So You Want To Start A Travel Blog
Travel blogs may be informative, entertaining, or introspective like a diary, but perhaps more importantly, they can serve as a key communication tool between the travelers and the ones that were left behind.
Why travel blogs are better than email:
Why travel blogs are better than email:
- People can choose to read about your adventures when they want.
- Comments and feedback are in one place rather than several individual emails that you may have to respond to.
- Better navigation system
- More appealing aesthetics and readability
- Customisable
- Built-in features such as maps and albums
- GetJealous: For absolute novices. The most basic travel blog site I've come across. It has some major limitations in that there is no design freedom and a maximum upload of 40 photos is allowed unless you upgrade your account (which cannot be accessed when you stop paying). But if you want a simple to use blog that has a message board to keep in touch with your family and friends, I recommend this site.
- STA Travel Blogs: Very similar to GetJealous, by feature and limitations.
- TravellersPoint: For those more in the know with internet type things. This is easy enough to use though going between blog to photos is not the most logical way. One of the better ones if you get used to it, but they have to work on their set layouts. Most of them are pretty ugly and can be difficult to read.
- TravelBlog: Fairly basic but with added features. You have to use modified HTML tags to change the appearance of your text but the bonus of this site is that you can embed images and links, so if you want to write an informative blog, this is a great one. It is easy to read even if the layout is bland, has maps, photos and videos, but the down side is that there is no entry list for easy navigation through the blog. It's difficult to see what else the blogger has written.
- TripTracker: Centered on maps and links your photos with the places you've been.
I wrote to Get Jealous, complaining about their limitations and in mid-January 2009, I received a response.
ReplyDeleteThe developers have now included a link tool in their composer and have put the picture tool on their to-do list. The link tool allows Get Jealous to accommodate the bloggers who like to write about more than just experiences on their trip, but also things like product reviews and informative articles that can reference other sites on the internet.
A picture tool would enhance this, particularly if it allowed access to an external site like Flickr or Photobucket so that the 40 picture allocation need not be used up.
I doubt I will transfer my blog over to Get Jealous as I have settled down in Blogger, but it is incredible how much more powerful Get Jealous is, simply because you can now link to other sites. The inclusion of a picture tool would make this site hard to beat if you don't mind sticking to their simple but friendly and significantly advert-less layout (bonus). And if they ever decide to allow basic HTML and/or widgets, they'll be laughing. Who would care about a 40 picture limit then?
this is a good list. i have been using a few of these sites already.
ReplyDeleteSpot on with this write-up, I absolutely think this web site needs far more attention.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably be returning to read more, thanks for the advice!
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