Case Study 👉 How YOU Can Earn $10K/Mo with a Personal Finance and Travel Blog

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The Scott Max Newsletter

In Partnership with Semrush

Hi 👋, this is the Scott Max newsletter. The daily newsletter bringing you one step closer to your own thriving online business.

We analyze a wonderful, small, online business each week with a full breakdown of how it makes money, why it makes money, and its opportunities to grow. Below that, we give you the action steps to build a business like this to create freedom for yourself.

This is the best way to learn the tactics, skillset, and nuance of making money online.

Let’s get to the good stuff you'll see in this email:

  • $10K in monthly revenue

  • Offering customized planning services

  • A roadmap to build your on venture

But first, let me introduce our partner for this email,

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What does this online business do? 🚀

Prepare to explore a digital oasis that seamlessly blends the thrill of travel with the wisdom of personal finance, all while commanding a monthly revenue exceeding $10,000.

Our focus today is on a distinguished travel and personal finance blog that has mastered the art of financial success while taking its audience on a journey across the globe.

Join us as we unravel the intricacies of this sophisticated online venture, where wanderlust meets fiscal prowess.

Ready to uncover the strategies fueling this financial odyssey? Stay with us as we dive into the details.

How does this online business make money? 💻

Let's crack open the treasure chest and take a look at how this digital powerhouse is cashing in those coins.

First up on the moneymaking agenda, sponsored posts.

Brands are paying for prime seats on this blog, leveraging its audience to get their message across.

It's a win-win, showcasing products and making some bucks in the process.

Next on the roster, affiliate marketing.

This blog is like the matchmaker of the online world, connecting its audience with products and services they'd love.

And every successful match means a little extra income in the blog's pocket.

Now, brace yourselves for the punchline…

You guessed it right, folks! It's the internet's favorite source of income, ads.

Because nothing says "success" like strategically placed pixels trying to grab your attention.

But hey, they keep the virtual lights on, and we've got to appreciate the hustle, right?

What has this business done well?🔥

Alright, let’s check the strategic moves behind this blog's triumph.

Backlinks - Doubling Down on Visibility:

The blog didn't just double its backlinks from 4,700 to 11,000 in a year by chance.

It's a deliberate move, creating a digital highway that leads straight to their content.

More backlinks equal more visibility, and in the digital realm, visibility is synonymous with success.

Building Credibility:

Ever noticed the display of where they've been featured? It's a virtual badge of honor that screams credibility.

When your content is recognized and vouched for by reputable sources, it builds trust.

Trust, my friend, is the secret sauce for an engaged and growing audience.

Crafting Experiences with Travel Planning Services:

This blog isn't satisfied with just spinning tales, they're in the business of crafting experiences.

Introducing the Travel Planning Services:

Offering personalized itineraries tailored to individual tastes isn't just a service, it's a strategic move.

It adds value to the audience and opens up a new avenue for revenue.

Strategic Email Growth:

Growing that mailing list is no accident.

They're playing the long game by offering a guide as a welcome gift to new subscribers.

It goes beyond just the numbers, it's about building a community.

This strategy is a smart move to turn one-time readers into devoted followers.

What this business could improve?🔥🔥🔥

Let's seize the opportunities and elevate this travel and personal finance blog to new heights.

Catching Up in the Digital Race:

Despite making a decent income, the blog is trailing behind its competitors in terms of organic traffic and keywords.

Now, why is this an opportunity? It's like having a gold mine waiting to be explored.

Improving their organic game not only means more visibility but also a potential surge in untapped markets.

Strengthening their SEO strategies could catapult them to the forefront, attracting a broader audience and more revenue streams.

Reviving Desktop Engagement:

The average visit duration on desktop took a nosedive from 06:04 in September to a mere 00:12 in November.

But here's the silver lining, it's an opportunity to rekindle that engagement.

Addressing the drop could involve revisiting content quality, enhancing user experience, and ensuring that the desktop audience is getting content that captures and holds their attention.

A revitalized desktop experience translates to more time spent on the site, potentially converting into higher revenue.

