So, You Want to be a Blogger? Part 1

From time to time, I get questions about blogging like why I do it, how long does it take, and how can someone become a blogger. I thought I would try to wrap up all the questions in one post. Well, actually it will be two posts because there are so many.

Why do you do this blogging?

Fair question, I have moments where I ask myself the same thing. J

But seriously, I do it because I love doing it. I feel very fortunate that I can share my experiences and passion for travel with others, especially when there is something that readers can learn from one of my posts.

Why don’t you post more often?

Some of the bloggers on BoardingArea do this full-time, others write part-time. I am the latter because I have a very full-time profession – plus I travel a lot – so my time to research, much less write, is a bit less than some of the others.

How long does it take to write a blog?

This varies greatly. In my case, I tend to research a subject before I post about something. Adding things like links and photos increases the time. Almost all of my posts require at least an hour but something like a trip report can easily be four hours. Probably the majority are about two hours but often three.

Do you write all this yourself or do you have a staff?

Oh how I would love to have a staff to help with the research, writing, editing, posting, etc., though I do it all (except for some technical help now and then from the great BA team).

Do you post a blog as soon as you write it?

Some BA bloggers are so good, they can write, edit, and post in one motion. I am not one of them. In fact, my WordPress skills are pretty novice so it takes me much longer. It is rare for me to write and post a blog in the same day. Most often, it takes at least a day or two after writing to get it up on BoardingArea. Yes I know, sometimes this news is ‘stale’ to some readers but for others, it is new and refreshing.

Where do you get your ideas for blogs?

Blog ideas come from many sources. Some come from news feeds, others from public relations firms promoting their clients. Some topics come from regular news stories while many are suggested by readers. A large number of my posts just come from my own personal travel experiences and from conversations I have with fellow travelers.

So, are you paid by companies to promote their products or services?

No, I do not accept fees to promote products or services. If there is even the slightest chance there may be a conflict of independence, I will note it. In the  case where I may receive sponsored travel or products, you can be sure it is fully disclosed.

What do you like most about BoardingArea?

I like that BA is expanding to cover more travel-related areas. Yes, many readers come here for the miles/points/deals but if this is to be the #1 blogging site for all things travel – which it is – it needs to be more things to more people. BA has bloggers worldwide, even in foreign languages. This is all about giving readers more opportunities to find what interests them. And I really like the in-person meet-ups of the BA bloggers.

What do you like least about BoardingArea?

The only thing I can think of is some of the online formatting and searching but I know BA is in the process of changing that. Otherwise, I pretty much love everything here.

I will post Part 2 tomorrow.