One of the questions that I receive all of the time as a travel blogger is “how to start a travel blog?” Everyone loves to travel and the prospect of getting paid to travel or having your trips comp’d sounds amazing, right? Yes and no.
In This Post
How to start a travel blog?
If you want to know how to start a travel blog, it is pretty simple actually.
First off, you want to come up with a catchy name for your blog and a URL that relates to your name. Finding a website domain that hasn’t been taken can be quite a pain. I can’t tell you how many different domain names (and iterations of those names) I’ve searched until I settled on BaldThoughts.com and my various other sites, like SoloTravelDad.com.
You can search for domain names using our referral link to BlueHost.
Before you click purchase, you also need to think about social media. Plenty of URLs I was ready to purchase didn’t have the same social media handles available. Ideally, you want your name to be the same across all platforms for branding and awareness.
For example, BaldThoughts is not only my domain name, but is my name on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. This makes it so much easier for followers to find me!
Now that you’ve found the perfect name, use our referral link to BlueHost to get started. They are super low-cost (since we’re all on a budget when starting out!) and make the process so easy when starting a travel blog.
When you sign up for domain hosting with BlueHost, they’ll give you:
- free domain name registration (most places charge $10-$40 a year)
- free website builders to make launching your site easier
- 24/7 support in case you have questions
- 1-click WordPress installation
The whole process of initial set-up should only take 10-15 minutes. Then, you’re ready to rock-and-roll. Customizing your site is an ongoing process, so don’t get upset if your site isn’t exactly what you want immediately. It takes time and you’ll always find something that you want to tweak. Trust me, I’m always making small changes here and there.
Should you start a travel blog?
As a fair warning, I will say that travel blogging is time-consuming and it does take away from the enjoyment of vacations. Rather than focusing on enjoying yourself and relaxing, you will be looking for “the perfect shot” or taking pictures of people having fun when you should be having fun yourself.
It’s not too bad, but you do need to focus on the “business” of blogging while on vacations, so you’re never 100% off the clock.
And the perks are pretty special…
I have been able to travel to islands I never dreamed of, like swimming with stingrays in Grand Cayman. We’ve stayed in hotels that I never knew existed, like the Holiday Inn Resort Jekyll Island. And, I’ve received truly amazing upgrades to huge suites, like the Kimpton Donovan Presidential Suite in Washington, DC.
People often think that writing a travel blog looks like this….
When in reality, most of your writing will take place here instead…
The Bald Thoughts
I enjoy writing this travel blog, and I enjoy writing for other side projects as well. When you think about how to start a travel blog, consider both the pros and cons. You’ll have the opportunity to work with fun brands, travel to your favorite destinations, and inspire others to travel and explore the world. It’s not all fun and games, but the work is definitely worth the rewards.
