For the first time since starting this blog, I feel a little hesitant to hit publish, for fear of offending anyone. But here goes:
(Sit back and relax. Get ready for a long, long post!)
As this humble little blog’s first birthday has just passed, I feel a little bit conflicted, sad, and proud.
I feel confused about the direction this blog is going (this blog is having an identity crises!), sad that my stats are nowhere near where I want them to be (damn you SEO, still don’t know what you are), and yet proud that for someone with a notoriously short attention span, I’ve kept up this hobby for this long.
But that’s just it… this blog isn’t just my hobby anymore. It’s my blood, sweat, and tears (literally… D and I have had several teary arguments over how much time I spend on this). I’ve poured all my energy into it and it’s become my baby. I couldn’t be prouder of it than if I actually birthed it myself (though I guess, in a way, I did).
But lately, I’ve hit a wall. And blogging isn’t as fun anymore. After a lot of thought, I figured out that a lot of this has to do with the general travel blogging industry.
I started this blog (originally title the lost girl diaries) during a period of extreme confusion (more here). In short, I was hesitant to quit my job to travel and I felt pressured to find a way to make online income. So after learning that some people actually make a living with their blogs (I honestly didn’t even know that was a thing), I started one too.
Basically, I started a blog for all the wrong reasons. Before this, I’ve never been a writer or journal-er. I was an engineer, for goodness sake.
For the first 6 months, I kinda futzed around and just wrote whenever I wasn’t too tired. Plus, I hadn’t started traveling then, so I didn’t have much material. So not surprisingly, I had literally like 0 readers (except for a couple of real life friends). But because of it, I wrote honestly and didn’t confirm to a template or guidelines.
Then I finally boarded a plane and flew to South America. I decided to take it more seriously and connect with the travel blogging community. I set up weekly posting goals. After all, now I actually have things to talk about, right?? I’m going to be seeing all these new things! And eating all these new foods! And I’m going to have so many tips I can share! I envisioned that I would write about everything I do and eat, and that my blog would become an important resource for other travelers.
But here’s the problem: after a couple of months I realized that while I LOVE traveling, I actually really dislike travel blogging.
Don’t get me wrong. I like writing! I guess I should say… I dislike trying to fit into the general travel blogging mold.
As I started reading more and more blogs, what I found made me feel kinda conflicted. The travel blogosphere is inundated with posts such as “Top 10 things to do in [this city]!”. On one hand, these articles are the most helpful to me for planning my trips. But on the other hand, it irks me to no end because all I can think is…. what you really mean is “these are the only 10 things I did while I was visiting [this city] for 3 days, so therefore these are obviously the top 10 things to do, and now I am an authority.” (And don’t get me started on the bloggers who write about destinations that they’ve never even personally visited!)
What happened to talking about your personal experiences and opinions, and sharing fun anecdotes? Is this what it takes to get page clicks, to please the google-monster, and find success?
Blogs started out as online journals to talk about our days and random thoughts. When did it become just an e-textbook with a robotic voice? What happened to opinions and emotions? What happened to inspiring storytelling?
I’m just going to say it: in general, the travel blogging community tends to be soulless.
I mean, I get it. It’s easier to just provide some tips rather than injecting real emotion and feelings into a post. And it’s easy to throw up picture or two along with a handful of words to meet weekly posting goals.
But that’s not how I want to operate. I admit I tried to replicate the success formula with some of my posts (such as this one), but I don’t think it works for me, and it shows in my lackluster writing in those pieces.
I don’t want to tell you about the top 10 things to do in [insert random city name], or how to find cheap flights (I’m honestly too lazy to spend 2 hours checking 20 different websites anyway!), or why [this place] needs to be on your bucketlist right! now! And I don’t post photo essays if I can’t find anything meaningful to say about the pictures.
Instead, I’d rather write a love letter, talk about being boring, or rejoice over my 1st Christmas tree.
The second issue I have is with the general blogging world. Blogs nowadays have to serve a purpose and fill a niche. There are so many rules to follow. A post needs to be concise but have at least X number of words, be written in a particular format, provide value to the reader, but also entertain…. blah blah blah. It’s enough to make my head spin and takes the fun out of blogging.
I want to just be me. I want to write about things I find inspiring. I want blogging to be fun again.
So after a year of blogging, I’ve come to the conclusion that I am a really sucky travel blogger:
- I’ve visited 20 cities in Europe, and have only vaguely talked about exactly 7 of them.
- And hardly any of them contain any tips or useful city guides, and are therefore of absolutely no use to fellow travelers.
- I fail at social media. I often forget I even have a Facebook page. And quite honestly, I would rather read/nap/play iPhone games than spend hours social-media-ing.
- I have no idea how to use Pinterest. And I don’t even know what Trover is. Or Tumblr.
- I don’t know how to self-promote, and I feel arrogant doing so.
- I don’t guest post because I hardly have time to write posts for my own blog.
- A lot of times, I’ll sit down giddily to write about a place that I loved….aaaaand nothing. No words will come. So then it just doesn’t get done at all.
But you know what? I’ve decided that it’s okay. The world isn’t going to end if I don’t share the top 15 things to do in Montevideo. My memories aren’t going to die if I don’t write about my trip to the Budapest baths or my visit to a Prague cabaret. No one is eagerly refreshing my page every hour for a new post (except for my mom, maybe).
After a year, I think I’m finally starting to find my style. First and foremost, this blog is about me and D, our love story, and my personal growth. Secondly, this blog is to connect with my mom, whom I desperately wish to bring virtually around the world. I will continue to talk about destinations (to maintain some shred of credibility), but only the ones that have inspired me.
So I decided: this is a life blog. I still maintain that I’m just an ordinary girl who is now a very lucky girl who gets to visit some pretty cool places on Earth. I’m throwing all these blogging rules out of the window. I want to be just a girl who sits down at her laptop every few days and chat to you about her life. And hopefully my life will entertain you or inspire you to take a risk/travel/pursue happiness as well.
This blog may never become the travel resource that I originally envisioned. And I’m just a hobby blogger instead of a business blogger. And I’ve made many promises to write about travel tips and guides, only for them to never materialize. But this blog will contain all my heart and soul.
That, I can promise you.
Lastly, I want to say a huge THANK YOU! to all of you who spend a little of your day to read my posts, leave a comment, or email me privately. I am so incredibly humbled that you guys do this at all. I wish I could even begin to convey how happy it makes me and how much it means to me. I’m not sure what direction this blog is going, but I hope you continue to follow along on my journey.
I want to end this post here with a few highlights from my first year of blogging:
My favorite posts that nobody knows exists
A Tale of Two Parasailers: Shortly after we begin dating, D and I go parasailing. Being me, I ruin what should have been a wonderful day. But something beautiful occurs out of it.
Birthday Wishes for Dad: My wanting to quit my job to travel has costed me my relationship with my father (who doesn’t support it). In this post, it’s my dad’s 60th birthday, but I’m not celebrating it with him. Out of my sadness comes one of the most heartfelt posts I’ve ever written.
Most read post (according to Google Analytics):
Packing Tips: Mix & Match for Light Travel and Style: I’m a little surprised this is my most viewed (and by a long shot too). I provide tips (along with pictorial guides!) to properly mix and match just a few key pieces of clothing items to be prepared for a wide temperature range, while fitting it all into just a carry-on. I remember photoshopping until I died.
