Why write a travel blog? It’s a question I often ask myself. After all, it is a hassle, setting up a website and producing content. Posting often and with suitable photos often seems like too much bother. We ditched everything to travel, including working long hours, which for me meant missing out on my family. I have two little boys who won’t stay little forever. I am in no rush to replace one job with another. Hassle aside there are great reasons for writing a blog.
Why I Write a Travel Blog
A Lifetime of Memories
Perhaps you won’t ever stop travelling but sooner or later you will want to show and share with family, loved ones or fellow travellers. This is where a blog really comes into its own. Unlike a diary, which may not appeal to anyone besides the writer, a blog will be a series of post about different subjects and places.
The reader can scroll through the titles and read the ones relevant to them. I know some of my readers will read each post. Some love the Asian posts and others prefer the American ones. If people are about to go travelling and you have written a post on that destination that is what they will want to read.
As long as you keep paying for your domain name and hosting, the blog will be there forever, costing little and hopefully, making a small profit through advertising.
Entertaining Family and Friends While on the Road
Writing a travel blog is a great way to keep all those back home in the loop. No more sending group emails. This is the main reason I write a travel blog. With friends and family scattered across the world and with various amounts of social media interaction the blog allows people to access it when it suits them. With photos attached it is better than any chain email you could send. From a readers point of view it is, in my opinion, a better way to keep informed about the adventures happening.
Make a Fortune With a Travel Blog
The big question everyone asks is can you make money from a blog?
Simply put, yes you can, I haven’t as yet, but personally know people who do, I’m married to one. My wife writes World Travel Family blog. Some claim that blogging is a get rich quick scheme, theirs, like my wife’s favourite, Penelope Trunk, say the money just ain’t gonna happen. Well, we do OK out of the blogs, but I have to say my wife puts in a LOT of hours, she enjoys it, it’s her idea of fun and she’s determined to make it work. I’m probably not dedicated enough
The biggest single factor is the time it takes. At least a year to build up a base and get the volume of traffic that is necessary to attract advertisers. Social media presence also takes time to build to complement the blog and grow viewing figures. Even if you are going to make it a financial success don’t put that deposit down on the shiny new car just yet. The money isn’t six figure salary stuff.
Luckily travelling Asia doesn’t require that sort of money, so it can, just about, pay for your travel once the income starts. Be prepared for the down times where the money may dry up for months, there is no regular salary in this industry.
The final word of advice, be prepared for a lot of hard work. Like anything you get what you put into it. Blogs especially so.
A Good Travel Blog Brings Freebies
A good, well written, travel blog will get famils for various attractions. A famil is a free visit to a chosen location, theme parks, hotels, aquariums, almost anywhere that tourists visit. Working in hospitality in Queensland, I was no stranger to this scene, but the blogs are bringing us non-location dependent famils around the globe. Of course, it’s not really free, there is a lot of work and long hours involved, my wife turns down a lot of offers these days. Don’t start a blog if you’re just looking for free stuff, you have to love what you do to build it up to that level.
People are much more likely to try something if they read great reviews from a blogger they trust who has been there recently. An advert just stuck on a website won’t have that same appeal as first-hand information We have been very successful with this on our travels. Certain places are more open to the idea than others and it pays to approach the more social-media-aware companies.
Lots of reasons to keep a blog, luckily not many against. I love being able to write about what we have seen and done. Sharing our travels only highlights and enhances what we are doing and we’re learning new skills in the process.
I’ve always been really bad at English, school didn’t do much for me. Through blogging it’s improving, slowly and I have a whole new set of technical skills, that’s a great reason too.
Want to see what we have coming up? It’s huge, unique and amazing and would never have happened if we hadn’t taken those first baby-steps into the world of blogging.
If you’d like to start a blog of any sort, you can find a simple guide to getting started in blogging here.
How do you keep in touch?
Contented Traveller says
This is excellent advice and actually quite reassuring as I am going through a frustrating stage of trying to build some type of reputation. Thank you, Paula
Chef says
Thanks for the comments Paula, glad you found it useful. Blogs are a great way to enhance the travel experience, just don’t expect to be an overnight success or a millionaire. I love both reading and writing them and I think that is the key. Cheers again James
Katrina says
Great post – thank you! I only recently started my travel blog, but figured it would take a long time to build up a readership base. It’s encouraging to see someone who’s more established (like yourself) sharing about what it took to get where you are.
