My travel blog at outerrealmz.com was launched on October 8th, 2018, making it exactly 30 days old upon writing this. During these first 30 days I have received 446 total page views. This is nothing spectacular, yet it is not terrible either considering it is my first blog, and I am just learning how to promote it. The most important thing is I have taken it from dream to reality.
When I launched the blog, I had six completed posts to go with it. Since then I have added four more, keeping me to my goal of one post per week. I have also added a few plugins including Yoast for better SEO. Another goal for these first 30 days was to have social media exposure as well. Thus far most of these efforts have been geared toward Facebook and Pinterest, joining blogging groups and adding links to posts. However, I have also taken initial steps on Instagram, Twitter and Google+ to make a presence and gain followers. In addition, I have made some adjustments to the menu and overall appearance.
I will say here and now that this has been no easy feat for a 54-year-old man who has never self-hosted anything and has had limited social media skills. Trish, my significant other, has been instrumental in helping me along, figuring things out and giving me a swift kick in the butt when necessary, and it has been more necessary than not.
We spent about two and a half weeks on the road during these first 30 days, so a lot of time was spent driving. We travelled through some fifteen states and came away with three blog posts. It is apparent that time management will be crucial when it comes to juggling travelling with writing and promoting.
Overall, I would have to say it’s a half-ass fair start. Perhaps mediocre for a first-time blogger. If I had to give it a letter grade, I would probably assign myself a “C”. It is not a well followed blog yet, but I have accomplished most of my goals for getting it off the ground.
Now, about the next 30 days and beyond.
My overall goal for the next 30 days is to increase visitors to over a thousand. I plan to obtain this with stronger efforts at optimization and a larger presence on social media. I am also seeking communication with other bloggers, including travel bloggers, to share experiences and support.
There is a one-week road trip planned for mid-late November, to find more material for posts. After that, I’ll be spending a chunk of the winter at home building and optimizing the blog. I will continue to enhance the appearance and navigation, and eventually add more pages. In the not too distant future I see a resources page and a store page.
I will most likely wait until I have secured a much larger and permanent following before I incorporate affiliate marketing and ad displays. I am hoping to get to that point within six months.
Of course, there is much travelling to do, on this continent, and others, in the coming months and years, and probably for the rest of my life. It is love of travel that got me into this thing in the first place
Looking at the larger picture, I want to create a useful and sought-after resource for the reader. I believe the niche I have chosen, which has a lot to do with attractions off the beaten path, will develop a popular following.
It is for this reason I am hoping and asking for more feedback in the comment section at the end of a post. I found out that comments were turned off, but this in now fixed. This will greatly assist me in creating content that is more useful, and hopefully, entertaining as well. Also, feel free to email me at outerrealmz@yahoo.com with comments, concerns, criticisms, or just to say hello.
I would like to thank everyone who has visited the blog, shared it, or supported this endeavor in any way. I want to give a HUGE shout out to the incredible woman in my life; Patricia Glover, who has not only been at my side and helped me through, but has had to sometimes drag me through some of the more technical aspects. Without her helping to guide me through I probably would have given up or would still be trying to get WordPress onto Bluehost, or worse yet, still be just talking about a blog. She has been able to spur me into action when I could not do it myself.
Until next week’s post, take care my friends.
Scott Elliott