Readers’ favorite (most commented on post):
Paris, I get you now: I finally go to Paris (the dream destination for so many millions of people)… and it’s not like what I envisioned my first experience to be like. In fact, I don’t really like Paris all that much. But somewhere along the way, I find the magic.
My best piece of travel writing:
Auschwitz series Part 1 and Part 2: We need to always remember Auschwitz and retell the story over and over. Here is my visit and my final thoughts.
My most proud post:
Tr
avel Reflections: 7 Lessons for my Younger Self: I poured my whole heart out into this post. You may already know that travel was never my dream. I was so terrified to quit my job. But after several months in, I honestly don’t know why I was so scared. Here is what I would have told myself.
Again, thank you to everyone who has supported my space! I can’t wait to share more in this upcoming year!
What kind of posts do you want to see? What do you like or don’t like about blogging?
I don’t mean to offend anyone. I read many blogs and enjoy many blogs. I regularly leave comments to let the blogger know that I enjoy their blogs. This is just my opinion about the general travel blogging community today.
Okay, I literally read this via email and had to come comment immediately because I’m in the MIDDLE of writing almost the exact same post (well, technically mine is an email, but it will be on the blog eventually haha).
(Before I get started, I just want to mention that I don’t comment here enough…but yours is one of the very few blogs I’m actually subscribed to – because I genuinely enjoy your writing.)
Second, I’m with you on this 100%. I started my blog for exactly the same (wrong) reason. I thought, “Okay, I have no income now, I love writing, and I’m off to travel. Why not start a travel blog and see if I can earn a little cash?”
Now, after 6 months, I realize that even though I love travel and I love blogging, I HATE travel blogging in the sense that I have come to know it (reviews, top 10’s, how-to’s, sponsored content, people bitching excessively about getting underpaid for sponsored content…) I don’t read any of that crap, so why on earth would I care to write it?
I wrote a post last week that I actually felt inspired to write for the first time in so long. And it had nothing to do with travel. Since then I haven’t published a single post because I’ve been excitedly working on my new site, a bunch of guest posts (none for travel blogs), and freelance work that’s actually paying me (yay!).
I’m grateful for my travel blogging experience, because it showed me who I’m not. I’ve also made some wonderful connections, but in general I’ve been turned off to the whole industry.
I’m SO happy that you came to the conclusion that you did. You sound happier already, and rest assured, you’ll still have at least one loyal reader (and I’m guessing a lot more the more you let your own, true, interesting self shine through). :)
Mandie, I’m SO glad that we met through Sunday Traveler, even if the travel blogging industry isn’t where we want to be! I feel like that we’re kindred spirits (umm…not to be creepy, haha!). I can’t wait to read your post on this matter!!
You already know (hopefully) that I love your blog! I’ve actually been feeling way guilty lately because I haven’t commented on your recent posts (I’ve been feeling unmotivated in general lately and needed to unplug for a bit, as evidenced by the lack of posting on here). Though I have read every single one of them! I absolutely love the direction your blog is going, and I’m SO happy for you that you found your voice and your niche with a different group of bloggers! You’re absolutely amazing at inspiring people with your self-development posts. I love your latest post. :D
(Okay, I’m going to comment on it right now!)
Thank you so much for supporting me through these months!! I’m honestly SO honored because I love your writing. I always look forward to your comments too. I really appreciate it more than I can express!
I can relate to SO much of this Anna. I always tell my husband that I think of my blog as basically being one big love story – yes it’s about travel but it’s really about the stories I try and tell, the funny moments he and I have had on our travels, the moving ones, the happy ones or whatever else – I’m not trying to write a guide book – my blog is about putting a little bit of my heart and emotion down “on paper” rather than just trying to attract billions of views by writing down what “should” be written rather than what I want to write! Good on you for publishing such an honest post – I personally absolutely LOVE your articles – I’ve read pretty much every one since I disocvered your blog and have always found the stories engaging! We all have moments where the words don’t come out or where we find it a chore but keep at it, whichever direction you take your blog in because you are brilliant at it!!
Thank you so much Shikha for the encouraging words!! You’ve been so supportive and I still wish we could have met in London!! I feel so lucky to consider you as a blogging friend. I’m actually really happy that you commented on this. Because when choosing what blogs to follow, I gravitate towards ones that have the same feel as mine, and your blog is one of the rare few that I genuinely love that’s in the “travel” category. I can feel that you put a lot of heart into every post (and not to mention that your writing is absolutely beautiful)!! And as a result, your posts and so much fun to read and I always feel like I’m right there with you and Pumpkin (btw… love the nickname you gave him)!
Oh man, I can relate to this post so much and I think so many other people can as well.
Blogging is weird. I think because there is a POSSIBILITY that people can make money from it, that’s why people get into it, but the same thing could be said about nearly every hobby. But the thing is… should the hobby be started for money purposes or should money follow the natural interest? I guess I kind of see it like this: people who decide to pursue a career in dance don’t just think one day, “I’m going to be a professional dancer and need to make money by the end of this month.” I think they get into dance because they love it and it just is an organic process. I think with blogging for a lot of people (though not everyone, of course), the love has to come first in order to get anything worthwhile from it.
There’s also the issue of information vs. sharing experiences. Those sites that you referenced are trying to build up content to be go-to information hubs, but information can sometimes be lacking personality… and that’s for efficiency’s sake. Like you said: those sites may be useful, but that’s not where you derive your enjoyment of blogging. You love documenting growth and how you’re changing… which is useful in a different way, but complex and not as Google searchable.
Anyway, while I don’t think it’s necessary for anyone who is blogging for enjoyment to define their niche or why they are doing it, I totally get the need to declare where you’re coming from and make it understood why you’re different and why it’s okay. I feel like I fall into the same category as your blog… there’s travel in it (more travel in the past than presently), but it’s more about life than anything. But the blogs about life are my favorite ones! :)
Erika, first of all – I absolutely adore your blog! I must admit that ever since finding it, I went all stalkerish and read through a few pages back of archives. I love reading how your mind works and your reflections. You are seriously one of the most eloquent writers I know, and probably why I’m a little intimidated to comment (but I’ll be better about it!)! I actually love your travel posts as well. I honestly wish I could make my travel articles half as entertaining as yours!
I admit I started this blog to try to potentially make some money (since writing was not my hobby). I realized that I actually LIKE writing and that I don’t want to compromise my writing for money. I absolutely agree with you that the love has to come first… and if money comes out of that, then that’s totally awesome!! In the end, no matter if I ever turn it into a business or not… I want a product that I’m proud of.
Thanks so much for leaving a comment!! It really means a lot to me!
I totally agree with the whole travel blogger thing. I feel like I read the same post over and over again. It’s not personal to the person it’s just talking about a place with info that I could just google or find in a travel book. I’d rather hear about personal experiences.
Exactly!! So many posts are just completely information and sound like a guidebook. And honestly, if I have no plans in the near future to visit that one place, then I don’t give a sh*t about what’s the top 10 things to do there. But instead, if a blogger talks about their personal experience and shares a story, then I’d be much more interested!
