How to Document Your Travel Experience with Blogging

When you venture off to another land, it's always nice to have proof that you went there, saw that, etc. One of the most popular ways to document your travel/living abroad experience is through blogging. The following addresses basic blogging questions you may have when starting out and the benefits of tracking your thoughts on the world wide web.

1.) How do I get a blog?
You have plenty of options, here. You can buy a domain name (GoDaddy.com is where I purchased mine) for a very low cost - usually around $10 for a year. Next, find a hosting website like Blogger or Wordpress, two great blogging sites that make it easy to get started.

2.) What do I write about?
That's completely up to you. Depending on your audience your content will vary. If you want to target your family and friends, speak about personal experiences you've gone through. If you want to capture the attention of your host country's inhabitants, add reviews of local restaurants, art galleries, news events, etc. People will read about many different things, so you shouldn't have a problem coming up with content if you stick to what you know (your own experiences).

3.) How do I make my blog stand out?
In todays world pretty much everyone has a blog. To make yours shine a little brighter, spruce it up a bit. Add a banner at the top and post pictures throughout your blog (click here for my article on "Photography Tips"). You can also make your blog interactive by posing questions or welcoming commentary.

4.) How do I get readers?
At the very least, your friends and family will likely subscribe to your blog and read it frequently. To build outside readership, post consistently and get your name out there. Find other bloggers, comment on their posts and they will likely check out what you have to offer. Also post links to your blogs on Facebook, Myspace, Twitter and other social networking sites.

5.) Can I make money?
Blogs aren't a lucrative business to get into if you're only looking to make cash. With that said, it is possible to make money, but usually not very much. Employ services like Google's Adsense, if you're interested. Your primary goal at first should be building readership. The money will follow once you have a solid product!

Benefits of Blogging:
You document your own experience, which is great when you want to reference to a certain event later.

Your friends, family and others can observe your personal journey and keep up to date with your life.

You have the potential to earn a little cash.

It's a great, fun hobby.

And at the very least, it's an outlet for you to vent, lament or simply express joy.If you found this article helpful, please click "recommend" at the top of the text and view my other articles about living and traveling abroad.