How to Build a Free Travel Website

People have become accustomed to shopping for travel deals online. If you're a travel agent with an established clientele, creating a web presence is a good way to grow your business. If you're a beginner with travel tips and reviews to share, a website is a good way to get that information out. There are a lot of free web hosting companies and most of them provide site-building tools so you don't need to be an expert at creating websites. You can build a free travel website in a matter of hours.

For Travel Professionals

1 Buy your domain name and sign up with a no-charge web hosting company like Synthasite or Webs. Domain name refers to the words someone types into the address bar on his browser. Choose something that's easy for your customers to remember, like your company name.

2 Create a home page that provides the information your customers or readers need. Include your company history. Explain your qualifications as a travel expert. Include your photo and all your contact information.

3 Use lots of pictures of travel destinations, but resize them so that they don't make your pages load slowly.

4 Mention any special services you offer, such as group travel or discounts. Since most travel agents have access to the same tools, explain why you're the best choice.

5 Link to airline, cruise and hotel websites if you don't do the actual booking. Make sure these links open in another page so that your visitors don't leave your website.

6 Write a blog about current trends in travel. Include travel tips that only an insider would know. Update your blog every few days. Relate personal travel anecdotes that are amusing or useful to your visitors.

7 Post the State Department's travel warnings. These can be found at the State Department website.

8 Make your site keyword heavy by using words that will bring your site into the top rankings in search engines. Keywords are the words a person looking for a travel website would type into a search engine. Sprinkle these words throughout your site.

For the Travel Enthusiast

1 Select a domain name and choose a no-charge web hosting company like Synthasite or Webs. Choose a name that's easy to remember and reflects your site's personality.

2 Create a home page that will make visitors return by keeping the content fresh and interesting. Set the tone for your website whether it's serious, fun or simply informational. Link to appropriate websites.

3 Write a blog. Relate amusing and useful personal travel anecdotes. Note travel trends. Update your blog every few days.

4 Post travel reviews. Include restaurants, hotels and local festivals. Add everything a traveler to that location would want to know. Mention unusual and off-beat attractions.

5 Use photographs of travel destinations. Resize them so that your pages don't load slowly. Use your web host's site-building tools to create themed photo galleries. Caption your photos and include photo credits.