Truth be told, I don’t live in an RV – yet – but I do know a thing or two about making money on the internet, legitimately that is. I also happened to discover that many of you are wondering how to live in an RV full time with a sustainable income. Hence, I’ve come up with these tips to provide you some basics.
The RV Industry at a Glance
The idea of traveling across countries and living on the road is no longer a dream. At least five hundred thousands of people jumped into the trend last year and that figure is based on the number of units sold in the US alone. According to experts, the industry is growing steadily as a result of product innovation and the rise in household incomes.
That type of lifestyle has become so popular that people are actually showcasing their journey on Youtube like this couple Marc and Tricia who have been hitting the road since 2016. From trips to the toilet, they talked about all things RV and their channel gets more than 100K subscribers.
Now, what is actually happening is that they are utilizing online platforms to monetize from their experience through affiliate marketing. In this income model, they recommend products or services that they find useful and earn sales commissions from the merchants when viewers purchase those things online.
Essentially, it’s an online business that doesn’t require any inventory and one that allows you to work remotely, wherever you are. This is a perfect fit for those who are travelling on the road. Certain people have also ventured into more entrepreneurial models like selling their digital products or teaching courses online, whether they are related to the RV lifestyle or pursue something else within your own interest.
However, if you are not much of a creator, starting out as an affiliate marketer is totally fine because the cost of investment and risks involved are much lower. It’s something that can be done for several hours a day and gradually transitioned into a full time business when you are ready to hit the road. Plus, RV products are mostly big ticket items which means, they sell for higher prices and are able to generate larger commission cuts for you.
What Do You Need
The first thing that you need to set up is a domain which is basically a web name that you’d be calling your business. The name should reflect the type of niche that you are interested in promoting such as recreational vehicles, camping tips and/or outdoor products. A .com extension shouldn’t cost you more than $15 per year and you can buy the domain through any of these registrars.
The next step is to connect the domain to a WordPress platform and to do this, you’ll have to subscribe to a hosting service. While there are many companies to choose from, I prefer to use SiteRubix hosting because their WordPress installation is very easy,plus it allows up to 25 websites per account. That means, you can potentially run multiple online businesses at the same time.
Create a Blog
One of the best ways to market any product online is to create content through blogging because information is what people are searching for when they go onto Google. In regards to buying higher priced items, consumers are likely to intensify their research before deciding on a purchase.
That means they are likely to think about different situations and use varying terms to find out if a product is worth the investment or not. A fairly natural behavior, considering that parting with a large sum of money isn’t always easy for most people.
By putting yourself in this search process, it’s not impossible to figure out some of the profitable keywords that can be used as blog topics to attract the online audience. Through a series of brainstorming techniques using the Google search bar and a powerful keyword tool, I have shortlisted some long-tail low-competition keywords just to give you an idea, as well as the foundation to get your blog going.
hiking trails near me with waterfalls
where and how to rent an rv
long term rv parks near me
best batteries for rv solar system
good sams club rv insurance
rv electrical hook up box
rv bathroom remodeling ideas
how to rv with dogs
cool travel trailer accessories
how to rv with kids
7 RV Related Affiliate Programs
In order to earn from sales commissions, you need to sign up for affiliate programs. A lot of them can be found through a quick search on Google or through affiliate networks, but since I am all out to help you get started on this exciting lifestyle, I think you’ll be quite pleased that I’ve listed some of the popular ones below.
1 – RVShare
Buying an RV can be costly and for that matter, some people may want to rent the vehicles instead. It’s almost like the RV-version of AirBnb holidays. Renting is a great option to cut down vacation costs and to experiment if this mode of traveling is something they would like to commit for the long term. The platform offers all types of vehicle sizes from camper to luxurious motorhomes that can be accessed at one’s area.
The offer – Earn $110 for every new RV owner and up to $625 for every renter you refer. Commissions are unlimited and co-branded pages will be provided to help with online promotion. Registration is done privately through their official site.
2 – Good Sam
The Good Sam Club is an international membership site for RV owners to benefit from discounted services, products as well as vehicles. With over 1.8 million members, the organization also partners with RV parks and campgrounds all over the world.
The offer – Earn $13+ per referral for travel and roadside assistance, each is a membership on its own. Signing up is through Rakuten Linkshare.
3 – Overland Solar
This company produces portable solar systems to power off-grid outdoor adventure and the RV markets. It allows people to travel freely and cost effectively. Their products are being used globally and backed by a lot of positive customer reviews, as seen on their site and Facebook page. The average order volume is said to be over $300.
The offer – Earn 10% to 15% commission per sale within a 30-day cookie. Signing up is via Avantlink network.
4 – My RV Mail
For people who are always on the move, engaging in an email forwarding service is important and that’s where My RV Mail comes in. They offer affordable subscription plans for customers to track, manage as well as personalized their mailbox.
