If you love family travel, then you know that it’s one of the most memorable and exciting experiences life has to offer. But do you ever wish you had someone right by your side to document all of your adventures? If so, then this is the perfect article for you! Follow these simple steps to learn how to start a travel blog and show off all of your best family holiday destinations around the world to everyone who couldn’t make it along with you.
Choose your blogging platform
Don’t let blogging be another task that gets pushed aside by your busy schedule. No matter what type of blogger you are, there’s a tool or platform to help you. If you prefer something simple and streamlined, check out Tumblr or Wordpress; if social media is your thing, head over to Twitter or Instagram; and if you want an experience similar to writing in a notebook with fancy fonts and graphics (not that we do), try out Medium. Once you choose where to publish your work, consider how it will impact how much time it takes for you to write posts each week.
Decide what to talk about
If you plan on earning money from your travel writing, your first step should be establishing what it is you’re trying to achieve. Start by listing all of your goals for both now and in five years’ time. For example: In one year: I want people to think of me as an expert travel writer. In two years: I want a certain number of followers who will follow my every move, subscribers who pay their way into my premium content and maybe even brand deals that help earn me an income at least equal with my day job. In five years: I want to quit my day job entirely and travel full-time on a family holiday, while earning enough money from my writing so that I can do whatever I want without stress or worry about finances.
Choose what pictures to use
When starting out, it’s best to stick with just one or two of your best photos, especially if you’re trying to build up traffic. Don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through in your photos! A mix of solo and group shots will help show off your travel partners (for those looking for travel buddies) while solo shots can help showcase your own skills. If you want more tips on how to create great content and images, check out our ultimate guide. You’ll learn all about finding subjects, choosing angles and styles that suit you, editing like a pro, and improving your composition skills. Want more tips?
Gather inspiration
It’s hard to be motivated when you don’t know what you want. One of your first steps should be researching other travel blogs, because inspiration abounds. Figure out which blogs you like and take note of what they do well. If one site in particular catches your eye, make contact with them (you can usually find their email address on their Contact Us page). Some bloggers even ask readers to send in pitches if they are interested in writing for them, so check around and see if there are any opportunities available. If not, you can always start your own travel site and write about wherever it is you plan on visiting next!
Write, Edit and Polish
First, figure out what you want your travel blog to be about. Do you love photography and want it to focus on your travels and photos? Do you write well and have opinions on things like local eateries or hotels? Are you really into finding hidden gem spots that not many others know about? There are endless possibilities for what your travel-focused website can be. Once you’ve settled on an idea, start writing! Even if it’s just one post that’s several paragraphs long, getting something on paper will help clarify exactly what kind of content you want in your posts.
Consistency is Key (and Don't Give Up!)
In order to have an impact with your readers, you have to be around. Even if you only post every week or two, it’s better than nothing. Over time your audience will grow as you give them more content. Keep in mind that it can take several months for any one piece of content to get any real traction on Google and social media, but once it does get picked up, it will drive people back to your site in droves. Once they visit a couple times they'll start following you and your posts (and sharing them with their friends). Consistency is key—so once you find something that works keep doing it!
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