Do travel hubs do well?

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   theluckywriterposted 10 years ago

   I'm thinking about writing several more hubs about travel - in Canada, mostly (city guides, things to do, attractions, etc). Do travel hubs tend to perform well on HubPages? I'm wondering if it's worth trying to build myself a niche.

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      Simone Smithposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      As with all things, it depends! The more competitive research you do to see what's already out there, the better.
      Also, avoid using storefront / restaurant names in titles; those tend to get crowded out by review site results.
      That said, I've seen travel Hubs that really leverage local expertise and include a lot of original photos and cool tips to do exceedingly well. I'm glad you'll be creating these Canadian city guides!

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         thanks for the info! I'm not really on HubPages to make money...I just don't want to put work into something that no one will read. The whole point is to help people and share my experiences.

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      Chinaimportposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I did a hub for visiting Guangzhou (China) six weeks back all with original pictures and plenty of tips based on my personal experience.  It currently ranks between position 3 to10 based on search key words and how google treats me on that particular day.   I have received about 200 views, 70 from hub pages and rest organic Google traffic.
      
      I am new here and making money is not my primary focus so I did not bother to research keyword traffic stats.  Hope this helps, Cheers!

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         My primary focus isn't money either. I just want to share my experiences...and actually have people read them.

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      Joanne M Olivieriposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      It sounds interesting and I would love to read them.  I have a mixture of hubs but my travel hubs seem to do better than my others.  It's all about expressing your own travel experiences.

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         That's really why I want to write them! I love travel stories and would love to share stuff. It would just be nice to know that some people might read them. 

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            chinaredposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            "They" say, write what you know, and if travel fits into that category, do it. I try to make them fun by adding a bit of humor. I think I'm like most people; I research and read articles before I travel to those places. Great way to get reviews. I've never been to Canada, but here it's beautiful. I'd love to read about you real life experiences.

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      chinaredposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I agree. I think not only are they useful for wannabe travelers living vicariously through other peoples adventures, they should also provide material what a person can expect once they arrive. I've written about five travel hubs that seem to do pretty well.

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the feedback! I think I'll go ahead and write them.

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      Rock_njposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I wrote two Hubs about traveling in Canada.  One about Traveling across Canada and the other about Visiting Calgary.  They have received sporadic traffic.  There is a lot of competition for travel articles on the Internet.  But give it your best shot and write about something you know and understand.  Why not?

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Something to think about! I think I'll go ahead and write them, and then see if it's worth continuing. Thanks!

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      Suhail and my dogposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I would say best of luck to you. Canada does need lots of exposure.
      
      To share my experience, I am into hiking and trekking (and that too with my dog(s)) and would love to do travel hubs on this interest for destinations in Canada and the USA. I have done only 1 this far though - hiking through Bruce Peninsula National Park. The traffic has been OK
      
      I will continue writing, although like many others,  my focus is not making money here. Thanks God, I am making good money in my current job lol.

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         theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I'm just starting to get into hiking and trekking, so I'll have to check out your hubs. Thanks for mentioning them!

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   felix09posted 10 years ago

   I think they do well if you are actually writing about real travel experiences. A travel write should have a travel experience

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed! I would never write about something that I hadn't experienced. We travel a lot around Canada and have lived all over the country, so I'd only be writing about places that I've been.

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   Kathryn Stratfordposted 10 years ago

   That would be very interesting to read about!

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Well, I've already started - with guides to the cross-Canada train trip and Ucluelet/Tofino in British Columbia - so I hope you're right! 

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         innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I would absolutely love to read your train journey hub. We've been to those towns on a road trip, and I'm very keen to see the Rockies again, by train if possible. Love B.C.

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            theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            innerspin, if you check my profile, you'll see it! It's easy to find...I only have 5 hubs. 

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   HowToposted 10 years ago

   Well, I only have 4 hubs, so the sample is limited, but among my hubs, the best performing is the travel one.

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the feedback!

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   Thelma Albertsposted 10 years ago

   Well, I hope so. I hub lots of travel hubs and it´s quiet good for me.

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      Thelma Albertsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry for the spelling. I mean " I have" not I hub.

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I'm glad to hear that it's working well for you! Thanks for the feedback.

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   relacheposted 10 years ago

   Travel hubs can face some stiff competition.  It's a potent topic on the 'net at large so you need a unique angle.  Also, it needs to be a place that people are actively visiting.  We had someone here who did a lot of good stuff on the Canary Islands, but then complained he never got traffic.  But he couldn't ever seem to figure out why.

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I hear you on that. I'm not really looking to make money...just to share information. I just don't want to spend a lot of time on it if no one will ever read it. I think maybe I'll write a few, and see how they do.
      
      ...and I guess I won't publish the hub about the Canary Islands that I spent hours on last night. Ha!

