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Shortly after the BlogHer 08 conference, I met fellow Seattelite Debbie from Delicious Baby. We talked about a bunch of stuff that's relevant to travelbloggers including what makes me, in my role as the contributing editor for travel, pay attention. Debbie suggested that I post my guidelines. What makes me stop and take notice? What makes a travelblog leap off the travel list here on the BlogHer site and on to my own blogroll? (And did you know, I see every new blog that's added? When you add your blog, I know, and I click. Secret powers.) Over two years ago (!!!!), I complied a list. It's time to revisit it.
A disclaimer: It should go without saying, but this is personal opinion only. You go ahead and do what you want with your blog, it's your playground, your self-expression. This list tells you what *I* look for, not some talent scout, not BlogHer as an organization, not some blogstar maker, just me. Got it? Okay then.
Here's what I said in 2006 followed with some updated comments.
1. Make it physically readable, for starters. I can't read pink text on a yellow background, for example. And sometimes, wow, there is so much going on that I can barely find the text.
Wow, does this matter more than ever! Just this week I had my specs updated, again. My 40 something eyes are doing what my doc tells me is perfectly normal but don't think I'm not pissed as hell about it. That means no, I can not read your tiny white san serif text on the black background, no matter HOW much I zoom. Think of the reader. Won't somebody please think of the reader!
2. Minimize the design toys, please. Everyone wants a custom blog, but if you don't really know what you're doing, you just end up with noise. There are lots of perfectly acceptable templates to use, it's not a crime to use them, especially if you're a good writer. I want to read you, not hire you as a designer.
This goes for all those widgets too. I'm a minimalist, still. I get that all the sidebar candy can help build community, I get that you want to share the love. I get why you lke those things. I totally do. But as a reader, that stuff hurts my eyes. Think long and hard before you put something on the page. What does it offer your reader? What does it offer you? Do you know? You should.
3. Reading itineraries is really boring, unless they're mine. I skip right over blogs that list where the writer went without telling me anything about happened there. These things get hidden in entries - first we went to the Museum, then the park, then we took the subway back to the old part of the city.... Meh. Doesn't tell me anything. What did you do, see, eat there? No changes here. This is still completely true.
4. Turns out I do want to see a picture of you, who knew? I love the surprise of seeing that some big dude in a Hawaiian shirt and a silly hat is writing culturally sensitive stories about visiting holy sites. Or some hard core outdoors climber is a woman of a "certain age." Same deal. Still totally true.
5. Speaking of pictures, bring 'em. It's nice when there are thumbnails in the posts, or a single photo up top, and then, after reading, I can go click through to an album. I don't care for it when people use a linear blog format for photoblogs, however, there are better ways to present photos only. If you're keeping a photoblog, use a tool that's designed for it, not one that's designed for text.
I've become a bit more forgiving on this because, I admit it, I love seeing your travel pictures. Love it. I'm the neighbor who will sit through the three hour slide show of your trip to the Mall of America. Crazy, but true. Do pay a little attention to what's happening when you use text and photos together - sometimes if the photos are too big you'll end up with a paragraph stacked along one skinny edge and that's too hard to read. Rather than fuss about how you present your photos, now I'd just like you to make sure
