How to Write a Travel Blog
Are you someone always on the lookout for new travel destinations? Do you want to share your experiences and inspire others to explore the world? Then travel blogging might be the perfect platform for you. But with so many travel bloggers, how do you stand out and create a successful blog?
In this post, we will take you through all the basics of travel blogging, from what it is to how to monetize your blog. We will also provide expert advice on writing great content, picking a niche, creating an editorial calendar, doing keyword research, and much more!
With our tips and tricks, you’ll be on your way to becoming an expert travel blogger in no time. So let’s get started!
The Basics of Travel Blogging
If you’re wondering how to write a travel blog successfully, you need to remember a few essential things. First and foremost, always ensure that you weave personal stories into your content to keep it engaging for your readers.
Next up, write great content that is both relevant and informative for your audience. Once you have an established readership, start monetizing through affiliate marketing or sponsored posts on social media platforms like Instagram or Pinterest.
To be a successful travel blogger, follow expert advice from industry leaders like Nomadic Matt, who recommends picking a niche and deciding on a catchy name for your blog. Create an editorial calendar with regular posts that are well-written and optimized for search engines using proper keyword research with the help of tools like the Google Keyword Research Tool.
Remember – it takes time to build your readership, but with a focused effort on creating high-quality travel content around topics like:
- Travel Tips
- Best Things To Do In New York
- South America Itineraries
- How to Travel on a Budget
Along with tools like Grammarly, which helps check our content’s grammar & readability score before publishing, well-crafted paragraphs & table of contents within the post can improve readership & engagement over the long term.
What is a Travel Blog?
A travel blog is a blog that provides insights, tips, and reviews on travel experiences. It can include personal anecdotes, destination reviews, and advice for fellow travelers. Photos and videos are often used to enhance the storytelling aspect.
What Makes a Great Travel Blog?
An effective travel blog should be genuine and reflect the blogger’s viewpoint. It must provide useful insights and recommendations for readers who plan to travel. Excellent photographs and compelling narratives are crucial. Consistency in posting and audience engagement via social media and comments are also essential for success.
Writing Great Content
To create engaging blog content, share personal experiences, and use descriptive language and imagery. It’s important to thoroughly research your destinations to provide accurate information and helpful tips for travelers. Writing in a style that matches your audience’s preferences is also crucial, whether they prefer a formal tone or a casual, conversational approach.
By following these writing tips, you can develop high-quality, original content that resonates with your readers. Remember to incorporate secondary key terms related to your topics.
The secondary terms for each blog post will vary depending on what you’re writing about, but, for example, if you were writing a post around the main keyword “best vacations for disabled adults”, secondary keywords could include:
- Places to visit with disabled access
- handicap accessible vacation destinations
- Wheelchair accessible vacations
- Wheelchair travel
- Accessible travel
These will help your blog post increase visibility on search engines and increase traffic.
Sharing Unique Experiences
Sharing unique experiences is what sets you apart from the rest. Whether hiking to a hidden waterfall, trying exotic street food or staying in an off-the-grid treehouse, your readers want to hear about the adventures they can’t find in a typical guidebook.
Don’t be afraid to think creatively and step outside your comfort zone – after all, the best travel memories often come from unexpected places. And remember, it’s not just about the destination but also the journey. Share your mishaps and funny stories because they make your travels unique and memorable. So go out there, explore the world, and share your unique experiences with your readers!
Create a Stunning Website
Having a stunning website is crucial these days. It’s like the face of your business or personal brand on the internet.
Here’s an example of a beautiful home page from Anywhere We Roam.
A visually appealing website can grab someone’s attention and make them want to stay and keep reading. It also shows visitors that you really care about your online presence and pay attention to detail.
A well-designed website can improve a reader’s experience by making it simpler for them to look around the site. This can result in increased engagement and sales.
So don’t underestimate the power of a killer user experience – it could be the difference between someone choosing you over your competition.
How to Monetize Your Blog
Monetizing your travel blog can be done in various ways, including affiliate marketing and sponsored content creation. With the former approach, you promote products or services on your blog and receive a commission for every sale through your unique referral link.
Sponsored content creation entails creating content promoting a specific brand or product while paid for by the respective company.
Display and pay-per-click ads strategically placed on the blog could generate additional revenue. It’s critical to choose the right monetization strategy that complements your brand while providing relevant value to readers.