CTA Makeover:

The Call-to-Action (CTA) buttons are in need of a makeover.

Their green color, while cohesive with the theme, might be blending in a bit too well.

It's an opportunity to make these crucial elements pop.

By giving them a distinct and attention-grabbing color, they can ensure that visitors don't overlook the next steps they want them to take.

A CTA revamp could be the missing link in converting curious visitors into active participants, boosting leads, and consequently, revenue.

The Reveal, check this online business out for yourself 👀

Brace yourselves for the grand reveal, Anh Le, the maestro orchestrating the symphony of LuxuryUnderBudget!

From arriving in the US with two suitcases as an international student to becoming a globe-trotting CPA, Anh's journey is the stuff of legend.

But this isn't just a tale of travel; it's the birth of LuxuryUnderBudget, a blog that's been your guide through the realms of travel and personal finance.

Anh, the adventurer who doesn't just explore countries but goes resort hopping, brings a touch of magic to travel planning.

When visiting the blog you’ll get personalized itineraries, handcrafted by someone who's lived and breathed the wonders of over 30 countries.

No generic travel packages here; Anh crafts experiences that are as unique as you are.

Check out LuxuryUnderBudget and let Anh lead you into a world where every adventure is a masterpiece.

The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓

  • Strategic Backlinking: Deliberate efforts create a digital highway for success, increasing visibility.

  • Building Credibility: Displaying features strategically builds trust for a growing audience.

  • Crafting Unique Experiences: Offering unique services adds value and opens new revenue streams.

  • Smart Email Growth: Incentives for email sign-ups build a loyal community.

  • Optimizing Digital Presence: Enhancing SEO can surpass competitors in traffic and keywords.

  • Revitalizing Engagement: Revisiting content and user experience presents growth opportunities.

  • CTA Enhancement: Revamping CTAs is an opportunity for boosted leads and revenue.

Action Steps if you’d like to start a business like this… 👩‍💻

If you’re already up and running with an online business, keep with it and try to implement some of the lessons you might have found in this email.

You’ll learn all the fundamental skill to build an online income like the one we did a case study on in this email.

Here’s what to expect:

Week 1 - Fundamentals

In this week, you will establish a solid digital marketing foundation. The focus will be on personal branding, but the concepts apply to other business models as well. You will explore:

  • WordPress Website Development: Learn to create a professional and user-friendly website using WordPress, a powerful and widely-used platform for various online businesses.

  • SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Understand the basics of SEO to increase online visibility and attract organic traffic to their websites.

  • Web Analytics: Discover how to analyze website data using tools like Google Analytics to gain valuable insights into user behavior and make data-driven decisions.

Week 2 - How to start a business

In this week you will delve into expanding the online presence and driving traffic to your website. You will get to learn about:

  • Email Marketing: Understand the importance of building an email list and learn effective email marketing strategies to nurture leads and convert them into customers.

  • Search Engine Marketing (SEM): Dive into the world of paid advertising and explore techniques to run successful ad campaigns on search engines like Google.

Week 3 - How to grow a business

The final week will focus on harnessing the power of social media platforms for business growth. You will discover:

  • Social Media Marketing: Discover how to develop and implement social media strategies to engage with the target audience and build brand loyalty.

  • Facebook and Instagram Ads: Explore advanced advertising techniques on these popular platforms to reach a wider audience and generate leads.

You decide what's next! ⏭️

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Before You Go 👋

Thank you for reading.

Take a moment to check out our newsletter's sponsor: Semrush

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If you are ready to get started with your own business, one of the first steps is always a website. Click here for our exclusive hosting plans and click here for an invite to our Max Business School community where you’ll hang out with thousands of fellow ambitious business builders.

Remember to check out the classroom tab (top left corner) for all of our courses teaching you all you need to succeed online.

Bye for now,

Scott Max

FTC Disclosure: This newsletter features recommended products, services, or subscriptions. Some links may earn us a commission, without adding any cost to you. We carefully curate content with honesty in mind, providing genuine reviews. Affiliate relationships with mentioned products are disclosed to maintain transparency. Your trust matters. Full details HERE.