I totally agree with you – most travel blogs are SO soulless. I get that they’re trying to be a resource. . .but that just means I’ll look up that stuff when/if I need it, not follow their blog. And I have the exact same thoughts when I see post titles like “X places you NEED to visit” or “Top X things to do in ____”.
I love that you’re letting this be a niche-less life blog. I also hate all the blogging rules these days. I don’t care to worry about SEO, Pinterest annoys me, and I hate that people say bloggers need a “niche.” My blog is just my blog. And hey, I pretty much love yours.
Thanks so much Marielle!! I’m so happy to see that all my favorite bloggers are commenting on this post! You’re pretty much one hell of a blogging superwoman and I do read every post you write. I already said it before, but I wish I were more versatile like you!
I don’t care to worry about SEO either. Well, actually… I’m just too lazy to really learn what is it and how to use it effectively. But I also decided that even if someone randomly stumbles upon my blog from Google because they’re looking up info, they probably won’t stick around to become a follower anyway. So whatever. Blogging is more fun anyway when you’re making real connections with fellow bloggers!
Wow. I couldn’t have said it better myself. I also started my blog just over a year ago (and in fact found your blog through Cyra / Gastronomic Nomad’s one-year post!), and feel like I’ve spent the past twelve months just trying to find my footing in the blogging world. I write about food and travel mostly, but I don’t feel like I fit into the ‘food blogger’ or ‘travel blogger’ mould at all. I just want to write stories about things that make me happy and inspire me – and two of those things just happen to be food and travel!
And it’s only been in the past couple of months – but I feel like I’ve finally started to discover more bloggers who write and create in a similar vein (ie. with SOUL!). It’s refreshing and inspiring! I guess it can just take time. I’m glad I found your blog in any case – thanks for the beautiful, brave post and I look forward to the next twelve months! :)
Thanks so much for reading and commenting, Terri! I really appreciate it!! I’m so glad you found me through Cyra’s post and came to say hi so I could meet you! In fact… I remember you from her reply. So, hello fellow slow writer! And happy blog birthday to you too :)
I firmly believe that when we write about things that inspire us and make us happy, the writing is effortless and is always at its best. I just spent the last several minutes browsing through your blog… and girl, you can cook!! It’s super late at night and now I’m hungry, lol. You write with so much passion about food and I love that (and also because I’m a total foodie too)! It always makes me happy to discover new blogs with a soul! I added you to my bloglovin’ feed & I’m looking forward to more too. :)
This is one of the best and most honest blog posts I have read in far too long! Thank you :)
I too have my own corner of the inter webs, and I too have struggled over the past 6 months, since starting to write, as to what exactly am I on my blog . I started because after 3 years living as an expat, and moving on average once a year, I felt I should probably let my family in on what it’s actually like to live in x, y and z. I don’t necessarily have ‘followers’, rather a few people who read my posts (most likely mum, dad and a couple of friends), but I love being able to write (vent) about the little things that I love or hate or find interesting! There is such pressure in the travel blog world about providing tips and tricks and unfortunately, all those posts from so many other bloggers are just blending into one. Your blog is one that I always love reading because I feel like it’s the closest to real life (and my life) with it’s up’s and downs. Like you, I don’t need to spend a ridiculous amount of hours searching for a hotel or flight in a specific way as pointed out by whoever, because I already feel comfortable with my own travel ability. And sometimes it’s a refreshing change when things do go wrong – I can then write about it and hopefully see the funny side after the fact.
Thank you so much Kasia. I really appreciate that you left a comment to say hi! I’m kinda jealous that you’re currently living on a beach in Cyprus! You’re so right that there’s so much pressure from the travel blogging industry to provide valuable tips, and I love that your blog stays true to a real expat diary! The blogs about daily life are the most interesting ones.
And yeah, seriously… if we already have our own travel planning methods that works for us, why do I care to read about someone else’s tips?! I’m already too lazy to spend a lot of time planning…so I’m not going to spend a lot of time reading about planning too! And yep, I’ll just learn from my own mistakes if something goes wrong. :D
I agree x 1000! The way I deal with it is by telling travel stories: they may involve places that I recommend, but only being somewhere for a few days certainly doesn’t make me an authority. And throwing another list post into the universe isn’t helpful.
I can find planning tips in guidebooks or bigger sites.. I don’t read those ‘big’ travel blogs – I’m looking for personality and stories about places people have been, whether they call themselves travel or life blogs :)
Polly, I need to properly thank you for being such a huge supporter of my page. I always look forward to your comments! You do a great job with mixing travel stories, personal life, and tips on your blog!
When I first heard of travel blogging, I started by discovering the big blogs (most likely because I was searching for things to do)… and then quickly changed to connect with bloggers from the smaller blogs, because they’re just so much more interesting!
Wow! This is one refreshingly honest and heartfelt blog posts that I have read in a long time.. I have been blogging for 5 months now and already can so relate to many of the things you mentioned about travel blogging…I think it’s great that you are able to be forthright frank and do exactly what you envisioned blogging is about -pousing thoughts reflection thr personal touch into your blogs! I for one will enjoying reading them :-)
Thank you Samiya! I’m glad I found your blog recently :). I think it’s so important to blog about what matters to us, as opposed to blog about what we feel like we *should* write in order to get clicks. We may not get as many clicks this way, but we will get more engaged readers and make friends… which is what makes blogging so fun!
Well I think you know all too well how I feel about travel blogging at the moment and the direction it’s heading.
I’m torn because I want to see people turning their hobbies into their life’s work so that they’ll wake up every morning and love what they’ll be doing for the day ahead, but far too many people are approaching travel blogging without that in mind. They’re not doing it because they love it, they do it because they want the end product – money.
Travel blogs have become a little like pyramid schemes. Everyone tells you to start one, just as long as you buy their stuff first. It’s a tad annoying, but something I’m so conflicted on because I want to share travel stories not travel facts that you could just Google for; if I can make us some money in some through that then I’m keen, but not if it means “selling out”.
There seems to be a community of travel bloggers who identify with you (some of them in the comments here, myself included). I just hope we can see a change happen before travel blogging just turns into a mess of distrust.
Write for you, write for me, write for whoever you like – but never do it for the dollars.
I agree that it’s great if people can turn their hobbies into their work. I actually really admire people who have done that (with anything.. not just with blogging). Hell, if I could make money off of this, it’d be AWESOME! But if not, it’s totally okay too. I don’t want to compromise my writing for the possibility of making some money. But yeah, I wish more travel blogs would contain quality content and writing and with a personal touch. I find the stories much more interesting… and like you said, if I really want some tips, I’ll just google it!
And you two do a great job of mixing photography, tips, and writing content that you care about!
You’re too kind, we just try our best to share and inspire :)
When your blog grows big enough and you depend on the income that comes from it, you trade your soul to improve SEO and get more page clicks. I suppose that’s what happens to most of the travel blogs. And I noticed most of the travel blogs out there were created AFTER the travels. The bloggers go on a round the world trip, come back, then set up the blog and talk about tips that might not even be relevant anymore.
What’s wrong with not confining yourself to a specific niche? A blog is supposed to be personal first and foremost. Just write whichever way that you are comfortable and you will be fine. SEO might score you many one time hits, but it is good quality writing that creates regular readers.
