It’s easy to say, “I love to take vacations, so I’ll be a travel blogger!” We’ve all seen the gorgeous travel photos that bloggers and digital nomads post, and so it’s easy to get enticed by the promises of the laptop lifestyle.
But there’s a bit more to the story than that. Let’s look at the day-to-day reality of travel blogging…
First, what makes a great travel blog?
Think about the travel blogs you enjoy reading. Why do you like them?
Chances are, they give you an idea of what makes the location they’re visiting special. Or maybe they give practical tips to people who want to travel to that destination someday.
A common theme with successful travel blogs is that the blogger focuses on the location, instead of themselves. But there are a few other things to consider when starting a blog:
1. Tap into your unique perspective
At the time of this writing, when you type “travel blog” in Google, 305,000,000 results come up. What makes you stand out from the rest of the crowd?
We all have different traits and experiences to bring to the table. If your goal is to make your blog part of your income, it’s important to find yours and play them up.
There’s a popular saying, “niches are riches.” So don’t be afraid to focus your blog on one specific aspect. Have fun with this. Be creative.
Ask yourself these questions to narrow your focus:
- Why do I want to start a travel blog?
- Who is my ideal audience?
- How can I provide value to my readers?
Now that you have an idea of how you’d like to approach your blog, let’s talk about how to choose a name that conveys your message.
2. Come up with a (non-cliché) name
Try not to use any of the following in your blog’s name:
- Adventures of
- Adventurous
- Backpacking
- Nomadic
- the Nomad
- Wandering
If you’re having trouble coming up with a blog name, check out this list of 77 Travel Blog Name Ideas from This World Rocks. Come up with 2-3 ideas for your blog name, just in case your first choice is taken.
3. Make sure your name is available
Use this helpful tool from Bluehost to check if your domain name is available, or use another hosting site of your choice, such as Weebly or GoDaddy. You’ll want to confirm that your name is also available on the social media platforms you decide to use:
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Instagram
- Snapchat
- YouTube
4. Set up and host your domain
Brand-new bloggers don’t need to spend a ton of money on hosting – there are sites that offer hosting for as low as $3.95 a month. You can always change your hosting plan as you gain more readers.
5. Install WordPress
WordPress is the platform you’ll use to write and publish your blog posts. There are a few other blogging platforms out there, but WordPress is the most user-friendly and versatile. This makes it a great choice for new bloggers.
The best part is that you can install WordPress in seconds after you’ve signed up for your hosting site. From here, you can pick out a theme and install plug-ins.
6. Next steps
Now that your site is up and running, it’s time to start blogging. Not sure where to travel for your first post, or what to focus on? Brainstorm by reading other travel blogs, stories, or posts on social media. Start a Pinterest board to keep track of your dream destinations.
Read about what people did when they visited that location. Allow yourself to get inspired. And don’t forget to HAVE FUN!
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