With advice from Anthony Sharot of Market Appeal, SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) how to focus a travel blog. Yes, we are in business together. So I know he is giving me good advice. I am giving it to you for free.
1 Decide your blog's purpose:
a) Generate income for a business.
(Budget for SEO to use search engines to generate readers and adapt webpages to convert them into buyers.)
b) PR - improve company image. (Generate goodwill posts and attract readers.)
c) Family and friends/family history/keeping records only.
(Minimise spam and readers you don't want. Check on privacy.)
a) Go to experts such as Market Appeal. Budget for them in your business plan and remember that all your expenses are offset against tax. You want fast results. Pay for adwords.
b) DIY can take several months. Keep blog posts to 500 words average. They should be long enough but not too long.
Focus on readers and what they want. For example, luxury travel, cheap travel, adventure holidays, quirky travel, family holidays. Add links to other sites for mutual benefit.
c) Have a catchy title using the generic word which people will search for, plus one which makes your site unique and memorable and ideally visual. For example, using alliteration: Travel with Tommy the Tabby Cat; Travel In Time Through Texas; Holidays on a Harley; Group Travel for Grannies. Check which are already in use by others.
d) Offer something free.
For example: free maps to download. Free Museums, list updated daily. Free birthday offers. Free guide to ....
e) Check What's in it for me (the author) - make sure your company name or what you are selling is mentioned each time. For speed have a signature or logo you can copy or paste.
f) Check What's in it for me (the reader). See d) above or use the word 'you' rather than 'I'. (That's a tip I learned from my Toastmasters International courses.) For example, instead of how I did x, how you can do x.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.
1 Decide your blog's purpose:
a) Generate income for a business.
(Budget for SEO to use search engines to generate readers and adapt webpages to convert them into buyers.)
b) PR - improve company image. (Generate goodwill posts and attract readers.)
c) Family and friends/family history/keeping records only.
(Minimise spam and readers you don't want. Check on privacy.)
a) Go to experts such as Market Appeal. Budget for them in your business plan and remember that all your expenses are offset against tax. You want fast results. Pay for adwords.
b) DIY can take several months. Keep blog posts to 500 words average. They should be long enough but not too long.
Focus on readers and what they want. For example, luxury travel, cheap travel, adventure holidays, quirky travel, family holidays. Add links to other sites for mutual benefit.
c) Have a catchy title using the generic word which people will search for, plus one which makes your site unique and memorable and ideally visual. For example, using alliteration: Travel with Tommy the Tabby Cat; Travel In Time Through Texas; Holidays on a Harley; Group Travel for Grannies. Check which are already in use by others.
d) Offer something free.
For example: free maps to download. Free Museums, list updated daily. Free birthday offers. Free guide to ....
e) Check What's in it for me (the author) - make sure your company name or what you are selling is mentioned each time. For speed have a signature or logo you can copy or paste.
f) Check What's in it for me (the reader). See d) above or use the word 'you' rather than 'I'. (That's a tip I learned from my Toastmasters International courses.) For example, instead of how I did x, how you can do x.
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.
Update
Books by Angela Lansbury
How to be the best man. (Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts.(Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Unforgettable British Weekends.
Poetry Workshop Workbook.
The Tailor and the Spy. (Lulu.)
Larry The Talking Labrador. (Lulu.)
Writing Poetry for fun.
Quick Quotations
Who Said What When
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