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How I’ve Made $0.21 as a Travel Blogger

OMG Nicole!  How did you do it?!?!
Teach me how to write bullshit to make money and travel the world!

-Said no one ever.  (Yet)

No, I haven’t made any money

Ok well, that’s a lie. I set up Google’s Adsense and so far I’ve accumulated a total of 21 cold hard American cents. But they don’t pay you until you rack up $100. I set it up like two weeks ago, so I’m averaging 10 cents a week.

By the end of the year, I will have made $5.21! At this rate, I will get paid in roughly 19 years and 3 months. Holy shit Nicole, you’ve struck liquid gold.

NOT

*I’m literally just experimenting with things. I don’t care for Google Adsense because I hate looking like a damn billboard, but I’m willing to try most things once.

But really though. Since I’ve started this I’ve become part of a number of travel blog Facebook groups and it seems that every (ok, I’m exaggerating.. maybe every other) new person posting on these says something along the lines of:

“I started a blog a month ago, I haven’t made any money yet, so how do I monetize it?”

What Nicole really hears is:

“Hey guys!  I’m jumping on the bandwagon since every big travel blogger out there is writing posts about how to make money as a digital nomad, so how do I circumvent all the hard work and hours of writing and carpal tunnel to sell out and get free shit and trips? 

Gimme free shit! Gimme! Gimme!  I want to quit working and get paid bookoo bucks for my inspirational quotes and listacles!”

Really guys, STOP! It’s so unflattering

I got into this because of the persistence of people around me to start a travel blog. I actually didn’t know until fairly recently that people made money doing this.

At this point I’d rather have readers and followers that give two fucks about something I post and hopefully get a laugh out of it (ideally spray their drink on their computer screen, or lightly choke on cheezy-poofs. 

I said lightly, people. Don’t get your panties in a wad…. Really don’t want any casualties).

Now, I’m not saying that I wouldn’t want to make money at this

Don’t get me wrong. That would be stellar. But I don’t live in the gumdrop forest where the unicorns shit rainbows. So what that means is: I’m not quitting my day job just yet. 

And I’d also like to add (and this may be the circa 2002 hardcore punk rocker Nicole coming out) I never want to sell out. I can’t stand selling out.

I can totally get down with someone helping promote a business, a great service, or item that they truly believe in and love (whether it is from a giant company or someone small and starting out).

What I mean is: I don’t want to approach a company for free shit in return for a good write up. I mean if it’s good, it’s good. But if it’s shitty, I’m not going to lie to make things sound good. You can roll a turd in glitter and it’s still a piece of shit.

I’d really just prefer for it to happen organically, not beg people to give me money and free things.

If you haven’t noticed yet, I actually enjoy writing about bad experiences

I don’t want to make everyone think that all these international escapades I’ve been on have been a damn cake walk. They’re not!

Some have been a lot of work and effort to get to the thing I want to see. But the way I see it, it’s a reward for the effort and hard work I put in.

Macaque Monkey, macaque, monkey, primate, Asia, Malaysia, Borneo, Sarawak, Bako National Park, Bako, Jungle, Rainforest

I also don’t want to discourage people from traveling, but I do like to really show everyone that traveling and vacationing are two very different things. While they can intermingle, traveling isn’t always a relaxing experience. I feel traveling is a more rewarding experience in comparison.

So the way I see it if this becomes something: Great. But if not, well hey I’ll have one hell of a memoir to pass down to Grandchildren. I’ve always said that my main goal in life was to have the best story and be the most badass old lady you’ll ever meet.

Need Travel Insurance?

Start shopping plans over at battleface, my go-to travel insurance choice, or over at World Nomads.

25 thoughts on “How I’ve made $0.21 as a Travel Blogger”

    1. Nicole

      Thanks Natalie!
      It’s my Grandma! She was the best, gave zero f***s and did whatever she wanted when she wanted and exactly how she wanted.

      Reply
  7. Nina- Where in the World is Nina?

    Dude, hilarious! Seriously, I didn’t start a blog to make money. I didn’t know it was possible until after I started it too. lol. I just can’t imagine people who want to write and throw up pretty pictures and think they are going to get paid. SERIOUSLY?! “Hey, so like, what’s SEO? What’s a host? Like, I need to pay for stuff first to be a real blogger? When can I just chill at the beach and make money?”
    STAAAHHHPPPP! lol

    Reply
    1. Nicole

      I wish it paid up while I kicked back on the beach. We can dream, right? haha. At least we both went into this knowing there was little to no pay on it, and are in it cause we just want to tell a good story!

      Reply
  9. Ashley

    Omg loved this. Made me laugh! Unfortunately I did not spit my coffee all over my computer though. But I totally agree with you. I want to make money off of my blog but not in a sell-out kind of way. I hate reading blogs with a bunch of ads and where every post is raving about something and then at the end it says “This is a sponsored post, but all opinions are my own.”

    Reply
    1. Nicole

      Thanks Ashley!
      I know I get so tired of seeing posts that have me sold on something and then I read that it’s sponsored. I mean it could be that awesome, but I’m never sure if I should trust it!

      Reply
  11. George

    Want to make money (I don’t)?

    Become a twitter shill. They’re all over the place.
    Somebody must be paying for all those #VikingRiver hashtags.

    Reply
  12. Luke Marlin

    Well my blog has made $3.51 in adsense revenue so I must be a 16 times better blogger than you! Haha just kidding obviously. Very funny post, I was laughing from the moment I read the title.

    Reply

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