If you love venturing to exotic lands and fancy yourself as a bit of a literature buff then why not start writing a travel blog. There’s no better way to showcase your holiday snaps or gap year adventures than blogging. Travel blogging allows you to share your experiences and advice with fellow travel enthusiasts and why not make some money in the process. As travel blogging can lead to sponsorships, guest writing and professional interviews. However travel writing can be a tad confusing, so to help you out we have some of our top tips to get you started.
Find a reliable hosting site
You want to make sure you have a trust worthy blogging platform such as WordPress as you’ll may get frequent visits and the last thing you would want is for your blog to crash. Firstly you would need to think of a domain name, this can be something specific to what you will be writing about or something unique that will differentiate you from other people.
Know your audience
It is up to you what you choose to post and write about however knowing your audience will help you market yourself and know where to visit if you want to keep a travel diary. Travel writing is in itself an art form and with any piece of work you want to make sure it is of a high standard. Be honest in your writing but do not be too negative as you want to capture you’re audience to want to keep coming back. Don’t worry if you’re not exactly sure of whom you would want to target as the more you write, the more you’ll find your style and learn what you enjoy putting out.
Be committed
If you’re serious about building a following, you need to update your site regularly. We would say aim to post least two- three times a week. If you know you’re going to be in remote parts without internet access, a common trick is to write posts in advance and schedule them to be uploaded automatically. This will save you a lot of time and will ensure your following that you are still present.
Blog about what interests you
Bloggin’ ain’t easy and blogging about what you don’t know is extremely difficult. That’s why you should stick with what you know. Plus, if the information you’re writing about is interesting to you then you’ll be much more likely to stick with it.
Keep a travel journal
As you travel, write down your impressions as you will not always be near a laptop. After a memorable dining experience, for example, write down the name of the restaurant, the dish you ordered, its ingredients and the details of the decor and music. Recording this level of detail will be helpful later as when you write you’re piece you’ll have a lot to talk about whilst also giving your followers the chance to contact you for more information.
Respond to reader’s comments
Blogs typically allow you to accept or disable comments. Allowing comments is an opportunity to build rapport with readers and answer questions.
Do your research and make contacts
Get online and get reading! Get to know fellow bloggers on online forums or networking sites such as Twitter. Share links, cross-promote, comment on other sites and you’ll soon see your traffic rise. A good place to get in touch with others is Travel Blog Exchange, which also has a sub-forum for those looking to make a business out of blogging. Knowing other bloggers helps you identify where you want to go and any content you might want to write about.
Blogging can lead to new opportunities
Writing a travel blog means that you are showcasing your work which can be picked up by well-known Travel associations and magazines whom may ask you to write for them. You’ll be able to earn an extra income from advertising on their site and you’re alongside picking up any affiliate offers.
There’s a world of opportunity out there just waiting to be explored, so make sure you don’t miss out! Remember, the only thing that’s limiting you is your imagination.
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