First of all, I want to thank you for being such a huge supporter!! I feel kinda bad that I don’t even know your real name! :P
I think too many travel blogs just focus on tips and guides. I agree that a blog is supposed to be personal. It’s sad that a lot of bloggers lose sight of that and just become a guidebook. It’s eff-ing boring!…I don’t give a crap if I’m not planning on visiting that place anytime soon. I think it’s fine if people set up a blog after their trip, but talk about some fun stories! I stopped worrying about what SEO entails, because I figure too that it will only get me one time clicks and not followers.
Well you are not the first person who are curious about my real name. Okay, I’ll put something in my ABOUT page ;)
Yessss… I see it now :D. I’m an introvert too who actually really doesn’t like to talk about myself in real life. I’m much better being a self-absorbed blabber in my blog persona.
It’s so refreshing to read this and I totally agree.
We started our travel blog so our friends and family could keep up to date which what we were doing, without us having to send a long email. They are still our biggest audience and I’m happy with that. You’re right though I do feel the majority of them are soulless and I end up wanting to not follow their advice out of some rebellion.
I recently started my own blog, I’m a Child Psychologist and I’m finding so much pleasure out of writing about things that matter and might even make a difference to some one or a child’s life.
I guess we all just have to find our own way.
LOL! I do appreciate that there are bloggers who write soulless city guides for the places I visit.. but it just means that I only read that one article, and don’t continue to follow them.
I’m so glad to hear that you’re blogging about a topic that you really care about. It really makes a difference and the writing will automatically be better and easier too! I know one of the BEST things about blogging for me is when I received a message saying that I’ve inspired them to travel too. It does feel so good to know that you inspired someone! Good luck to you on your new blog!
Thank you so much for reading and commenting, Kellie! I really appreciate it!
Yup yup yup! I’ve struggled with this sooooo much and sometimes I give in and follow with the whole trend of x things to do in x cities (though in fairness, I only do recommend the things I like, I leave so much that I do off these lists, but I know some bloggers don’t). They’re my most popular posts traffic wise, but I hate that. They’re easy to write, and while I do want to build my site into a travel guide of sorts, I really miss the personal side of things. Sometimes it so hard to do that though when you’re not traveling as much. I try not to get too wrapped up in the whole SEO, keyword thing, and all the drama that is the travel blogging industry, sometimes it’s so ridiculous. There are so many stories and things that I leave out of my blog, but I feel silly revisiting them years later. I’m so glad you decided to join in Sunday Traveler. Reading your blog has really been refreshing and I’ve really enjoyed following along your journey travel and personal. I hope you keep going!
Thank you so much for all your support, Adelina!! You were one of the FIRST person who supported my blog, when I had no readers and wasn’t involved in the community. I’m so glad you invited me to SundayTraveler, where I met so many people!! I really do appreciate that your blog is a great travel guide, because it helped me SO much when I was traveling through Europe. I think you can totally keep that going and mix it more with the kind of personal stories you want to write. Don’t think it’s silly to write about stuff that happened years earlier! I know for sure I would love to read them. I recently found Katie’s stories from years ago to be completely entertaining (http://theworldonmynecklace.com/2014/09/22/the-one-where-i-was-held-up-at-knifepoint-in-a-gay-bar-in-berlin/), and a good example of how to tell a story from long ago!
I definitely see what you mean. Travel blogger articles are almost always boring unless a) You are actually thinking about or planning a trip to that place or b) they include a lot of stories and personal details. I first started reading fashion blogs, then food blogs, then I found my way to the expat/lifestyle blogging community which I like because it’s about life. If all the posts are just “10 things blah blah blah” I will surely never be back because I want to know about the person. About someone’s life, about the things they do on a typical day. People interest me, but it seems more and more fashionable (especially in the travel blogging community) to exclude all of the personal detail that makes the posts interesting in the first place. I have a hunch people are doing it because they want to eventually take steps to monetize their blog. Boring! Just keep on being you :)
Haha exactly!! A “things to do” article doesn’t interest me unless I’m planning a trip to that area, and then I never return to the blog too. The very first blogs I started reading were fashion & beauty blogs too… but then I got bored too because there’s no way I have that much money to buy what they’re getting for free, lol. Now, I’m more into lifestyle blogs because I do find people’s lives & thoughts interesting! I think so many travel blogs have no personal voice, because maybe everyone thinks that’s what you’re *supposed* to do if you want traffic and to make some money. Your blog is GREAT at mixing destinations with real life updates, so I enjoy reading it! I hope to do more real life updates too.
Aw, thanks Anna. Happy Caterday to you!
Thank you! I can SO relate to this post. When I started my blog earlier this year, I began by basically writing diaries of my favorite travel memories and boring recaps of how I spent my day. It was nothing that anyone else cared about, but I loved reliving all those memories. But that changed, for what seems like the same reasons as you, and I’ve now gotten to the point that it isn’t often fun. I do sometimes like writing the practical pieces, mostly because scoring a good deal makes me insanely happy and I love being able to share that. But the rest that drive traffic, not so much. I feel clueless and left out when all the travel bloggers go back and forth on nofollow links, seo, and optimizing social media. Not only do I have no idea how to do any of it, I don’t really want to. Anyways, thanks for your honesty. It’s so refreshing to know I’m not the only one thinking this way.
Hi Amy! Thanks so much for commenting and introducing me to your blog (following on bloglovin’ now)! I absolutely love the way you tell a story! I used to think too that nobody will care about reading my personal travel stories, but based on the responses so far… there’s a whole lot of people who prefer that to the boring practical stuff! So keep on writing your witty stories. :) I totally feel clueless too about SEO and that crap, and I gave up trying to learn. Now, I’d rather just work on building real connections with fellow bloggers. :D
Great post Anna! I definitely felt the same way and I think that’s why I just stopped blogging all together. I wish I didn’t and I know I can start back up but I just had the idea of what blogging is supposed to be bUT only because people saps that’s how it was meant to be. Maybe if I didn’t try to fit the way people say, I would still be writing. I’ll pick it up again eventually…but in the way that you are, not by following guidelines. I hate social media too! I thought I was weird and the only one haha
Taylor, I wish you didn’t stop blogging!! I too thought I had an idea of what blogging is *supposed* to be because of how a lot of other “big” blogs do it. But who said we need to follow those rules?! Ugh, I can’t stand doing social media. I didn’t even have a personal FB page before I started my blog… and now I have one, but hardly remember to update it. I think we are the weird ones, because everyone else seems to be obsessed!
Good for you for writing this and having the balls to write it! I have found the same thing in my limited dabbling in reading other travel blogs. Some of them are so… boring! I want to read about how so-and-so HATED where-ever-it-was because of what-ever-reason, I want to read people’s opinions on subjects so I can actually write a meaningful comment instead of ‘wow, nice pictures! Looks like fun!’
