Blogging SEO: How I Grew My Travel Blog Organically

Last updated on June 8th, 2025

When I first launched my travel blog, I had no idea that nearly 100% of my traffic would come organically from Google. But after 10 years of nomadic living in Thailand and around the rest of the world, I discovered that mastering blogging SEO was the single most important factor in growing my online presence. In this post, I’ll share my hard-earned insights (and a few regrets) so you can jump to the top of Google search results as fast as possible!

Why Blogging SEO Is the Heartbeat of Any Travel Blog

Living out of a carry-on luggage taught me patience—for slow days, for slow internet, and yes, for SEO results. Early on, I treated “blogging SEO” like an optional extra. Today, almost all of my traffic comes directly from organic Google searches—proof that SEO is not just a buzzword but the very engine of growth for any aspiring content creator.

1. Domain Matters: Lessons Learned Too Late

I registered pierreblake.com before even thinking about SEO. This was back in highschool when I first made my photography portfolio and simply bought my name as a domain name. These days, SEO has become way more important and if I wanted to rank faster, I would have bought a domain name with the keyword in the domain like ultimatetravelblog.com or something similar.

A keyword-inclusive domain name can give you a massive edge. If you haven’t bought one yet, do it now before someone else does. I recommend using GoDaddy to search and register the perfect domain—it’s fast, affordable, and reliable.

➡️ Click here to search your perfect travel blog domain on GoDaddy

2. Hosting and Speed: No More Waiting for a Coconut Wi-Fi

Reliable hosting is essential if you want to succeed with blogging SEO. I’ve dealt with slow loading speeds on budget providers and noticed a drop in both rankings and reader engagement. If your website loads slow Google won’t value your content. Eventually, I moved everything to GoDaddy Hosting, and my site’s performance improved dramatically.

Plus, when I’m working from a bamboo hut with spotty Wi-Fi, I need a host I can count on. GoDaddy delivers 24/7 support, which has been a lifesaver more than once.

3. Keyword Research: My Digital-Nomad Research Lab

Coconut in hand, feet in the sand, I’ve spent countless afternoons diving into keyword research tools like Semrush and Ahrefs while on the road. With these tools you can gain insights to outrank the competition. Many industries are incredibly competitive these days but if you know what you’re doing, you can still get to the first page of the search results.

For me, blogging SEO is the foundation of everything—and finding keywords like “best VPN for bloggers” led me to start using and recommending NordVPN. It keeps my connection secure when I’m researching or uploading from public Wi-Fi around the world.

🛡️ Want to stay protected while working remotely? Check out NordVPN here.

4. On-Page SEO: Balancing Story and Strategy

From titles to meta descriptions, blogging SEO is baked into every layer of content I create. Don’t just make content simply for clicks. You also need to consider how you can add value to your readers. Think about topics you are passionate first, then consider the SEO strategy second.

I also make sure to interlink my content to keep readers exploring longer—like my:

These internal links not only help with SEO but increase session duration and conversion.

5. Mobile Optimization: Scrolling with a Smooth Thumb

Since the majority of my readers access my blog on mobile, responsive design is a must. Make sure you test your website on multiple platforms and devices to ensure it functions correctly everywhere. It’s disappointing when you forget and realize that many weren’t able to see your content properly.

6. Building Backlinks: From Humble Beginnings to Global Authority

Building backlinks isn’t about spammy tactics. It’s about relationships. In addition to building reputable backlinks, use external links to credible SEO resources to build trust—like Moz’s Beginner’s Guide to SEO. Then back it up with internal links and tools you actually use.

7. Monitoring and Adapting: Analytics from the Rooftops

Every month, I track how well my blog performs for terms that I’m targeting with Google Analytics and Google Search Console. With nearly all of my readers coming from Google, I don’t rely on paid ads—I rely on optimized, evergreen content that works for me while I sleep.

If I ever notice a dip in traffic, I re-optimize old posts, add internal links, and refresh my CTAs—including those pointing to affiliate tools like GoDaddy, NordVPN, and Skyscanner.

8. The Payoff: Passive Income and Freedom

Today, I blog full-time while living abroad and exploring new cultures. That lifestyle is funded entirely by my blog—which thrives thanks to the magic of blogging SEO. Because my website ranks well, I’ve become valuable to advertisers which now help me make thousands every month no matter where in the world I may be. If you want to understand the business side of it, check out how much I make blogging full time.

From affiliate revenue to partnerships and sponsored content, it all starts with visibility—and SEO is how you get seen.

Final Thoughts: What I’d Do Differently & What You Should Do Now

If I could do it over again, I’d immediately buy a keyword-inclusive domain using GoDaddy. Don’t wait—it makes a real difference in how fast you rank.
I’d set my site up right from the start with fast hosting, SEO tools, and a clean theme optimized for mobile.
And I’d keep Skyscanner bookmarked to make sure I’m flying on the cheap while building backlinks from every continent.

Ready to launch your own travel blog?