Though Sean Lau studied civil engineering, he shortly realized that was not the sector for him. As a substitute, he set off to see the world.

He created his first website, Residing Out Lau, to doc his travels however, to start with, running a blog proved to be far more sophisticated than he thought it might be. An opportunity encounter in Guatemala in the end gave him a number of the instruments he wanted to seek out success.

He went on to create two extra journey blogs, constructed from a ardour for these nations: The Turkey Traveler and Journey Thailand Collectively. 

At present he continues to journey the globe and earns $5k monthly from his three blogs.

Hold studying to seek out out:

• Why he began his websites
• What occurred in Guatemala
• How a lot site visitors he is getting
• The place his revenue comes from
• His major advertising and marketing methods
• His ideas on search engine optimisation
• His method to key phrase analysis and hyperlink constructing
• How he creates content material
• How he grows his e-mail lists
• His go-to assets and instruments
• His major problem
• His biggest accomplishment
• His ideas on failure
• His largest mistake
• His recommendation for different entrepreneurs

Meet Sean Lau

I am a 30-year-old explorer, initially hatched in Hong Kong after which transplanted to Jersey Metropolis. 

I initially dabbled in civil engineering however quickly traded my arduous hat for a backpack. With a complete of $20,000 in my checking account, I took a leap of religion to solo journey the world. 

My adventures took me all around the globe, from the Andes of Peru to the disaster of Chernobyl in Ukraine. However as my financial savings began to dwindle, I appeared for tactics to earn a living, and that’s when my first weblog, Residing Out Lau, was born.

My first makes an attempt at running a blog have been about as profitable as a penguin making an attempt to fly. However then destiny launched me to some profitable journey bloggers in a random small city in Guatemala. 

After absorbing their information like a sponge and making use of a number of the methods, my weblog started to realize traction and began taking off, and finally reached Mediavine.

Since then, it has allowed me to journey full-time and share my journey experiences as I proceed to discover the world!

Why He Created His Websites

I began Residing Out Lau as a result of I assumed, “Hey, who would not need free stays and a few further bucks whereas doing what they love—touring?” Seems, I used to be clueless about the best way to make that occur.

Then got here alongside The Turkey Traveler and Journey Thailand Collectively, my joint ventures with my enterprise accomplice. We completely adored these two nations, and we wished to assist others fall in love with them, too.

All three of the journey blogs provide a mixture of sensible recommendation, in-depth guides, and private anecdotes.

As for progress, properly, it has been a blended bag. 

Residing Out Lau, which I began in 2018, took its time, reaching 50k periods after about 3 years. The Turkey Traveler (2022) sprinted forward, hitting 100k periods in simply 9 months. And Journey Thailand Collectively (2023)? It bought to about 30k periods in a 12 months. 

The expansion of the blogs closely depends upon how a lot content material I’m in a position to put out.

It is about all the time having your radar on for contemporary alternatives and staying nimble to maintain up with the ever-evolving tech panorama.

As for site visitors, Residing Out Lau will get slightly below 100k periods monthly. The Turkey website used to recover from 100k monthly, however now dropped right down to about 30k a month due to the HCU. The Thailand website will get about 30k monthly and, like my authentic weblog, was not affected by the replace.

How A lot He’s Incomes

It varies fairly a bit, however the websites earn about $5k a month via a mixture of associates, sponsorships, and promoting. 

It took about 4 years for me to realize this stage, however since then, I’ve had 5-figure months as properly.

As for the way a lot I work, it varies since I journey a lot, however wherever from 10 hours to 40 hours per week. I all the time purpose to do not less than 20 hours per week, so I’ll make up for it on days once I’m not doing something.

The factor with running a blog is that there’s all the time one thing to do, so at any time when I’ve some free time, I simply pop open my laptop computer and get somewhat bit of labor carried out. 

Sean’s Fundamental Advertising and marketing Technique

With regards to my primary advertising and marketing technique, I would should say it is search engine optimisation. It is merely one of the best ways to drive natural site visitors to my websites. However there’s extra to simply search engine optimisation for getting natural site visitors.