My first Hither and Yonder stopped because I felt like I was writing for writings sake. It lacked soul so I re-did it and started writing what I wanted. I put my voice back into writing and found my passion for it again. So what if I only post once a week or so? So what that I use Facebook but don’t have a Twitter account, or use any other social media what-so-ever? It’s more my own personal diary of what I get up to in life rather than a resource for others, so if people like reading stuff, fine. If not, then also fine – you’re not my kinda person! Ha :P
Yes exactly!! I don’t even bother to comment when I can’t think of anything better to say rather than “wow, hopefully I can go there someday too!”. I’m loving your new blog! I can tell that you’re putting a lot of heart into it and writing personal stories (and your photography is AMAZING!). And hey, I happen to like reading other people’s personal diaries. :D
Hi Anna
I couldn’t help but comment here.
Love your honesty and openness and i can totally relate to what you’re going through. It’s true many travel blogs don’t have a personal touch to them – I’m a culprit of it too thinking that readers need facts rather than personal diaries. At the beginning of the year I realised that writing from the heart was what is important and surprise surprise, writing just flowed so much easier. I had to stop worrying about what others might think. That it was ok to write my exact thoughts and not edit them. Following my twelve month blogging anniversary in July, my personal life changed drastically and I too lost motivation and in particular for travel blogging. I mean, I only travel once a year so it’s not like I’m a real travel blogger anyway. But setting myself ridiculous guidelines of posting thrice weekly about the good and bad of what I’d experienced on my adventures, being all over SM and revolving my life around it to maintain little presence was (I’ve just realised) way too consuming and not me. Most connections haven’t been personal and the FB thing gets on my nerves. Like my page and I’ll like yours back and then seeya! My goal is always to help others, not necessarily make money. I’m not going to lie though – it would be great to cover my hosting bills! But I don’t believe in content that is written purely to make money. Content should be useful and help readers AND be from personal experience. I can’t believe people would write about things they haven’t actually done! Who are these bloggers? And if you’re given product to write about and don’t believe in it, you shouldn’t write about it and politely decline! I’ve just returned from Nepal and I am looking forward to writing about an experience that has not only re-inspired me to do something I’ve always desired (live sustainably and get out of the ‘system’) but to demonstrate to others as one door closes a double door opens. Keep being yourself – I like it a lot! Congrats :-)
Hi Anna! Thank you SO much for reading and commenting and introducing me to your blog! I really appreciate it!! I admit that I’m totally guilty of the FB thing that you mention (I like someone’s page when they ask if I can like theirs back in return….though I hate it too), but that’s because I’m completely incapable of keeping up to date with FB. I’d much rather find personal connections with other bloggers through commenting on their posts.
It doesn’t matter at all how often you travel! And that doesn’t mean you can’t be a good blogger! Honestly, my favorite kind of blogs are just the life blogs anyway, because I love when I’ve connected with someone enough that I actually genuinely care about their lives! I hope you continue to write about what you WANT to write about and your personal experiences, and I’d love that read those! Nepal has always sounded like such an exotic destination to me, and I would love to hear about your thoughts and experiences!
Ugh… I’m not going to name any names, but I’ve been stumbling across blog posts by people on places that they’ve never even visited! It’s like that they just sat down and googled a bunch of information and decided to write about it. Why would anyone do that?!
I hate those souless travel blogs too and I think that writing posts like ‘Top 10 ..’ etc can be bland and boring and the easy way out. There are some fabulous travel bloggers out there that are big names and make their money through their blogs but still write good stuff such as Young Adventuress and Globetrotter Girls – I just ignore the bad ones and focus on the good because they are out there. My blog will always be about my story and what I want to write, as I am not looking to make money from it, I can write whatever the hell I want and I still love it
Katie, your blog is awesome, and full of fun and exciting travel stories. I can’t believe some of the things that have happened to you (makes my travel life seem VERY boring and tame, lol)!! I like that you mentioned Young Adventuress because I enjoy her blog too! She’s one of the only couple “bigger” blogs that I like to check in to from time to time, and then I get jealous of her sponsored adventures, lol. She’s proof that not all bloggers who make a living with their blogs have to sell their soul.
I love your honesty and I think many of us have the same conflicts. I think there is a place for all sorts of travel blog styles. Tips are great and useful, but hearing from the heart is also niche needing to be filled. I get stressed out if I don’t have time to post and then I stop myself. Why panic? For what? I’m a bartender, a writer, a wife and mother; let’s face it I won’t always have to time to post multiple times a week and that’s okay. When we aren’t having fun, it shows in our writing. So, good for you for being honest with yourself and your readers!
Hi Amanda! Thank you SO much for supporting my blog! You’re like a supermom with all that you do *impressed*. I use to stress myself out too trying to meet posting schedules, and even staying up half the night to finish a post… but then I realized… so what?? Nobody is eagerly waiting. It’s just ridiculous! I agree that life needs to be fun first and foremost. I think it’s awesome that you blog about your adventures with your kids so that they’ll have some wonderful memories to read up on when they get older!
I absolutely love this, thanks for the laughs this morning Anna! I think you have just connected a LOT of discontented travel bloggers together, well done for hitting the nail on the head. We started blogging after 8 years of travel and feel our experiences are drowned among the seas of ‘must do’s’ and SEO experts! Due to our own haphazard way of taking on the world we have recently started a DETOUR blog of the week, it is about alternative travel adventures that do not follow the norm, amazing places reached by pure accident and plans that just haven’t worked out at all… I think you might fit in well, would love for you to check it out…
http://straightondetour.com/detour-blog-of-the-week/submit-your-travel-adventure/
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting, Rebecca. It means a lot to me! WOW… 8 years of travel!! I can only hope I can keep on going that long myself! You’re right that the “top 10’s” and “things to do’s” get drowned out into the sea of other travel blogs (I feel the same way), but your own personal experiences never will, because that’s something that nobody else will be able to write too. :) I LOVE the sound of your “detour” series! Some of the best travel adventures are the ones that we don’t plan. I’m gonna check it out now!
I don’t think that you suck as a travel blogger Anna, I find you totally refreshing. I don’t think you or anyone should play by perceived rules of the game…. yet, we all do to a degree. This is where you raise valid points. There is a little bit of game playing needed, but not to the point that we are all stereotypes as one of the previous commenters mentioned. If we are all writing the same stuff then were is the uniqueness that people value.
I have published top 10’s by choice and by trial – but I have also posted exactly what I think of certain things, undoubtedly alienating parts of the travel industry, because I really only have to be honest with myself and those who read our site, at the end of the day. I love doing this. I really do enjoy it and when and if that stops, I am out of here.
Thanks so much for the encouragement Paula! You make a good point there that rules are often just “perceived” – perhaps, we all look to the big blog and think we need to be like that in order to be successful too. I’m glad that so many people are “breaking the rules” now and going for more personal blogs based on experiences rather than just tips. Your policy to just be honest is the best one. And of course, to have fun doing it! :D
Oh man, do I ever love this post. I’ve been blogging consistently for nearly 6 years and I have never had a niche more defined than “my life” or succumbed to writing listicles about things I don’t know about/don’t care about for the sake of pageviews. Nor have I resorted to clickbait-y titles. Does this mean my blog hasn’t grown at the rate of others who have been blogging for as long as I have? Of course. But do I regret any of the blogging choices I’ve made? Absolutely not. I’m never going to master SEO or love Pinterest etc etc.
