What a yr it has been for journey bloggers like me! This may not have been the best yr, however there’s loads to have fun too.

In the event you’ve adopted me for some time, you’ll know that yearly round this time I write my running a blog appraisal. It tends to be a little bit of a juicy learn crammed with private insights into the yr. I feel this yr’s can be my seventh… though I’ll admit there was somewhat hiatus final yr whereas I used to be on maternity go away! Lower me some slack guys, I had a child glued to me!

Outside Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center
I’ll be reviewing the final 12 months

December is the right time to look again on the highs and lows… the chaos and the triumphs… oh, and some questionable selections of the previous 11 months. As a self-employed particular person, I don’t get a kind of painfully awkward boss-to-employee value determinations the place you sit throughout a desk, nodding and pretending you’re in settlement over the urged methods you may enhance.

However since I’m my very own boss, you guys have unofficially turn out to be my sounding board. You’ve been doing it for years so I’m hoping you’ll kindly fill that position once more at this time. Don’t fear, I promise to not cry, except you say one thing very nice!

2024 has been a little bit of a ‘meh’ yr for most individuals I do know. It was a yr of heavy information tales, penny pinching, and little or no lightness. Maybe, not again to Covid ranges, however it felt like lots of people have spent the yr feeling exhausting achieved by.

Fistral Beach with kidsFistral Beach with kids
It’s been a memorable twelve months

This was undoubtedly the case within the journey running a blog world. With Google’s algorithms being up to date left, proper and centre, and the unnerving claws of AI creeping in, content material creators like myself have felt unsettled.

On this publish, I’m going to do a fast dive into how 2024 has panned out, and look forward to what 2025 has in retailer. So, make your self a cuppa, or a pleasant warming cup of gluhwein and let’s kick this off.


My Running a blog Appraisal of 2024

Again to work

I went again to work in January after 11 months on maternity go away. I’m grateful I used to be capable of take so lengthy to be with my son and get used to life as a brand new mum. However, I used to be additionally SO able to return to work. I’d barely sat at my laptop computer in a yr, or had a second to myself. So, to be again engaged on my weblog once more felt wonderful. It was additionally pretty to have some private area and time.

For that first yr, particularly for those who’re breastfeeding, you give every little thing to that little being. It felt good to start out regaining a little bit of ‘me’.

New Smyrna Beach, FloridaNew Smyrna Beach, Florida
Exploring Florida this yr

We threw ourselves into journey campaigns, I labored on my weblog and different companies, and I hustled once more! We did a number of wonderful journeys this yr, together with two good journey campaigns in Florida and one other in Nova Scotia, Canada.

Having the ability to showcase household journey, by our eyes as a brand new younger household, felt very particular. It was additionally great to see a few of my earlier purchasers nonetheless eager to work with me and help this new section of life.

Peggys CovePeggys Cove
Having fun with our time in Nova Scotia, Canada

As an apart, it’s exhausting taking break day on this business. It’s fast-paced and transient, so that you get forgotten shortly. There’s all the time somebody prepared to leap in your area. I used to be relieved to see I used to be again on the lists for press journeys and occasions, however I’ve undoubtedly observed a bias in the direction of content material creators with out kids.

I’m making an attempt to stay grateful for the stability I’ve. I get to do some wonderful journeys (with and with out my household), in addition to having fun with this rewarding time as a brand new mum!

Awards season

I’m all the time amazed to be nominated for any awards, however this yr it occurred once more! I attended the TravMedia Awards, the place I used to be nominated for Influencer of the Yr (an award I gained two years in the past).

It was a giant increase for my vanity, after a yr of being surrounded by nappies and infants, I felt like I used to be being observed in my business once more. It was additionally hilarious to meet up with presenter, Rylan on the awards, who I managed once I was an artist supervisor in my 20s. I didn’t win, however I used to be blissful to let my hair down. It’d been some time since I’d bought glammed up, and wow did it really feel good!

