Matt Kepnes, happy about new friend.
Matadorian Matt Kepnes (aka Nomadic Matt) has just come out with his first ebook. Here’s what’s up.
We were stoked last week when Matador contributor Matt Kepnes, aka Nomadic Matt, sent us a copy of his first travel ebook.
In Matt’s own words, his ebook “teaches people some basic coding and what to think about when creating a travel site. The real meat of the ebook are the sections on SEO and how to make money with your blog. I go through the whole process and where to find advertisers.”
I read through the book and found the information to be laid out in a very easy to follow, step by step kind of way that draws directly on Matt’s own experience over the last year, as he’s gone from someone without a travel blog to someone able to sustain himself on ad revenue generated via his site NomadicMatt.com.
After reading the ebook I realized that even though I felt like I “knew” Matt, especially after working with him on several of his classic stories on Matador (such as Top 20 Craziest Party Hostels around the World), there were still several basic things about Matt I wanted to know for this article.
Where are you from? What’s your age / background?
Born and raised in Boston, I have a background in teaching and business but abandoned both to follow my dream of endless travel. I’m 27.
How long have you been with Matador?
Since April 2007 (you guys gave me my big break!).
How long since you started your own site?
February 2007.
How many pageviews do you get?
350,000 per month (not bad, huh?).
Where do you work from?
My laptop.
Where are you right now?
Bangkok, Thailand.
Where are you going next?
Scotland for my birthday! (June 12th!).
What’s the ‘big vision’ for the next 3-5 years?
Finish seeing every continent, getting to the World Cup in 2010, and moving to Europe (Paris or Amsterdam).
Anything special you want readers to know about the ebook?
This book is designed to help those with blogs make an even bigger and better blog and make some money off of it. Many people get discouraged that they put so much work in but see such a little return. The book is here to help you put in less work and get bigger returns by avoiding common mistakes.
Community Connection
You can connect with Matt either via his website or friend him up at Matador.
Want to learn the craft of travel writing?
Sign up for Matador’s new Travel Writing School and get the skills you need.
About the Author
More By This Author
- Bienvenida Mariel (22 comments)
- Matador Featured in WordPress Showcase (8 comments)
- RIP Shane McConkey (1969-2009) (3 comments)
Related Posts
7 Comments... join the discussion!
-
-
I think he’s full of it. I’ve seen that $3000 a month figure everywhere on all the blogs I follow, but I’ve seen other places where Matt said he was hurting and needed to boost his earnings. In SE Asia you can’t live comfortably on 3k a month? I think he has a book to sell. Maybe he made $3000 in one big month, but I’m going to be skeptical until I see some proof.
↵ -
I have no other income source then my websites. I’m not sure where you read about the money in Asia but as a personality trait, i tend to always complain im broke. I tend to spend most of what I make. I’m not a good saver. Anyways, I actually make more than 3k a month but I low balled it out there b/c I said it often in the book: you don’t get rich quick and I didn’t want people to think this was a get rich quick scheme.
You don’t have to believe me but check out the 55 positive reviews on the site before making your final call.
↵ -
Woot Woot, go matt!
↵ -
3k a month is certainly doable – I used to make that much (though, sadly, nowhere near that at the moment) from my websites and didn’t do anywhere near as much promotion as Matt seems to do. In an effort to learn more, I’ve followed him here from the LP Thorn Tree and onwards to various other places where he’s received free publicity. I hope to spend six months in Central America soon, so I guess I’ll have to become more of a publicity whore.
I hope your efforts continue to bear fruit.
↵ -
3k is doable and I know people who make a lot more. I’m glad you followed me and I hope you’ve liked what you’ve seen.
and as you said, you used to make 3k so it’s doable. Most people just refuse to believe u can make money online….when you can.
↵ -
Even in the short mention above of New Zealand I’ve learned more about that country than following Matt on Twitter for several months. I’ve won airfare to New Zealand and hoped I’d be getting better info from Matt – seeing as he’s there and all! No offense, dude, but you spend a lot more time tweeting about computer problems and what movie you’re going to see next. I get enough of that in my day-to-day life!! I feel a bit let down, I must say.
↵