Consider your web site as a tree. 

Earlier than it may develop tall and robust, you could plant the appropriate seeds and basis. Which means beginning with a website title that is each catchy and brandable. One thing that sticks in folks’s minds and makes them wish to come again.

However maybe my largest tip/secret for natural site visitors is to construct your website on an expired area. This may give you a head begin when it comes to search engine optimisation, as these domains typically include pre-existing backlinks and authority even when it doesn’t, having an aged area title will help Google discover your website a lot faster. 

That’s how I used to be in a position to develop The Turkey Traveler so shortly. It’s the one expired area I used. It was a weblog a few years in the past however had been deserted for a very long time once I bought it. 

It solely had a DA of 4 and about 3 referring domains, however the first submit I revealed ranked within the high 3 inside per week of being revealed. 

I didn’t imagine it, so I attempted a model new area for my Thailand website, and we’re not seeing almost the identical progress we did with the Turkey website and the one notable distinction between the 2 is the expired area. 

With regards to discovering a very good, expired area, you’ll in all probability have extra luck with platforms that promote aged websites (like OdysGlobal). For those who don’t thoughts doing a little bit of homework, then auctions (like GoDaddy Auctions) are completely effective. 

That is the place you’ll have the ability to get a very good deal, however you’ll should put in a little bit of time.

His Ideas on search engine optimisation

search engine optimisation continues to be probably the most necessary elements of my enterprise, particularly because it drives a really focused viewers that may convert simply. It’s accountable for almost 90% of the site visitors on all my websites.

There are a lot of elements to my search engine optimisation technique, and it begins with my present content material. I search for key phrases that may be interlinked with my present content material and just like one thing I’ve written (and is rating). 

If I don’t discover one thing that’s just like one thing I’ve written, then one thing I can interlink to is sufficient. It’s just like creating topical authority.

Then, in fact, you search for low-difficulty key phrases utilizing instruments like Ahrefs and KeySearch. I’m not too anxious in regards to the quantity of the key phrase so long as I imagine I can rank within the high 3 for it. Even a key phrase with “10” quantity on Ahrefs can drive a whole lot of site visitors monthly.

Then comes the writing, which I typically outsource to my writers. My writers don’t use AI (so far as I do know) and this may undoubtedly be helpful. 

After the content material is written, I’ll internally hyperlink it with my related articles, typically manually or utilizing Hyperlink Whisper. 

Key phrase Analysis

My key phrase analysis course of is kind of natural.

As a result of I typically journey to the locations that I write about, my key phrase analysis course of entails placing myself within the footwear of the traveler. This helps me to seek out smaller however important queries that aren’t solely straightforward to rank for, however one thing I can provide useful recommendation on.

The identical queries typically come up, however only for completely different locations, so I find yourself with a ton of key phrases that I’ve a very good probability of rating excessive. 

I attempt to not keyword-mine different journey bloggers and journey websites, until I see that the content material is significantly missing some good info. There’s sufficient of the identical info being regurgitated in every single place on the web, and we don’t want extra of that.

Hyperlink Constructing

Hyperlink constructing is likely one of the most important elements of operating a web based enterprise seeking to acquire natural site visitors. It is notably necessary throughout the early levels, however it falls off when you attain a very good quantity of authority.

In my hyperlink constructing efforts, I prioritize seed websites, that are thought-about by Google as extremely authoritative (suppose Forbes, HuffPost, and so on.). I exploit a mixture of private outreach and websites like HARO for this. 

Sometimes, I additionally visitor submit on different journey blogs, as it’s vital to keep up relevance along with your backlinks.

I as soon as experimented with hyperlink constructing businesses that supplied 3-way hyperlink swaps, however the high quality of the websites they offered was disappointingly low. In reality, their companies might have carried out extra hurt than good.

Sean’s Content material Creation Course of

At the moment, I’ve two writers who write for me utilizing the outlines I give them. Then I edit them earlier than passing them on to my VA, who publishes them on-line. 

