(Even in a saturated market!)
Having a travel blog that ranks highly in searches feels impossible. I get that. There is so much travel content out there right now; blogs, social media post, good advice, terrible advice. You’re competing with all of it. You’re posting consistently, but your content is getting drowned out and your website traffic is struggling.
But I promise you, it is possible to write travel blogs that rank well, even with so much competition. As a freelance travel writer with SEO experience, I know how to write posts that both your readers and Google will love. Here are some of my favourite tips for a travel blog that ranks!
Know Who You’re Talking To
The first thing you need to establish is who you want reading your blogs. Just targeting “travelers” isn’t enough. Are you writing for luxury travelers? Budget travelers? Digital nomads? Having a defined niche with an ideal reader will help you cut through the noise. Specificity helps your target audience find you more easily, because you’re speaking right to their pain points and answering their questions.
To get a clearer picture of who you’re talking to, try creating customer personas. Start by conducting audience research: analyze your competitors, survey your current audience, and post on public forums like Reddit. Learn about the specific demographics you should target, their behaviours, their goals, and their pain points. With this information, you can build a thorough picture of your buyer persona. If you need extra help, you can find buyer persona templates online to help guide you.
Do Your (SEO) Research Before You Write
Once you know who you’re talking to, you have to know how to find them. And for that, SEO is one of the best tools in your arsenal. Once you have a blog topic, it’s time to find your keywords. Low-competition, high-intent keywords help your website rank higher in search engines, especially if you don’t have many backlinks from high-authority sites.
Low-competition keywords have a smaller search volume, but that actually works in the favour of small businesses or newer website since you aren’t competing with big names. High-intent keywords are search terms people use when they’re leaning towards buying something or doing something. We’re talking engagement: buy, register, subscribe, that kind of stuff.
To choose the right keywords for your blog, you’ll want to consider:
- Long-tail keywords: This type of keyword is (obviously) longer, and therefore more specific. Getting specific can help draw your audience directly to you. Don’t try to rank for “Dublin,” instead aim for “3-day itinerary in Dublin.”
- Location-specific words: Try and include location words in your keywords. Instead of just trying to rank for “best Italian restaurants,” make sure you add the city, general location, or even just the phrase “near me.”
- Niche specific words: Zeroing-in on your target audience can help you build your keywords as well. Instead of trying to rank for “travel in Greece,” add “luxury,” “budget,” “solo,” or whatever aligns with your niche.
There are lots of keyword research tools out there, both free and at cost. Check out websites like SemRush, Ubersuggest, or even the autocomplete suggestions on Google!
That Said… Write For Humans Before SEO
Following best SEO practices is important to get your writing to rank, there’s no denying that. But if you’re not telling a story and writing with clarity, readers won’t spend more than a few moments on your site. So yes, integrate your keywords, but do it naturally. Include them in headings, in your meta description, and in alt text and image file names. Don’t stuff your paragraphs full of keywords, or awkwardly inject them where they don’t fit well. Google punishes keyword stuffing with lower rankings.
To make your content easier to read, make it skimmable using structure. Use H2 and H3 headings to create sections. Keep paragraphs short, and use formatting like bullet points when appropriate. If your blog is particularly long, you can even include a table of contents to help readers navigate.
Make Sure Your Content is Valuable
In order to engage a reader, you have to have something valuable to offer them. Just giving a surface-level overview isn’t enough to make your audience stick around. Depending on your content, you could include packing lists or itinerary tips, advice from locals or maps.
Adding photos not only increases the visual appeal of your blog, but it offers another opportunity to add value. Always use high quality, optimized images and make sure you add detailed alt text for visually impaired readers. Including both internal and external links can enhance your reader’s experience as well. You can lead visitors to other blog posts on your website, as well as outside tools or information.
Don’t forget, this also includes keeping your content valuable. Make sure you regularly refresh your posts; updating information, checking links, and removing what’s no longer relevant.
Encourage Engagement and Sharing
When closing out your blog, there’s a final opportunity for you to boost your ranking: encourage your readers to engage with the content in some way. Finish off with a reader-focused question that they can answer in the comments. Keep the conversation going by replying to the comments you get.
If you don’t have a question in mind, there are other types of calls-to-action that you can use to conclude your blog. Tell people to share with anyone who would find the article useful. Ask them to sign up to your email list. Encourage sharing on social media, and add your blogs to Pinterest.
Ultimately, if you pair great storytelling with solid strategy, you’ll start seeing results. You can start by auditing or completely rewriting one of your travel posts using this guide, and see how these tips improve your blog’s ranking!
Or if all of this sounds like more than you want to take on, let me help! I can handle the story and strategy, so you can focus on the results: your customers.
