With the rising trend of content discovery on TikTok and Instagram, many publishers are wondering: Is it still possible to make money from travel blogs? And how can blogs maintain steady traffic while increasing revenue? In this article, Ecomobi will explore key strategies to help you not only develop your travel blog but also generate sustainable income from it!
Are blogs being replaced by social media?
In recent years, user search behavior has shifted dramatically. Instead of searching on Google, many people – especially Gen Z – tend to search directly on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, or Facebook. According to a Statista report, 40% of Gen Z users prefer TikTok to search for travel information rather than Google.
Additionally, Google Trends has also noted a decline in searches for keywords related to “travel reviews” or “travel tips”. These topics are now more commonly consumed as short-form videos on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Website is still a reliable information search channel with high ROI rate
However, this doesn’t mean that travel blogs have lost their value or make money from travel blog is impossible. 74% of people report that they are more likely to return to a website if it’s optimized for mobile (WebFX, 2023) for detailed information after watching short-form content on social media. This indicates that while short videos capture initial attention, blogs remain a trusted resource when travelers need:
- Detailed guides and itineraries
- In-depth reviews of destinations, hotels, and experiences
- Practical tips on budgeting, transportation, and cultural insights.
How to make money from travel blog?
Publishers have multiple revenue streams available through their websites. Here are some of the most effective ways to make money from blog:
Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is one of the most profitable monetization strategies for travel bloggers. Many travel brands offer high commission rates, easy conversions, and high transaction values. Booking platforms like Booking.com, Trip, Klook, Agoda, and TripAdvisor are launching numerous travel affiliate programs to attract participants, offering:
- A massive customer base due to ever-increasing travel demand
- Diverse products: tours, hotels, flights, travel accessories, etc.
- Attractive commission rates (8 – 50%) with easy entry requirements (just need a website or social media account)
By integrating affiliate links into your blog content, you earn a commission whenever readers book through your referral. Some programs, like TripAdvisor, even offer affiliate marketing payment model CPC (Cost Per Click) commissions, meaning you can earn money even if users don’t make a purchase—they just need to click your link.
Additionally, you can join multiple affiliate programs simultaneously to diversify your income sources. Check out our guide on “Top 10+ Highest Paying Travel Affiliate Programs in 2025” for recommendations!
Make money from travel blog – Google AdSense & Display Advertising
Beyond travel affiliate marketing, display advertising is one of the most lucrative ways to monetize your travel website/blog. It’s relatively passive – you simply provide advertising space and receive regular monthly payments. Platforms like Google AdSense allow bloggers to display ads and earn revenue based on clicks (CPC) or impressions (CPM).
Of course, this online travel monetization strategy only generates significant revenue when your website has high traffic. To maximize ad earnings, your blog must attract significant traffic. This requires:
- SEO optimization ((keywords, engaging content, media-rich articles)
- High-quality, user-friendly website design
- Consistent content creation: creating engaging content, to incorporating media (videos, images, etc.) into articles and homepage.
Selling digital products
Creating and selling digital products is another excellent way to earn passive income. Some popular digital product ideas include:
- Ebooks & travel guide: Create comprehensive travel guides for specific countries or regions, including packing tips, visa procedures, suggested itineraries, must-visit attractions, hotel recommendations, and best times to visit. You can incorporate affiliate links and your tour links if available.
- Photo/Video Presets: Lightroom presets and video color grading packs for travelers.
Joining advertising networks
Beyond Google AdSense, other advertising networks like Mediavine or AdThrive offer higher earnings for blogs with substantial traffic. These networks manage ad placement and optimize revenue, allowing you to focus on content creation.
Tip: While ads can be lucrative, too many ads can disrupt user experience. Balance monetization with readability!
Sponsored posts & Brand collaborations
Once your blog gains traction, travel brands and service providers may offer you sponsorship deals. You can write reviews, sponsored content, place advertising banners, or insert promotional links into your content. It’s crucial to thoroughly vet potential partners, establish clear contracts, and integrate promotional content naturally.
Example: The travel blog Nomadic Matt publishes articles like “The 6 Best Hostels in Melbourne”, which seamlessly integrates sponsored content with personal experiences and affiliate links. This approach increases the likelihood of affiliate link clicks.
