Are you one of those people who just love to make your friends
jealous by sending off giant emails with every detail of your trip?
Well, technology has improved to the point that you can now go one
better. By keeping a Travel Blog as you move along, you'll be able
to keep all your friends up to date on what you're up to, without
clogging up their inbox. You can also upload Photos from the road,
and even track your progress on a World Map!
Steps
- Do some Research. There are plenty of good Blog hosts out
there, and several of them are tailored specifically to Travelers.
While you can't really go wrong with a generic Blog host like
Blogger, you'll probably be better off going with a host that
specializes in Travel Blogs. Here are a few Free options that offer
unlimited Photo storage and will plot your travels on a Map:
- Blogabond.com
- TravelBlog.org
- VirtualTourist.com
- Do some more research. Then sign up for an account. Don't
forget your username and password!
- Get a good Digital Camera, and make sure it has a standard
format memory card. Most modern cameras will use Secure Digital
(SD) or Compact Flash (CF) memory cards. Be sure that you have a
little USB card reader for the type of memory that your camera
uses. Some brands, such as Cannon, will have a special cable that
you can use to plug the camera directly into a computer. Don't
forget to bring this along!
- Send off a HUGE Email to everybody you know, telling them where
to find your Blog.
- Go!
- Jot down details about your trip every once in a while. Try
doing this while it's still fresh in your mind. You can refer back
to these later when you're writing a blog entry, making sure you
don't forget any details.
- Find Internet Cafes on The Road. Log onto your Blog host and
spout off about the great time you're having. Computers at most
internet cafes will have USB ports that allow you to plug in your
card reader or digital camera to transfer photos. If not, they'll
always have at least one machine with a universal reader. Just ask
the guy at the desk.
- When you get home, edit some of those frantic posts you made
from the road. Upload some more photos now that you have a better
internet connection. Polish your Blog so that others can stumble
across it and use it for inspiration!
Tips
- Don't be afraid to create accounts with a few different Blog
hosts. Try posting a few sample trip reports to get a feel for how
they will look. Pick the host that feels best for you.
- Internet Cafes usually have really slow internet connections.
Try uploading just a few of your best photos while you're on the
road, then come back later and upload the rest from a faster
connection.
Warnings
- Some Blog Hosts will want to put advertising on your Blog
pages. Try writing a few test entries and make sure that your Blog
is not lost in a sea of banner ads!