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         afundaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         
         i just laughed when I read this, because I am thinking of expanding into travel hubs as well, and my guide to Gran Canaria is almost finished.
         
         i still plan to publish it - partially because od money, but more importantly because you can't really find anything useful about Gran Canaria online (at least not for my profile of people).

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            theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Well, maybe yours will do really well! I - for one - have never even thought of going to Gran Canaria before this thread, so I'll keep an eye out for your hub...maybe you'll be the one to convince me to go! 

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      innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      People I know who go to the Canaries are only interested in lying on a beach and getting drunk! You don't need to read anything to be able to do that. Sad but true.

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   innerspinposted 10 years ago

   Yay! I thought you meant it was work in progress....off to read.

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      So innerspin...be completely (and brutally) honest...is it worth making more travel guides? Did you find them useful (or at least interesting)? Thanks so much for all of your help!

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         innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         theluckywriter, you asked what I thought about your hubs. I found the train journey very interesting, as it's something I'd love to do. You have useful tips regarding eating arrangements, and general pointers. Showing the layout of the cabins was a good idea. I did wonder what time of year you went - maybe I blinked and missed that. Do you know which season is more/less expensive to travel, or if it's most worth going at a particular time of year? I was slightly disappointed there weren't more pictures of the scenery, but I know photos don't do it justice. I think you did a good job.
         
         I also found the Tofino/Ucluelet hub interesting, but not on the same level. I did wonder how much the ziplining cost - did you have a go? You could say how it felt. Similarly the kayaking. How much does it cost to hire a kayak, for how long? Can you get lifejackets or instructions? Just a rough idea. Is it best to book in advance?
         
         I'd have liked to see a picture of the hot springs, and more detail of the journey to get there, eg how long it takes and a rough price guide. Do you have to pay to use the springs? Can you hire bikes anywhere in the area? So I did like the hub, and a few more details would be great. Keep up the good work!

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            theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Wow. You're pretty much...amazing. Seriously. Thank you so much for taking the time to give me all of that feedback. I appreciate it so very, very much. I'm going to update my hub with the information that you asked for.
            
            You're a rockstar! THanks again!

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               innerspinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Golly, I'm blushing now!  You're very welcome. I know I sometimes  write hubs to "get them out there," then go back and add to them as I think of more points. They do say Google likes new content. Make sure you wait till a new hub's cleared pending before editing, otherwise it re-sets the pending "clock" and you have a frustrating extra wait.

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                  theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I've made some changes, thanks to your feedback. I might also go back and add some more photos eventually. Thanks again!

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   imtiaz191290posted 10 years ago

   I have written one. But Then decided to write on recipes because I think I am best at it.

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My recipes would be awful. It's a good thing I'm going to stick to travel. Ha!

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   MissBrandoposted 10 years ago

   I think they can be really popular especially if it's a personal experience and you have pictures of your trip. My most popular hub is a travel one!

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      theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the feedback!

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    Iammattdoranposted 10 years ago

    I returned home only a couple of weeks after spending 12 months travelling around the world.  I found Hubpages as I wanted somewhere to share my experiences, and if I make a bit of money then that's a bonus.  I don't go back to work for another week so I'm taking this opportunity to reflect on all my adventures and makes lots of notes and prep for future hubs.  I hope to publish at least one new hub every week written from first hand experience.  I look forward to reading your Canada Travel Hubs.
    Matt

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       theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       That's how I feel too. I spend way too many hours researching travel online, and sometimes find it difficult to just find people's experiences. Hubpages seems like a good place to do that!

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    Kasmanposted 10 years ago

    I certainly hope they do well, lol. I'm about to write some hubs soon about my travels around the world....anywhere from Brazil to New Zealand!

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       theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I''m looking forward to reading them!

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    kashmir-ladakhposted 10 years ago

    if you will write good informative hubs they will work well on hub pages.

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       theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       We'll see if that's true!  I hope so! 

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    mistcoolingposted 10 years ago

    Seems interesting and I would like to read....

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       theluckywriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Thanks mistcooling! I have two more in the works right now.

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    daydreamsposted 10 years ago

    I've written some and haven't had much traffic, although I receive positive comments on them. Most of the places I have written about are very obscure and not well known though, so I am wondering if the secret might be to write about somewhere reasonably well known, but not a major tourist world renowned tourist site, or to think of a particular angle you can offer advice about.
    
    I'm interested to see what works for other people.

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       Rock_njposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       It is quite a quandary.  Obscure travel spots aren't going to get many searches in search engines, whereas popular travel spots have been written about extensively both by professional travel sites and by a lot of bloggers and online writers.  I would suggest focus on somewhat popular travel spots (the really popular ones may have too much competition to rank highly) that get a decent amount of searches, and use the keyword tools to find some search terms associated with these spots that don't have a lot of competition.

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