Thank you to TBEX Europe 2024 speaker, Kerwin McKenzie, Passrider.com, for sharing his knowledge as a guest contributor. Make sure to check out his session, How To Use The Power Of AI With Email Marketing To Effectively Communicate With Your Customers, if you will be attending TBEX in San Sebastian!

KERWIN ON BIKE IN GOLD COAST
Image: Passrider.com

One of the best ways for you to communicate with your readers is via a newsletter. Despite what happens, you are always in control regardless of what the social media sites do.

You must constantly encourage your social media followers to join your newsletter. But what good is the newsletter if you can’t monetize it?

With that said, here are seven ways to make money from your travel newsletter.

1. Sponsored Travel Content and Partnerships

Airlines, airports, car rental companies, hotels, tourism boards, and travel brands want to reach customers, so your audience may be the perfect place for them. Here’s how to make it work:

Find Relevant Sponsors
- Identify travel-related brands that align with your content and audience. Reach out to them and pitch why your newsletter is the perfect platform for their brand. Ensure that you include analytics in your pitch.
Offer A Ridiculous Amount of Value
- It’s important to provide sponsors with detailed analytics from your newsletter to demonstrate your audience’s engagement. This is one reason why you pick a newsletter program that comes with excellent analytics; do not skimp here. One thing that is tough though is that some audiences won’t click on the content, so you have to depend on the open rates at this point. Remember that, not everyone will act right away, but they will store your content for use later, when they are ready to travel.
Create Amazing Content
- Ensure that the sponsor’s message is integrated naturally into your content. Getting your audience to trust you is the key, so creating great content with your audience in mind goes a very long way.

2. Crowdfunding and Donations for Travel Projects

This is one of the best ways to monetize and perhaps the most underutilized. People want to support your content, don’t get in their way of that. Use crowdfunding platforms or donation sites. Your loyal fans will support you.

Explain the Benefits
- Clearly communicate how their support helps you create high-quality travel content. Let them know how the funds will be used.
Offer Incentives
- You should provide great incentives for donations, such as exclusive travel content, digital content, shout-outs in your newsletter, or special perks for top contributors. Or maybe work with a brand to give a special discount or something like that.
Use Donation Platforms
- Utilize platforms like Patreon, PayPal, buy me a coffee or Ko-fi, that are designed to facilitate ongoing support from your readers.

3. Affiliate Marketing for Travel Products and Services

This is the one almost everyone already uses, so it’s easier to implement. Affiliate marketing is the promotion of items that earn you a commission on any sales generated through the links you provide your customers. These are called affiliate links.

It’s a great way to earn passive income while providing value to your readers.

The most common ones are Amazon, hotel links, car rental links, and links to popular online stores. The commission you receive varies by the product and the supplier.

Here are some helpful tips for success:

Choose the Right Travel Products
- Recommend the items you personally use and have verified or know are good items such as travel gear, booking platforms, or services that you genuinely use and believe in. This helps to build trust and increases the likelihood of your readers making a purchase. You can survey your readers to gain a better insight.
Incorporate Links Naturally
- Make the affiliate links a part of your travel stories. For example, when you write about a recent trip, include links to the travel gear you used, the accommodations where you stayed, the transportation you took, or the booking sites you found helpful.
Track Your Performance
- Use tracking tools such as Google Analytics or shortened links to monitor which links perform the best. This data can help to refine your strategy and focus on the most lucrative partnerships. It will also be helpful as you pitch new advertisers and to show the performance to current advertisers if appropriate.

4. Selling Travel Digital Products

Create and sell digital products directly via your newsletter or use the newsletter to market the items. These could include:

Travel Guides and E-books
- Create destination-specific guides using your analytics to help you decide which destination to choose, travel tips of course, or topics like budget travel or luxury escapes, or other topics related to your niche.
Workshops and Online Travel Courses
- If you’re a photographer, consider a course on travel photography tips, or survey your readership, find out what they want to learn and create it for them. You can setup online workshops via services such as Zoom or create course using tools like newzenler.
Old Fashion Printable Travel Resources
- Packing lists, travel planners, or itinerary templates are things you can try. Of course, they can be digital as well. Again, do surveys to figure out what they want.

5. Paid Subscriptions for Exclusive Travel Content

You can offer a paid version of your newsletter that provides exclusive travel content to subscribers. Platforms like Substack and beehiiv make this very easy to accomplish. Here are some items you could place behind a paywall:

Exclusive Travel Tips
- Share in-depth articles, behind-the-scenes stories, or detailed travel tips that are not available in the free version of your newsletter.
Early Access
- Give premium subscribers early access to your travel guides, itineraries, or special deals; maybe do live broadcasts and invite them to it.
Member-Only Perks
- Offer member-only Question-and-Answer sessions, provide personalized travel information for members, and provide access to a members-only community.

6. Advertising and Sponsored Travel Ads

This is a really great way to monetize your newsletter. Platforms like beehiiv and Convertkit make it easy once you’re approved by the advertiser. Here are some ways you can get advertising in your newsletter:

Banner Ads for Travel Brands
- You can offer to sell banner ads in your newsletter to travel brands. Ensure the ads are relevant and not overly intrusive to maintain a good reader experience. Have a three-month minimum participation.
Sponsored Travel Listings
- Feature sponsored listings or recommendations for hotels, restaurants, or travel services. These should align with your content and provide value to your readers.
Email Ad Networks
- Join email ad networks that connect you with advertisers looking to reach your travel audience. These networks handle the ad placement, making it easier for you to monetize your newsletter. Convertkit and beehiiv make this easy.

7. Monetize Travel-Related Physical Products

Depending on your travel niche, you should consider physical products to add to your monetization arsenal. Consider selling:

Curated Travel Kits
- Your travel kits could include items you recommend or use regularly. These could be themed around specific types of travel, Luxury and adventure travel are two good areas. I know of medical bloggers who have put together survival kits.
Travel Merchandise
- Create merchandise such as t-shirts, hats, or travel accessories. If branded, these will not only generate revenue but also promote your brand.
- Postcards and Travel Prints
  - Selling high-quality prints of your travel photography is a good way to do this. You can also create and sell postcards.

Image: Passrider.com

Conclusion

So, you can see that monetizing your travel newsletter will take some work, but it will be worth it in the end. By applying these seven methods or a combination thereof, you can turn your passion for travel into making a living.

Now, go monetize that newsletter!

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