From Blogging To TikTok: How Katie Caf Successfully Pivoted
• Originally broadcast October 28 2025 via email •
| 💡 Travel Blogging Tip of the Week 💡How Katie Pivoted to TikTok and Started Earning $2,000 For One Short-Form Video |
The creator space can feel like a rollercoaster: thrilling highs when everything’s growing, and sudden dips when platforms or algorithms change.
It’s all part of the ride.
But, when you stay flexible and open to trying new things, those twists and turns can lead you to opportunities you didn’t expect.
I met Katie Caf after she joined Scale Your Travel Blog and built her blog from scratch, reaching 111,000 monthly readers at its peak within a year.
But when her numbers suddenly dropped, she didn’t let the dip bring her down. Instead, she took control and tried something new.
She leaned into video, started posting to TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram, and in 30 days she was monetized with over 100K followers (crazy, right?).
You can check out Katie’s TikTok here (now over 400,000 followers, and honestly.. she’s SO much fun to watch).
So if you’ve been considering adding video into your strategy, Katie’s story is truly inspiring.
Here’s how she did it, and what you can take from her success.
Why TikTok?
Before the shift, Katie’s blog earned around $2,500 – $4,000 per month. But TikTok quickly became even more profitable:
- One TikTok reel can earn as much as her blog once did in a full month.
- Each video can bring in $1,000 – $2,000 in ad revenue.
- Her reach has led to brand collaborations and press trips with cruise lines and travel companies.
💡 Laura’s Tip: A smart move is to repurpose your content so it works in both places (your blog and videos) without adding a ton of extra work.
The Two Keys Behind Her Rapid Growth
While many creators post what they think will work (and often get crickets), Katie’s following skyrocketed because she had a system in place:
- Post Volume – She posted multiple times a day, even with unedited clips. TikTok rewards consistency, not perfection.
- Strategic Location – Instead of competing with every vlogger in Paris or London, Katie filmed in places like Cambodia and Pakistan, destinations that were under-covered and instantly stood out.
The Secret Sauce: Triggers
Katie teaches that a strong TikTok strategy is all about triggers.
A trigger is anything that makes people comment.
More comments = more reach.
Example: She filmed herself buying an ice cream cone. Viewers couldn’t resist commenting about inflation and price hikes. The video hit 2.5M views and added 20K+ followers overnight.
Katie saw fast growth by posting simple POV (point of view) clips that put viewers inside the moment.
How to do it:
- Film the experience, not the recap. Capture what you’re seeing as it happens.
- Include a trigger. Something that sparks conversation, usually price, surprise, or a cultural difference.
- Break one activity into multiple posts. Each angle becomes its own video, multiplying your reach.
Examples of what worked for her:
- Buying a beer in Jamaica → ~$1,800 in ad revenue
- Ice cream in Guatemala → ~$500
- Exploring the Golden Temple (India) → ~$1,400
- A quirky bathroom in Estonia → ~$100
From Blogger to Influencer
Katie’s pivot has already taken her on sponsored trips (including a luxury Norwegian cruise to Alaska), earned her brand deals worth thousands, and rebuilt her confidence as a creator.
She says:
“Blogging was fulfilling financially but not creatively. Social media lets me share the adventurous, off-the-beaten-path stories I love, and still get paid.”
How To Work With Katie
Katie’s story still blows my mind. She has one of the coolest success stories out there.
She started with zero followers and zero video experience, and grew to over 550,000 followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in just 13 months.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen faster growth 😱 🤯
With everything she’s learned from her rapid success, Katie has created a Content Creation Audit for bloggers and creators who feel stuck.
If you’re making video content that isn’t performing or monetizing, this audit shows you exactly what to adjust with a plan you can implement step-by-step.
What’s included:
- A 1:1 meeting to review your goals and platforms
- A full diagnostic report with fixes you can implement right now
- 5 inspiration sources, with breakdowns on how they monetize
- Long-term homework for sustainable growth
🚨 Katie is offering this as a beta service, so if you’d like to work with her, this is the lowest price it will ever be.
Fill out the form below for more information, and Katie will reach out to you directly!
>> Click here to learn more about working with Katie Caf!
Bottom line.. you don’t have to abandon blogging. Especially if video isn’t your thing.
But if you do enjoy video content, pair it with your blog for potentially faster growth, more brand deals, and a safer business overall.
Have a great week,
Laura
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