Having said that (^) let me take you through some of my observations of what is being blogged about at these travel blogs. The pointers mentioned here are chosen due to their frequent appearance on travel blogs, more like must have travel entries...
- About page - there is the about the blogger (usual blah) and then there is my story (stuff you should read!) The latter is inspiring especially if the travel blog is a backpacker! You learn a lot about how the travel bug bit them, their first backpacking trip, how they plan etc.
- Travel Map - more group travel sites have this than individual blogger websites. Exceptions maybe a blogger who has traveled across continents and the dots on the world map fascinate the readers! Most maps either have dots or lines connecting places. I prefer the dots. I like to figure out the lines from the travel chronology page, if any.
- Twitter status- these tweets keep the blog alive even if no entry has been posted recently. It is also real time and a bonus for fans of avid travel bloggers who are always curious about where there guru is headed!
- Planning & Saving - most bloggers have detailed entries about how to plans trips (what books/websites to look up, airlines, accomodation tie ups, etc) and how to save for trips (particularly the backpacking sabbatical...!)
- Earning online/offline at your travel destination - interestingly most die hard travelers earn - online through advertising, technical work, freelance writing - and offline - teaching english world over, volunteering work or short terms jobs. And most blog extensively about it to inspire others to take the plunge to satiate the travel bug, after all money = travel!
- Bucket list - A whimsical list. But these bloggers actually make it happen! One of the pages that keeps me fascinated, especially the number of ticks against the tasks or the number of scratched tasks on the list.
- Packing List - extensive coverage about rucksacks, footwear, essential gadgets, safe keeping of documents etc. Some even photograph the usual contents of their rucksack, complete with labelling each item!!
- Dealing with not wanting to travel - i know the feeling of not wanting to travel its paradoxical to maintaining a star travel blog, but hey too much travel may get to the most passionate of travelers. Most blogs have atleast one entry about this phase.
- Lifestyle design - life baffles each one of us. People turn to the concept of lifestyle design in order to make the most of it. It is about choices, about you, your passions and the change which will drive you to the lifestyle that you designed! What sets apart stellar travel blogs from the many out there is that the blogger has a plan and is not afraid to change to make it work. I recommend reading about this concept.
- Not writing about it - Knowing what not to write is an art. Knowing your audience and documenting well is another. Whatever they do not write about is whatever they do not believe in. If the traveler/ bloggers believes in something, they inspire the reader.
Signing off,
an inspired travel blog reader :)
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