Why I Chose Blogger for a Travel Tutorial Blog, Against Popular Advice

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Why I Chose Blogger for a Travel Tutorial Blog (Against Popular Advice)

Most people will tell you that Blogger is outdated for travel blogging. I used to believe that too—until I actually tried running a travel tutorial blog on it. The truth is uncomfortable for “platform snobs”: Blogger still works incredibly well if your focus is clarity, speed, and long-term stability rather than fancy plugins.

When I started documenting my travel routes—bus connections, border crossings, walking trails—I realized something: maps mattered more than themes. Blogger handled that perfectly, with less friction than most CMS platforms.

Defining the Right Concept: Travel Tutorials, Not Travel Stories

Before touching design or maps, you must define your blog’s identity. A travel tutorial blog is fundamentally different from a travel diary.

What Makes a Travel Tutorial Blog Different?

• It teaches how to travel, not just where you went
• It includes routes, logistics, and step-by-step movement
• It prioritizes maps, screenshots, and practical visuals

This distinction matters for SEO. Google understands “how-to travel” queries very differently from inspirational travel content.

Setting Up Blogger for Travel Tutorials (Minimal but Intentional)

Theme Selection: Boring Is Good

Here’s a contrarian take: do not choose a “travel theme.” Choose a clean, documentation-style layout. White background, readable fonts, zero distractions. Travelers searching tutorials are often stressed or tired—they want answers, not mood boards.

Essential Pages You Actually Need

• Start Here (explains how to use your maps)
• Travel Routes Index
• About (with credibility, not ego)

Adding Interactive Maps to Blogger (The Practical Way)

Option 1: Google My Maps (Still the Most Reliable)

Google My Maps integrates cleanly with Blogger via iframe. You can:

• Create layered routes (bus, walking, train)
• Add notes for each stop
• Update maps without editing posts

How I Personally Structure My Maps

Instead of one massive map per country, I create:

• One map per city or route
• Color-coded layers for transport types
• Markers that match section headings in the article

This dramatically improves user retention—people scroll back and forth between text and map instead of bouncing.

Embedding Maps Without Killing Page Speed

A common mistake is embedding maps at the top of the article. I learned the hard way that this hurts loading time on mobile connections (especially in developing regions).

What works better:

• Place maps after the first 2–3 paragraphs
• Use a static image preview linking to the map
• Embed only one interactive map per page

SEO for Travel Tutorials: What Actually Works

Search Intent Beats Keywords

Instead of targeting “best places to visit,” I target queries like:

• How to get from A to B
• Border crossing steps
• Public transport routes tourists miss

These queries convert better and face less competition. They also age well.

Internal Linking That Makes Sense

Every tutorial should link to:

• A broader route overview
• A related city guide
• A transport-specific article

This builds topical authority naturally—no forced keyword loops.

Honest Opinion: Interactive Maps Are a Commitment

Here’s the part most guides won’t tell you: interactive maps require maintenance. Roads change. Bus stations move. Borders close.

If you are not willing to update maps at least twice a year, don’t build your blog around them. But if you do maintain them, your content becomes evergreen in a way few travel blogs achieve.

Uncommon Ideas to Stand Out

• Add “What Went Wrong on This Route” sections
• Create maps for failed plans, not just success stories
• Include offline navigation tips for low-signal areas

Recommended Reading (Internal Network)

• Read more practical blogging insights
• Travel hacks and real-world tips
• Monetizing informational blogs responsibly
• Digital tools for content creators
• Personal blogging experiments
• Devices that actually help travelers

Final Thought

A Blogger travel tutorial blog with interactive maps is not trendy—but it is effective. If your goal is usefulness over vanity metrics, this approach quietly outperforms many modern setups. Sometimes, the best travel tools are the ones that simply work everywhere.