We were lucky to catch up with Alexandrea Sumuel recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Alexandrea, thanks for joining us today. Going back to the beginning – how did you come up with the idea in the first place?

What started as a passion project during the pandemic unexpectedly became a revenue stream and a way to travel the world without straining my bank account.

When I first started travel blogging in 2020, I thought it’d be a fun project to pass the time while on lockdown. I wanted to document my previous travels as a foundation and eventually cover new destinations after the pandemic. My mission? To help other travelers plan their vacations and adventures. After all, isn’t that how all travel blogs begin?

With over a decade of digital marketing experience, an information technology degree, and an appetite for travel, I thought this project would be a no-brainer. I already knew how to build a website, implement SEO, and “market” a blog from my full-time career as the Director of Marketing. Well, as I have come to find out, travel blogging is a very different playing field.

That summer, I spent most of my days designing my website after work and on the weekends and learning how to write a travel guide. Within three months of launching the Wander With Alex travel blog, I had hustled enough to get 20,000 pageviews to my site, which was enough to get me into a mid-level ad network. I basically did everything: writing blog posts, promoting them on social media, writing guest posts for other websites, and spending time understanding Google’s requirements.

By the end of my first year of blogging, I generated five figures in ad revenue. In addition, I had become a direct MSN publisher, started an LLC, and attended two press trips (all expenses paid)! I often wondered, “Is this real life?” I could not believe what began as a hobby turned into a business!

The next year, I put even more effort into travel blogging. I was accepted into a premium ad network by collaborating with other successful bloggers, keeping up with Google’s updates, and working hard after work and on the weekends.

By the end of that year, I had generated mid-five figures in ad revenue travel blogging part-time. Destinations and vacation rental companies hosted me domestically and internationally.

Today, I am a nationally syndicated travel writer. My work can be found on major publications such as MSN, YAHOO!, euronews, and ABC, NBC, and FOX affiliates across the United States.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My desire to travel and my background in digital marketing and technology is how the Wander With Alex travel blog came to life. It began as a resource for busy professionals looking to experience a destination while traveling for business.

Over the years, I’ve been given the opportunity to travel to popular destinations like Boston, Philadelphia, and Seattle for marketing conferences. I would often use my vacation time to extend my trips to explore the destination before heading back to work. I understand the difficulty of wanting to travel the world with a full-time career and limited vacation time.

Eventually, Wander With Alex became a go-to source for everyday travelers seeking inspiration or resources for planning their vacations. I collaborate with destinations to bring my readers the “best of the best” a destination has to offer. I have received awards for “Best Travel Planning Blog” and “Best Travel Blog” by New World Report. What truly fulfills me in this journey is receiving gratitude from readers who have discovered new places or hidden gem experiences through my blog.

My core mission is to help you get excited about your next vacation and to ensure you make the most of your trip.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

For anyone looking to start a successful and profitable travel blog, I recommend that you find a group of like-minded travel bloggers and help each other grow. While this may sound counterintuitive because they may be your competitors, travel experiences are unique, and everyone has their own style. Whether you join a Facebook group or a blogging mastermind, the benefits of working together are invaluable.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I’m setting my sights high! After dedicating 16 years to my current full-time job, my boss is approaching retirement, so a change is on the horizon. At the moment, my blogging is confined to evenings and weekends. I aim to continue growing my brand and eventually transition into full-time travel blogging and writing.

I know this won’t be easy. The travel blogging niche is very crowded, and the landscape is very competitive. However, within just two years, I’ve generated enough income to support a part-time salary. My goal is to continue this growth into the six-figure salary range. Achieving this would allow me to support my family and finance my travels, so I can continue to offer fresh and exciting content to fellow travelers.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://wanderwithalex.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/wander.with.alex
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/wanderwithalex
• Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/alexsumuel/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/_wanderwithalex
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUw_Hh6_NdVxl3ym6RgZVlA
• Other: https://travelblogconsulting.com https://flipboard.com/@wanderwithalex https://www.pinterest.com/wanderwithalex https://www.reddit.com/r/travelbloggers

Image Credits
Alexandrea Sumuel