivation in high gear and fuels the drive to push forward.
Here is your link to peruse the Wealthy Affiliate platform:
https://www.wealthyaffiliate.com?a_aid=2ee50e8b
If you have a website, this following link will be very useful for excellent keyword research to improve your posts on your site. Otherwise, if you join the free tier of Wealthy Affiliate, you will find Jaaxy in the dashboard so you can use it without having to leave the platform at all.
This really resonates with me. I’ve worked in the poker world for over 20 years—dealing, managing, and playing across the country. Turning that experience into an online venture has been both challenging and exciting. Like you said, finding your niche often starts with passion. For me, it was poker strategy and community, which I’ve been able to share through content, coaching, and live streams. SMART goals and staying consistent have been huge. I also love the point about building community—engaging authentically on platforms like YouTube and Instagram has helped me connect with others who share the same love for the game. Progress might feel slow at times, but staying the course makes a difference. Great read!
Thank you for the comment. I went to high school in Las Vegas NV and worked in a casino oyster bar. I have always been intrigued by the poker and other card tables but I was also afraid to play because, well, it takes money and I know I would lose. Just like with chess. I love playing it but I rarely win because I have never developed a strategy to defend against the other players. More power to you for your ability to understand all of that and here’s to your success in your online venture. MAC
When working your business one tends to forget about SMART strategies and I too have to remind myself to come back to them from time to time to see where I am in my online business.
Running a travel blog must be a lot of fun, but if your blog isn’t making enough to support your travels, it can also be stressful. How do you ensure that you keep enough time open to work your business, while still enjoying all the pleasures of travel?
Hello Michel, thank you for commenting on my article. I really appreciate it. As far as ensuring that I keep enough time open to work while enjoying my passion of travel, I really just prioritize the things I have to do every day. When I am traveling, I go out on the streets early to get the photos and make the videos I must make for my website and social media. I do this when my family is still in bed. By the time my family members are all ready to go out on our excursions, I have everything I need for that days article creations and social media postings. I do that part of my work after we return to our hotel room in the evening. We are all just relaxing in the evening and doing our own thing. My thing is related to my travel blogger business.
It is pretty much the same thing when we are home. I work nights at the University. Before I return home from work, I will go to a planned destination to do walking videos and photos. By the time I get home, My wife has finished with her house chores so I can return home and eat breakfast while doing the social media thing. Anyway, now that I just wrote you a novel, I Wii leave it at that and say thank you again for the comment. MAC.