When Brooke first packed her bags and moved to Australia at 18, she wasn’t chasing algorithms or affiliate links. She was chasing freedom.
What started as a personal blog to keep friends and family in the loop on her travels slowly evolved (over more than a decade) into a profitable, passion-fueled Creator brand.
But Brooke’s story isn’t about overnight success. It’s about the power of staying true to your vision, building slow, and finding the sweet spot where authenticity and financial freedom can thrive together.
Here’s how she’s doing it… and how RockPorch has helped along the way.
Traveling for the Love of It
Long before monetization entered the picture, Brooke was simply following her passion for solo travel and adventure.
“I developed a real love for solo travel and backpacking during that period… It was always my dream, like I would love to go on a one-year-long trip.”
Her blog was born from this curiosity and passion… not from a business plan.
“I’d been writing this blog for 10 years, but it had been largely just a way to keep friends and family informed about what I was doing.”
That internal motivation became the foundation of everything she built.
Learning to Own the Business Side (Without Selling Out)
At first, Brooke didn’t see herself turning her blog into a business. It was just something she loved doing. An outlet for creativity and storytelling.
“It really started as a passion project. I never imagined that it would be something that made money.”
But as her audience grew and the demand for her expertise became clear, she realized she had something more than a personal journal. She had built a trusted resource. Still, embracing monetization didn’t come easy.
“I’d always been really resistant to this, imagining it was going to suck the authenticity out of it, and I wanted it to feel fun and creative and not like a job.”
The shift came when she saw that her content was helping people… and that her research, guides, and tools carried real value. Now, she monetizes through multiple streams: ads, affiliate links, GPS map downloads, and group trips. And she does it all in a way that feels aligned with her mission.
“If I can write a hiking guide that is helping people and create, you know, a GPS map that’s allowing them to navigate along the route based on all the research that I’ve done, which is worth something… I don’t feel like, you know, slimy selling that to someone, because I know that they are getting value.”
It wasn’t an overnight mindset flip. It was the slow, intentional evolution of a creator who learned to trust her voice, value her time, and step confidently into the role of a creatorpreneur.
Building an Authentic Creator Brand (Without Selling Out)
One thing Brooke is crystal clear about: audience trust comes first. Always.
“Be authentic and understand that creating content isn’t only and solely about making money…”
Together with her fiancé, who now helps run the business side of the blog, Brooke has built a brand that prioritizes passion over performance metrics.
“We talk a lot about being travelers first and creators second. We don’t want to be motivated by, ‘Oh, what place is going to perform the best on SEO?’ We want to choose places that inspire us.”
The result? Content that resonates because it’s real.
Lessons from the Road: What Brooke Would Do Differently
Looking back, Brooke says she would have embraced the business side sooner—without guilt.
“If I truly had to start over from scratch again today, I wouldn’t shy away so much from thinking about it as a business.”
Her advice for other Creators: don’t wait until you feel “ready” to own your expertise.
“Trusting my own expertise took a long time, but I know now that what I’ve built has real value.”
That internal motivation became the foundation of everything she built.
The Core of Brooke Beyond: Fewer Posts, Deeper Impact
Brooke’s vision now is to double down on what sets her apart: incredibly detailed hiking guides and expedition itineraries.
Once I was on the road, I started to realize, like, yeah, I think this is my dream. I can’t imagine myself going back to real life.”
Instead of cranking out content, Brooke is focusing on what her audience can’t find anywhere else… guides that take weeks to write but make life-changing adventures accessible.
Behind the Scenes: What You Don’t See on Social
Sure, the travel photos are stunning. But Brooke is quick to remind us that the Creator life isn’t all sunshine and seamless bookings.
“It’s being sick in foreign countries. It is being on the computer trying to get this booking to work. It is having to cancel plans. Sometimes it is losing money. It is missing friends’ and family’s birthdays.”
She strives to keep it real, but social media will always be a highlight reel. The day-to-day hustle? That’s often invisible.
How Brooke Monetizes Authentically
Brooke’s monetization strategy is a thoughtful mix of:
- Ads – A solid starting point, but she’s intentionally reducing ad volume to improve the reader experience
- Affiliate Links – Her gear lists (now ad-free!) are growing, backed by real-world use and hard-earned expertise
- Digital Products – Custom GPS maps for epic treks… products she’s proud to sell because they genuinely help people
“We know that someone’s not going to feel like it was a waste of money once they get this map and they open it up… they’re going to feel like it was well spent.”
Her focus? Only recommending and creating things she’s personally used and believes in.
Evolving From Hobbyist to Creatorpreneur
Brooke’s turning point came when she realized this life on the road wasn’t a gap year, it was her dream life.
Once I was on the road, I started to realize, like, yeah, I think this is my dream. I can’t imagine myself going back to real life.”
But sustainability required a shift: how could she turn this passion into profit without sacrificing authenticity?
I’ve figured out a way to balance that so it doesn’t feel like work… I work on my blog a lot, but it doesn’t feel like a chore to me.”
With that mindset, Brooke began embracing her role as a Creatorpreneur.
How RockPorch Supports Brooke’s Journey
RockPorch has played a key role in helping Brooke streamline her affiliate strategy and grow her brand—without compromising her authenticity.
With RockPorch, Creators like Brooke can:
- Access 900+ premium brands and create affiliate links in seconds
- Build custom storefronts that align with their personal brand
- Connect with like-minded creators and brand partners
- Get hands-on support from the RockPorch team
“I’ve really enjoyed building stuff on RockPorch… it feels like it’s taken me so many years to get to the point where I feel I can give people recommendations that carry that weight.””
We make it easier to grow your brand without selling out.
Final Thoughts: Build Slow, Build Real
Brooke’s biggest takeaway for fellow creators?
“Sometimes a rush to monetizing sooner than it makes sense is going to compromise that authenticity, and you just won’t get it back… You can have both at the same time. You don’t have to make zero recommendations at all. Just make recommendations with consideration and based on your own expertise.”
Get inspired by diving into some of Brooke’s Review Articles, Guides, And Itineraries
Learn to Integrate Commissionable Links in your Gear Lists
- Best Boots
- Best Backpacks
- Best Outdoor Layers
- Best Tents
- Best Outdoor Sleep System
- Best Backcountry Food
How Brooke Monetizes Beyond Commissionable Links
- Digital Products: Custom Maps
- Group Trips
- Ads
Get Inspired with Brooke’s Trail Guides & Travel Iteneraries
Brooke’s story is proof: you can build a profitable brand while staying true to your values, if you’re willing to build intentionally.
Follow along with Brooke’s adventures!
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