Growing A Travel Blog To $15K/month: How Colleen Lanin Did It
Growing A Travel Blog To $15K/month: How Colleen Lanin Did It
Dec 4, 2024
Colleen Lanin
Colleen Lanin
⏳ 4.2 min
⏳ 4.2 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$15,000
$15,000
$15,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Startup costs
Startup costs
$1.5K
$1.5K
$1.5K
Company type
Company type
Company type
Blog
Blog
Blog
Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Building a successful blog is no easy feat, but Colleen Lanin has done just that with TravelMamas.com. In an era where everyone and their neighbor runs a blog, Colleen carved out her niche in family travel and built a business that generates revenue, attracts millions of visitors, and connects parents worldwide. Here's how she turned a hobby into a thriving online brand.
Building a successful blog is no easy feat, but Colleen Lanin has done just that with TravelMamas.com. In an era where everyone and their neighbor runs a blog, Colleen carved out her niche in family travel and built a business that generates revenue, attracts millions of visitors, and connects parents worldwide. Here's how she turned a hobby into a thriving online brand.
A Blog Born Out of Necessity
A Blog Born Out of Necessity
In 2009, Colleen was a mom with a vision. Frustrated by the lack of helpful resources for traveling with young children, she decided to write the book she couldn’t find.
Her idea? A comprehensive guide on traveling with babies and young kids. What began as an article snowballed into a book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. But before the book hit the shelves, Colleen’s literary agent nudged her to launch a blog to promote it.
Back then, blogging was the Wild West. Monetization wasn’t mainstream, and social media as we know it didn’t exist. Despite the challenges, Colleen pressed forward, sharing tips, stories, and hacks for parents who wanted to make travel enjoyable rather than stressful.
In 2009, Colleen was a mom with a vision. Frustrated by the lack of helpful resources for traveling with young children, she decided to write the book she couldn’t find.
Her idea? A comprehensive guide on traveling with babies and young kids. What began as an article snowballed into a book, The Travel Mamas’ Guide. But before the book hit the shelves, Colleen’s literary agent nudged her to launch a blog to promote it.
Back then, blogging was the Wild West. Monetization wasn’t mainstream, and social media as we know it didn’t exist. Despite the challenges, Colleen pressed forward, sharing tips, stories, and hacks for parents who wanted to make travel enjoyable rather than stressful.
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➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
The Early Days: No Money, Just Passion
The Early Days: No Money, Just Passion
Launching a blog is low-cost compared to starting a brick-and-mortar business, but it’s not free. Colleen invested in a professional logo, a playful color palette (pink, lime green, and turquoise), and a web developer to design TravelMamas.com.
Then came the curveballs:
Cease and Desist Letters: Within months, Colleen received two legal warnings claiming “Travel Mamas” was too similar to other brands. A year later, a third letter arrived from a “travel expert” who made media appearances.
The Fight for a Name: While most people would have caved under the legal and financial stress, Colleen fought back, hiring a lawyer and filing for a trademark. Today, Travel Mamas is legally hers—and stronger for it.
Launching a blog is low-cost compared to starting a brick-and-mortar business, but it’s not free. Colleen invested in a professional logo, a playful color palette (pink, lime green, and turquoise), and a web developer to design TravelMamas.com.
Then came the curveballs:
Cease and Desist Letters: Within months, Colleen received two legal warnings claiming “Travel Mamas” was too similar to other brands. A year later, a third letter arrived from a “travel expert” who made media appearances.
The Fight for a Name: While most people would have caved under the legal and financial stress, Colleen fought back, hiring a lawyer and filing for a trademark. Today, Travel Mamas is legally hers—and stronger for it.
Monetizing a Blog: From Zero to Profit
Monetizing a Blog: From Zero to Profit
In the beginning, Colleen relied on freelance writing, sidebar ads, and sponsored posts to earn income. But as blogging evolved, so did her revenue streams. Today, Travel Mamas generates income through:
Ad Networks: Ads tailored to reader preferences.
Affiliate Links: Commissions from purchases made through her site.
Sponsored Content: Paid blog posts and social media campaigns.
Book Royalties: Sales of The Travel Mamas’ Guide.
Side Hustles: Public speaking, hosting events, teaching blogging classes, and starring in travel ads.
The first year wasn’t glamorous—less than 19,500 visitors and modest revenue. But persistence paid off. Today, Travel Mamas attracts over 2 million unique visitors annually and boasts over 200,000 monthly page views.
In the beginning, Colleen relied on freelance writing, sidebar ads, and sponsored posts to earn income. But as blogging evolved, so did her revenue streams. Today, Travel Mamas generates income through:
Ad Networks: Ads tailored to reader preferences.
Affiliate Links: Commissions from purchases made through her site.
Sponsored Content: Paid blog posts and social media campaigns.
Book Royalties: Sales of The Travel Mamas’ Guide.
