Austin360 blogs > Digital Savant > Archives > 2009 > March > 14 > Entry
Core Conversation: Blog Highways: Travel Blogging for the Wanderer
Date/Time: 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Panelists: Pam Mandel (Writer, Nerd’s Eye View); Sheila Scarborough (Blogger, BootsnAll Travel Network)
The gist: Travel blog guru Pam Mandel shared her starter guide, which was echoed by co-panelist Sheila Scarborough. Among the dos and don’ts:
— Use details. Be as specific as possible in your writing (for example, instead of “T-shirt”; say “a sweat-stained, light blue T-shirt”)
— Make your blog easy to read. Skip the weird colors and small type. “If I can’t read your blog, I’m gonna click away.” (Mandel).
— Don’t list your itinerary. Too easy. Capture your readers with the story, not your schedule.
— Tell us who you are. What’s your age, gender, cultural background? Saying so builds credibility. Everybody has biases and preconceived notions. So, what are yours?
— Take pictures. People love them — but don’t go overboard. (You’re still a writer, after all).
— Avoid MySpace or LiveJournal as your blog host. They rarely show on Google searches. She recommended Blogger, Wordpress and Typepad.
— Leave the diary at home. Focus on the location — not your insecurities or romantic troubles.
Quotes: On what not to say: “We’re better; they suck” — Pam Mandel
Takeaways: Be aware of your surroundings; Look for opportunities to blog. Write with as much detail as possible. And network! Leave comments on other blogs; go to forums; get a Twitter account. “I can’t spread my arms wide enough to express how important this is” (Mandel).
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By Sheila Scarborough
March 18, 2009 6:32 PM | Link to this
Thanks very much for covering our Blog Highways travel blogging panel; Pam and I really enjoyed ourselves and the room was packed with enthusiastic wanderers!