Travel Guidebook

2 Travel Guidebook Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 10th, 2024

Every travel destination offers a unique experience. Are you passionate about traveling and exploring new locations? You can translate unique experiences into something tangible for other travelers by writing a travel guidebook.

A travel guidebook explains to travelers different things about the destination, including:

What is there to do
What and where to eat
How to get around
Where to stay

If you are enthusiastic about your local neighborhoods and townships, you can share a lot of information and market them as ideal travel locations.

In this list, you'll find real-world travel guidebook success stories and very profitable examples of starting a travel guidebook that makes money.

1. Travel Mamas ($180K/year)

traditional methods of promotion like passing out postcards, handing out business cards, and sending press releases to traditional media outlets. However, I quickly realized that these tactics were not effective for growing an online business. Through trial and error, I learned the importance of SEO and how to optimize my content to rank higher in search engine results. I also discovered the power of social media in attracting and engaging with readers. Over time, I became more proficient in using these digital marketing strategies to grow my audience and generate revenue. Another valuable lesson I learned is the importance of persistence and perseverance. Building a successful blog takes time and consistent effort. It's easy to get discouraged in the early stages when you're not seeing immediate results, but I stuck with it and continued to create valuable content that resonated with my audience. This dedication has paid off as Travel Mamas has grown into one of the most popular travel blogs in the world. Overall, starting and growing my own business has been a tremendous learning experience. I’ve gained valuable skills in digital marketing, content creation, and business management. I've also developed a deep understanding of my audience and what they are looking for. These lessons and insights will continue to be advantageous as I navigate the future of my business and adapt to changing industry trends.

How much money it makes: $180K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1.5K
How many people on the team: 1

How I Started A $15K/Month Family Travel Blog

TravelMamas.com founder Colleen Lanin shares how she turned a family travel blog into a business that generates $15K in monthly revenue through ad network sales, affiliate sales, sponsored posts, book sales, public speaking appearances, and media campaigns.

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Read by 8,053 founders

2. DragonTree Publishing ($2.4K/year)

This British founder's idea for a business came about when she realized the potential market for a guidebook to the astronomical observatory on the Spanish island of La Palma. Through personal connections and targeted marketing, the founder has sold thousands of copies of her guidebook, and plans to continue expanding her book collection and guiding services. The combination of tour guiding and self-publishing has allowed her to have a good quality of life on the island.

How much money it makes: $2.4K/year
How many people on the team: 0

How To Write A Travel Guidebook And Sell Thousands Of Copies

Learn how a writer and tour guide turned her niche knowledge of the Spanish island of La Palma into a successful book business, earning ⅓ of her modest income through sales of her self-published guide book to the island's astronomical observatory and other publications, often selling directly to observatory visitors and other outlets, and how the books promote her income-earning work.

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Read by 6,647 founders