And yep — agree that most travel blogs are soulless. Although most do have good photography…
Thanks so much Manda for saying hi here and introducing me to your awesome blog!! I love the blogs just about life the best. I’m following on bloglovin’ now :) I used to feel all depressed that my blog isn’t growing as fast as other ones who’ve been blogging for around the same time, but that’s completely ok, and I’ve stopped comparing myself. All I want to do is write about things I care about and at the end of it all, have a product that I’m genuinely proud of!
I just wanted to tell you bow much I appreciate your honesty in this post. i’ve only started blogging 4 months ago, and sometimes I get so frustrated as well! Doing social media, writing the posts, engaging with fellow bloggers, editing the photos, traveling…all together sometimes is just too much! And then I look at numbers and yeah, not there yet….but even if it’s frustrating, I actually like doing it, and I much prefer it to a desk job, so I stick to it.
Confratulations on your blog 1st birthday!
P.s. I like your own voice!
Thank you so much Steph!! I agree that blogging gets to the point where it’s just too much and not even fun anymore! It feels like 2 full-time jobs. So I reminded myself that blogging should be fun first and foremost. I’ve stopped spending all my free time social media-ing and stopped forcing myself to be on a schedule, and it feel so much better now! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment so I can discover your wonderful blog too! :)
I really love and appreciate your honesty in writing this post. It fits me perfectly and reflects a lot of what I’ve been feeling within the last few months about my website—do I want it to focus on photography (though I’m not a professional)? travel blogging vs. travel stories? what??? After reading a few other travel blogs, I thought maybe I should try to be more informational as well, but then reading another blog made me think about developing my voice. I really want to share my personal experiences and feelings, not just facts. My first two posts actually went in that general direction, but then when I started reading other sites, it changed. I’m actually at the point where I’ve decided to write what I want to write, and how I want to write, related to travel or otherwise, and even if no one else reads it, it’ll be my personal joy—although I hope one day it finds an audience! : ) I have a lot of work to do on my site, but since I rarely have visitors, I don’t feel the pressure of having to figure it out right away, ha!—although I could be working on it rather than vegging while watching TV. But then after working on a computer all day long, the last thing I want to do is get on my laptop in the eve (therein lies the first obstacle). Again, thank you for sharing this particular post because after reading the previous comments, I’m thinking a lot of bloggers feel the same. Congratulations on your 1st birthday! Here’s to writing with joy and fulfilling a personal sense of purpose! : )
Thanks so much Sarah for taking the time to read and comment! I wish you’d have your blog address so I can connect with you there :). I’m glad you came to the conclusion to write about what YOU want to write. I’ve in the past done a mix of informational guides, stories, and photography… but honestly, I just like talking about my experiences and feelings most. I also used to feel really pressured to put out a post 2-3 times a week, but it was way too stressful (and sometimes I felt like I was posting just for the sake of a post), so now I just write whenever the inspiration strikes and take more time for myself to watch movies or read books! (Sorry for this super late reply, btw… I couldn’t make myself open my laptop for the past 2 days!). So don’t worry about it too much. :) Blogging should be fun!
Thank you for your reply, Anna. And no worries about being late. I can TOTALLY relate to the feeling of not wanting to open up my laptop too! Funny thing is, I have a lot I’d like to share, but don’t have the desire to get on the laptop and start writing after stressing at work all day in front of a computer. I’d love for my website to be visited more often, but for now, I’m just going to take it as it comes. When it’s meant for my visitors to come over, then that’s when it will be. The greater desire to write will come. And I’ll be happy to. Again, I appreciate your honesty because it allowed me to feel like I wasn’t alone in this. Have a great weekend! P.S. I indicated my website in this reply, but I haven’t posted for a while! : )
I know what you mean. I used to have a job where I was more or less at a computer for 10+ hours a day too. Just have fun with it and it won’t be another chore :). Although I find that the real chore isn’t in writing, but in networking and social media-ing, in order to let the world know that your blog exists. That’s a necessary evil that needs to be done…. sigh.
You have AMAZING photography skills!! I hope you continue to post and share your stories! (And I’m also kinda jealous that you live in Hawaii. I visited Oahu last year and loved it so much!)
Great post!!! I think blogging is truly a means of personal exploration, and the blog format works best when it’s personal. If you’re running an on-line magazine, cool. That’s a bit different. But a blog by one person? Let some of that personality shine through!!! Readers are there because they are connecting with the PERSON, not the information. I think that gets lost in the thought that we can actually make a living from this. I like to experiment with the post formats on my blog, and I could consider myself a travel blogger, but that’s because that’s what I am naturally drawn to and passionate about. And I like to play with the types of posts because I love experimenting with my writing. But I don’t do it for money, and for that reason I don’t actively seek out paid opportunities. If they come my way and feel right, sure. Otherwise, I refuse to sacrifice my voice for a few bucks. And at the end of the day if I get busy and don’t post for a week, well that’s life! And it’s meant for living!! :)
Yes, totally agree! A blog needs to have a personal voice otherwise it’s boring. I started out thinking I *could* make some money, but I realized that I actually LIKE writing and that I also won’t sacrifice my writing for more page views, so I’m fine with this being just a hobby! I feel much happier knowing that I get to write whatever the hell I want to write about. I hope you know that I love your blog! I can always find thoughtful reflections on travel there and I’m enjoying following your move to NZ!
Thank you Anna!! I love your blog as well!! And the move to NZ didn’t quite pan out as expected, which is all explained in my most recent post. The adventures will continue, to be sure. I’ve just grown into a different person than my 23-year old self that first struck out on my own in a foreign country. It’s this experimentation and trial and error that helps us – just like you with your blogging/writing. ;)
I just found your Blog today and while reading the comments I feel like you’ve sparked a community of the “anti-traveler bloggers.” I too started a blog for “travel” I went to all the classes and went to TBEX and was so into it. But then it really started to tear me down, i hated doing it, and I decided to just start completely fresh and just write what i wanted to write.
So I commend you.
Blog about love and love and travel when you want. Because this is your corner of the internet and you deserve it :D
Thank you!!
Thank you SO much for the encouragement Ashley. I appreciate it so much and it really makes my day!! I’ve thought about doing the travel blogging classes but I’ve always been too afraid that they’ll pull me into a different direction than what my heart really wants. I’m loving your blog (it’s so pretty too!! totally jealous of your awesome header!), so thank you so much for taking the time to say hi because I love connecting with other bloggers!! To me, that’s the most fun part about this (sometimes irritating) business.
Anna, I just want to say I love this post! Thank you for having the courage to share your thoughts with such honesty. I love reading your blog – I remember the first posts I read of yours were the ones you wrote on Auschwitz. And sure, many people have written and will write about visiting there – but the way you so beautifully and respectfully took us on a tour was so powerful. Everybody’s voice needs to be heard. I guess what I’m trying to say is sometimes I’ll feel discouraged because I know there is so much out there about any place I want to write about, but I have to remind myself that no one saw it or experienced it through my eyes – and I should share from my perspective. So I say write about anything you feel inspired and passionate about sharing, and we will read!
Thanks so much Sara!!! I know I’ve been really horrible about commenting lately, but I love your blog and I read every post! I’m so glad I discovered it! I think you write about travel in such a fun and personal way. I didn’t really like Paris when I visited but your posts are making me see that there’s so much more to it. Sometimes I feel like I’m just adding to the noise too, but no one else can have the same experience and feelings. So it’s so much more fun to write about that, rather than just guides that anyone can write!
