Making the Most Out of a Travel Blog
After scaling the heights of Machu Picchu in Peru or falling in love with or in Paris, what do you do next? Instead of keeping quiet about these incredible experiences, you may want to share it with the world. An invention of the 21st century, the blog keeps you in constant connection with friends and family. You’re also on the radar of other travelers seeking useful tips or guides about destinations you’ve been to. As famous travel blogger Nomadic Matt puts it, a blog is a great way to inspire people and give advice on different places.
Still hesitant about starting a blog? Read on to know why keeping a travel blog is worth the effort.
- Unlike a scrapbook that can be easily misplaced or a photo album can get ruined, a travel blog will always archive your worldwide escapades. You don’t have to worry about losing a picture or a video file as these may be uploaded into an entry.
- Blogging can be done from the comforts of a hotel room, airport, or a coffee shop. With a blog, you won’t be wasting idle time waiting for your next flight or resting till your next itinerary.
- You can also make money from having a travel blog. For your blog to earn, it needs to draw a large number of readers. Once you’ve gotten your name out there, you can apply to online advertising companies. The money comes from posting entries about products and goods associated with your blog’s content. Popular online advertising companies include Google Adsense, Text Link Ads, Linkshare, and Amazon.com Associates.
Deciding to have a blog is easy but actually working on it takes a little effort. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while updating your adventures online.
- To make your travel blog stand out, be consistent with how you present your entries. You don’t have to be a writer to start a blog; photographers may use the web space to showcase their shots. By adding in a few words, you can turn these shots into creative photo essays. Professional and amateur videographers or filmmakers can upload short documentaries on cultures undiscovered by the news.
- For blogs that rely on the power of written word, always practice brevity. You’ve only got 5 to 15 minutes worth of attention with your online readers. Sensual descriptions will hook a reader—a planner-like list of what happened during your trip is needless to say uninteresting. The most helpful blogs also focus on important facts like transportation routes, food costs, notable restaurants, and budget projections. Focus on practical information and destinations that stand out.
- Keep a writing notebook to take note of important details while you’re on the road. Although the final blog entry is posted through your laptop, the little facts, figures, and descriptions are from notes you’ve made with the convenience of a paper and pen. It’s certainly not wise to bring out your laptop in the middle of a market or a Buddhist temple.
- Popular blog sites Wordpress and Blogspot offer free accounts and a personalized web address. Wordpress has a greater variety of custom made layouts while signing up in Blogspot requires a Gmail account. Social networking sites like Multiply allow you to post blog content within your personal page.
- You can also post blog entries here at Communitrip. Signing up for an account only takes about 5 seconds. When you’re logged in, click on Community in the menu tab. From there, you’ll see the popular users and recent blog posts from other travelers. To post your own blog entry, click on “Your Account.” Start writing on your most recent travel in the “Your Post” link. You may also post pictures, create photo albums, and slideshows out of these photos. With Communitrip, you’re guaranteed an audience of curious and experienced travelers.
The preparation required to set up a travel blog may seem overwhelming, but the rewards will assure you it’s all worth it. Years from now, you won’t need to open a large scrapbook to tell stories of your South African safari. Instead, you’ll just have to click a link or type an address to look back on your golden years around the globe.
"In this age of instant connection, travelers are using the Internet to chronicle their experiences as they hop from one country to another. For some, blogging connects them to their family, while for others, it’s a way of reaching out to fellow travelers and to the world at large."
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