Welcome
Hi, I’m Jo Fitzsimons, the founder of IndianaJo.com.
I started my travel blog on a balmy British summer’s day in 2010. I know, it’s hard to believe that it was sunny in England, but it was and it felt like a sign that exciting times lay ahead.
Back then, I was a lawyer running a midnight sideline in fiction writing. Killing people, mainly. But it wasn’t my only infatuation. While I was typing away, I was staring at the map that occupied an entire wall in my house. Within 2 months of starting this site, I was due to sell my home and take a 12 month sabbatical around the world. Little did I know, I wouldn’t make it back. Not into law, at least.
About Indiana Jo
Indiana Jo is a solo female travel blog with a focus on independent travel and adventure travel.
On Independent Travel – as well as helping solo female travellers, Indiana Jo is used by couples, families and friends to plan non-package trips around the world.
On Adventure Travel – adventure means different things to different people. For some, it’s skydiving and volcano boarding. For others, it’s that first trip overseas. For me, I want my site to help anyone who is stepping out of their comfort zone to explore the world.
On budget versus luxury – I’m no stranger to luxury but I know how to budget too. The trick is knowing when to sleep in a tree-house so you can splurge on a Michelin-starred restaurant.
I’ve visited over 60 countries across 6 continents.
My Readers
Monthly Page Views
1,400,000 page views in 2022
Newsletter Subscribers
+ 4,000 newsletter subscribers
Reader location
USA – 58% | UK – 10%
Canada – 6% | Australia – 4%
Reader Demographics
Female – 51% | Male -49%
25-34 years – 26% | 35-44 years – 22%
18-24 years & 45-54 years – both 16%
Graduate School | + 150k household income
Device – 68% mobile | 29% desktop | 3% tablet
Social Media Followers
+ 10,000 followers across Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram
Updated: January 2023
Website views and traffic: Prior to Covid, Indiana Jo was averaging 275,000 page views per month. I’m still working to regain that traffic and I’m getting there! Here’s a screenshot from Google Search Console showing the number of views on Indiana Jo.
Ways to work with me
My areas of expertise are SEO (search engine optimisation) and Pinterest. My aim with all brand promotion is to write evergreen content that ranks highly in Google (and is pinned by pinners for future reference). This means you’ll be getting eyes on the page for years after my article is published. Although I have active social media accounts, social media promotion is a secondary focus.
I don’t artificially inflate my numbers, ‘buy’ followers/readers and I’ll only suggest we work together if I genuinely think I can help promote your brand. I’m reliable and hit deadlines. I’ll also ensure my content is kept up to date long after it’s published.
Destination & Brand Marketing
I’ve worked with major travel brands, PR agencies, tourism boards and destination marketing organisations. If you have a fantastic destination, accommodation, tour, transport, product or restaurant that you want to promote get in contact.
Affiliate marketing
If you’ve got a travel affiliate you think my readers and I would love, message me and we can talk about a possible affiliate marketing arrangement.
Freelance writing
If would like me to share my travel experience with your readers, get in touch.
What I don’t do
Sponsored posts or sponsored links on my site.
Direct advertising – I’m with the wonderful ad network Mediavine and won’t be leaving any time soon
Who I’ve Worked With & Press Features
Indiana Jo was named 25th Best Solo Travel Blog
My posts are very pin-able
Additional Websites & Cross Promotion
I have two additional niche websites which are great for cross-promoting content.
Visit Prosecco Italy
I set up this website in 2017 as a tour business, offering Prosecco wine tasting tours in the Venezia region of northern Italy. As of Jan 2023, we have taken nearly 1,000 customers wine tasting in Italy, focusing on small, family run businesses. During Covid, I expanded the content section of the website and have had great growth in the areas of Italian destinations, food and drink. Find out more: Visit Prosecco Italy.
Guide To Britain
My latest website, set up in January 2023, this new destination blog is dedicated to my home country. It’s my opportunity to share my many decades of knowledge of the British Isles, the food, the culture, and the heritage of the place I call home. Find out more: Guide To Britain.
Got a question or want to work with me? Contact me: jo@indianajo.com or find me on LinkedIn.
Happy to have found this blog! My most recent single female trip was to Vancouver Island for a week of salmon fishing, cave exploring & aquatic life tourism, and then another week hiking & fishing thru Alberta along the base of the Canadian Rockies in some gorgeous glacier lakes & rivers. I don’t see anything about Canada on your blog. Am I missing it? Would love to read your take as I plan my next trip back to Canada.
Hi Terry, it’s nice to hear from a fellow solo female traveller. I’m afraid you haven’t missed the Canada section – it’s very lacking at the moment. I do intend to get up there soon. Thanks for the tips and suggestions – the salmon fishing sounds especially fun!
Your blog is amazing! You inspire me to do more independent traveling! x
Thanks! Here’s to many adventures ahead.
Hi Jo thanks for the Bagan page, really helpful. Have to say i agree about the food in Myanmar!
Always good to know it’s not just me 🙂 I’m glad my page was helpful!
Hi Jo
I’m planning a trip to Italy in May. Your Florence and Pisa pages have been great help and I’m going to stay in the hostel you recommended in Florence. I wondered if you had the same sort of information for Rome, Venice and Milan?
I look forward to hearing back from you!
Hi Tamzin, so happy to help. I don’t have much on Rome and Milan, but I’ve got a pretty detailed guide to Venice here:
Hey Jo!
I am a Texan girl looking for adventure and I’m currently planning a trip to Italy in October! I will be traveling alone in a country I have never been to, and it has just started to hit me how little I know of how to do that. I just wanted to let you know that your website has given me so much peace about my travels, and I am so excited to explore some of the same places you have been! So, thank you!
Annabelle
Hi Annabelle, what an amazing trip you have planned. I often say that the time you will worry about your trip most is before you go. Italy has an excellent and well established network of travellers and if you tap into the hostel scene (even if you don’t stay there) you’re guaranteed to make a lot of new friends. I’m so pleased that my website has helped – have a fantastic trip and give my love to Italy.
Hey Jo. I just read your short story, What’s it like Dying?. What a great little piece. I found myself smiling all the way through with you main character. A well deserved winner in the short story compitition it was in, well done. Eoin
Hi Eoin, thanks for your kind words and for taking the time to drop me a line. Fiction writing still makes me nervous so your words really do mean the world. Good luck with your own writing! Jo
Hi Jo!
I can’t seem to be able to send you an email on your contact page, I hope you don’t mind me contacting you here.
I’m Niki Ververis, Owner and Editor-in-Chief of an online magazine called Inspiration World Lounge. I came across an article on your website and I’m interested in having it featured on my magazine.
This is the article I’m talking about: Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
If you’re interested in having your article published in my magazine, let me know and we can further discuss your terms regarding this article.
Looking forward to a positive response!
Warm Regards,
Niki Ververis
Owner and Editor-in-Chief
Inspiration World Lounge
Hi Indiana Jo,
How are you? I’m a lifestyle blogger and an expat but I also work for a digital outreach agency and we’re currently looking to contribute an article with travel bloggers.
I see that you are PR friendly and I was wondering if you are open to accepting guest posts for indianajo.com. All the articles can be tailored towards your site’s theme, style, and audience.
If this is something that could be of interest to you, then please do get back to me and we can discuss this further. I could also send you some examples of our writing and topic suggestions for articles.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best regards,
Ave
Hi Ave, I’ll respond separately by email.