Archives for January 2012

3 Types of Travel Blogs (and Which Pays Best)

Make sure you're headed this way...

You’ve only got three choices…

… and depending which you choose, your blog either blossoms into a wildly profitable, scalable business – equipped with an army of writers, recurring passive income and the possibility of a six-figure buyout…

… or it sputters along like a near-dead VW bus along the frigid Icefields Parkway.

You’ve only got three choices… those are two of them.

But the third option kills it.

[Read more…]

Why Haters Are Awesome.

So which are you?

A travel junkie who bleeds for their audience?

Or a sell-out?

Because that’s what haters want you to think: it’s a simple choice between two opposing extremes.

I should know.

As a professional copywriter/travel junkie I’ve gleefully hop-scotched from one side of the fence to the other…

… but you know what?

[Read more…]

Interview Series: Kirsty Brown From MyDestination

Kirsty Brown is an editor at MyDestination.com.

In today’s interview you’ll discover:

  • A unique business model not commonly discussed (but works really well).
  • 3 simple things you can do now to improve your blog
  • How large travel companies plan out content with a strategic goal in mind (and how you can, too)

Watch the Video Now

Resources & Notes

5 SEO Mistakes You’re Probably Making Right Now (And How To Fix Them)

If you want to succeed with SEO and score free traffic from Google you must read Rand’s article.

You did read it, right?

Now that you understand the basics, I’d like to cover five common SEO mistakes travel bloggers make and how to fix them.

#5. Not doing keyword research

Keyword research is simple: use the Google Keyword Tool to see what people are searching for (e.g. “best beaches in Southeast Asia”) then create valuable content about it (e.g. “The 7 Best Beaches in Southeast Asia for Backpackers”).

See how easy that is?

The trick is to do keyword research before you start.

BUT don’t just write about topics you find in Google. Create wacky, off the wall articles like “The Ultimate Guide to Lederhosen” or “7 Nude Beaches in Australia That Don’t Allow Old People” to keep your existing readers entertained.

It’s a balance, really. Create content that is entertaining AND informative. It will get you new readers and help keep your existing ones.

(Note: For the nuts-and-bolts of keyword research, read Rand’s article.)

[Read more…]

Interview Series: Caz Makepeace from yTravelBlog.com

Caz Makepeace (YTravelBlog)Caroline Makepeace (better known as Caz), serves up the real story about owning successful travel websites…

… all while managing the family front with her husband Craig and two beautiful daughters.

In this interview you’ll learn:

  • How Caz and Craig scored a free SUV for six months
  • Why SEO should be at the top of your “things to do” list
  • The trick to getting sponsorship deals

All this and much, much more.

So dig in!

Watch the Interview Now

Resources & Notes

Interview Series: Jo Fitzsimons

Ever wondered how to make it as a freelance travel writer? Jo Fitzsimons is here today to discuss how she makes a living while traveling the world.

In this interview you’ll learn:

  • How to effectively pitch travel publications
  • Why dealing with “naughty” clients is inevitable (and what to do about it)
  • 3 easy steps to start your writing career off on the right foot

Watch the Video Now

Interview Series: Lauren Monitz from iExplore.com

Lauren Monitz (iExplore)Lauren Monitz is the Online Marketing Manager at iExplore and has some great “lessons-learned” and information to share.

In this interview, you’ll get a unique perspective on what it’s like to work for an online travel business, and how you can apply this to your own blog.

Ready to get started?

Then let’s roll…

Watch the Video Now

Resources & Notes

Interview Series: Matthew Kepnes from NomadicMatt.com

There’s no doubt about it: NomadicMatt is one of the most popular travel blogs online.

Now’s your chance to find out how he did it.

In this interview, Matt Kepnes shares his experiences, straight out the gate until now, including dos and don’ts, traffic sources, and more.

Watch the Video Now

Resources & Notes

Interview Series: Bret Love from GreenGlobalTravel.com

Bret Love (GreenGlobalTravel)You’ve heard it before: focus on your brand.

But no travel blogger nailed brand like Bret Love and Mary Gabbett. They are the “big fish in a small pond” when competing in the green travel market.

In less than a year, they built a very popular blog and partnered with the World Wildlife Fund, International Expeditions and several tourism boards…

… and in this interview you’ll discover:

  • How Bret and his partner Mary quadrupled their traffic in the past sixth months (visit their site and you’ll see why…)
  • Why you should hire interns, like, yesterday
  • The stupidly simple secret to social media success

Watch the Interview Now

Notes

Interview Series: David Lee from GoBackpacking

David Lee is a genius. Why? He registered the domain name GoBackpacking.com in the late 1990s.

Now, he’s taken his travels - and website - to the next level, offering advice on traveling and travel blogging.

You’ll learn:

  • The best way to stay in touch with your audience
  • How David grew GoBackpacking to over 200,000 pageviews per month
  • What accounts for over 70% of his traffic
  • Two hidden benefits to hiring writers instead of guest posts
  • Why your posting schedule attracts different people (and how to leverage this)

Watch the Video Now

Resources & Notes