The offer – Pays between $10 to $30 per referral, depending on which plan and the duration they are subscribed to. Commissions are paid via check automatically when the balance reaches $60. The signing up process is done privately through their homepage.
5 – Recreational Equipment Inc
Shortly known as REI, this award winning company produces one of the best quality in terms of outdoor gear and clothing. Their eCommerce site is easy to navigate and the products are backed by a lot of customer reviews. The company is also a big advocate for conserving the natural environment through their generous donation and dedicated teams of volunteers.
The offer – Earn 5% in sales commissions. The application is done through the Avantlink network.
6 – RV Health
RV Health is a healthcare solution that is catered specifically for travelling lifestyle.
The program serves as a primary care physician as well as provide network access to specialist through their comprehensive plans. The telemedicine service operates 24 hours a day so that you can get medical attention immediately when the situation arise.
The offer – Earn 10% recurring monthly commission per sale within a 30-day cookie. Registration is done privately through their official site.
7 – The Amazon Marketplace
This is probably the most familiar place on earth for people to do online shopping simply because they have so many product varieties to choose from. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s a department dedicated specifically for camping and hiking which is appropriate for promoting RV related activities.
So, it’s not surprising that many YouTubers like Marc and Tricia are affiliated through the Amazon Associate program and this is apparent through all the product links you see below their video descriptions.
The offer – Earn 5.5% from outdoor product sales within the 24-hour cookie window. However, if shoppers purchase items from other departments in the same order, you’ll earn additional commissions too.
Time to Live The Dream
I don’t know about you, but uncovering all this information about how to live in an RV full time is really exciting. For those who are like me, chasing after time freedom in life, this is probably one of the best niches to get into.
Given all the opportunities, there’s really no need to wait for retirement to embrace this lifestyle. If you start building an online income today through affiliate marketing, achieving this dream could be closer than you think.
I hope this article has convinced you to take the first step and if you are interested, visit my recommended blogging platform for more detailed training.
Question – Did I miss out any brands that you know have affiliate programs in the RV niche? Please share your thoughts and questions in the space below and I’d be happy to get back to you.
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Being able to travel and still make a living has always been a dream of mine. I am on the right path for 5 years now. I see a steady growth in my online business with each passing year. My wife has had the same job for over 20 years and has a ton of personal and vacation time saved up so it is possible that we could take off on a 5 week trip and I would still be getting paid from my affiliate marketing business. I wish she would jump on board with me in affiliate marketing so we wouldn’t have to worry about time, but hey 5 weeks is still pretty good.
Full time RVing is a lot to take on in the beginning . When I first decided to say goodbye to the real world and hello to take life on the road, I was pretty overwhelmed. If you are unsure, do some research first. Being an RV entrepreneur can be a great way to live on the road – it gives a lot of freedom and flexibility, but it can also be a challenging one if you aren’t prepared.
I don’t live in an RV either and honestly, I don’t really fancy it. That being said, I love reading and watching about people who do live such amazing lives. Watching them is enough of the adventure for me and I really enjoy it. I also watch a vlogger who lives in an RV and it’s truly fascinating to see. It’s just like working from home, except that this one takes you to places. Good idea for those who like the great outdoors.
This sounds fabulous and the opportunities to make money is right in front of your face. Actually doing what your niche is and having the ability to use just about every marketing strategy that works is perfect.
I don’t know anything about RVing and have a question. What do you do for reliable fast internet access? It’s the number one thing you need.
Hi Stew, I think this article about the best RV internet service will help to answer your question.
This is so neat! I loved the read. You made it seem simpler than I thought it would be. You get to travel to so many places in an RV plus take your business with you. I think that’s everyone’s dream, if you asked me. You can also use the income to maintain the cost of the vehicle. I know it’s different than a home, but once you don’t want to travel anymore, you’ll have plenty of money to buy a house from a well established online business.
What an interesting read. My wife and I love travailing with our motorcycle, but never seem to have enough time since we are working on regular jobs. That is what brought me to Wealthy Affiliate. We have been talking recently about getting a Toy Hauler and living life on the road. Your article has given me ideas that I never thought of to help live that kind of life style. So thank you for the information.
In recent months, I’ve seen several people (bloggers, photographers and etc.) use Airbnb RVs to go around and make amazing photos and articles! I never considered that type of lifestyle as an option for the digital nomad life, but I could be persuaded to try. One thing is stopping me though – I drive a stick so I wonder if that is manageable for the size of an RV.
Hi Ana, I am not an expert in RV, but I believe they come in various vehicle sizes and possibly different operation mode too. You could check out some forums or YouTube videos to get a better idea on how to manage an RV if you are driving manual.