Bangkok--22 Aug--Hill+Knowlton Strategies
It wasn’t too long ago people were purchasing notebooks and diaries in order to keep track of their travel adventures, collect small mementoes and create an invaluable keepsake of exciting memories of favourite, and maybe not-so-favourite, vacations.
Fast forward to 2014 and travel blogs, which are effectively a digitised version of the old travel journal of yesteryears, have begun to take over the blogosphere. To many, blogging is a way to keep in touch and share stories of being abroad with friends and family back home; whereas some have had the good fortune to turn a hobby and interest into a professional, full-time passion, giving them to opportunity to travel the world and experience destinations and adventures some people may only dream of.
So what exactly does it take to get noticed amongst the travel blogging crowd? The team at global travel search company Skyscanner has some tips.
Skyscanner Marketing Manager - Thailand, Ms. Grace Pobpabha Areerat, claims there are many high quality travel bloggers in Thailand and the blogging scene is growing rapidly as travel both in and out of Thailand becomes more affordable.
“This was the first year we hosted the Skyscanner Travel Bloscars in Thailand, and the second year we have hosted this competition on an international level. Based on industry feedback and also voting from the public, we know that great blogs have visual appeal, contain inspirational travel content, share practical tips for readers, are original and, most of all, highly creative.
“This year, we had a number of excellent entries and our three finalists - Ms. Supansa Jermchalerm from Rinsa YoyoLive, Mr. Prakob Punmanee from Mr. Hotsia, and Mr. Thitipong Kingkaeo from 9Mot – are all wonderful examples of how to create a super successful travel blog,” she said.
According to the Thailand winner of Skyscanner’s 2014 Bloscars Travel Awards, Ms. Supansa Jermchalerm from Rinsa YoyoLive blog has a few secrets to share that helped her blog secure this year’s top votes and judges’ score.
“Firstly, and most importantly, write from your heart. Find your own style and make sure to include a little humour. Everyone likes to have a laugh now and then. Travel is an escape from our everyday lives, so take your readers on that journey with you and give them a chance to escape from their life as they read your blog,” she said.
“To make your blog stand out, spend some time thinking about the design and layout. I made mine look like a magazine and my readers love it. There are some wonderful design tools and blog sites out there that make it easy to design a creative, eye-catching blog. And some of them are free!”
“Also, be informative and avoid too much personal stuff. Your audience wants to read about your travel experience, not your personal life so much,” Ms. Supansa added.
Here are Skyscanner’s top tips for creating a successful travel blog:
1. Select an interesting topic.
It can be tempting to simply focus on general travel, however narrow down your angles to more specific topics you are interested in like food, sport, people or nature can help you gain attention of like-minded readers. Don’t be afraid to be niche and experimental. There are already lots of blogs that cover luxury or adventure or traveling on a tight budget. Come up with something a bit more unique, but ensure it is something you are still passionate about.
2. Choose a blogging platform that works for you.
There are many platforms out there, so finding the one that suits your needs is essential. It should be easy to set up and manage. If you make it too difficult you are less likely to post regularly as regular posts are another essential to having a successful travel blog. You should select a good platform that allows you to create attractive design and well-organised navigation to clearly and easily lead readers to each section and sub-section in your blog. Apart from travel information, writing style and photos, the design is important and makes users like to explore other pages in your blog. Don’t forget about add-ons and plug-ins to give you readers a more engaging, interactive experience, but make sure they don’t clutter your pages.
3. Write detailed notes during your trip.
Otherwise you will regret not doing it when you sit down to describe your experience as you try to remember all the elements you enjoyed. It also helps you to research later when you are drafting your post so that you can check the names and spelling of things. Accuracy is very important, as it helps build your credibility as an aspiring professional blogger. This includes sharing useful insider tips, links to other sites, contact details and any other useful travel information for your readers.
4. Search for unusual story angles.
Don’t just post information people can find on travel booking sites, tell them a story. People aren’t likely to be interested in your trip to Paris if it’s full of common place activities like eating croissants and visiting the Eiffel Tower. Instead look for inspiration: it can come from a place, history, or even from some words of wisdom from someone you might talk to in the street. All these things help to tell your unique story.
5. Take great photos and video.
Eye catching photos and short videos will add to the visual appeal of your blog. Avoid taking touristy pictures of things people might have seen before, and instead look for unusual angles and less visited spots. Think about including a picture of yourself or a short video message every now and then so they know you were actually there as this adds to your blog’s authenticity. A high-quality digital camera is also a good investment into taking better quality photos and videos.
6. Polish your writing skills and style.
Good writing, personal style and interesting story angles will ensure your readers come back. Read other people’s blogs too so that you can get a sense for other writing styles and topics of interest. In addition, correct spelling of places so that your readers can find them if they also want to experience them for themselves are paramount.