Travel blogging has got to be one of the most fun jobs in the world, especially for people who enjoy traveling. One might even say it’s not a job but more of a satisfying hobby that can generate a good income for you if you do it right.
As a travel blogger, you get to see and enjoy different places and provide detailed information about them, what you would recommend for future travelers, and much more.
With all we know about travel blogging, it seems like a pretty easy job to do, but it’s not. Compiling pictures in the correct format and reaching out to clients interested in what you have to say, alongside other things, can be a lot to take in while you constantly move around.
That is where essential tools for travel bloggers come in. With the right tools, you can show the world to your subscribers without stressing yourself too much.
So, for the benefit of those who are considering travel blogging soon, here are some of those essential tools:
I’ve been using Cloudways since January 2016 for this blog. I happily recommend Cloudways to my readers because I am a proud customer.
01. Electronic Gadgets And Accessories
There is no way you’ll be hosting a travel blog, podcast, website, or diary without using your electronic gadgets. All the other tools you’ll be employing after will depend on these gadgets. Therefore, your number one essential tool must be good electronic gadgets and accessories.
Electronic gadgets, such as lightweight and durable laptops, a compact camera (plus a backup camera just in case), a portable USB microphone, a mobile phone, portable chargers, drones, etc., are some of the things you’ll be needing.
Meanwhile, the accessories include international power adapters, selfie sticks or camera tripods, and a portable Wi-Fi or service provider device. Likewise, avail yourself of a virtual private network to keep your information safe wherever you find yourself and give you access to your websites and pages to unblock Omegle and stay in touch with people without fear of being tracked online.
02. Website/Web Hosting Tools
As a travel blogger, you need a website or web hosting platform to host all your writings, photographs, and notes gathered through your journeys to share with your subscribers. The website serves as your online journal or portfolio where subscribers can click whenever necessary, so having a good one matters a lot.
When it comes to web hosting platforms, there are free and paid versions. Some of the most popular websites or web hosting platforms include WordPress, which allows you to create a domain name and a hosting account; Wix, a great website builder; Bluehost, an excellent choice for beginners; GreenGeeks; A2 Hosting; HostGator, and many others.
While selecting a good website or web hosting platform, remember that the level of usability matters. Your website should be easy to navigate, with an attractive theme and content to keep subscribers and users engaged. Some of these platforms have free versions with simple functionalities, but more complex and improved ones come at a cost. Be sure to choose the one that best fits your needs and pocket size. There’s no harm in using a free version so long as it works fine.
Additionally, note that subscriber safety is a must with a website, especially with the possibility of data theft. A good way to ensure and enhance safety is through proxies that offer your website, yourself, and your subscribers that extra layer of protection.
03. Design and Graphics Tools
As mentioned earlier, you need an engaging website with attractive themes and images that are pleasant to the eyes. This way, your subscribers will have a fun time while staying on your website, thereby improving your rankings. You may ensure traffic on your travel blog platform using detailed and catchy designs and graphics.
Like web hosting platforms, graphic and design tools come in many types. Each comes with functionalities and features to further enhance your work. Many of them offer free versions, too, like Canva, Photopea, Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, PicsArt, GIMP, and many others. For more features, a paid version is the option to take, but always remember that it all depends on your needs and capabilities.
Other tools you can pair with design tools are Unsplash, Flickr, Pexels, Adobe Stock, Pixabay, etc. These are royalty-free image sources where you can get quality images to augment your work.
04. Keyword And Content Research Tools
Images are not the only things you use as a travel blogger. You also need to describe your experiences. With good content, you can get your audience to feel like they lived the experience with you and drive good traffic to your website using the right keywords.
Keyword and content research tools are a plus when travel blogging. They offer you the best ideas, catchy headlines, the best ways to pass across your travel tip ideas, and insights into what your audience looks for to improve your blogging.
Some examples of these tools include Answer the Public (for insights into what readers are looking for), Hubspot and Portent for headline and article ideas and keyword supplies, and Google keyword planner to provide necessary keywords. You can also refer to Wikivoyage, Quora, Reddit, Twitter advanced search, etc. for more keyword and topic research.
05. Traffic Tools
Aside from employing appropriate graphic and design features, good content, and keyword use to drive traffic to your travel blog, you can use other means and tools to ensure your travel blog is never devoid of readers and subscribers.
Traffic tools such as email listings like Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, OptinMonster, Sendinblue, etc., help create a list of emails and provide suitable automated responses, encourage sign-ups to newsletters, and much more. Other traffic tools are social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, Pinterest, and many others. Posting snippets of your articles, pictures, and active brand engagement will help direct more traffic to your travel blog in no time.
Conclusion
As fun as travel blogging is, getting it going or keeping it functional requires a lot of work. By employing the various categories mentioned here plus other tools, like those for SEO and analytics, productivity, note-taking, scheduling, and others, you can keep your blog alive with engaging content and stories while driving good traffic to your website at all times.
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