On this episode of the RV Family Travel Atlas podcast episode, we are taking a cue from our listeners and talking about a question that we get asked all the time: Should I start my own travel blog to document my RV journey?
There is no easy answer to that question, but since we have gotten so much joy out of our own blog over the last seven years, we decided to tackle the issue in a podcast episode.
Not everything about blogging is easy or enjoyable, which is why many people who start blogs throw their hands up in frustration after just a short while. Having a good understanding of the challenges and rewards of travel blogging might help you make a decision about whether or not you should launch a blog before you hit the road for your RV adventures this season.
Segment One: The Pros, The Cons, and The Myths
In the first segment of this episode, we talk about the pros, the cons, and the myths of travel blogging. We love the fact that we have a wonderful journal of all the amazing places we have visited over the last seven years. We imagine it as a sort of time capsule, reminding us of details that would normally fade from memory. It’s also pretty cool to think about our boys clicking through the blog years from now, just like it’s an old family album.
However, there is a ton of backend management, and image uploading can be a huge drag, especially while on the road. Listen to hear even more of the pros and cons of travel blogging from our years of experience.
We also tackle the myths that are out there about making money from blogging. It’s certainly not impossible to do…but we are definitely giving you some straight talk on the topic.
Segment Two: The Technically Nitty-Gritty and Know-How
First off, if you know that you have no interest whatsoever in monetizing your blog, keep it simple and choose one of the many options out there that is free and user friendly. Platforms like Squarespace, WordPress, Weebly, and Blogger allow you to manage free blogs with URLs that include the host name. For example, we were LivelyLittleCampers.blogspot.com for years before we bought our own domain name and switched over to WordPress.
These options really keep it simple, allowing you to enjoy the process of capturing memories without the stress of managing a website.
However, if you think there is any possibility that you want to get serious about blogging, you should probably start off right, so you don’t go through all the transfer issues that we had to experience. What does that entail? It’s basically three simple steps.
- Buy your domain name.
- Sign up with a hosting company.
- Find a WordPress template and start blogging.
We go into a lot of detail about each of these steps and what we personally use in the podcast episode, so take a listen for more information.
Segment Three: Listener Questions
We wanted to make sure that we actually answered the questions that our listeners had about travel blogging, so we reached out on our Facebook Group and got a ton of really interesting ones.
In this segment we talk about how we started blogging, and what our challenges have been along the way. Folks also asked about:
- Work/life balance (HAHAHAHAHA)
- How much content we share
- Privacy issues
- Activity choices
It was really fun to reflect on these topics and share our experience about something that has been such an integral part of our life and travels over the last seven years. Take a listen to hear a more personal discussion of blogging and it’s role in our RV adventures.
News Round Up Info
On this episode, we also introduced a new podcast sponsor, Outdoorsy, a peer-to-peer RV rental company. We have talked many times over the last couple of years about renting our own RV as an additional source of income (or just a way to earn more camping money!).
Every time the topic comes up on our show or social channels, the number one concern is the safety of the RV. So, in our News Round Up we discuss what Outdoorsy has going for it that no other competitor has: the magical million dollar insurance policy covering all owners and renters. Listen to hear more abut the Outdoorsy difference. You can also visit Outdoorsy.com/List-Your-RV to learn more details about how Outdoorsy is creating the best peer-to-peer rental experience out there.
And a huge thanks to all our sponsors for supporting weekly content for all our RVing fools:
See you at the Campground!
Stephanie + Jeremy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
I just finished listening to your podcast on the decision to blog and wanted to comment on my experience. One reason that I hesitated over creating a blog was privacy. I wanted to keep an online record, but did not feel the need to share my travels with the entire world. Once I found out that you can keep a blog private and readers must be invited to join, that took care of my reluctance. I use blogger and I’m happy with it. I’m sure other platforms have that option as well.
I look forward to the podcast every week. I love the NPR quality and can hardly hear your accents at all!
Great tip, Don! Thanks for sharing. Blogger really is a very user-friendly platform for folks looking to create an online journal. Glad you figured out a way that works for you!
We been blogging about our RV travels for almost five years now. It’s a way to keep far-flung family and friends updated, and it’s also our own scrapbook log of where we’ve been. I love writing and photography, so the blog fits right in – I never feel like it’s a chore. Will we ever make money off the blog? Probably not. But that has never been the primary goal. I encourage anyone to jump right in and start documenting your travels. It’s a rewarding hobby!