Check out this ad example on the home page of The Blonde Abroad travel blog.
Expert Travel Blog Writing Tips
Becoming an expert travel writer can help you document your travels while sharing your experiences with others. We’ve got some great tips for beginners to get you started on your travel writing journey.
1. Pick a Travel Niche
Before your first blog post, choose a travel blogging niche that aligns with your passion and knowledge of a particular area, like budget travel, luxury travel, or eco-tourism. Ensure to remain consistent in posting frequency and engage with your readers through social media channels like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram.
Writing original and SEO-rich content using relevant secondary keywords like travel blogging tips and affiliate marketing can also help drive more traffic to your travel website. Researching relevant keywords like search engine optimization (SEO) can help improve your Google search results ranking while also creating more awareness among readership regarding your blog post topics.
2. Decide on a Catchy Name
When starting a travel blog, a catchy name can be challenging. However, following these tips can easily create a memorable blog name that resonates with your audience.
Here are some existing catchy names you can use as inspiration for your blog:
- Nomadic Matt
- The Blonde Abroad
- Alex in Wanderland
- Ordinary Traveler
- Expert Vagabond
Remember that the name should reflect the tone and focus of your blog; consider using puns or play-on-words for added effect. Avoid using generic names that are hard to remember and opt for something short and sweet. Also, think outside the box and let creativity guide you toward an unforgettable blog name.
3. Organize a List of Ideas
Creating compelling content for a travel blog can be challenging. However, these tips can help you generate unique ideas that engage readers. Brainstorm topics based on personal experiences and interests, then research popular search terms for SEO benefits.
4. Create an Editorial Calendar
Planning an editorial calendar is essential for any travel blogger looking to succeed. To start, organize your thoughts and ideas in advance so you can focus on delivering valuable content. Finding the right balance between engaging personal stories, informative travel guides, and practical tips can often make or break a blog.
Don’t forget to keep seasonality in mind – creating content around upcoming holidays or special events can attract more readers. Researching popular keywords and trends using tools like Google Analytics or search engine results pages helps position your blog with the right audience at the right time.
5. Keyword Research
You need to conduct thorough keyword research to be a successful travel blogger and get traffic from search engines.
Tools such as Google Keyword Planner or exploring the top search results on Google and can help you find the best secondary keywords related to your field. Incorporate them into your metadata, blog post titles, headings, and content.
However, remember that overusing keywords (i.e., keyword stuffing) could harm your readership in the long term. Therefore it is essential always to maintain a balance between SEO optimization and quality content that serves readers’ interests.
6. Use Good-Quality Pictures
Using amazing quality pictures is one of the many ways to write an excellent travel blog post. The photos should complement the writing style and narrate a story about your journey. Investing in good photography equipment, such as a DSLR or a phone camera with high resolution, can come in handy when capturing breathtaking moments.
Here are some breathtaking pictures from the @anywhere_we_roam IG feed.
Take notice of composition, lighting, and framing when clicking photographs, and try experimenting with various angles and perspectives while keeping them visually attractive. You can always use editing tools like Lightroom to enhance images’ visual appeal for better engagement.
7. Write with the Reader in Mind
A successful travel blog involves writing for your audience by providing useful information and insider tips to help them plan their trips. Incorporating vivid descriptions and storytelling techniques can make your posts engaging and memorable.
Additionally, adding photos and videos can help give readers a visual sense of the places you are writing about. Aim to inform and inspire your readers to explore the world and have their own travel adventures. Doing so will create content that resonates well with your audience while attracting new followers.
8. Ensure Your Content is Completely Original
Creating unique content for your travel blog is crucial in standing out from other bloggers in your niche. Rewriting writing points and using two or three crisp paragraphs can enhance readability and flow while providing readers with valuable information. As a travel blogger, sharing personal travel stories be an amazing way to connect with your audience while also providing them with useful travel tips.
9. Study Other Travel Blogs
Aspiring travel bloggers often wonder how to write a travel blog that stands out in an oversaturated market. One great way is by reading other successful blogs within your niche. This will help you develop new ideas for your content and improve your writing skills by observing the tone and structure of other blogs.
Reading multiple travel blogs can reveal what works and what doesn’t in the industry. However, it’s important not to plagiarize someone else’s work; instead, use it as a foundation to create original perspectives and unique ideas that showcase your expertise as a travel blogger.