Chef says
Thanks Katrina, Fear not writing posts and upkeeping a blog is always a work in progress. Keep up the good work.
Cheers James
Megan @ Mapping Megan says
Great post – I personally do it for the lifetime of memories; absolutely love reading through my old blog posts from way back when I started traveling.
Lol while I havent yet made a fortune, establishing an opportunity for self employment has definitely been a bonus! Freebies have definitely also been a bonus, however I think it’s important to remember that nothing is really free – starting to realize complimentary tours need to be weighed with the amount of work creating and promoting the content is – but more often than not, always totally worth it!!
Thanks!
Chef says
Thanks Megan, it is such a great way to relive the old journeys. As for getting rich I don’t know any bloggers on the Forbes list yet. Being able to top up the funds while travelling is the big bonus for us. Letting us travel longer and further before having to stop. We have also had some great trips to attractions but yes you’re right you need to weight up the pros and cons and make sure it works for both parties.
Cheers James
Dennis Kopp says
You are right James, writing a blog really is a lot of work, especially when you are travelling. But you also have some valid reasons to keep up the good work and continue going, even it isn’t really for the money aspect. At the end of the day it seems very rewarding if you can help people along the way while giving some good advice or recommendation and when your English skills are improving at the same time, then it’s definitely a win-win situation… 🙂
Chef says
Thanks for reading Dennis, love the post writing and reading others.
Cheers James
The Guy says
Good reflections and a great perspective there Chef. Your blog started with an immediate purpose and had a desired audience in connecting with your family and friends. No doubt this inspired you to begin and create something of value.
Now this has continued it is great to hear that you have some of the other rewards such as free trips and some income. Long may it continue. I wish you every success.
Chef says
Thanks for reading. Enjoying writing about travel is the only real prerequisite for writing a blog. Glad you enjoyed it.
Cheers James
Agness says
I’m with you on that. I started blogging 2 years ago and my main reason was to keep my friends and family updated on my travels and keep the memories alive. That has not changed a lot since my first blog post. Although I did not make a fortune, I’m proud of not giving up and carry on inspiring others to travel on the cheap!
Chef says
Thanks for reading Agness, glad to hear you have stuck at the blogging. Your right, it is satisfying to help others to travel. Cheers James
Franca says
It is true that writing a blog is hard work and there is always a lot to do, but I like to think that one day looking back to the photos and reading the posts, we’ll be very pleased we committed to it! 🙂
Chef says
Thanks Franca, I agree, looking back will be very rewarding. A great way to relive the journeys of the past. Cheers James
Charlie says
Cracking points! 🙂
Chef says
Cheers Charlie
The Travel Sisters says
We agree, not many reasons against keeping a blog…in fact, we wish we had started much sooner! Making a living off your blog and freebies are great but so is doing something just because you enjoy it:)
Chef says
Spot on. I think everyone wishes they started earlier. You have to love it first and the rewards will follow. Thanks for reading. Cheers James.
Victoria says
Totally agree! I see blogging as a way to record what I’m doing and where I go so that once I’m an old granny I can sit back and laugh. I probably won’t be sitting down morelike flying around LOL!
I only started blogging 6 months ago but I’ve been travelling for over 20 years!! It’s an act of love but if anything came my way as a result of my writing, and added to the subject matter of my blog, I’m sure not going to reject it LOL!
Chef says
Great to hear Victoria. I think that is the best reason to write a travel blog. I will certainly be having a read of yours when we reach the mainland. Keep writing. Cheers James
Samuel Jeffery says
One of the main reasons I started my travel blog is that I didn’t share my past backpacking experiences with family and friends. Now sometimes when I spend the whole day on my computer as opposed to actually traveling, I wonder if I was better off before 😉
Chef says
Thanks for reading Samuel. I know what you mean, both my wife and two young children have blogs. Makes computer time tough to get with only two in the family. Still, worth it to let those behind follow the adventures. Your afternoon tea video in Singapore was great viewing, keep it up. Perhaps not the long waits in line though. Cheers James