Choosing Adventure: Becoming a Solo Travel Blogger with Gina Corley
SHOW NOTES: Episode 137
Are you wanting to be a travel blogger?
Join us as we chat with Gina Corley, a student of ours and a travel blogger from “Gina on a Plane.” Gina shares her personal story of how she became a travel blogger. Growing up in a small town with limited exposure to travel, Gina initially pursued a career in pharmacy. However, her passion for writing and photography eventually led her to explore travel blogging. Her inspiration came from reading another travel blog that resonated with her, igniting her passion for travel and motivating her to set out on her own solo adventures.
Gina admits that the idea of starting a blog had never crossed her mind until she found inspiration from a couple’s travel blog. The concept of creating a website seemed daunting, but the motivation she gained from the blog pushed her to take the leap. She reached out to a friend, Jen, who was also a blogger, to learn more about the blogging process. Jen referred her to our course, the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp, which provided the support and resources she needed to get started.
Gina’s part-time job allowed her the flexibility to take time off for travel, which she used to explore new locations. She also reflects on how living at home for several years helped her save money, allowing her to invest in her travel experiences.
Gina shares her thoughts on the challenges of monetizing her blog. While she anticipated the hard work involved in blogging, she underestimated the complexities of affiliate marketing and social media. She explains that success in blogging does not happen overnight and that many bloggers face similar struggles.
She highlights the importance of consistency in publishing content and focusing on a few key strategies to drive growth.
Gina advises new bloggers to choose two or three areas to concentrate on, such as writing blog posts and utilizing Pinterest, rather than spreading themselves too thin across multiple platforms.
We dive into the mindset required for successful blogging. Gina shares her belief that passion is a driving force behind her commitment to travel blogging. She acknowledges the challenges of the first year, describing it as a steep learning curve filled with technical hurdles and content creation demands. She encourages aspiring bloggers to embrace the learning process and not be discouraged by initial setbacks.
We chat about how embracing mistakes and seeking feedback can lead to growth and improvement. Gina shares that the journey of blogging is filled with trial and error, and it’s important to remain open to learning from experiences.
Gina emphasizes the value of community support, mentioning how being part of the Ultimate Blog Membership has provided her with ongoing learning opportunities and connections with other bloggers
She advises aspiring bloggers to persist and stay true to their passions. Gina explains that while the journey may be challenging, the rewards of inspiring others and sharing experiences make it worthwhile.
We are thankful for Gina coming on and sharing her wisdom today. Whether you’re just beginning or looking to refine your approach, these tips and strategies can help you navigate the blogging world with confidence and clarity.
We would love to hear what you thought about this episode! Send us a DM over on Instagram: @sparkmediaconcepts and let us know!
IN THIS EPISODE, WE COVERED:
- Gina’s journey into travel blogging
- Experiences and challenges of solo travel
- Strategies for monetizing a travel blog
- Importance of consistency in content creation
- The role of Pinterest in driving blog traffic
- Mindset and perseverance required for successful blogging
- Community support and learning opportunities in blogging
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Connect with Gina on her blog or on Instagram (@ginaonaplane__)
- SEO Audio Course
- Join the Ultimate Blog Bootcamp!
- Check out the Blog Depot!
- Check out last week’s episode here!
- Connect with us on Instagram at: @sparkmediaconcepts
MORE ABOUT THE ULTIMATE BLOG PODCAST:
Welcome to The Ultimate Blog Podcast! This podcast is for you if you’ve ever wanted to learn blogging basics so that you can start your own blog or if you have been a blogger for years but are struggling to grow or need inspiration and community.
Every Tuesday we will be sharing a new episode where we will cover topics from the basics of starting a blog, monetizing and growing your site, to finding the inspiration you need to keep going. You will also find guest interviews with experts on different blogging topics as well as interviews with bloggers who’ve been in your shoes.
Amy Reinecke and Jennifer Draper are bloggers themselves who want to encourage you to believe in your potential, step outside the norm and step into a life where you create your own schedule, your own success and your own story.
We’d love to connect with you on our other platforms so please visit us at www.sparkmediaconcepts.com or follow us on Instagram at @sparkmediaconcepts
This post contains affiliate links. That means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, the hosts or guests of this podcast will receive a commission at no additional cost to you.