Tips for starting your own travel blog

So you like to travel, and the idea of ​​creating a travel blog to document all your adventures. If you think you qualify to be a travel blogger, then you are not alone. Starting your own website can be great, but sometimes it can be a bit difficult to know where to start. Especially if you don’t have any prior knowledge or experience in starting a blog. To get you started, here are six tips for starting a travel blog …

Photo, John Schnobrich.

1. Choose a name for your blog

One of the very first things you need to do when starting your own travel blog is pick a name. The name you choose for your blog will also determine your domain name for the site. When choosing a name, there are several things to consider: First, you want a name that can stand the test of time.

For example, if you choose a website name like “Travels Across Europe” what you are ultimately doing is restricting yourself. What if you had the opportunity to travel to other continents? Does that mean you won’t be able to blog about it because you are outside of Europe?

If your blog and domain name are limiting your growth, this is probably not a name you should settle for. Also, try to keep the name short and sweet with a maximum of four words for your blog name. A long domain name can be difficult for readers to remember, and you don’t want it. Finally, your name should give an overview of what you do and who you are. For example, a name like “Wanderlust Winnie” shows the reader that you love to travel and that your name is Winnie. Simple.

Photo, Brooke Cagle.

2. Choose a host

The next thing to do in knowing how to start a travel blog is to choose a host. If you are not familiar with this term, this is a situation where a hosting company rents you space on the internet. A web host basically ensures that your blog is available on the internet for other people to see and access.

You can’t have a travel blog without having a host. Now, choosing a hosting company is not something you should take lightly. The hosting company you choose determines how quickly your blog page loads and how quickly website issues will be resolved for you.

There are plenty of accommodation options out there, so it will do you a lot of good if you do a little research before you make your selection. If you live in the UK, Hosting.co.uk is one of the best companies to choose from. They offer 24/7/365 support and super-fast loading speed. When you sign up for your hosting, you will additionally be able to enter your domain name for your blog.

Photo, Stephen Phillips.

3. Create a WordPress account

Once you’ve chosen a hosting company, you’ll need to set up your WordPress. The first step is to install the WordPress software. Once you’ve done that, create a WordPress account.

Ideally, your WordPress account should be self-hosted, and that just means your website should read something like “WanderlustWinnie.com” as opposed to “WanderlustWinnie.Wordpress.com”.

A self-hosted account also means that you will be able to sell advertising on your site (which you should expect if your blog becomes more popular), check your Google Analytics tracking, and install all of your themes and plugins.

Keep in mind that you will need to learn how to use WordPress software if you are new to it.

While it might sound intimidating, it’s pretty easy to figure out. You can search YouTube for tutorials on how to navigate WordPress if you need a little more help.

Photo, Justin Morgan.

4. Themes and plugins

When you have a WordPress account, the next step is to install all of your themes and plugins. WordPress software comes with a wide selection of basic themes, but here’s a little secret for you: if you want your travel blog to stand out, then you don’t want to use a basic theme.

The best option would be to download a professional blog theme that you will have to pay for. These themes usually cost around $ 50, but it’s well worth it. You can also buy blog theme designs online or hire a web developer to create a unique website design for your site.

Also consider, at this point, that you might need a logo, so if you are hiring a web developer, request that it be included, although it will most likely cost extra. Then you have your plugins, which you can download directly from WordPress.

Plugins give your site additional functionality that you might find useful. An example of a plugin is “WP Rocket”, which speeds up the load time of your blog.

Photo, NeONBRAND.

5. Create your page

So you’ve chosen a name and a host, created a WordPress blog, and even developed your themes and uploaded your plug-ins. Now the real work begins. You have to create your website; starting with an “about me page”.

This page will probably be the most important for how to start a travel blog. This will be the most visited page in your entire blog, especially by newcomers, so you need to make it good. Your “About” page should give a little more detail about who you are, why you decided to start your blog, and maybe some contact information if someone wants to contact you.

As a travel blogger in particular, readers should be able to gain insight into your passion for travel as well as the type of content you are going to offer them. Once you have that, you can start creating content. Your very first blog post shouldn’t be too long, and it should be engaging and interesting to engage audiences.

Photo, dad Mohlala.

6. Create and promote on social networks

Now that you’ve created your blog successfully, it’s time to create some good quality content. It means having a good eye for the small details of your surroundings.

It can be street food or street art; the best travel apps or destination inspiration.

Later, you can use your social networks to promote each new content. This is very important because it is a step that you must take to attract readers. If you have an Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook account, post about some of your trips, with your captions, and links to your blog.

Include your website in your social media bio as well. You can also create a different social media page for your blog to separate your brand from who you are… if that’s what you want. Overall, promotion is the key to getting these views.

So, now that you know how to start a travel blog, what are you waiting for? Hit the road, document your travels and become the next big thing on social media and beyond. Good luck.