Side Hustles: Public speaking, hosting events, teaching blogging classes, and starring in travel ads.
The first year wasn’t glamorous—less than 19,500 visitors and modest revenue. But persistence paid off. Today, Travel Mamas attracts over 2 million unique visitors annually and boasts over 200,000 monthly page views.
What Worked
What Worked
SEO Mastery:
Colleen leaned heavily into Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Tools like SEMrush helped her analyze keywords and improve rankings. Most of her traffic is organic, proving that solid SEO can trump paid advertising.Strategic Social Media:
Facebook drives reader engagement.
Pinterest fuels page views.
Instagram impresses brands (though it’s less effective for traffic).
Twitter provides a modest boost.
Email Newsletters:
While newsletters have low open rates, they offer a direct line to her audience—no algorithms involved.Community Building:
Colleen attended blogging conferences like TBEX, learning from peers and building relationships that fueled her growth.
SEO Mastery:
Colleen leaned heavily into Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Tools like SEMrush helped her analyze keywords and improve rankings. Most of her traffic is organic, proving that solid SEO can trump paid advertising.Strategic Social Media:
Facebook drives reader engagement.
Pinterest fuels page views.
Instagram impresses brands (though it’s less effective for traffic).
Twitter provides a modest boost.
Email Newsletters:
While newsletters have low open rates, they offer a direct line to her audience—no algorithms involved.Community Building:
Colleen attended blogging conferences like TBEX, learning from peers and building relationships that fueled her growth.
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
Lessons Learned the Hard Way
When Colleen started, she didn’t even know what a blog was. She made costly mistakes, like using outdated Dreamweaver software before transitioning to WordPress. But she embraced the bumps in the road and later taught blogging classes to help others avoid similar pitfalls.
Her teaching mantra? “If you want to master something, teach it.”
When Colleen started, she didn’t even know what a blog was. She made costly mistakes, like using outdated Dreamweaver software before transitioning to WordPress. But she embraced the bumps in the road and later taught blogging classes to help others avoid similar pitfalls.
Her teaching mantra? “If you want to master something, teach it.”
Tools Used To Run The Business
Tools Used To Run The Business
Running a blog as successful as Travel Mamas requires the right tools:
WordPress: Blogging platform.
Adobe Lightroom: Photo editing.
Canva: Graphic design.
Mailchimp: Email marketing.
QuickBooks: Bookkeeping.
MediaVine: Ad management.
SEMRush: SEO optimization.
Fiverr: Affordable freelancers.
Running a blog as successful as Travel Mamas requires the right tools:
WordPress: Blogging platform.
Adobe Lightroom: Photo editing.
Canva: Graphic design.
Mailchimp: Email marketing.
QuickBooks: Bookkeeping.
MediaVine: Ad management.
SEMRush: SEO optimization.
Fiverr: Affordable freelancers.
Navigating Tough Times
Navigating Tough Times
The pandemic hit the travel industry hard. Traffic to Travel Mamas plummeted, but Colleen adapted. By focusing on evergreen content and staying persistent, she saw a 263% traffic rebound post-lockdowns, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Seasonality also affects her blog. Traffic peaks in summer and dips when kids return to school, but Colleen plans for these cycles by targeting specific content for each season.
The pandemic hit the travel industry hard. Traffic to Travel Mamas plummeted, but Colleen adapted. By focusing on evergreen content and staying persistent, she saw a 263% traffic rebound post-lockdowns, nearing pre-pandemic levels.
Seasonality also affects her blog. Traffic peaks in summer and dips when kids return to school, but Colleen plans for these cycles by targeting specific content for each season.
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Colleen’s journey is packed with wisdom:
Invest Early: Don’t wait to earn income before spending money on your blog. Treat it like a real business.
Learn Constantly: From SEO to photography, there’s always something new to master.
Build Relationships: Attend conferences and connect with like-minded people.
Start Small, Think Big: You don’t need a huge budget to start. Grow organically.
Colleen’s journey is packed with wisdom:
Invest Early: Don’t wait to earn income before spending money on your blog. Treat it like a real business.
Learn Constantly: From SEO to photography, there’s always something new to master.
Build Relationships: Attend conferences and connect with like-minded people.
Start Small, Think Big: You don’t need a huge budget to start. Grow organically.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Colleen Lanin proves that a good idea, combined with persistence and adaptability, can lead to remarkable success. From navigating legal challenges to mastering SEO, her story is a blueprint for anyone looking to turn a blog into a thriving business.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t Travel Mamas, Trips with Tykes, Starter Story, ⇢ Great resources
Colleen Lanin proves that a good idea, combined with persistence and adaptability, can lead to remarkable success. From navigating legal challenges to mastering SEO, her story is a blueprint for anyone looking to turn a blog into a thriving business.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t Travel Mamas, Trips with Tykes, Starter Story, ⇢ Great resources
