Today’s episode focuses on four travel blogger questions. I discuss the best way to disclose a blog has affiliate links, no follow rules for sponsored content, if you need dedicated social media for blog and when it’s too soon to start your travel website.
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Ask Alexa Questions:
Question: From Tonya with www.detailorientedtraveler.com
What is the best way to disclose a blog has affiliate links. I dont’ want to take up valuable SEO on the first paragraph, but know it needs to be done early. What are your recommendations for wording affiliate disclosures? Thanks!
Answer:
Disclosure should go at the top of page that contains affiliate links. Below are some examples of disclaimers.
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Question: From Mikkel Mihlrad from @sometimeshome on Instagram
Alexa, I really adore your Ask Alexa and learn so much from it. And have been loving your podcasts, especially people who reassure us newbies to keep at it and success will follow. My question is about “no follow links.” Can you explain them from the ground up? What are they, why are they important? I hear them mentioned in sponsored posts but I don’t really understand what they are. I feel like I need “no follow links for dummies” help. Thank you in advance!
Answer:
It just so happens I did write a post on FTC Disclosure Guidelines for Travel Bloggers which also covers no follow links.
Here are some of the basics about no follow links based on Google’s rules.
Goolge does not want you to pass PageRank for Paid links. Now, in the world of blogging, paid content isn’t just for an exchange of money, it also includes comps and freebies and even discounts. All of these are considered compensation. So, to break it down a little further, if you………..
- Receive a free product and review it
- Link to the product’s website and receive a commission via an affiliate program
- Receive money, product or services for posting about a product (media trip)
They way you actually create a no follow link is to go into your text editor and add a rel nofollow to all of your sponsored backlinks.
Example of text for regular link: <a href=”http://52perfectdays.com/”>52 Perfect Days</a>
Example of no follow link: <a href=”http://52perfectdays.com/” rel=”nofollow”>52 Perfect Days</a>
Question: From Laryssa www.flightattentantswife.com
My question is I have a blog www.flightattendantswife.com and my instagram is under laryssaphotos and one of my Facebook pages is under photosbylaryssa. Should I have a flightattendantswife facebook page? I’ve got over 150 followers on Instagram (I know not a lot, but a lot for me) and I’d like to keep those but I’m wondering if I should have Facebook for my blog also? Also, when are you going to do another Instagram challenge?
Answer:
You should have one set of dedicated social media for each platform. For the full answer and reasoning make sure to check out the podcast episode!
Question: From Jim with http://www.travelstoriesandimages.com
I’m unsure if the traveling I’ve done is enough for me to have an interesting travel blog and ongoing content. I used to travel as part of my job and spent a ton of time exploring San Francisco, and I’ve been to Europe and Japan maybe 5-10 times each for work. My wife and I also take one “big trip” a year – usually a cruise on a larger ship line (NCL, Royal Caribbean, etc.) or a land tour, and almost always go out of the country. So I really only travel recreationally 1-2 times a year. Is that enough, or should I wait until I have more travel under my belt? Thanks!
Answer:
Yes! Start now. (You can find the longer and more thoughtful answer on the podcast episode!)
Episode Resources
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That is it for today! Thank you to Jaime & XX for today’s awesome questions! If you have a question about travel blogging, writing, photography or SEO, Web or Social Media for travel blogging that you would like answered on my Podcast, simply submit your question to bitw/askalexa and I’ll answer it on an upcoming episode.
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