I have a confession: I do not travel constantly just because I’m a travel writer. My travel schedule ebbs and flows. Some months will find me with 2 or 3 trips planned; while other months I’ll stay home in New York City. On the months-like this one-that I’m traveling back to back, my social media is thriving and my writing is flowing with destination guides and travel stories. When I return to New York, it is to my boyfriend, kitten and apartment where I’ll catch up on work at my local Astoria Coffee shop. I enjoy having a home base but being a travel writer, the assumption is I’m constantly on the move. On the months where I’m not traveling, I have to work to keep my website updated. Here are the ways I maintain my travel blog when NOT traveling.
1. Write about past travels
When in between trips, I often will look towards past travels to inspire new content for my website. Perhaps it’s a round up of the best eats in Buenos Aires or cafes in Paris; looking towards past trips helps me create new, exciting photo galleries, guides and travel stories.
2. Keep up a presence on social media
While coming up with travel content for my website is easy enough when not traveling, updating my social media can be tricky. Many travel bloggers share updates in real time, so when in between travels it’s important to get creative with your social media. On Instagram, I like to take advantage of #ThrowbackThursdays to share snapshots from past trips. Another way to keep your social media active is to promote your new website content. When checking my social media feeds, I’ll also comment and connect with other travelers to encourage engagement and following. There are plenty of strategies to keep your social media lively, even when at home.
3. Share your knowledge
Here’s a secret: of all the posts I write-from solo traveling to destination guides to hotel reviews-it is my how-to posts that always perform the best. Readers love getting insider tips and advice on blogging, building their own site, saving on travel and travel hacking. If you’re in between trips, share your knowledge with readers to keep them coming back for more.
4. Get creative!
If you’re not traveling, spend time growing and developing your blog. Take a look at what other bloggers are doing and explore ways to excite your readers even more. Consider adding a “members only” section, a travel shop, taking on an e-book project, etc.
5. Refresh old content
Refreshing old content is a known trick amongst bloggers when inspiration is dry or time is short. The fact is, churning out new content often is imperative for keeping a blog relevant yet coming up with quality stories daily can be tricky because, well, we’re not vending machines for brilliant posts. Going back to old posts and sprucing them up is a great way to reintroduce old stories and keep your blog updated.
6.Open your blog up to guest posts
One of my favorite ways to keep my blog exciting is to open my site up to you, the readers! I love receiving guest posts for The Pin the Map Project because it allows me to bring exposure to up & coming bloggers and share amazing content on places I have yet to visit.
7. Write about your home
I am lucky enough to call New York City my home so when I am in between trips, I will write about this fair city and the endless options it offers-from what to eat, where to sleep and what to do. No matter what city and state you call home, if you’re looking for inspiration write about what you know! Share your wealth of insider knowledge for the destination you’re in; whether it’s off-the-beaten-path ideas, weekend getaways or favorite coffee shops in your hometown.
8. Hit the road
The fact is that travel blogging does involve travel and while you don’t need to be traveling constantly, it is important to fuel your writing with trips. Perhaps you travel every month or maybe 2 to 3 times a year. Perhaps you take weekend getaways or long term trips; whatever your travel style you can always draw inspiration from stepping outside of what you know and exploring some place new.
How do you keep your website updated when home? Share your tricks, tips and comments below!
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Miles of Happiness says
Hit the road - that’s ALWAYS the solution, isn’t it? :p
Melanie Hönig says
This is such a perfect post for me! I even call my blog “Rover at Home” - sort of for that reason. I love your tips - I do some of them, and I’m getting better at telling connected stories even when I’m not on the road. Thanks!
I’d say these are pretty spot on for me. I love writing about my home base of Barcelona - day trips, local spots, walking tours, you name it. I also love writing inspirations and general tips! At first I was super worried about having enough content to keep things up to date, but I’ve been lucky enough to find that content really isn’t that hard - it’s putting it together in a way that I know my readers will love that gives me the most stress ;). Thanks for sharing!
Yes! I think many people think being a travel writer means traveling non-stop. Definitely not the case. In between trips, you can draw inspiration from personal experiences, your hometown, weekend getaways and trends in the travel industry.
I don’t like to be on the go all the time, but I do like writing about travel, so I think your tips about drawing from past, present, and future trips for writing topics is a very good idea!