How to maximize your travel blog’s income
To maximize your earnings from travel blog, consider implementing these strategies:
Create high-quality content
Content is the heart of a profitable travel blog. Start each article with useful information, authentic experience stories, and engaging images and videos. Write trending content like food tours and photography tours to target young experience-seeking travelers. Here are some popular content types readers interest/ love:
- Detailed location-specific travel guides
- Budget travel tips
- Hotel, restaurant, and service reviews
- Travel photos, videos, and vlogs
- Detailed comparative reviews (e.g., “Agoda vs Booking – Which is better?”).
Leverage social media for traffic
Social media is a powerful tool to drive traffic back to your blog. Effective social media exploitation tips:
- TikTok & Instagram Reels: Share short travel journey videos and tips (include blog links in bio or description)
- Pinterest: Create beautiful images, optimize titles and descriptions with keywords to drive Pinterest traffic to your blog
- Facebook Groups: Share posts in relevant travel communities..
- YouTube Shorts: Post short travel clips with links to full blog articles
Example: If you write a “4 Days 3 Nights Self-Guided Chiang Mai,” create a TikTok video about “10 Best Check-in Spots in Chiang Mai” with a blog link in the caption for detailed information.
Choose the right affiliate programs
Prioritize programs offering competitive commission rates. For instance, Trip.com offers up to 7% (or 8% through Trip.com on Ecomobi). Prioritize programs with:
- High commission rates (e.g., TripAdvisor offers up to 75% commissions – but only apply to accommodation bookings)
- Diverse product offerings (hotels, flights, tours, experiences)
- Easy approval & fast payouts.
Joining campaigns through affiliate networks like Ecomobi provides major benefits: 1:1 support, conversion guidance, and clear, quick payment policies.
>>> Read more: Guide to join travel affiliate program Trip.com on Ecomobi
Optimize SEO & Content Performance
- SEO: Research and optimize SEO for higher search engine rankings. Focus on Image SEO (optimize file sizes, alt tags, captions)) and Social SEO.
- Choose the right niche: Select a travel niche where you have expertise and passion
- Use backlink systems: Backlinks support SEO and are an extremely effective traffic source.
Leveraging tools and promotions
Support Tools: Utilize tools and promotional materials provided by affiliate programs to optimize your marketing campaigns and successfully monetize your travel blog. Most travel booking platforms like Klook, Booking.com, Agoda, and KKday offer support tools for affiliates. However, managing multiple campaigns across different platforms can be time-consuming and challenging.
Ecomobi Passio is an affiliate marketing platform that collaborates with top Hot Partners like Klook, Agoda, Traveloka, and Temu Affiliate offering exclusive deals and attractive commissions. It also provides a professional tracking system and AI-powered recommendations through its Dashboard.
Exclusive Promotions: Keep track of and take advantage of promotional programs and incentive campaigns to maximize commissions.
>>> Read more: How to join Hot Partner affiliate campaign on Ecomobi Passio
Diversifying Income Sources
- Multiple programs: Join various affiliate programs to increase earning opportunities
- Diverse promotion methods: Use different promotional formats like reviews, text links, and advertising banners,…
Track performance & optimize conversions
Tracking effectiveness: Use Google Analytics to track traffic sources.
Website optimization: Before monetizing your travel blog, ensure that your website serves as a truly valuable source of information. 74% of people report that they are more likely to return to a website if it’s optimized for mobile (WebFX, 2023).
Set aside the goal of making money for now and focus on delivering real value to your readers. Over time, they will recognize you as a trustworthy source that says NO to meaningless promotions and advertisements. Once you have built credibility, you can skillfully integrate affiliate links for products and services or publish review articles in the form of bookings.
Clear Call-to-Action (CTA): If you are selling a product, strategically incorporate compelling CTAs to encourage customers to take action. Publishers can leverage trends and the FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) effect to create a sense of urgency for readers. A/B test CTAs to improve click-through rates.
For successful travel blogging and sustainable income, publishers need to combine multiple strategies. Ecomobi supports your income growth through a comprehensive ecosystem: partner network connections, attractive campaigns, high commissions, advanced tracking tools for performance enhancement, and more. Join today!
Contact:
– Fanpage: https://www.facebook.com/ecomobi.ssp
– Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecomobi_ssp
– Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ecomobipassiovietnam
– Email: info@ecomobi.com
