Blogger Resources
I very quickly realised that it takes a lot more than writing blog articles and posting on social media to run a successful travel blog. But, with over 3 years of blogging experience under my belt, I’ve learned a thing or two about what to do (and what not to do!). These are the blogger resources I use to run Adventures of Alice daily and they’ve honestly made my life a LOT easier.
WordPress.org
There are two types of WordPress blogs – those on WordPress.com and those on WordPress.org. Ideally, you’ll want to go self-hosted with WordPress.org. This will give you a lot more customisation options, and, if you want to turn your blog into a business, this is the way to go.
Bluehost
The perfect hosting platform for those who are just starting, Bluehost is where this blog began. Over time, my needs have changed, but if you’re just getting started, you can buy very affordable domain and hosting bundles. Use this link for a 40% discount when you sign up!
Lyrical Host
I currently use Lyrical Host. Designed specifically for bloggers, and creators their support is amazing, transferring my site was quick and easy, and they offer affordable packages to suit all budgets. Get 10% off your first hosting package below.
Premium WordPress Theme
Free WordPress themes are free for a reason. Premium themes are more responsive (essential for a modern site), much more stylish, and way more customisable. StudioPress themes are super SEO friendly, and really well designed and you can get 3 months FREE VIA THIS LINK!
MailerLite
Every blogger should have an email list and using a platform that is built for bloggers is definitely your best bet. MailerLite is one of the best blogger resources for anyone starting out. It’s free if you have less than 1000 subscribers, but has scope to grow as you do.
Thrive Leads
Of course, if you’re planning on sending out a newsletter you’ll need somewhere for people to subscribe. Thrive Leads also has a handy drag-and-drop editor that makes creating forms a breeze. You can create lots of different styles including banners, ribbons, and popups.
Canva Pro
Pinterest is a blogger’s best friend and when it comes to designing beautiful click-worthy pins, I recommend Canva all the way. The super easy-to-use drag-and-drop tool makes creating sleek and clickable designs, quick, easy, and also kinda fun!
VPN
Any business has private accounts, whether that’s banking information, social media login details, or even the login to your WordPress site. And for travel bloggers especially, or anyone who travels a lot with their business, having a private network is so important. A VPN will prevent anyone from hacking into your database and stealing your information.
WordPress Plugins
There are way too many plugins for travel bloggers to fit here. However, you will definitely need a few to keep your blog running smoothly. I recommend Yoast SEO, Google Analytics, Askimet Antispam, and Grow Social Share. Plus, even though it’s technically not a plugin, I can’t recommend Grammarly enough for editing content.
Lightroom Presets
A lot of taking a great photo is in the editing. I recommend using Adobe Lightroom to edit all your photos and investing in a good set of presets will make this a whole lot easier. Lightgram provides over 300 Lightroom presets for professional photographers. You can also use VSCO and Canva to edit your photos to a high quality.
Photography Gear
A lot of running a successful travel blog comes from taking the perfect picture. Check out my travel photography resources to learn what I use.