Why The Google HCU Was The Best Things For My Travel Blog with Melissa Byron

If you're a newer blogger looking to monetize or a seasoned creator wanting to add an additional revenue stream, here's an idea: freelancing. With freelance work, you don't need to be a popular influencer or have a certain number of pageviews to make money. Instead, you create content for other brands and publications and get paid for your skills vs your following. To help you get started, travel blogger and content strategist Brittany Verlenich will be sharing how to: -Pinpoint what services to offer -Set rates and create packages -Retain long-term freelancing clients-Turn freelance work into a reliable revenue stream-And more! 🎁 FREE OPEN HOUSE INSIDE TRAVEL BLOG PROSPERITY: In April 2026, I'm hosting a free 5-day event for travel bloggers looking to grow their traffic, email list, and income. Each day, you'll get access to live workshop or coaching call—replays included—as well as our private Facebook group to ask questions in a safe and nurturing environment. If you've been feeling a bit stuck lately, or if you're searching for some blogging clarity and community support, you won't want to miss it: ⬇️ http://jessieonajourney.com/open-house/ 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Make Money Freelancing Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH BRITTANY: Website: https://brittanyverlenich.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brittanyverlenich Freelancer Fix Newsletter: https://freelancerfix.substack.com/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

When it comes to growing a travel blog, certain SEO best practices—like having a fast website and making your expertise clear—are important. That said, it is possible to grow and scale without obsessing over keywords or chasing trends. Out guest, Melisssa Byron of A Solo Woman Traveling, is proof of this. After being impacted by the Helpful Content Update (HCU), she shifted from keyword-optimized content to reader-first storytelling and aligned offers—which helped her sustainably grow her blogging business, despite Google algorithm updates. In this episode, she'll help you do the same by sharing: -what authenticity actually means when it comes to content creation  -tips for getting eyes on your content (Google and beyond) -how to properly align your content with your audience for increased profits -her strategy for creating a reader-first content plan—that also leads to profits -and more! 🎁 FREE OPEN HOUSE INSIDE TRAVEL BLOG PROSPERITY: In April 2026, I'm hosting a free 5-day event for travel bloggers looking to grow their traffic, email list, and income. Each day, you'll get access to live workshop or coaching call—replays included—as well as our private Facebook group to ask questions in a safe and nurturing environment. If you've been feeling a bit stuck lately, or if you're searching for some blogging clarity and community support, you won't want to miss it: ⬇️ http://jessieonajourney.com/open-house/ 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including an Authentic Blogging Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH MELISSA: Website: https://asinglewomantraveling.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/asolowomantraveling/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Patreon—a platform that makes it easy for fans to support your work directly—can help bloggers build an engaged community and earn recurring revenue in the process. And you don't need a huge audience to be successful either! In an age of endless algorithm updates and AI threats, moving your audience into a space you control, like Patreon, is a smart business move. To help, our guest, points strategy coach and Patreon success story, Julia Menez, will be sharing: -how Patreon helped her turn her expertise into a predictable revenue stream -tips for structuring your Patreon tiers for profits -how to promote your Patreon and keep members engaged -advice for managing your Patreon workflow without burning out -and more!  Julia will take us behind the scenes of her Patreon business to share exactly what works, and what doesn't, so you can grow and monetize faster and easier. 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Grow & Monetize With Patreon Cheat Sheet! 📸 NYC Influencer Shoots This episode is sponsored by NYC Photo Journeys—my very own New York photography and travel planning company! For a limited time, you can get 10 bonus photos when you book an NYC Influencer Shoot and opt for the Edited Package. Just use code "BONUSPHOTOS" at checkout to claim the gift! ⬇️ https://nycphotojourneys.com/professional-photographers-in-nyc/ 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH JULIA: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/geobreezetravel Website: https://geobreezetravel.com/ Podcast: https://geobreezetravel.com/podcast/  🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Want to land paid brand partnerships? The good news: you don't need a big following to earn an income from collaborating with brands and tourism boards; but, you do need to know how to pitch and negotiate.  To help you see success with this, our guest for this episode, influencer marketing expert Nina Zadeh of Sidewalker Daily, will be sharing: -clever pitching strategies -powerful negotiation tactics -details about what brands are actually paying for -tips for creating a repeatable system for landing consistent paid brand collaborations -and more! Nina regularly negotiates 5- and 6-figure brand deals—including a $200,000 campaign. She'll walk you through how that was pitched in the episode! 