The 5 most essential steps you need to start a travel blog

Starting a blog in 2025 almost feels like being late to the party — a party where all the choicest food and drinks have been long served, gulped down, and digested.

But you know what they say about parties: sometimes being late is meeting (not missing) the fun part — the small chops that were kept aside suddenly make their way out, smiling on people's plates.

Yeah. There's still "small chops" for you if you need to start a blog — a travel blog — in 2025.

But what are those things you need to stand out and make impact in the travel blogging space, especially in a time of morale-crushing updates and AI content?

Certainly, you need some basics and then more to fight for your spot.

You probably already know some: get a domain name, pick a web hosting platform, and optimise for search engine visibility.

But the full details of these steps can remain fuzzy without a clear presentation. In that case, walk with us.

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We get it: it's your blog. You want to creatively control the naming. But if what you've always dreamt of has been taken already, there's no other option than to find another.

And in doing so, look out for a name that sticks (if possible, instantly). You need to be memorable in every way possible. What better way to start than with your very name?

Check for the name on social media to be sure it's not in use.

If it's not, create a profile on your preferred platform (start with Instagram) and use it as the handle of the page.

Pro Tip: Run a poll or share a questionnaire with people (your friends, family, colleagues, even acquaintances) for feedback on the most sticky name possible.

If you are tempted to go all out in the beginning, bin the idea now.

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You need just a simple, cheap web hosting plan and domain name registrar.

It would look great to spend time designing the brand look and feel of your travel blog, but it's not necessary if you are just starting out.

Your initial budget should be as lean as possible, focusing only on:

• Website builder or a content management system (CMS) such as Squarespace or WordPress.org

• Your web domain link

• Domain privacy and protection

• Web hosting (if you opt for a CMS)

Calculate the cost of each and go for the most cost-effective plans respectively.

Your strategy should cover the exact pathways that visitors will use to get to your blog, encompassing social media marketing and SEO efforts.

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In 2025, people don't want to see what AI can feed them with on the go; they want depth, nuance, and relatability.

Prioritising these will shoot up your traffic and increase your virality potential.

For social media and forums, go on Reddit, join communities in the travel niche, network in groups with other travel bloggers, and be active in them.

To capture a spot in the search engine results pages, do better than what is already out there.

Be as thorough and detailed as possible to make your article recognised as the best resource on the topic of coverage.

Invest in link building and guest posting on other sites as well.

You can also take advantage of email campaigns. Use platforms like MailChimp or Substack to send newsletters containing your recent articles to a list of subscribers.

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Growing your subscriber list takes dedicated effort and time.

Pro Tip: Install and connect Google Analytics to track your traffic and know more about your visitors. Knowing how to assess your performance will guide you in creating the most memorable and engaging content for your blog.

A clear niche will enhance your travel blogging journey.

Spell it out plainly so that visitors are not mistaken when they land on your site.

You can choose out of several niches available: solo traveling, luxury traveling, or family-friendly traveling and attract a steady, well-defined audience who keep coming back for more.

The progression of your efforts need a map. Outline your expected results after six months, one year, and two years.

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In this plan, include your monetisation prospects through AdSense, sponsorship, merch, digital resources, as well as partnerships.

Begin this document in your launch phase and keep updating it as you scale.

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A travel blog is still relevant in 2025. With the right dose of passion, consistency, and marketing strategy, it is a profitable niche for anyone interested in it.