I attempt to get not less than 1 article revealed per week on every website, however typically it isn’t attainable with touring and managing three websites. 

• On Residing Out Lau, there are roughly 270 articles
• On The Turkey Traveler, there are roughly 160 articles
• On Journey Thailand Collectively, there are roughly 80 articles

His E mail Listing

On Residing Out Lau, we’ve a really small e-mail record as a result of I haven’t put within the effort to develop it, which I deeply remorse.

On The Turkey Traveler, I do have an e-mail record, and it’s rising fairly properly. I exploit Develop to assist me get extra subscribers for that.

And on Journey Thailand Collectively, we at the moment don’t have an e-mail record, however I’ll develop that after we attain round 50k month-to-month periods. At that time, the effort and time of managing an e-mail record can be extra value it.

In the meanwhile, we’re simply utilizing Develop to develop it because it’s fairly passive. However additional down the road, we’d should adapt new methods if we wish to develop it extra shortly.

His Favourite Assets

I might advocate trying out Area of interest Pursuits, Authority Hacker, and Matt Diggity.

These guys share actual case research and run a number of websites, so that you get an even bigger image of which search engine optimisation methods work and which don’t.

Be sure you community and converse to different bloggers. There are tons of running a blog Fb teams on the market the place you’ll be able to join with different people who find themselves in the identical boat as you. 

And lastly, do not forget that there is not any scarcity of self-proclaimed gurus on the market. Each Tom, Dick, and Harry has an opinion, however that does not imply it is best for you. 

So while you hear some recommendation, do not simply swallow it complete. Do your homework and do some on-line analysis earlier than you resolve to use any technique. 

His Go-To Instruments

KeySearch, Fb teams, and Jasper are three of my most helpful instruments as an entrepreneur. 

KeySearch: This device is my major device for search engine optimisation. It helps me discover key phrases which can be related to my enterprise and have a very good stability of excessive search quantity and low competitors.

Plus, it gives insights on backlinks, competitor evaluation, and extra. 

Fb teams: In addition to sharing cute cat movies, I exploit Fb teams for networking and studying. These are communities full of different bloggers and entrepreneurs who share their experiences, recommendation, and typically even their failures (that are simply as useful to be taught from!).

It’s additionally a very good place to be taught extra about your clients immediately if you’re planning to promote a product.

Jasper: Jasper has been my content material writing assistant for some time now, and it’s notably useful when I’m having a artistic block. 

I exploit it for articles, social media content material, and typically even writing emails. It has undoubtedly been a game-changer!

Sean’s Fundamental Problem

Maintaining with the quickly altering digital panorama has been the most important problem for me. The appearance of AI, fixed updates to the Google Search algorithm, and shifting person consideration all require us bloggers to adapt shortly.

The second main problem I’ve encountered is constructing a dependable crew. 

Hiring a digital assistant appeared like a logical step to dump some duties and unlock my time. Nevertheless, discovering the appropriate VA who can work independently, has consideration to element, and is passionate in regards to the work has been harder than I anticipated.

Earlier than you discover the appropriate particular person, be sure you have very particular directions/SOPs that they will observe. It is rather unlikely you’ll rent somebody who is aware of your actual procedures. 

From my expertise, typically it may even backfire while you rent somebody with comparable expertise as a result of they suppose they know what to do, so that they’ll skim via the SOPs and directions.

Having a trial interval or trial job is important. I like having just a few potential candidates do a trial job to see how they carry out. 

The ultimate product will not be a very powerful factor. You wish to see how the candidates behave after they encounter difficulties, how a lot consideration to element they’ve, and the way they convey with you. 

His Best Accomplishment

My most vital accomplishment as an entrepreneur has been redefining my relationship with failure. It is not a dead-end or an indication of defeat for me. As a substitute, I see it as a stepping stone in the direction of success.

I didn’t all the time have this realization, however I assume I kinda developed it after making an attempt so many alternative issues and never reaching the result I wished. 