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a High-Ticket Brand Collaborations Cheat Sheet Cheat Sheet! 🎁 FREE CLASS: Sign up for the free How To Land Paid Brand Deals workshop to learn how to make brands want to pay you for brand collabs, even if you have a small following (affiliate link):  https://sidewalkerdaily.lpages.co/how-to-land-travel-partnerships-jessie/ 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH NINA: Sidewalker Daily: https://sidewalkerdaily.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sidewalkerdaily   Nina's Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nina.zadeh/  🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Let's talk about how to build an algorithm-proof travel blog in 2026! From constant algorithm updates to massive changes to organic search to increasing AI advancements, the blogging landscape has changed dramatically—and will continue to change. Nowadays, it's important to move beyond posting and waiting for search engines to like you, to treating our blogs like businesses by building an engaged community, serving our audience through aligned revenue streams, and increasing brand visibility across platforms. I'll share exactly how to do all of this (and more!) in the below blogging roadmap!  The recommendations are based on doing a deep dive into my own blogging business across my three sites, as well as what I'm seeing in my creator student community and the broader creator economy. Suggestions will be grouped into the following topics: Business Planning Content Creation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Traffic & Visibility Blog Monetization Additionally, I'll share tips and examples to help you implement this 2026 blogging roadmap for success faster and easier! 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a 2026 Algorithm-Proof Action Plan Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ BONUS EXAMPLES To view examples and visuals mentioned in the episode, click "Episode Webpage" below (on Apple Podcasts) or visit this page: https://jessieonajourney.com/blogging/algorithm-proof-travel-blog/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Steal my content repurposing workflow and learn how to turn one piece of content into ten or more! If you've ever felt like there just aren't enough hours in the day to create fresh content for your blog, newsletter, social media, and other platforms, this episode of The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast is for you. I'm sharing my exact step-by-step content repurposing strategy that will help you: Stay consistent across platforms without burning out by following a simple, repeatable framework Grow your traffic, email list, and income with strategic content repurposing Streamline your content plan to boost visibility and audience engagement Use AI to simplify your workflow and write faster, more impactful content Identify top-performing topics that can evolve into profitable products and offers And more! 📣 AFFILIATE BONUS + FREE TOOL Travelpayouts (sponsor) is an affiliate platform that helps travel bloggers earn. Their powerful LinkedSwitcher tool automatically turns all the travel links on your website into affiliate links, so you can grow your passive income faster! Sign up for free here (use code "JESSIE" for a $25 bonus on your first payout - new users only): https://tp.click/3si  🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Content Creation & Repurposing Strategy Spreadsheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ BONUS EXAMPLES To view examples and visuals mentioned in the episode, click "Episode Webpage" below (on Apple Podcasts) or visit this page: https://jessieonajourney.com/blogging/content-repurposing-workflow/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Learn how to become a successful travel vlogger and turn simple travel footage into a thriving, profitable business! To help, Sojourner White of Sojournies—a YouTuber with nearly 25,000 subscribers, 2.3M+ views, and a Trailblazer Award for train travel vlogging—is sharing her best travel vlog tips for beginners. You'll learn how to: -Get started with travel vlogging—from choosing your niche to setting up your filming workflow -Tell stories that hook viewers with her go-to vlog structure and shot strategy -Film and edit smarter with time-saving systems and storytelling angles -Monetize your videos through ads, brand deals, UGC, affiliate links, and licensing footage -And more! By the end, you'll have a clear strategy to start travel vlogging, grow your audience, and earn income from your videos.  📣 SPONSOR + MONETIZE YOUR TRAVEL VIDEOS TourRadar—a top marketplace for multi-day tours— just launched the RISE $1M Creator Fund that empowers travel creators to monetize their adventures through commissions, travel perks, and exclusive trips. Click my affiliate link here to sign up (it's free!): https://bit.ly/Join-RISE 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Travel Vlogging Tips Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH SOJOURNER: Website: https://sojournies.