Bootstrap Bonfire

Asking the Deeper Questions: What's After Traffic, Sales, & More Blog Growth?

After hosting our recent Bootstrap group trip in Sumatra, I found myself sitting with a much deeper question than traffic, sales, or growth metrics: What are we actually building online? In this episode, I’m reflecting on the unexpected impact of turning an online blogging community into real-life friendships, shared adventures, and meaningful connections, and how this experience has shifted the way I think about business, creativity, and success! We’ll talk about: * The difference between transactional growth vs. meaningful community * Why real connection changes how you show up online * The power of shared experiences in a very digital world * Why community might be the most valuable thing we build as creators This episode is less tactical and more reflective, a pause to think about where all of this is actually leading. Because maybe success isn’t just about what your business earns.... maybe it’s also about what it creates. ✨ 💌 Weekly Newsletter + Monthly Brief I also send a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly free newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire] where I share behind-the-scenes reflections on blogging, creativity, and slow growth — plus a monthly Bootstrap Brief with: * Paid creator & writing opportunities * Editorial pitch calls * Wellness + creative resources beyond blog strategy If you want thoughtful reflections instead of constant noise, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire]. 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bootstrap Blogging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠] (My Course) In my blogging course, we don’t just talk about strategy, SEO, or monetization—we also focus heavily on mindset, clarity, and sustainability. Because building a blog that lasts isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you relate to your work over time! → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠]

Bootstrappers in Sumatra, Indonesia!

This week’s episode is a really special one because I’m joined by six women from the Bootstrap community while we’re all together in Sumatra, Indonesia after 10 days of jungle trekking, volcano hikes, river swims, karaoke nights, deep chats, and honestly… a lot of laughing. This episode is basically one big cozy group chat. We reflect on blogging, creativity, online friendships, and the kind of community that can grow when people genuinely support one another. We also talk about: * How we each found blogging * The loneliness that can come with online work * Why community matters so much in creative industries * The surprising beauty of internet friendships becoming real-life ones ✨ Follow the amazing women from this episode: * Sarah P @organized_adventure [https://www.instagram.com/organized_adventurer/] * Lita @litaofthepack_ [https://www.instagram.com/litaofthepack_/?hl=en] * Sarah B @explorenborgen [https://www.instagram.com/explorenborgen/] * Mandy @travelingnaturejournal [https://www.instagram.com/travelingnaturejournal] * Holly @littleoneexplores [https://www.instagram.com/littleoneexplores?igsh=eGxldDlpMjh5c3Nk] * Josie @redwhiteadventures [https://www.instagram.com/redwhiteadventures/] And as always, thanks for being here around the bonfire! 🫶 💌 Weekly Newsletter + Monthly Brief I also send a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly free newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire] where I share behind-the-scenes reflections on blogging, creativity, and slow growth — plus a monthly Bootstrap Brief with: * Paid creator & writing opportunities * Editorial pitch calls * Wellness + creative resources beyond blog strategy If you want thoughtful reflections instead of constant noise, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire]. 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bootstrap Blogging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠] (My Course) In my blogging course, we don’t just talk about strategy, SEO, or monetization—we also focus heavily on mindset, clarity, and sustainability. Because building a blog that lasts isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you relate to your work over time! → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠]

What Should You Write First? Honestly… Anything

“What should I write first?” It sounds like a strategy question… but most of the time, it’s just overthinking in disguise. In this episode, I’m bringing this back to something much simpler: the writing itself. We’ll talk about: * Why you don’t need the “perfect” first post * How overthinking disconnects you from your voice * What actually makes a blog post worth writing * Why your early posts are meant to teach you, not perform * Simple ways to start writing from your own experience Blogging isn’t just content creation.. it’s writing. And if you can learn to enjoy that part… everything else gets a lot easier. So instead of asking “what should I write?” Try asking: what do I want to say? ✨ 💌 Weekly Newsletter + Monthly Brief I also send a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly free newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire] where I share behind-the-scenes reflections on blogging, creativity, and slow growth — plus a monthly Bootstrap Brief with: * Paid creator & writing opportunities * Editorial pitch calls * Wellness + creative resources beyond blog strategy If you want thoughtful reflections instead of constant noise, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire]. 💭 The Blog Clarity Workbook [https://clarity-workbook.teachery.co/clarity-checkout]If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what to write next, this guided workbook helps you reconnect with your voice, define your niche, and take aligned action, without overcomplicating your strategy. It includes reflection prompts, simple trackers, and a 10-day clarity planner to help you build momentum in a way that actually feels good. 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bootstrap Blogging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠] (My Course) Inside my blogging course, we don’t just talk about strategy, SEO, or monetization — we also focus heavily on mindset, clarity, and sustainability. Because building a blog that lasts isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you relate to your work over time! → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠]

The Traffic Source You’re Sleeping On (Hint: It’s Pinterest)

Pinterest doesn’t get talked about enough in the travel blogging world… but it might be one of the most underrated traffic sources out there. In this episode, I’m sharing why Pinterest has been a steady traffic driver for me for years — and how you can start using it without overcomplicating your workflow. We’ll talk about: * Why Pinterest is a visual search engine (not social media) * How it captures both attention and intent * My simple, low-effort pinning workflow (under 5 minutes) * How Pinterest supports affiliate income, ad revenue, and long-term growth It’s not flashy. It’s not instant. But it works and it keeps working long after you’ve closed your laptop. ✨ 💌 Weekly Newsletter + Monthly Brief I also send a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly free newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire] where I share behind-the-scenes reflections on blogging, creativity, and slow growth — plus a monthly Bootstrap Brief with: * Paid creator & writing opportunities * Editorial pitch calls * Wellness + creative resources beyond blog strategy If you want thoughtful reflections instead of constant noise, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire]. 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bootstrap Blogging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠] (My Course) Inside my blogging course, we don’t just talk about strategy, SEO, or monetization — we also focus heavily on mindset, clarity, and sustainability. Because building a blog that lasts isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you relate to your work over time! → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠]

When Your Blog Is Working... But You Feel Stuck

You built the blog.It’s working.You’re making progress, maybe even money. So why do you still feel… stuck? In this episode, I’m sharing a more honest look at this weird phase of blogging, where things are technically “working,” but something feels off when you sit down to create. Because this kind of stuckness isn’t always burnout… and it’s not always failure either. We’ll talk about: * The different types of “stuck” (and how to tell which one you’re in) * Why success doesn’t remove resistance * The gap between the experience and the work of turning it into content * When to sit through the discomfort vs. when something deeper needs to shift * How to reconnect with your voice, your process, and your direction Sometimes the stuckness is a signal.Sometimes it’s just part of the practice. And learning the difference is where growth really happens. 💌 Weekly Newsletter + Monthly Brief I also send a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠weekly free newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire] where I share behind-the-scenes reflections on blogging, creativity, and slow growth — plus a monthly Bootstrap Brief with: * Paid creator & writing opportunities * Editorial pitch calls * Wellness + creative resources beyond blog strategy If you want thoughtful reflections instead of constant noise, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠you can sign up here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bucketlistbri.myflodesk.com/bonfire]. 💻 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bootstrap Blogging⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠] (My Course) Inside my blogging course, we don’t just talk about strategy, SEO, or monetization — we also focus heavily on mindset, clarity, and sustainability. Because building a blog that lasts isn’t just about what you do — it’s about how you relate to your work over time! → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://bootstrapblogging.com/travel-blog-course/⁠]