Meet Amanda Williams, a girl who grew up among Christmas trees on a farm in Ohio, dreaming of far-off places she'd seen in movies like "Lord of the Rings".

At 15, Amanda promised herself she'd visit New Zealand.

True to her word, after high school, she set off on what would become the first of many adventures, eventually taking her to over 60 countries.

Amanda's love for travel sparked an idea.

Why not share her experiences and tips with others?

That's how "A Dangerous Business", her travel blog, started.

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This blog wasn't just a hobby; it turned into a way to make a living.

Every month, it brings in quite a lot of cash, attracting thousands of people who want to learn how to travel smarter and cheaper.

The first steps were not easy.

Amanda had to figure out how to turn her passion for travel into a successful online business.

She faced challenges, like how to attract readers and make money.

But Amanda was determined.

She used what she knew about storytelling from her journalism degree, her understanding of tourism, and Digital Marketing skills, similar to what we teach at Max Business School at no cost, to create engaging, helpful content.

In the case study, we’ll see that her efforts paid off.

Amanda’s Blog became a hit because Amanda made travel seem possible for everyone.

Her blog shows that you don't need to be a full-time traveler or leave everything behind to explore the world.

Amanda’s story is a reminder that with passion and perseverance, you can turn your dreams into reality.

Case Study Analysis
(Available Free Until: 27/02/24)

What does this online business do? 🚀

Today's newsletter will delve into a successful travel blog that excels in both profitability and effectiveness as an online business and travel resource.

An impressive monthly revenue of $18,000 demonstrates its remarkable performance.

The blog’s success is mainly attributed to its engaging content, drawing 144,668 new visitors and 192,380 page views monthly.

For travel enthusiasts seeking vacation planning tips and cost-saving ideas, this blog is a valuable source of inspiration.

Additionally, the blog offers useful travel and accommodation recommendations suitable for both novice and experienced travellers.

The focus will be on evaluating the blog's effectiveness in driving traffic, maintaining a consistent income, and its overall marketing strategy.

How does this online business make money? 💻

Utilizing its content and high traffic volume, the blog generates a steady five-figure income by strategically placing tracking links in popular posts to drive traffic and generate high affiliate commissions.

With an average monthly affiliate marketing earning of $4,000 and participation in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, the blog earns through advertising products on behalf of Amazon and marketplace sellers.

Additionally, the blog offers online courses on Teachable, teaching affiliate marketing basics and generates revenue through paid campaigns, contributing significantly to the monthly income.

Sponsored content from external advertisers, including brands, influencer networks, travel agencies, and transport companies, is also featured.

Collaborations with partners like the Florida Keys and Key West Tourism Board contribute to the blog's income and popularity, with Advertising Partners accounting for 90% of the monthly income.

What has this business done well?🔥

This blog stands out with a simple and functional website that offers suggestions on tourist attractions, private getaways, and accommodations to hundreds of thousands of visitors.

For the past 12 years, the blog has dedicated detailed posts to each country or attraction visit, allowing clients to explore the founder's travels and access reviews, recommendations, and tips by clicking on hyperlinked post titles.

Unlike typical travel blogs that provide brief overviews, this blog goes the extra mile to inform readers about history, culture, and personal experiences.

Offering insights into challenges and tips to avoid them, making it a valuable resource for travellers.

What this business could improve?🔥🔥🔥

This online blog needs to monetize its content and knowledge more to earn a steady income from its digital audience

One effective way for this online blog to monetize its content and knowledge is through various strategies such as digital products.

By strategically incorporating these revenue streams, the blog can diversify its income sources and generate a steady stream of revenue from its digital audience.

Creating and selling online courses related to travelling, based on the blog's expertise can be a valuable source of revenue.

By packaging the blog's knowledge into comprehensive courses, the blog can offer additional value to its audience and generate income through course sales.

Developing and selling digital products such as e-books, templates, or printables can be a profitable way to monetize the blog's content.

These products can provide additional value to the audience and serve as a passive income stream for the blog.

By implementing these monetization strategies thoughtfully and strategically, the online blog can maximize its earning potential and build a sustainable income from its digital audience.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

We can learn a lot from this travel blog to further apply immediately, here are some takeaways to note:

• Utilize the Organic traffic generated through basic content on a popular topic, which is a good practice.

• Provide a service that is helpful and direct, addressing a specific intent that a majority of web visitors actively search for and are in high demand.

• Create a strong interaction with the fan base through social media and YouTube. This will foster loyal clients who will invest in and support your projects.

• Keep an eye out for partnerships and investing in sponsored content are added ways of securing an extra income.

Amanda's success is a lesson in following your dreams and working hard.

She didn't become a successful travel blogger overnight.

It took time, determination, and a willingness to learn and to grow her Blog: A Dangerous Business

Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

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If you are ready to get started with your own business, one of the first steps is always a website. Click here for our exclusive hosting deal and click here for an invite to our Max Business School community where you’ll hang out with thousands of fellow ambitious business builders.

Remember to check out the classroom tab (top left corner) for all of our free courses teaching you all you need to succeed online.

Bye for now,

Scott Max