Since the advent of the internet, everyone and their uncle has been offering advice on travel writing. Most of this advice is well meaning, but much of it is outdated, ineffective or just misinformed. Therefore, it needs debunking.<\/p>\n

Pooling the extensive travel writing knowledge of our writers, we’ve come up with a shortlist of questionable tips that are regurgitated online again and again. So, without further ado, here are four bad tips that are best ignored.<\/p>\n

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\u201cBe controversial\u201d<\/strong>
\nThese days, as travel blogs and magazines are getting more and more competitive, everyone is trying\u00a0to make an impact. As a result, bloggers and writers are increasingly looking at ways to shake things up and get noticed both in the travel realm and beyond.<\/p>\n

The thing is, controversy for controversy\u2019s sake rarely works. And if you can\u2019t truly stand behind the argument you\u2019re making, then there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll end up red-faced.<\/p>\n

For example, naming and shaming what you feel are overrated travel destinations is controversial but valid, but slating whole countries or cultures on a whim is feeble and offensive. We\u2019re not saying you should avoid stepping on any toes, just that you need to be sure you truly believe what you are saying and are willing (and more importantly able) to defend it when challenged. A more useful and practical travel writing tip would be, \u201cDon\u2019t be afraid to be controversial when necessary<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe list post is dead\u201d<\/strong>
\nFor years, people have been advising writers to avoid the list format, yet the list article lives on. What’s more, long established newspapers and magazines are increasingly using ‘in brief’ list articles to grab readers’ attention. The statistics suggest that list posts still lure people in, so if you want to attract readers, you might want to reconsider.<\/p>\n

Of course, whether you choose to write list posts or not is entirely up to you (or your editor). But there are many different formats of travel writing available, and the list post is as popular – and as meritable – as it’s ever been.<\/p>\n

\u201cKeyword density matters\u201d<\/strong>
\nKeywords are fine when used in moderation, but it\u2019s vitally important to remember there is such a thing as over-optimisation. As Google\u2019s algorithms are getting smarter and smarter, they\u2019re doing a pretty good job of recognising unique, compelling content, without needing to have endlessly repetitive keywords shoved in their face. If you continue to jam in too many keywords, expect to be penalised.<\/p>\n

More importantly, the quality of your written travel content should come first and a writer\u2019s main job is to provide compelling content. Crowbarring in keywords where they don\u2019t fit will only derail your copy, so they should be secondary to the quality and flow of your piece. It helps to remember that Google isn’t your\u00a0target audience.<\/p>\n

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\u201cLet people behind the scenes\/show them the process\u201d<\/strong>
\nHere\u2019s a content tip we see bandied about a lot online, particularly when it comes to blogging or social media. The argument goes: \u201cLet people behind the scenes \u2013 It shows you\u2019re authentic\/transparent.\u201d This isn\u2019t necessarily wrong. In fact, it\u2019s often true. But not in all cases. Sometimes, letting people view the process can ruin the magic.<\/p>\n

For instance, most people enjoy experiencing behind-the-scenes tidbits from NASA\u2019s space-bound astronauts or seeing other people\u2019s quality travel pictures. On the other hand, most people don’t\u00a0like seeing pictures of computer screens, hearing about boring lunches or about the minutiae of\u00a0bus journeys and travel itineraries.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s important to remember is that sometimes the behind-the-scenes parts of travel writing are hidden for good reason. Because \u2014 to be blunt \u2014 they are boring. If you try to let readers into the process of what\u2019s going on day-to-day, you may soon find why this information was kept strictly ‘behind the scenes’ in the first place.<\/p>\n

Are there any other top travel writing tips you feel are just plain wrong? Come and tell us all about them on Twitter<\/a>.\u00a0Or to see more of our work here at World Words travel writing agency, have a look at our portfolio<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Career Advice<\/a> CC image\u00a0courtesy of Quinn Dombrowski<\/a>; Behind the Scenes<\/a> CC\u00a0image courtesy of Thomas Leth-Olsen<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Since the advent of the internet, everyone and their uncle has been offering advice on travel writing. Most of this advice is well meaning, but much of it is outdated, ineffective or just misinformed. Therefore, it needs debunking. Pooling the … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[889],"tags":[913,983,985,1045,1084,1115,1154,1158,1270,1271,1272,149,1273,896,1274,898,901,903,904],"yoast_head":"\n