Well, to me the definition of a blog is just your own space to make it whatever you want. So don’t worry about what other people are doing, just do what you want to do. I think you won’t enjoy doing it if you’re forcing it, ie you have to make certain number of posts each week. I think you should just post when you want to that way you are writing about things you really want to share and you will enjoy it much more.
Just like you said, most people start blogging because they hear the stories of people making a lot of money out of doing it and want to make money from their blogs too. So I think if that is the end goal – to make as much money from it as possible then, just like in all businesses, there is a certain formula that works better. I think it comes down to the fact that most people just don’t have time to read long posts / articles all the time. The western/modern culture [for lack of a better word] revolves around the “faster is better” mentality. For most, it’s much easier to click on something that says “Top 10…” and just glance at it quickly and move on vs reading a page long post (even though more people would probably enjoy reading a personal story much more).
It really bothers me when I see posts with slideshows tho, and most of the time I won’t even see all of them because I just don’t feel like clicking the next button all the time. But you can’t really blame people for doing that. If the point of their blog is to make money, then each click of the slide show basically is a new click to the page, which reloads the 100s of ads splattered all over the page, which results in higher revenue for the poster.
Hi Omair! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! ;)
It’s so true that the internet culture these days is all about “getting to the point” fast. That’s why top-10’s and lists-type stuff work so well because you know right away what the article is about and it’s easy to scan through it to get to the info you need. This works great for guides & one-time clicks but will rarely develop personal connections with the blogger, which is the most fun part about being in a blogging community!
Of course, if I ever do happen to make a *little* money from this hobby, then that’d be great, but I won’t sacrifice my voice and what I really want to write about anymore. :)
I think the expectation of how your blog should turn out can make you feel a bit pressured to succeed. It’s such a competitive industry. I try to separate the pressure and perfectionism I put on my self versus my love to share content I’m passionate about. But blogging is no doubt a full time gig and I’ve learned too it’s definitely not as glamorous as it sounds. It’s super hard work but it pays off. I am torn though between resource driven content (lists) versus personal, but I’ve found it beneficial and optimal to incorporate both. But in the end, just write about what you love and it will shine through. Who cares about what others think!
Hi Stephanie! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment. I put a lot of self-pressure on perfectionism as well, and I decided I’d rather have a blog I’m really proud of than posting stuff just for the sake of posting. :) I think you do a great job of mixing informational pieces with personal stories. I love the way you tell a story!! Following on bloglovin’ and looking forward to more! :)
This is a beautifully written and honest piece – I wish there were more blogs like this! I think it takes a little while to find your feet, and to find a particular niche that you’re passionate about. And, for me, I often feel pressured to travel as much as I can – when, in reality, I can’t afford to do this, and would very often just like a weekend at home with my cats :)
Thank you for being awesome – I’ve bookmarked your site and am looking forward to reading more of your well-written posts in the future!
Hi Emily! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and leave a comment. I love meeting other bloggers! I’m looking forward to getting to know you through your awesome blog too. :)
And I totally get you! Even though being nomadic is our lifestyle… most of the time, we’re honestly just hanging out in our apartment and only leaving it to walk to the corner for food! You should never feel pressured to travel, and only do it because you love it. And there’s tons of ways to have adventure even without spending a lot of money on travel, starting with discovering new things right in our own backyards! :)
Hey Anna! So glad I found your blog and this post. I’m going to quit my job to travel and reading about your nerves and the build up to actually doing it makes me feel great about the decision. I’ve started a blog as well (while still home and taking shorter trips- so typical) and while making some cash while traveling would be great, I think it might just be too stressful and difficult and I want to enjoy my travels and maybe just try to keep my family and friends in the loop via a blog… while getting inspiration from so many other blogs like yours! I think it’s great to have this sort of writing outlet and online scrapbook to look back on later.
Also, I find posts with travel tips so much harder for me to write than the heartfelt ones. And honestly, when reading other blogger’s posts, I find I like the open, emotional posts better than the numbered lists that get all the clicks and google love. Thanks for the inspiration.
Hi Rachel! Thank you so much for reading and leaving a comment! It means a lot to me! How exciting that you’re going to pursue your travel and live life by your own rules!! I wish you the best of luck! I totally agree that the personal, emotional posts (with feelings and stuff) are so much more fun to read than the top-10’s or whatever. I decided that I want my blog to be an accurate reflection of my travels and I want it to be filled with my most precious memories (because no one will read my posts more than I will), so it’s OK if it never makes money! (Though if it happens to, I definitely won’t complain :P). It’s difficult to find a balance between writing for yourself and writing for an audience, but I wish you the best! Your blog looks awesome so far, and i love the design!
This is so inspiring! And exactly how I feel about the travel blog thing too! I think it’s great you’ve had the courage to find a way to make this blog for you rather than the other way around.
Thanks! The community is definitely there for those of us who prefer to talk about personal stories than just good-for-SEO lists and stuff. :) I believe our blogs should be personal to our experiences, and not sound like anyone could write it!
aww. i can totally relate to this post. i too don’t know much about social media and how to network and all that jazz. and i feel the same way you do .. you nailed it, ‘the travel blogging community tends to be soulless….’
for me i’m not really visiting travel sites to just look at photos because ideally i hope to one day visit those places; i’m more interested in stories and experiences. you described it perfectly.
anyway, keep on writing, posting, and just being yourself. i think your blog is really creative and fresh. don’t be discouraged that it doesn’t look like other blogs, that’s what makes yours unique and worth reading. =)
Thank you so much for such a kind comment, Soapie! I’m getting more and more comfortable with my blogging style, and the response has been good. :) I think being personal definitely makes you more relatable and I’m so glad I’ve found such a good community that’s all about sharing stories and actually getting to know each other! I still wonder though if I should be providing more actual useful information, and struggle with finding that balance.
Very interesting! I’ve only been ‘travel blogging’ for 3 months and I am kind of finding myself in the same boat. It’s hard work, I don’t have the time or the content to make my blog an interesting one. I too, do not like the ‘top 10 things to see’ or ‘you must visit this place’ blogs. I look at them and think “don’t tell me what I must see! I’ll decide that on my own thanks”.
I guess I am trying to figure out my style and it might take longer than I think. I am glad that at you have found your feet and you now know what you want ☺
I think it does take a long time to develop your style and voice (I still struggle with that, and with what kind of content to put out!!), so just keep on writing. :D I still experiment with different post types to see which ones get the most response. So far, I think sharing personal experiences, and not “top 10’s” definitely help in getting more of an engaged readership. :) It also helps to post more often, but I also don’t find myself with that much interesting things to say all the time, heh.
Anna, I’ve just found this post on your blog and I really LOVE it! I couldn’t agree more, it’s so honest and is everything I feel too :) A lovely read!
Thanks so much for reading, Marcella! I’m so glad to have found a group of people who put so much of a personal touch into travel blogging, including your blog! It makes it so much more fun to read!