TravMedia Awards 2024TravMedia Awards 2024
Attending the TravMedia Awards in 2024

I used to be additionally nominated for Finest Collaboration on the Traverse Creator Awards. This was for the journey marketing campaign I labored on with Go to Sheffield. I do know there have been a whole bunch of candidates, so I used to be actually satisfied to be shortlisted. It’s additionally cemented me as a go-to content material creator for the staff up in Sheffield, so don’t be stunned for those who see me again within the north in 2025!

Winter Garden SheffieldWinter Garden Sheffield
I beloved engaged on this journey marketing campaign in Sheffield in 2024

Google HCU and AI

I touched on the robust occasions we’ve skilled in my life replace in Could. In the event you’re a journey lover relatively than a fellow content material creator, you’re in all probability blissfully unaware of the methods Google has tweaked its algorithm over the past 18 months. Many individuals with blogs and web sites watched site visitors decline quickly, some shedding complete livelihoods and careers.

I’ve clung on, and whereas it’s been a rollercoaster (which might not be over but), I’ve survived. It’s given me a brand new perspective on tips on how to construct a enterprise that’s financially safe and tips on how to pivot when the going will get robust. I’m hoping we’re by the worst, and fortunately I’ve watched my site visitors enhance once more since September. Fingers crossed for a extra affluent 2025.

future of travel bloggingfuture of travel blogging
It’s not been the best yr as a journey blogger

The world of AI has been inflicting chaos too. I learn an article this week which acknowledged that in 2022, nearly nobody was utilizing AI. By 2023, 65% of bloggers had been utilizing it, and by this yr it’s round 80%.

ChatGPT telling me about my own blogChatGPT telling me about my own blog
ChatGPT telling me about my very own weblog!

I’m guessing most of you’ve got dabbled in utilizing ChatGPT. I do discover it useful as certainly one of many instruments I take advantage of once I’m creating content material, however I’ve been shocked to listen to that some bloggers go so far as to let it write complete weblog posts for them. What a lazy and unoriginal solution to work. Journey running a blog is wonderful for telling unique tales and imparting private recommendation. It’s a disgrace if each weblog begins spurting out generic content material with out and persona!

Additionally, seeing the way in which AI can scrape my written content material and regurgitate it again to somebody (normally with none actual credit score to me) feels irritating. I don’t know tips on how to combat it and it’s but one more reason journey blogs are shedding site visitors.

I don’t wish to moan about these items, as I do know it’s necessary to embrace new tech. However, the place does it finish? If these bots are primarily scraping content material written by individuals like me, and in flip, placing us out of enterprise… what’s going to they scrape sooner or later if there are not any extra bloggers?! These beasts should be fed with unique, high quality content material as a way to be helpful. I nonetheless can’t determine the place it will lead.

Graffiti and street art in Stokes Croft, BristolGraffiti and street art in Stokes Croft, Bristol
I hope this isn’t the dying of journey running a blog

Private life

Breaking information… we’re shifting home! After 4 pretty years in Ealing in London, we’re heading somewhat additional west. We’ve outgrown our two-bedroom flat. I imply, that occurred when there have been simply two of us, however with a toddler it’s much more cramped. We’ve been dwelling in London flats for thus a few years now, it’s going to be an enormous novelty having stairs!

Celebrating our new flatCelebrating our new flat
Once we moved into our flat in London

I’ll share some extra all of this in 2025 as we settle in. Little question there can be some dwelling adorning content material that includes on my channels quickly! And quite a few visits to Ikea. Want us luck…!

To any of you who love studying blogs and watching content material on social media, please bear in mind to help your favorite creators. The panorama is altering quick and it’s been a troublesome yr. It means lots to know you’re there.

Hey, why not take a second to ship a message to your favorite content material creator proper now, and say how a lot you want what they do? It’ll put a giant previous smile on their face!

I hope you’ve got a beautiful Christmas and a Glad New Yr!  

See you in 2025 for extra travels and adventures.

Chloe x