Blogging Resources

My favorite Blogging Resources and Tools I Use.

Running a travel blog is a lot of fun! Running a successful and profitable travel blog requires a lot of work. Over the years, I’ve invested thousands of dollars in courses and tools to help me be better and more efficient.

Apart from some outsourced work here and there, I manage Wander Her Way and my other websites on my own. So, I am constantly testing new tools and looking for ways to work faster, create better content, and increase my earnings.

The products, services, and blogging resources below are a compilation of those that have helped me get to where I am and those that I continue to love and use today. Which is why I recommend you give them a try!

Thank you for clicking: This page contains affiliate links. This means that if you book or purchase something by clicking them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This is how I am able to keep this blog going, and I highly appreciate your support. If you have any questions about any of my recommendations, please email me.

Website Hosting

Bluehost

I use it for… cheap hosting for starter sites and beginner bloggers.

To be honest, Bluehost is not the best hosting company out there. But they’re cheap and super easy for beginners to get up and running fast—that’s why it’s on this page. If you’re just starting out as a travel blogger, you really don’t need anything beyond Bluehost’s Basic WordPress hosting plan, which will cost you only about $35 for a year. If you’re on a tight budget, start here, then move to a better hosting company (like BigScoots) once you begin to make some money.

BigScoots

I use it for… hosting Wander Her Way.

BigScoots is where I host my larger sites that require more space, speed, and support. And BigScoots customer service is nothing short of AMAZING. Not only will they migrate your site and email over for free, but they’re also incredibly friendly and responsive 24/7. I’m on their Professional hosting plan, but if you’re a beginner with some budget, get their Starter Managed WordPress plan for $35 per month—which is a far superior plan to Bluehost and includes free unlimited email accounts (most low-cost hosting companies don’t include any). BigScoots also has a Shared Hosting plan for $6.95 per month, but it’s not optimized for WordPress, so you’re better off with Bluehost on the lower end.

WordPress and Plugins

Kadence WP

I use it for… WordPress theme on all my sites.

I’ve been using Kadence on other sites for a couple of years and wrote a whole post when I finally switched this blog’s theme to Kadence as well. Kadence is easy and fast, and the free version will give you everything you need to get started and more.

ThirstyAffiliates

I use it for… affiliate link cloaking and management.

I tried several link management and cloaking tools, and none are as powerful and intuitive as ThirstyAffiliates. It is a paid plugin, but the amount of work that it saves me is worth a lot more than what it costs per year.

SEO and Writing

RankIQ

I use it for… expediting keyword research and optimizing posts for SEO

RankIQ was created by a blogger for bloggers. It’s not as expensive as other keyword research tools out there, and it’s a pretty powerful platform. If you’re new to blogging, RankIQ provides a library of low-competition keywords so you can pick one in your niche and start writing. For more advanced bloggers, RankIQ can run a very detailed report on any keyword you like. I use it for writing new content and optimizing existing posts.

I use it for… travel-specific affiliate marketing.

I find that Travelpayouts is the best starting point for travel bloggers learning about affiliate marketing. If you have quality content, it’s easy to qualify and start promoting top companies Booking.com, Expedia, Hostelworld, Viator, GetYourGuide, and more.

Apps and Software

Tailwind

I use it for… Pinterest scheduling.

Pinterest is a significant source of traffic to my blog, so to keep the pins flowing, I use Tailwind. The tool has some quirks that you’ll have to get used to, but it’s the only one built specifically for Pinterest with you and me in mind (vs. an agency). If Pinterest is part of your traffic strategy, then definitely give Tailwind a try.

Save 50% when you choose an annual Tailwind plan

AppSumo

I use it for… finding awesome deals on apps and tools.

I admit it: I am addicted to AppSumo. They promote a wide variety of handy new and lesser-known apps and tools that solve your problems for a lot less than popular apps out there. You can find some great deals on stock images, AI writing, SEO tracking, vector illustrations, video and photo editing, WordPress plugins, etc. And if you don’t think that the tool performs as it should, you have 60 days to request a refund.

Deal Alert: EWWW Image Optimizer (alternative to WP Smush) and DepositPhotos (alternative to Shutterstock)

Business and Money Management

Novo Bank

I use it for… managing the income from my blogs

Once I started earning $500 consistently each month from my blogs, I decided it was time to open a separate bank account for my business. Novo Bank is a fintech company that caters to small businesses and freelancers, and they make it very easy and convenient. I was able to open my FREE business checking account in less than 48 hours, and the process was all online. They have a built-in invoicing system and allow you to categorize expenses and even upload invoices. But my favorite feature is the “reserves,” which allow you to create up to 10 different buckets of money in the account—it’s super handy for me to keep the revenue from each site separate and also keep a separate stash for taxes.

LastPass

I use it for… creating secure passwords and storing them safely.

Running a large blog requires a lot of passwords—and keeping track of the on a spreadsheet was not safe or sustainable. I’ve been using LastPass to keep all my unique passwords (personal and blog) saved and organized for years! I have the extension on Google Chrome and the app on my phone, so all I have to do is remember one password to log in, and LastPass automatically does the rest for me.

Learning Resources

Here are some great websites, podcasts, newsletters, and YouTube channels that I follow on a regular basis:

Websites, Podcasts, Newsletters, Etc

• Doug Cunnington
• Authority Hacker
• Niche Pursuits

Courses

Multiprofit Site

I use it for… SEO, affiliate marketing, and productivity techniques

Doug Cunnington teaches people how to make passive income with niche websites. I met him at FinCon in 2022, thanks to our shared love for Border Collies. Since then, I have appeared on his podcast a few times and have been working with him on a few different things, including a case study on growing my travel blogs. His course Multiprofit Site is not travel-specific but provides beginners with all the tools and information needed to get started with WordPress, SEO, and affiliate marketing.

Sign up for Doug’s MultiProfit Site course — he only opens it for enrollment a couple of times a year, so keep an eye on it!

Jesse on a Journey’s Travel Blogging Prosperity

I used it for… travel blogging training and networking.

Travel Blog Prosperity is a monthly membership program to help travel bloggers grow. It’s usually $49/mo, but you use code WANDER9 and get the first month for $9, so you can try it out.

Traveling soon? Check out my favorite travel planning and booking tools.