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Tim Leffel is an experienced player in the travel info industry. He has been consistently pulling in handsome dollars for a long time now. This article is all about his marketing strategies, thought process and how he made his projects thrive in the Travel industry.

Who is he and why is this article worth reading ?

Tim, in his late 50s, is the founder of Nomadico, a one-pager newsletter offering tips for travellers who work remotely. With a career spanning multiple industries and jobs, Tim has been running his online publishing company since 2006. Over the years, he has expanded his business to include various travel-related projects such as websites, books, newsletters, and more, establishing himself as an expert in the travel industry. This article will give you a deep insight into the travel information industry, you’ll get to know about Tim’s strategies and who knows, maybe one of these might just spark your project as well. So just read on.

How it all Began ?

Tim's journey began after traveling the world for three years, during which he wrote articles and taught English. Settling down to start a family, he worked at a software company, but his passion for travel writing never waned. His side hustle soon grew to a point where he could leave his corporate job and focus entirely on his own ventures, earning money from advertising, partnerships, and book royalties.

The start of the story : His first Major Product

Tim's journey began after traveling the world for three years, during which he wrote articles and taught English. Settling down to start a family, he worked at a software company, but his passion for travel writing never waned. His side hustle soon grew to a point where he could leave his corporate job and focus entirely on his own ventures, earning money from advertising, partnerships, and book royalties.

His first major product, The World's Cheapest Destinations book, was launched in 2002. With minimal upfront investment, Tim self-published the book and saw it turn profitable within months. The success of his book led to the launch of a blog in 2003, making him one of the pioneers in budget travel blogging. The blog’s traction and subsequent press coverage solidified his belief that online publishing could be a full-time career.

Tim's business grew steadily, as he launched multiple websites, published additional books, and started newsletters. At one point, he managed six websites and eventually sold one for a mid-five-figure sum. Currently, he runs five websites, though he plans to sell one to free up equity in the coming years. Tim continues to balance various projects, including freelance writing, but there hasn’t been one major moment of success—rather, a continuous process of hard work and incremental growth.

Nomadico : Initial Customers, Marketing and Money

Tim's marketing strategy for Nomadico, which launched in 2022, leverages the organic network effect of Substack, the platform on which it’s hosted. The newsletter has surpassed 9,000 subscribers in 70 weeks without any paid advertising, relying on his existing network, cross-promotion with his other projects, and word of mouth. The key to his success has been building a community of highly engaged readers, ensuring a strong open rate and organic growth.

For his broader portfolio of websites and newsletters, SEO is a major driver, while social media plays a smaller role. Tim prefers to focus on long-term followers rather than trying to convert people instantly through ads. However, he does see value in affiliate ads and has experimented with various ad platforms like Facebook and Amazon Advertising for specific products like books.

Nomadico earns revenue through a mix of direct advertising, affiliate marketing, and Amazon affiliate ads. As the newsletter grows, Tim plans to introduce premium offerings, such as webinars, conference calls, or videos, to add value for subscribers and monetize further. His other travel-related ventures, including his online magazines and blogs, bring in income from direct partnerships, display ads, affiliate sales, books, and courses. He has also run travel tours and offers a travel writing course connected to his book, Travel Writing 2.0.

Tim's income varies month to month, ranging from $5K to $12K, depending on factors such as traffic levels, ad rates, and seasonal trends. Although he would like to increase this figure, living in central Mexico allows him to enjoy a lower cost of living, freeing him from the high housing and healthcare costs of the U.S. Looking ahead, Tim plans to focus on growing the projects that are already successful while maintaining a steady flow of engaging content for his audience.