Absolutely love this. Congrats on a brilliant post (is that snarky of me to say? I hope not!) I am actually bookmarking it right now, because after a few years of writing on my own blog and with very small readership, I too have decided that trying to fit a niche that already exists doesn’t work and I’m ready to explore my blog as a reflection of my own life and philosophy and ideas. You’re dead on, girl, and I can’t wait to read more!! xx (P.S. If you do ever want to guest blog, I would love to have you! And I’ve actually never said that to anyone before xx) All the luck :D
Thanks so much for stopping by Sarah! I really appreciate your taking the time to read and comment! I know that finding a niche is supposed to be important and our posts are supposed to provide valuable information, and blah blah… but that just doesn’t work for me. I want to just talk about my life, no matter if it’s about travel or not. And I don’t want to throw more travel guides out there into the already inundated internet! Thanks for introducing me to your blog too! Looking forward to following! (I really love the idea of guest posting, but I’m absolutely horrible at commitments and time management, so I don’t want to commit to anything!! I’m really flattered though!!) xx
Haha thanks girl xx and no commitment necessary! (because, honestly, so am I!)
We are kindred spirits, Anna! I’ve felt so many of these things as well, and have chosen to simply blog about what inspires me. I know you wrote this post quite a while ago but I really enjoyed reading it! :)
Thanks so much for reading Daisy! Yes, I’m so much happier with blogging now that I’m just talking about whatever I want to talk about! I think it really comes through in the writing if you’re just writing for money or clicks! I’m loving your blog. You do an amazing job at keeping a balance between being relatable and informative!
I have this feelings exactly! I love/hate travel blogging because yeah first of all it’s filled with clickbaits, second of all, there are no stories. I would rather then just click on TripAdvisor or something like that. I’m glad you know deep down what you want your blog to be, like a second home and that is something you shouldn’t let them take away from you. Keep staying awesome!
Thanks Isabel! That’s so true that our blogs are like a second home. We put so much work into them, and I love it when I go through my archives and see my heart in it. I love finding other bloggers who write with soul (like you!) and that is why I follow. :)
Whoaaa I felt very identified with your post! I started my blog to develop my creativity, let my friends & family know where I am in my round the world tour and, why not? maybe get some income. After a few months I found out that I enjoy taking photos and writing from a personal point of view, but I don’t understand SEO, I don’t like social media and so I don’t have a lot of readers. But it’s ok, I’m happy that I have some readers who come back and follow my trip, I feel I’m making new friends! And I enjoy the writing.
Congratulations on your first year (a bit late!). Happy travels and enjoy writing!
Thanks Laia! :) I still don’t understand SEO and I hardly even check in on social media anymore (so bad, I know!), and I think I give up on those stuff. I’d much rather spend the time I have on writing. I feel the same way! I like taking pictures and sharing them and writing about my personal experiences. I think we definitely need to enjoy blogging for ourselves first and foremost!
This is a great post! My blog is a little over a year old, and at first I too had big dreams of being a travel blogger and more importantly, making money on the road. But as you said being a travel blogger can be so generic at times, and that takes all the fun out of blogging. I actually started like blogging, and I like connecting with the community. Even though I am not making any money, my blog is fulfilling in a different way and it makes me happy. Plus like me, my blog has a split personality and I tend to feel more like a food blogger anyway. Sometimes I get better feedback on my recipes than on my travel posts, and I tend to enjoy creating food masterpieces more than writing about travel – sometimes. Anyway, I like your blog and your style, so keep up the good work, and I am glad you are making this your life blog. This is what makes bloggers interesting!
Katie
Thanks so much for reading, Katie! I don’t know if I’ll ever make money from blogging (I still haven’t even made one cent, lol), but just like you said, it’s fulfilling still! Otherwise, why else would I devote hours of my day to doing something that makes no money? I find I don’t often like writing about travel either, so I try to find a way to make it more personal. I’m thinking about writing more about food on this blog too since all we like to do is eat, hehe. I’m going to have to check out your food creations!!
“It’s easier to just provide some tips rather than injecting real emotion and feelings into a post. And it’s easy to throw up picture or two along with a handful of words to meet weekly posting goals.
But that’s not how I want to operate.”
Amen!
Oh my gosh! I am so sorry for my late response! I was dealing with some personal issues and didn’t moderate my blog too much during that time. Thank you so much for reading and taking the time to leave a comment! :)
I’ve been feeling exactly the same way lately. This became really clear when I attended TBEX last week. I know I need to write practical posts about China, but to be honest I just don’t want to. I was to write stories and experiences, and honestly, that’s what my audience likes. I’ve realized I’m not a “travel blogger” but a “travel and expat lifestyle blogger” and that works just fine for me. As I mentioned a few months ago, there’s a reason why I included you on my list of my favorite female travel bloggers. I can read about top tips anywhere, but where am I going to read the stories about what it was like to stay with your grandparents in Beijing, or your quest to find the best beef noodle soup in Taiwan. Do what makes you happy and unique. The traffic and money might come more slowly but it’ll be more sustainable in the long run. <3
I still have the practical posts vs. personal stories dilemma. But basically, I’m the same with you… I just don’t want to write the boring practical posts (unless it’s something I feel passionate about, like food!). I’m interested to know what you learned from TBEX. I’ve never considered attending one of those conferences before. And thanks so much again for including me on your list of favorite female bloggers!! xx
Love the candidness of this post!! Congratulations on finding what it is that you want to do with the blog. Blogs evolve like humans do… so good for you for having the courage and determination to do it :)
We have a lot in common so we totally get you. When we moved away from just documenting our trips to having a “brand” back in about 2013…we too started connecting with the travel blogging community; we found it all very inspiring and exciting. We felt like we could quit our jobs and travel full-time too. But the reality of the life we love struck us. That we love travelling but we also love home. We had to find a happy medium, which we have!
And like you, it hit a point where we found that all travel blogs were the same… “How to travel FULL-TIME”, “How to quit your job and make money and do what you love”, “City Guides”, “Tips on packing”… etc etc etc… There are only so much of those “how to” posts that one can read, it is really saturated and it is definitely NOT how we want our blog to look. So we have eased off the blogging a little and regathered a little focus. That our blog is about us and our travels and we share what we want to share… rather than tailoring it to fit a “niche”. We too only want to share things about places we’ve been and seen.
Those who read… great! Those who don’t… we wouldn’t know any different! We want to make sure we have fun and and connect with those who want to connect. The last thing we want is for it to become a CHORE or a FULL TIME job that we are miserable but HAVE to do it.
Life is too short to dwell on statistics and scheduling posts. Doing things we love should not be draining.. do it because you want to!!
PS – this type of writing you’ve just done is so much more refreshing than a “How To” post ;)
Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave such an insightful comment!! I really appreciate it! I completely agree… there’s only so many guides and tips you can read. I feel like that those kind of blogs don’t allow you to make a personal connection with the blogger, and that’s one of the most fun parts about this whole blogging thing… to meet friends from all around the world that you otherwise would never know!
I’m always happy to meet new bloggers that I feel like I can connect with! I think I’ve been following you guys on instagram for a while, so I’d love to follow along on your blog now too!
I think having a home base is a happy medium :). We’re traveilng A LOT slower now than we did during the first year. We’re still living outside the country, but we’re staying in each place for a lot longer now… there comes a time when full time fast traveler just gets to be too much!