Every year I set myself goals that I want to achieve because I find this helps motivate me. If you are writing a blog for your company to promote its services than you have an incentive to write, but for me it is a hobby and it is much more difficult to keep motivated.
- Achieve recognition for the work I put into the blog
- Get mentioned in the media, i.e. radio, TV, newspapers
- Increase monthly average unique visitors
- Promote the travel rants brand more online
In April the blog won best Travel Consumer blog at the Travolution awards, and this sent me off to London to collect my award, which is sat proudly on my desk. Then in May, I was interviewed for the first time on BBC radio 5, then radio 4 in August.
During the summer the blog received a mention in the Irish Times and New York Sun newspapers. The only goal I have not achieved is an appearance on television, but I am not sure the great British public are quite ready for that yet.
Yes, I am blowing my trumpet, but what have I learnt?
Despite ranting about the travel industry I have learnt that they are many talented individuals and companies who are trying to improve the experience for consumers just like what private luxury tours in Switzerland do. I have learnt not to take comments personally, everyone has an opinion, not everyone is going to agree with me, and that is why blogs are great at generating discussions.
I am still learning about the travel industry, there are times I wish I had experience of working in travel, but then I think there are advantages not having that knowledge so I can write 100% from a consumer’s perspective.
Lack of confidence is something that I suffer with; there are reasons for that, which I will not go into here. I organised the Travel BlogCamp in London because I wanted travel bloggers and companies to get together and learn from each other, plus I wanted to deal with that confidence issue.
It is going to be a tough year because I am approaching that point where I am thinking, how further can I take this blog. I want everyone from John O’Groats to Lands End to know about Travel Rants, and the challenge is how I raise its profile with the skills I have, and the revenue that the blog generates.
I am up for that challenge though.
I know there’s another seven weeks until the end of the year, but I wanted to thank everyone who has participated or helped and supported me in the last 12 months, you know who you are, and it’s very much appreciated.
