I’m [Finally] On Twitter
I’ve updated my contact page to include my new Twitter account (http://twitter.com/foxnomad). I wasn’t too thrilled about at first, but am finding it strangely addictive. If you’re not on Twitter, there are plenty of other ways to stay in touch with me like Facebook, Stumbleupon, or old fashioned email.
foXnoMad Features: Monthly Archives
Every Friday over the next three months I’d like to introduce you to a feature of foXnoMad. Helping you make the most out of every post, connect with your fellow travelers, and travel smarter. You can read previous foXnoMad Features on Search, Blog Locations, Email Subscriptions, Getting In Touch With Me, Recent Comments, and Categories.
This may be no new news to many of you, but for those of you who aren’t quite as Internet-savvy I’d like to introduce you to yet another way to search through foXnoMad posts. You can take a look at a breakdown of posts by month on the right side of the main page, foxnomad.com.
If you were traveling last December you can catch up on a chronological list of foXnoMad posts from that month or you can throw it way back and check out some posts from the early days. You can also conduct searches based on dates with a little link hacking – the format is foxnomad.com/2008/12 or
foxnomad.com/[year]/[month]
Take a close look at the number of posts throughout the past 3 years. You’ll notice the number of posts per month increase, decrease, increase, then settle down to about 20-30 monthly, something I explained in the history of foXnoMad. A large part of it was based on my wife’s advice and coming up with a weekly posting goal – something I’d highly recommend to any traveler if you want to keep your travel blogging passion alive.
Definitions Of A Successful Travel Blog: Reader Comments
A reader recently asked me about important things to do to build a successful travel blog. (There are much more successful blogs than mine, but I’ll tackle the question as best I can.) Before I answer the important things to do, next week, I wanted to seek your thoughts on what defines a successful travel blog.
I’ve compiled some of your thoughts below, and although they vary, there seems to be a general consensus that success is measured in both readership and content.
- Priyank: I have a very selfish definition because my travel blog is structured that way – an extension of my personal journal. It is about my travels, my pics, my observations, my perspectives. And if a visitor can still find a thing or two to take away, that is success for me.
- Kim Kinrade: I enjoy writing and I’m just happy if a few people like yourself give comments.
- D: To me, a successful blog communicates the author’s passion for say, travel, while bringing relevant, interesting info and stories for the readers.
- salvadoran_army_priest: I prefer single traveler journals like this…but if you want to get noticed or to start actually making it as a blogger, it’s tough, very, very tough.
I’ve been focusing on the blogging aspect of travel recently and have several posts about the topic lined up for next week. The reason, I feel, is that while there is plenty of content on blogging in general, not much out there on travel blogging in particular. Travel blogging can be difficult since the topic you’re writing about generally keeps you away from a computer or active Internet connection.
Do you feel these definitions are adequate or do you disagree – how would you define a successful travel blog?
What Long Term Travelers Need To Notice To Keep The Trip Going
There is no magic behind traveling the world and leaving the cubicle – all you have to do is leave everything behind and do it. The hard part is continuing the journey, and as many backpackers find out when the glamor is gone. Most people aren’t born to travel long term, in fact we have an innate compulsion to stay put, maintain a routine, and be in familiar surroundings.
These conditions are difficult to meet if you’re planning an around the world trip, backpacking indefinitely, or simply want to get away for a long time. In order to keep the trip going and you traveling you need a steady supply of determination and be aware of the signs that you’re returning to normalcy.
It’s easy not to notice your transition from a traveler to a resident or expat since the change is both gradual and swift. Below I’ve listed some of the changes you’ll notice if you’re a backpacker who’s no longer a traveler.
Staying In Once Place
By far the most obvious condition, it’s easy to overlook when you’re not ‘staying in one place’ at home. An American hiking and traveling all over Southeast Asia stops being a traveler after 6-12 months of living in Bangkok. As the novelty of traveling wears off, the comfort of staying in one place sets in – an urge you’ll need to overcome if you want to move on to the next place (or not return home).
No Longer Having Another Destination
Travelers have plans. Although they might be loose ones, like “I think I’ll go to Madrid and see what happens”. When “see what happens” becomes “I’m looking for a job to stay with this cute girl I met”, then you are well on your way to losing your title as traveler. It’s easy to fall in love with a new locale and if you find happiness in a new city. As traveling and being a traveler get older, there are plenty of new things (which may have been old at home) to keep your attention, and ultimately distract you from continuing your travels.
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