A guest post by Trevor Michael.Â
Traveling is probably on everyone’s to-do and bucket lists. Whether you are exploring new places and learning new cultures or revisiting an old home, traveling is undoubtedly a must-try for people of all ages.
Exploring various places and immersing yourself in their culture can transport one’s mind into a different dimension. It unveils an entirely new and fascinating world out there. You get bewildered by all the breathtaking views and architecture, as well as the varied customs and traditions of the people you meet.
However, while you can always repeat your itineraries, you can never relive memories. You can only cherish and share what you have experienced and learned. The best way of documenting and treasuring all the unique memories you have made on your last vacation or your future memories on your next sailing destination, is by starting a travel blog.
Creating a travel blog can be intimidating. But it is simpler than you might think. This article will break down how you can launch your own travel blog.
1. Find your travel blog niche and community
Travel blogs are already a specific type of blog community. However, readers have different personalities and preferences, even when traveling. So, you would need to find the perfect reader community for you.
If your goal is to grow your blog, it’s important to start strong at the outset. Start by identifying your specific travel blog niche (e.g., food travel, road trip travel, solo travel, etc.) and build your community from the ground up. Through this, you can also discover areas of growth and development as you learn to manage your blog.
Although it is beneficial to focus on in-demand blog areas, you should also be passionate about writing aside from traveling. If you are in this long-term, choose the niche that hits your sweet spot and can benefit your blog’s growth.
2. Choose a catchy name for your domain
Growing your blog can be challenging, especially since there are also travel bloggers out there. With the growing saturated community, your blog name should stand out to attract more readers.
Choose a name that you can possibly build into a brand. Your domain name should be short and easy to remember. Keywords are all the rage today. However, your name should be unique and eye-catching.
You can also relate your name to traveling so that readers can identify the type of blog you write. Unleash your inner quirkiness and wit in your decision process.
3. Set up your blog hosting
The word hosting may seem unfamiliar and confusing to many people. But hosting only means that you are ‘renting’ space on the internet. You would need that rented space for all your blog’s content so that readers could easily access the data with just a few clicks.
Many websites offer hosting services. However a lot of bloggers recommend using WordPress. Unlike other hosting sites, WordPress is free and flexible, perfect for all aspiring and starting bloggers.
4. Choose a theme and customise it
The theme is the layout and design of your blog. An attractive and well-planned layout captivates readers into reading your blog. If you intend to write long-term, a timeless theme also saves you the stress of revamping your designs frequently.
There are many classic and default themes available in WordPress. For new bloggers, you can download the free layouts available. However, as you earn more money and incur more blog traffic, you can upgrade to a more attractive and fitting theme.
After downloading, you should customise your layout to fit your blog personality. Themes often depict your site’s tone and feeling. Thus, customising the fonts and colours to your liking can show your personality or brand. Editing the installed layout also makes the site more appealing and cohesive.
5. Install plugins
One of the best advantages of using WordPress for your blog is the plugin services it offers. They are like apps that improve the reading experience of your blog visitors. In addition, they give your blog additional features.
Most plugins are free. However, you have to pay for some special plugins. New plugins are accessible in the ‘plugin’ area of your WordPress Dashboard.
6. Write your first blog posts
Once you’ve finished setting up your blog, you can start drafting your first blog post. However, don’t pressure yourself to begin writing one blog after another. After all, you are just starting, and there is still so much you must learn!
Start by organising your thoughts and categorising your ideas. This way, writing is not as overwhelming as you also explore your writing styles. Remember, readers appreciate quality over quantity.
It is fun to write a blog about traveling. Finding a community you can share your experiences with is heart-lightening. Writing about your interests is never dull. You can also include a lot of engaging content when it comes to traveling.
You may start by sharing to your readers the last place you have visited. Then, write about what makes it special. Talk about the people’s customs and traditions and the local cuisine. You can also talk about tips for traveling or the best sceneries you have seen.
Main takeaways about starting a travel blog
Traveling is a must-try for everyone. It can transport and introduce you to new possibilities. However, you cannot go back in time, and this is where a travel blog can help document and share those adventures.
There are only six essential steps you need to take to create your travel blog. You would need to find the perfect niche and choose a creative brand name for your blog.
Furthermore, Installing WordPress to rent Internet space is also easy. WordPress offers classic designs you can install and customise to make your blog presentable. There are also downloadable plugins to make it more engaging.
After doing all those prerequisites, all you need to do is write your first blog post. Writing about traveling being fun! The content you can write about is limitless.
Are you ready to start a travel blog?
Starting a travel blog is a huge responsibility. It could be hard to maintain it in the long run, but it’s something that can give you and other people joy with your travel stories. Never pressure yourself for the sake of your readers. Write for yourself. This way, you love what you do. This feeling is what makes your travel blog stand the test of time and pressure.
About the author
Trevor Michael is a Customer Contact Industry Specialist of Select VoiceCom, a call centre in the Philippines, providing help desk outsourcing and BPO services. He has operated successfully within this niche industry for over ten years across Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia. He enjoys writing, golf and going to social events.
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