How We Use Kit (ConvertKit) to Monetize Our Travel Blog (Without Feeling Spammy)
Because building a long-term family travel life needs more than wanderlust, it needs systems that actually pay off.
Why Email Still Matters (Even in the Age of TikTok)
It’s tempting to focus on Instagram Reels and Pinterest saves.
But here’s the truth:
Email converts.
Social is where people discover you.
Your email list is where they commit.
With Kit (formerly ConvertKit), we’re building something deeper than likes, we’re building a community of families who actually want what we’re creating: packing checklists, budget breakdowns, travel wins (and meltdowns), and honest reflections from the road.
How We’re Using Kit (Right Now)
We’re still pre-departure, but Kit is already baked into our long-term monetisation plan:
1. Lead Magnets That Actually Serve
✅ “Our Family Packing Checklist” used in our packing post
✅ “Budget Planner for One Year of Travel” coming in budgeting cluster
✅ Future: “Learn Spanish Together: 10 Family Phrases” (Spanglish Corner)
We deliver value immediately, then nurture through a slow, helpful welcome sequence.
2. Automations with Personality
We’re not selling beachy dreams, we’re showing the messy, magical prep.
So our sequences look like:
“How we decided to leave the 9–5”
“What we’re scared of and why we’re doing it anyway”
“3 things that made planning easier (and cheaper)”
Each ends with a call to connect, click, or download.
Sometimes: a product link. Always: a real story.
3. Segmenting for Smarter Offers
As we grow, we’ll use Kit’s tags to:
Separate parents interested in packing vs. those looking to budget
Highlight gear deals vs. language tools
Target potential buyers for future e-books or affiliate roundups
Why We Chose Kit Over Other Email Tools
There are cheaper tools.
There are more complex ones.
But Kit fits where we are right now:
Built for creators
Super visual automations
Tag-based (not list-based), so it scales as we grow
Direct Shopify + digital product integration (future-proofing)
Strong support for affiliate marketers, course creators, and digital nomads
Bonus: it doesn’t make email feel like a chore. (Mostly.)
How Kit Fits Into Our Monetisation Ecosystem
Monetization Type | Kit’s Role |
|---|---|
| Affiliate Marketing: | Automations link to travel gear, language apps |
| Digital Downloads: | Lead magnets build audience + soft-sell e-books |
| Sponsored Content: | Segmented list shows we know our audience |
| Brand Partnerships: | Email stats = proof of engagement |
| Courses (future): | Kit’s creator tools make it possible |
What’s Working (and What We’re Still Testing)
Working:
Simple opt-ins tied to real content (no fluff)
Honest, helpful tone in every email
Using “PS” lines for soft CTA
Still Testing:
Whether to use a freebie or quiz to increase sign-ups
Ideal send frequency (biweekly vs. monthly?)
Best timing for promoting affiliate products
New: Why the Kit App Store Just Made Our Setup Smarter
We recently started using the Kit App Store, and honestly, it’s one of the best updates we’ve seen since we joined the platform.
If you’re building a travel blog or digital product workflow like we are, here’s why this matters.
What Is the Kit App Store?
The Kit App Store is a curated collection of apps that integrate directly into your Kit (ConvertKit) account. Think of it like a plug-and-play toolbox for creators, no Zapier, no spreadsheet acrobatics, just native connections that work.
You can:
Pull in podcast episodes, YouTube content, or testimonials directly into emails.
Connect your lead magnets, opt-ins, or product data more seamlessly.
Access tools to automate, segment, and streamline your email marketing… all inside Kit.
Explore it here: Visit the Kit App Store
How We’re Using It as Family Travel Creators
As a family balancing full-time travel prep, content creation, and parenting, we’re all about simplifying. Here’s what we’re trying inside the Kit App Store:
Less Tech Juggling
Instead of bouncing between platforms, we can now connect tools like Airtable, Typeform, or our testimonial bank directly into Kit. Less clicking = more creating (and more time chasing kids).
Better Audience Insight
We’re exploring tools that help us see what emails actually convert like what gear links people are clicking or who’s engaging with our budget templates. It’s like moving from fog to focus.
Workflows That Scale
Whether we’re launching a new digital product, building an automation for affiliate gear, or just sending out our monthly Dispatch, the App Store helps us scale without needing to hire a tech team.
Why This Update Is So Useful
Most email platforms force you to either do it all manually or duct-tape tools together with third-party connectors.
Kit’s App Store solves that. It’s built for creators who want their email, products, automations, and audience data to play nicely together.
And best of all, it’s included in the Creator plan, no extra cost unless you’re using a premium app.
Our Take: If You’re Already Using Kit, Explore This
We wouldn’t recommend it if it added complexity but this update is the opposite. It’s clearer, cleaner, and it genuinely helps us run this blog like a real business (even while we prep for long-term travel with a five- and seven-year-old in tow).
Want to peek inside? Here’s the link:
👉 Explore the Kit App Store
Final Word: Email Is Our Long Game
When the algorithm shifts or the Wi-Fi cuts out, this list stays ours.
If you’re dreaming of travel and wondering how to fund it, start building your list now.
Use Kit. Or something else. But build it.
And if you want a peek inside our system (or to steal our welcome email), you know where to find us.