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesojournies/  Grab Sojourner's free Travel Scripting Checklist (download): https://bit.ly/sojourniesscripts 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Creating a travel newsletter isn't just about sending emails—it's about growing an engaged list, building community, and creating a reliable source of traffic and income. But how do you decide what to include so readers keep opening, clicking, and converting? If you've ever wondered how to create an engaging travel newsletter, you're in luck. That's exactly what our guest, RV blogger turned email marketing expert Liz Wilcox, will be breaking down for us. Her email marketing strategies have built a multi–six-figure business, fueled a membership community of thousands, and even delivered a 100% conversion rate on a digital course launch—an almost unheard-of result in online marketing. And today she'll be sharing her best tips to help you do the same. You'll learn: -How to grow your email list (fast) without ads -A 20-minute newsletter framework that actually works  -Newsletter cadence, segmentation & connection -Driving real blog traffic from email -Monetizing your newsletter without being spammy -And more! By the end, you'll have a clear travel newsletter strategy for growing your blogging business! 📣 SPONSOR + MONETIZE YOUR EMAIL LIST With Travelpayouts, a leading affiliate network for travel bloggers, you can easily turn your newsletter recommendations into revenue by promoting trusted travel brands your readers already love — from flights and hotels to activities. Click here to sign up for Travelpayouts and use code "JESSIE" to get a $25 bonus on your first payout (new users only): https://tp.click/3sh 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Create An Engaging Travel Newsletter Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH LIZ: Website: https://lizwilcox.com/ Grab Liz's free Email Marketing Toolkit—including a Welcome Sequence, 3 Newsletters, and 52 Email Subject lines (affiliate link): https://jessie--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/email-marketing-membership/64e3784410204/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos  

Learn how to start, grow, and monetize a Substack newsletter—from a blogger with over 21,000 subscribers! Email newsletters have become one of the most reliable ways for bloggers to grow their audience and earn a consistent income. And Substack makes it easier than ever to publish, promote, and even monetize a newsletter without needing complex tech. In this video, award-winning travel writer and Substack success story Tim Leffel shares: What Substack is & how it works How to grow your Substack email newsletter (even as a newbie) Substack features you can use to increase subscribers faster Ideas for making money with Substack (paid subscribers & more) And more! By the end, you'll have a clear understanding of how Substack can help you grow your audience and income — even while other platforms' algorithms are trending down. 🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Substack Success Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH TIM: Website: https://timleffel.com/ Blog: https://www.cheapestdestinationsblog.com/ Nomadico Substack Newsletter: https://nomadico.substack.com/ 🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos

Want to learn how to do a blog content audit—the right way? Well, you're in luck, as in this episode of The Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast, we'll be going over how to audit and update old blog posts for more traffic and income! Our guest is travel blogger Lana Sitler, who has strategically used content audits to double her affiliate income, grow her blog traffic, and scale to $10,000 monthly in passive income. After just 3 years, Lana was able to match her salary as an engineer and quit her job to become a full-time travel blogger. Today, she'll be sharing her best tips to help you do the same. By the end of this episode, you'll understand: What a content audit is & when you should do one How to update old posts for SEO & Google ranking boosts Tips for updating blog posts for more affiliate & ad income Improvements to make for the fastest wins How to organize your blog posts to streamline your workflow And more! Bonus: Lana will share specific examples of how she improved her content to see big results—including the 5-minute update that led to thousands of dollars! 📣 SPONSOR + FREE CONTENT ANALYTICS TOOL: Travelpayouts is an affiliate platform that helps travel bloggers earn. Their powerful Content Analytics tool can make your content audit easier by showing you what's working and what's not, so you can grow your affiliate income faster! Sign up for free here: https://tp.click/3rF  🎁 FREE BONUS: Grab access to my free travel blogger resource library: https://jessieonajourney.com/free-blogging-printables/  It includes 75+ blogging resources all meant to help you grow your traffic, community, and income faster and with less overwhelm. Snag workshops, tutorials, workbooks, cheat sheets, Trello boards, workflows, and more—including a Blog Content Audit Cheat Sheet! 🛠️ TOOLS MENTIONED: Visit this link for a list of my favorite blogging tools, resources, and discounts - including tools mentioned in the episode: https://jessieonajourney.com/tools/  ✨ CONNECT WITH LANA: Website: https://adventuresbylana.com/  Blog Content Audit Spreadsheet: https://adventuresbylana.kit.com/0010b5304a  Affiliate Marketing Course: https://adventuresbylana.com/affiliate-income-accelerator-course/  🎉 CONNECT WITH JESSIE: YouTube (blogging): https://www.youtube.com/@makemoneytravelblogging  Travel Creator Community Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bloggrowthposse  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@jessieonajourney Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessieonajourney/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessieonajourney/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JessonaJourney TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jessieonajourney  Flipboard: https://flipboard.com/@JessieFesta YouTube (travel): https://www.youtube.com/@jessieonajourney/featured 🙏 CREDITS 🎶 Music by Bjorn Lynne via Depositphotos