It was by no means, “Oh this didn’t work, time to surrender.” It was all the time, “Oh this didn’t work, how can I attempt a distinct means or method it from a distinct angle?”

I assume what made my concern of failure go away was understanding that I all the time had a backup, whether or not that was time (to attempt one thing new) or simply going again to my previous job (to have cash earlier than making an attempt one thing new once more). 

My finish purpose was additionally one thing I actually cared about. It was by no means to be wealthy, however simply to have the monetary independence to dwell fortunately. 

And when you’ve got a purpose that you simply actually care about, your failures are not failures, however simply a part of the method.

What He Needs He Knew When He Began

If I may return to once I first began, I want I knew that running a blog is way from a simple journey. It is extra like a rollercoaster journey with a lot of highs and lows.

I used to imagine that after I discovered a profitable technique, it might be clean crusing from there. Nevertheless, the truth is that there are quite a few twists and turns alongside the way in which. 

You may face setbacks that may really feel disheartening, particularly after investing important time and assets.

As an illustration, a Google algorithm replace may out of the blue make your search engine optimisation technique ineffective, or a social media platform may change its insurance policies, affecting your content material visibility. These exterior elements are past our management and might require us to pivot and adapt.

This occurred early in my running a blog profession once I was making an attempt to make use of social media (largely Instagram) to drive site visitors to my weblog. For a 12 months or two, Instagram was a very good chunk of my website’s site visitors, however the introduction of reels and TikToks finally dropped my engagement.

It took me a while to comprehend that I needed to swap my social media technique if I wished to get site visitors to my website. I ended up abandoning that technique altogether and began specializing in search engine optimisation.

Then, in fact, we’ve the Google Search Algorithm updates that occur each few weeks. I’ve adjusted my content material technique and magnificence of writing, and even deleted content material for that!

His Greatest Mistake

Reflecting on my entrepreneurial journey, the most important mistake I made was not having a well-defined path to my finish purpose. Once I first began, I knew what my finish purpose was—to make running a blog my full-time revenue and job—however I had no concept the best way to get there. 

For 2 years, I wrote articles not optimized for search engine optimisation, social media posts that weren’t designed to realize extra engagement and followers, and mainly simply had no technique on the best way to get site visitors to my website. 

In hindsight, looking for recommendation from skilled mentors may have helped me attain my objectives quicker, whether or not that’s within the type of an search engine optimisation course or talking to fellow profitable bloggers. 

So, if I may return, I would definitely make investments extra time in setting a well-defined path to my purpose, discovering the appropriate mentors, and studying from them.

His Recommendation for Different Entrepreneurs

In the beginning, having a well-defined purpose is essential. Know the place you wish to go and what you need your small business to realize. 

After getting that purpose, make actionable plans. A dream and not using a plan is only a want.

So, map out the steps you could take to succeed in your purpose and stick with it. However bear in mind, whereas it is necessary to be persistent, it is also essential to be versatile. Adapt your plan as wanted as a result of the entrepreneurial journey is never a straight line.

After getting that plan, you’ll want to hunt out all of the assets you may get your arms on. Soak up all of the information, recommendation, and mentorship. By no means cease studying, as a result of the enterprise world is all the time evolving. Attend workshops, learn books, community with different entrepreneurs, and do not hesitate to ask for assist while you want it.

Most significantly, that is one thing I found after just a few years of working remotely, and that’s self-care. 

Entrepreneurs are identified for his or her lengthy hours and relentless drive, however it’s equally necessary to care for your self, each mentally and bodily. Burnout is actual, and it may take a extreme toll in your capability to suppose clearly and make sound selections. 

So take breaks, train, eat healthily, and do issues that enable you to calm down and recharge.

Every failure brings you one step nearer to success. The bottom line is to not let it discourage you, however to stand up, mud your self off, be taught from it, and check out once more.

Entrepreneurship is not only about constructing a profitable enterprise, it is also about constructing a resilient and adaptable mindset.