Each hosting site will offer a different strength. WordPress is quite user-friendly for beginners, while Substack allows your blog to function more as a newsletter. Even Tumblr remains a viable option, perhaps for writers who plan to emphasize pictures in their posts. While almost all blogging sites offer a free version, some also offer paid versions that grant you access to a wider variety of features and customization options. Consult these options carefully when deciding what is best for your blog and its long-term ambitions.
You can host your blog on any site and have it redirect to a URL that you own.
Is your blog just meant to keep friends and family in the loop about your travels, or do you hope to reach a wider audience? What kind of perspective do you bring to a new place or country? Are you a foodie looking to compare different recipes, or an expat adapting to a new culture? Perhaps a photographer looking to capture something new? What can you teach people from your trip? Are you an inventive budgeter, a student of art and history, or a camping guru?[2] X Research source
Pictures: If you plan on using a lot of photos, choose a layout that offers lots of pictures on the screen at once. Many layouts have a homepage or top bar with slideshows or a collage of your pictures, making them front and center for your viewers. Often, these templates show off big, high-quality photos. Essays: Consider your margins and your font here. You want a layout that is easy to read and doesn’t distract viewers from the words on the page. Mixtures: If you plan on posting a bit of everything, consider a simple, scrolling design. These usually give small clips of pictures or text in chronological order, with the latest post up top, allowing your viewer to scroll through and get an idea of what each post is about. [3] X Research source
Try to avoid hyphens, numbers, and odd symbols or spellings whenever possible. Make sure your URL and blog name are the same. This will help people find your blog, and it’ll make returning users less confused. Avoid changing your domain name and/or blog name frequently, if at all. You should decide on one blog name in advance that you know you won’t change later. Try not to look like you’re impersonating an existing blog or company. Search your blog name to see if there are companies with similar names, and try changing it. If you plan on blogging from a single location, consider incorporating that new city or country into your title.
Know when you will have time to write posts and let people know your “posting days. " When out of service, write multiple posts. You can then schedule them all when you’re back in internet range. Learning how to use your site’s “Schedule Post” allows you to write many posts at once, then put them up every few days. This is perfect if you’ll be leaving service again. [5] X Research source
The “Contact” page can also be a good way to receive feedback on your writing, and to redirect readers to your social media pages.
The “Contact” page can also be a good way to receive feedback on your writing, and to redirect readers to your social media pages.
The “Contact” page can also be a good way to receive feedback on your writing, and to redirect readers to your social media pages.
Oftentimes, writing is best at the very end of the day, right before bed, or right when you wake up. You’ll be able to reflect on the day you just had, then move on to the next one. [6] X Research source Be sure to take lots of pictures while you travel. Your readers will love to see lots of visuals related to your topic. And even if you choose not to include them in your work, they will act as helpful visual cues/reminders while writing!
Dedicate posts to describing cultural differences, like a post on food, a post on public transportation, a post on morning rituals, etc. Dive deeply into one specific area, like a neighborhood or a hidden location. Teach your readers how to do something, like how to plan their own trip, how to dress like a native, how to order at a restaurant, etc. Travel blogging should remain insightful and informative, but don’t be afraid to add a personal touch! Making yourself familiar to your readers is what will keep them coming back for more.
Stick to the schedule you promised your readers as much as possible. If you promised three posts a week, try not to publish any more or any less. [7] X Research source
You may be writing a blog, but feel free to consult professional travel writing for inspiration as well. Publications like Outdoor Magazine and National Geographic may have covered similar topics or locations. [8] X Research source
Take some videos of great events or post a link to a song you heard. Engage the reader as much as possible so that they feel like they’re on your trip with you. If you don’t have any photos or videos of your own, you can still find high-resolution images online to complement your writing. Just don’t pass such pictures off as your own! If you need to edit your photos, there are several free and paid photo editors out there. Pixlr and VSCO are two user-friendly options, while Adobe Photoshop remains the industry standard for those more comfortable with their photo editing skills.
If you are interested in finding corporate sponsors, Instagram may be your best bet for self-promotion. Several companies scour Instagram for influencers to provide with online codes or product samples.
Be sure to familiarize yourself with SEO so your own posts can be found as easily as possible online.
With an affiliate program, you are given a personalized link. Simply distribute this link in your posts, and receive a kick-back when users click the link and make a purchase. You are probably already recommending various services and attractions in your writing anyway, so why not monetize those recommendations? While you may also consider contextual advertising through a service like Google Ads, or selling ad space the old-fashioned way, affiliate marketing strikes the best balance between proper payout and ease of use. Once you have built a large enough of a following, you may find it quite easy to sell your own ads, maximizing your profits along the way.
Because your blog would take the form of a newsletter, Substack might be the best service to use if you want to explore a subscription model.
