We caught up with the brilliant and insightful ASHLEY FRIEMEL a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, ASHLEY thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

Before I started Abroad with Ash, I did extensive research on what it would take to create a successful, income-earning travel blog. It was important for me to understand the success/failure rate of this industry and what the time frame typically looked like for a blog to start earning a “full-time income”.

In my research, I learned that only 5% of bloggers make a full-time living from their blog, that most bloggers give up within the first 6 months, and that it usually takes about 3 years for a blog to become profitable. Seems pretty harsh, right? Understanding the reality of this industry was crucial.

I knew the travel blog world was extremely saturated when I started Abroad with Ash and wanted to fully understand what I was up against.

Knowing this was going to be a “long-term” vision and not an “overnight success”, I came up with a business plan.

What is the message of Abroad with Ash? Who is my target audience? What do I want my #1 source of income to be? Collaborations on Instagram, advertising on the blog, or affiliate links? Knowing that many blogs fail, at what point do I call a spade a spade? Assuming the blog won’t make an income for 3+ years, what milestones should I strive for each month and year as my cue to “keep going” (or close the doors)?

Spending considerable time on these questions and researching the industry helped me to:
– shape the overall look, image, and message of Abroad with Ash
– know the risks
– understand the success/failure rate
– learn ways to grow Abroad with Ash as quickly as possible
– set attainable goals

Without this business plan/due diligence, I’m fairly certain I would have given up on the blog 2 years in. Thinking it was a failure because I wasn’t receiving the traffic or income I desired.

In the first 3 years, I often second-guessed myself. Having a business plan and timeline with set goals made it easier for me to keep working. To stick with the plan. To work just as hard in year 3 as I did on day 1.

While Abroad with Ash is now a profitable blog and produces a full-time income, it took investment to get there. Time, money, research…and savings from my time in the corporate world.

In summary, my biggest advice is to have a clear business plan. An in-depth understanding of exactly what you’re getting into. Know your goals, message, and attainable benchmarks. Also know when to call it quits. While building Abroad with Ash, I continued with other jobs that were my backup plan. I’m all about following dreams, but when you’re starting a business, you also need to be realistic.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

To introduce myself, I’m Ash. The founder and creator of Abroad with Ash. I’m on a mission to do more than just inspire travel with pretty pictures. My objective is to provide beneficial advice and insights through my travel tips, firsthand experience, and itineraries.

Keeping travel within the realm of reality is my motto. Because let’s be honest, most of us do not have unlimited travel funds or vacation days.

I’m here to show others how to explore the world without breaking the bank and to significantly reduce the amount of time spent planning a trip by publishing “top five” lists, itineraries, and city guides.

Abroad with Ash focuses on travel within Europe and the USA.

Though, if there’s a particular place that blew me away or knowledge that’s not yet represented or found online, then you’ll find a few other destinations like Marrakech, Morocco and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.

For those that have visited the blog, you’ll notice I have a few favorite places that I keep returning to. I have no qualms over going to the same place year after year in hopes that it will one day feel like a second home; to where I know it like the back of my hand.

Spain, Italy, Scotland, England, and France are my most visited countries. NYC, Scottsdale, all around California, Charleston, and Willamette Valley are my favorites in the United States.

Another topic that you’ll find for almost every city listed on this blog is a TOP 5 coffee shop post.

I love my coffee breaks and since I work while traveling, finding the best coffee shops is always a priority.

MY PATH TO BECOMING A TRAVEL BLOGGER

Anyone who has met me will tell you I have a serious case of wanderlust and that most my conversations end up on travel talk.

Even though my family members may not share or fully understand my love of travel, I knew at a fairly young age that I MUST travel the world.

The term “study abroad” was introduced to me in middle school. From that moment I decided I would study abroad in Italy no matter what it took.

When the time came for me to start researching colleges, the study abroad section was the first place I went. It was not until the summer and fall semester of my Senior year that I was able to finally fulfill the dream that started all the way back at age 13.

I was hooked from my first trip abroad and stretched every penny and vacation day I had post-college to continue following my wanderlust.

Helping others see how eye-opening and beneficial travel can be is immensely important to me. As is showing that travel can be possible on a limited budget. It’s why I’m here, writing my latest posts today.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE….

I was born in Minnesota and raised in Oregon. I still have family in Willamette Valley, Oregon and visit often.
Dallas, Texas is my current home.

I’m an ex-finance corporate girl with a degree in finance and real estate from Texas Christian University. In 2018 I left the world of hedge funds and private banking to create Abroad with Ash.

You may see a cameo or two in pictures with my rescue dog, Bailey, and my husband, Jake, who encourages me to follow my dreams.

Being married and having a fur baby has not stopped me from traveling solo or with loved ones.

When on the road you’ll find me with a cold brew coffee and camera in hand, hunting for my new favorite spot or the latest best-kept secret.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The opportunity to be creative. Period. I worked in the corporate and finance world for years. While I love working with numbers, there is little opportunity to be creative and artistic. I ignored that part of myself for the majority of my career. Doing a complete 180 and transitioning from fiance to travel blogging may have raised eyebrows in my circle, but it gave me the freedom to explore another side of myself. I will never take for granted the opportunity to use my creative side. Whether that be writing or editing photos. I feel truly lucky and grateful to have a job where I can explore my creative side.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Driving others to travel and explore the world!

While Abroad with Ash needed to produce a living income, this is my full-time job after all, money was never the driving factor. If you’re starting a blog or “in it” just for the money, it shows.

Travel has changed my life and perspective. Nothing compares to what you gain and learn from travel.

In short, I feel like this is my way to make a difference in someone else’s life…no matter how small that may seem.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.abroadwithash.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abroad_with_ash/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbroadwithAsh/
• Other: https://www.pinterest.com/abroadwithash/