10. Find Out What’s Trending
One great way to stay ahead in travel blogging is by keeping an eye on what’s trending. To discover what’s new and hot in travel blogging, you must be proactive with your research. Social media (like Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook) is an excellent resource for staying updated with the latest trends.
Identifying gaps in the market and providing unique content perspectives on popular destinations or activities is another effective strategy for staying ahead of the competition.
11. Utilize Social Media
Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest are great ways to promote your content at no additional cost and grow your following. Share photos from your travels, write engaging captions that capture the spirit of adventure, and interact with travel bloggers and influencers to expand your reach.
Be sure to include hashtags in your social media posts. Use specific ones like #travelblogger or #wanderlust to connect with others in the community.
12. Conduct Interviews
Conducting interviews for your travel blogs is an excellent way to add a fresh perspective to your content. Interviewing locals or other travelers can provide readers with invaluable insights into a particular place’s culture, food, and attractions.
Interviewing people who have already experienced the sights and sounds of a location can also help you write more authentic stories about them. Ask open-ended questions that allow interviewees to share their unique perspectives about their travels while giving your readers valuable information.
You don’t necessarily need any special equipment for conducting interviews. Your phone camera is usually enough to record audio or video conversations, which you can use in your blog posts.
13. Collaborate With Other Bloggers
Collaborating with other travel bloggers is a great way to get creative and add variety to your content. Working together allows you to create unique stories about the places you visit while gaining valuable insight from each other’s experiences. You can also exchange tips and advice on how to best capture the spirit of a location in your writings.
Be sure to reach out to bloggers within your niche with similar interests and objectives. This will help ensure that everyone involved gets something out of the collaboration. It is also an excellent way to build relationships with other travel bloggers in your community!
14. Utilize Pinterest Pins
Pinterest is an excellent platform to showcase your content and give readers an easy way to find it. Creating pins with visually appealing images of your travels and linking them back to your blog posts can help you boost traffic.
Here’s the Pinterest profile from popular travel blogger, @tourdelust.
You can also share interesting stories about the places you’ve visited by creating boards that allow readers to explore more about the destination. Adding captions and descriptions lets users learn even more about the place while being inspired by your visuals. Plus, you get the chance to be creative with how you present each location.
15. Pick the Right Platform for Your Blog
Choosing the right platform for your travel blog is an important step in making sure that your content reaches as many people as possible. The most popular choice is WordPress, a free and easy-to-use platform with plenty of features to help you create a beautiful website. Other great options include Blogger, Squarespace, and Wix.
These platforms are all user-friendly and allow you to create stunning blogs without having to code. They also provide additional features like analytics and social media integration that can help you track your blog’s performance and engage with readers more effectively.
Another advantage of using these platforms is that they offer various payment plans, so you can easily upgrade if you decide to monetize your travel blog.
16. Write Catchy Headlines
It’s one thing to attract visitors to your blog posts, it’s a whole other ballgame to keep them there! To ensure your blog is enjoyable for your readers, come up with some snappy headlines that will pique your audience’s interest.
If you’re experiencing some writer’s block and are unsure what to do for your headlines, check out what your competitors are doing for similar content. While plagiarism is a big no-no, there’s nothing wrong with taking inspiration from others.
17. Edit and Proofread Posts Before Publishing
Odds are, you’re never going to write a perfectly error-free draft before publishing on your website. Proofreading your content is essential if you want your readers to take you seriously. No one is going to trust a blog post with a bunch of grammatical errors that could have been easily avoided. There are free tools you can use to help out in this process such as Grammarly that will check your grammar for you! Although, we still recommend reading it yourself for readabilities’ sake.
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Influencer marketing is great for an aspiring professional travel blogger looking to grow their audience and establish themselves in their niche.
Partnering with other influencers can help you find existing followers and gain exposure to a wider audience. This can drive more visitors to your website, elevate your social media following, and increase your credibility as a thought leader.
We can help identify influencers who align with your brand values and reach out to them with a proposal for collaboration. Whether through sponsored posts, affiliate links, or guest blogging opportunities, working with influencers can be a great way to jumpstart your blogging career and take it to the next level.
Ready to start building your brand and growing your blog with influencer marketing? Sign up with Scalefluence today!
