To travel and see the world is to be free, create your own happiness, and find your purpose under the stars. To travel and get paid to do it at the same time, now that is a life many people dream about! Even though we live in a digital world where a laptop and a stable Wi-Fi connection are all you need to kick-start your very own travel blog, that doesn’t mean that the road to blogging superstardom won’t be long and full of challenges.
After all, it is becoming a competitive industry, and there are plenty of acclaimed travel blogs out there that showcase excellent blogging skills and have amassed a loyal following. Now’s your time to show them who’s the new blogger superstar, so take these tips to heart and take your travel blog to new heights of success.
Be a storyteller and draw people in with amazing content
This is why you’re here, this is the very essence of your brand – you are a storyteller and your mission is to share amazing stories with people from all over the world. Improving your writing skills and becoming a full-on storyteller should be your no.1 priority if you want people to become your loyal readers and followers. The key to achieving this is to develop your unique tone of voice and writing style that will inspire people to take action themselves.
The second element of amazing content has to do with the overall usefulness of the information you share with your readers. While enticing your readers to envision themselves living out these grand escapades is great and all, your blog should also serve as a reputable source of practical information people can use. With that in mind, be sure to complement your content with useful tips about accommodation, transportation, budgeting, restaurants, bars and cafés, sightseeing spots, outdoor activities, nightlife, and more.
Master the SEO game
The travel blogging industry is a competitive one, and one of your main concerns should be how to rank better in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) in order to get your content and your brand in front of the right audience. Travel bloggers need to take SEO into their own hands in order to optimize their blog for maximum visibility in the online world, and drive traffic from search engines to their stories and products.
Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it may seem at first glance, and there are reliable do it yourself SEO tools out there that can help you optimize your website’s performance in no-time. You can start by researching the most relevant keywords in your niche, after which you can start weaving those keywords into your content seamlessly, avoiding keyword stuffing at all costs. Focus on building quality links to your content and website by writing for other prominent blogs in the industry in order to improve your standing with search engines.
Complement your content with imagery
Seeing is believing, and nothing could be more relevant to a travel blogger than to inspire people to believe in their stories, and the idea that such an experience is realistic, tangible, and absolutely achievable. If you want your travel blog to thrive, you will need to complement your content with compelling photographs.
Remember, you’re not just a writer, you’re also photographer documenting your exploits with a good DSLR camera and a true knack for photography. Take the time learn the basics of creating quality travel pics and you’ll have no problem building a loyal following. Avoid using stock images people have seen countless times around the web, as it will send the wrong message of your brand to the masses.
Be unique by writing about lesser-known destinations
Yes, to travel to popular destinations is an amazing experience you definitely shouldn’t miss. And sure, write about those types of travels every chance you get, but don’t let that be your unique selling point. There are a gazillion posts on the web about Paris, NYC, London, and every other urban hotspot, but how many in-depth posts are there are about quaint villages in Switzerland, or the hectic floating markets in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, or the indigenous tribes of Mongolia?
Focus on creating unique content that will draw people to unusual destinations, and shed light on some lesser-known regions of the world. This will help you create a unique brand that will bring something truly different to the table, in turn attracting a loyal following and a devoted audience.
Build social media buzz
Last but not least, aim to build a social media following. You’re an online entrepreneur, and social media is your gateway to a global audience that’s hungry for amazing travel content and compelling imagery depicting the life and culture of faraway lands. Don’t miss your opportunity to reach the hearts and minds of millions of people, and inspire them to like, share, and talk about your content.
To travel the world and get paid in the process, to touch the hearts and minds of thousands of souls and feed their never-ending wanderlust with your words, now that’s a life worth living. Be sure to follow these tips in order to build a successful travel blog that will echo throughout the industry.