Even though travel blogging is one of the most popular types of blogs, you haven’t missed out on the chance to start one of your own. While competition has increased over the years, so has demand: In fact, The World Travel & Tourism Council projects that travel and tourism in the United States will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022, contributing nearly $2 trillion to the U.S. economy.
Today, the key to starting a travel blog is going into a niche and offering a specialty of focused content. Every day, new popular spots, adventures, and hidden gems emerge. Even if new readers aren’t familiar with your neighborhood or hometown, you can add your own unique perspective to the review. We’ll show you how to navigate the industry, from making a website and blog to writing posts and finding collaborations, so you can stand out and get paid. Once you’ve learned how to start a travel blog, you’ll have the world at your fingertips with this type of website.
Starting a blog should feel exciting, not overwhelming, right? With the Wix Blog Maker, you get everything you need to create, design and grow your blog from scratch–without needing a tech degree. Use Wix’s intuitive tools to share your ideas with the world.
How to start a travel blog
- Choose the type of travel blogger you want to be
- Pick a blog name and secure your domain name
- Select your travel blog template
- Create a blog logo
- Prepare your footage
- Write your first blog posts
- Engage with your audience
- Network with tourism partners and brands
- Monetize your travel blog
- Learn from the best (travel blog examples)
01. Choose the type of travel blogger you want to be
You can write about travel in any way you want, but sticking to a specific area will make it easier to succeed. Think of who could benefit from your unique guidance and hone your content towards them. Not only will this naturally attract an audience of repeat readers, it will simplify the process of monetizing your blog, as you’ll have a defined value to bring to partners.
For example, Wix user Tales of Israel used her expertise as an Israeli resident to help citizens and tourists alike explore the country’s hidden corners.
We Are Travel Girls grew a solid following of more than 415,000 Instagram followers by focusing on tips for women travelers.
Here are some niche blog ideas in the travel space:
City
Country-focused
Region
Budget travel
Luxury travel
Solo travel
Women travel Traveling for work
Adventure travel
Family travel
Empty nesters
Accessible travel
Experiential travel
Festival travel
Couples travel
Backpacking
LGBTQ+ friendly travel
Traveling for seniors
Get started with the Wix Blog Maker, learn how to make a travel agency website.
02. Select a blog name and register your domain
After choosing which direction you’ll take your travel blog, align it with a catchy name to help people discover and remember you. Just like naming a brand, coming up with a blog name should include some creativity and strategic vision of where you’d like to take your blog over the years.
For example, if you’re going to be a city-based blogger, include it in your name. If you’re targeting solo travelers, try to pick a name that portrays that, so people know you’re catering to them. Just don’t let your name corner you in, as you still want to expand on topics in your niche.
Securing your domain name
Once you’ve found the perfect travel blog name, make sure it’s yours and only yours. Make sure no other businesses or individuals are using your blog name or own your domain name to avoid confusion when promoting your blog. Check that social media handles are available and secure them as well. The more easily people can find your blog, the more likely they’ll return.
You might also want to consider using a .blog domain extension, to make sure your blog stands out.
03. Select your travel blog template
Photos and videos can bring your adventures to life and invite your visitors to join in on your journeys. And that’s why you should choose a visual-forward blog website template to display your travel blog content.
Make sure it also has an inviting homepage, a detailed “About Me” page, a well-organized blogging section and a dedicated newsletter sign-up section—all great places to share your media.
Below, we’ve showcased a few of our favorite mobile-optimized travel best blog templates:
Travel blog website template 1 features:
- A large homepage image layout to make a powerful first impression.
- A mid-page menu to take visitors to your different types of travel guides.
- A highly-visible subscriber form to help grow your newsletter.
Travel blog website template 2 features:
- A dedicated “Work With Me” to showcase your partnership offerings.
- A perfectly-placed blog logo that functions as a return-home button.
- An attention-grabbing video background to greet visitors.
Travel blog website template 3 features:
- An embedded Instagram feed to seamlessly showcase your social media content.
- A video page to display high-quality footage or promote your YouTube channel.
- A Live Chat tool to communicate with visitors.
04. Create a blog logo
A logo will help you build a brand around your travel blog. You’ll likely try out a few different tactics over the first couple of months as you cement your blog’s brand, like updating your site layout or changing your photography style. Use a blog logo on your site, professional email signature, and social channels to tie your online presence together with a distinctive trademark throughout the changes.
05. Prepare your media
It’s easier to describe a must-see hot spot with images than simply words. In fact, articles with images get 94% more views as opposed to those with none. A good camera can help ensure your images are high-quality and properly-sized to look their best. It might be worth investing in a DSLR, drone, tripod, or other equipment to help elevate your visuals. You can also utilize stock images until you capture new content on your next trip.
Leverage photo tools to assist in gathering and preparing your content, and consider free photo editing software to filter and adjust your shots. What is a blog if not the perfect place to showcase your travel images.
06. Write your first blog posts
Without articles, a live blog is just a website. Before sharing your travel blog with the world, write and publish at least three posts to give new website visitors a taste of the content you offer. This will also help create momentum behind your content creation strategy.
You can be as creative as you’d like when writing your blog posts. However, here are some blog ideas and blog formats you can build on:
- The Ultimate [ insert location ] Travel Guide
- How to See [ insert location ] in Just [ insert number ] Days
- X Tips for Finding Cheap Flights During [ insert season or holiday ]
- Best Things to Do in [ insert location ]
- Why You Need to Go to [ insert location ]
- Cheap Things to Do in [ insert location ]
- Packing for [ insert type of trip ], What to Bring
- What to Do on a Weekend in [ insert location ]
- Awesome Stops on [ insert road name ] to [ insert location ]
Don’t forget to break up your content with rich media to hold your readers’ attention.
Blog SEO
Over 80% of travel planning is done online, which means that your readers want to make decisions based upon your content—not just casually look for inspiration. (And if you are part of an affiliate network, those decisions can turn into real money for you.)
To make sure you get a slice of that active audience, make sure you optimize your content for search engines and make your site as visible as possible to these searchers.
Some blog SEO best practices are to:
- Research keywords and common terms related to your destination or travel topic.
- Include the keyword in the title, URL, a few times in the article in the SEO meta description.
- Use internal linking in your blog and website.
- Include alt text on images.
Editorial calendar
It’s good to set a regular schedule for publishing new content on your travel blog. It can be once a week or once a month—just keep your posting frequency consistent so readers know when to check back for the latest guides. Also, with new posts going live on the regular, Google will visit your site more often to index pages—improving your SEO.
To start filling out your content calendar, try one of these strategies to brainstorm great content:
- Research the specific seasons, holidays or events happening at your destination to brainstorm content. There will be an influx of searches and demand for these topics at key times of the year.
- Also, read competitor articles and blogs for inspiration. If you know what people have already said on specific locations or topics, you can add unique value and provide what’s missing.
07. Engage with your audience
Without interested readers, fans and followers, your blog is simply a diary. Use these channels and common methods below to authentically engage with your audience and drive traffic to your website:
Social media
Social media is an invaluable place to grow your travel blog. Up to 50% of travel enthusiasts use Instagram to find local places to explore.
You can use social to discover new audience members by:
- Finding which social channels your target audience spends the most time on. See which hashtags they use, locations they tag and which brands and travel creators they follow.
- Create content specifically geared to your target audience’s wants and needs. Check out our guide on social media content ideas.
- Engaging with your target audience by following them, liking their content and commenting something meaningful on their posts.
