Sadly, there's no travel in the horizon for me this year. But not traveling does mean I have plenty of time to wander through cyberspace, reading, listening, and watching others on their journeys throughout the world.

Such is the case with TBEX 12, billed as 'the world's largest gathering travel bloggers, writers, and new media content creators'. I may not be there physically but I'm there virtually, chasing around the internet, tracking down posts about the conference.

Thanks to Travelllll.com, who are providing video coverage, a chatroom, and streaming updates, I've just been watching Rand Fishkin's informative talk on SEO Without Selling Your Soul (see video and also slide presentation)

Rand talks about how 'branding is key', even for travel bloggers and that you need to start thinking of your travel blog as a brand.

This TBEX presentation led me to Rand Fishkin's SEOMOZ website and his extremely detailed SEO 101 for Travel Bloggers, a must read for anyone serious about travel blogging.

1. Is blogging really a way for women to earn a living?

2.  Does rejection get you down? How to develop resilience as a freelance writer.

3. How to stop procrastinating and start writing

4.  What's it take to be a Lonely Planet guidebook writer? An interview with Brice Gosnell

5.  Adapt or die - the choice for guidebook writers?

Travel Writer Lee Foster talks at the April 2012 meeting of the Bay Area Travel Writers organization.

The video quality isn't great and the first 4-6 minutes are full of introductions and meeting formalities but if you skip forward to Lee's talk you might find some helpful tips on getting published as a travel writer

1. 7 Ways a Freelance Writer Can Create Retirement Income

2. 5 Harsh Realities of Making a Living Online 

3. 4 Ways To Hack Into Your Mind And Become Infinitely More Creative

4. The hardest part of blogging

5. Six Freelancing Tips from Hans Solo

VisitEngland.com is searching for a budding travel writer / broadcaster / social networker to take an all-expenses paid 70 day trip around England.

The chosen 'biggest fan' will take a trip around England in a van, following on the heels of the Olympic  Torch Relay

Requirements for the position are simple - you have to be a real England enthusiast who would be able to entertain England with videos, photos, blog posts, facebook and twitter updates.

According to the enjoyEngland website, the perfect fan is...

• is a go-getter who instinctively knows where the action is, and uncovers the best stories
• can write like a dream. All the better to blog with…
• has an mean eye for photography
• is charismatic, with a great sense of humour when things don’t go to plan…
• is utterly engaged with the task, and engaging by nature
• has a full, clean UK driving licence
• is over 21 years of age
• is available for adventures countrywide between 14 May – 27 July

Interested?

All you need to do is send VisitEngland 100 words on your favorite place in England along with a photograph by April 9th.