Finding Bloggers Who Fit Your Destination
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The "best" blogger or online publisher for your destination, attraction or hotel is the one who can reach YOUR market. For a webinar with TIAK (Travel Industry Association of Kansas.) My Tourism Currents team and I do online and in-person training in social media for tourism and hospitality - http://www.tourismcurrents.com
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Finding Bloggers Who Fit Your Destination
- 1. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents How to Identify the Bloggers Who Matter the Most Sheila Scarborough Tourism Currents
- 2. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents The bloggers who "matter most" are the ones who fit YOUR market
- 5. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Review your marketing plan How does online coverage support your plan?
- 6. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents What are your goals? What will you measure to see if you're meeting your goals?
- 7. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Your perfect blogger connects with your perfect visitor
- 9. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Equestrian destination? Nancy D. Brown / Writing Horseback
- 10. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents North Texas Small Town? Tui Snider / Mental Mosaic
- 11. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Los Angeles area? LACOT (Los Angeles Consortium of Online Travel)
- 12. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Middle of the U.S.? Adam Sommer / Visit Flyover Country
- 13. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Middle of the U.S.? Dominique King / Midwest Guest
- 14. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Ukulele Scene? Pam Mandel / Nerd's Eye View
- 17. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents But wait.... The "blogger who matters most" may not have a blog
- 21. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Want immediate or short-term impact? Twitter Facebook
- 23. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Want medium & long- term plus SEO impact? Blog posts Podcasts Google+ Photos & video
- 24. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents 134,750 downloads/month of a 30 min podcast
- 25. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents What does all this mean for your SEO?
- 26. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Social Media Matters for SEO ● Links count & bloggers know how to link ● Social signals affect search ranking ● Photos & video do well in search results ● Google isn't the only way travelers search ● Instagram & Twitter hashtags ● Pinterest ● Asking friends/family on Facebook
- 28. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Go Where They Are Online ● #TBEX - #TTOT - #TravelSkills ● Other Twitter chats relevant to your market & goals ● Passports with Purpose bloggers ● Facebook Groups ● LinkedIn (esp for B2B) ● Instagram hashtags
- 29. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Go Where They Are Offline ● TBEX & TBU conferences ● ITB Berlin, IPW, World Travel Market ● New Media Expo (formerly BlogWorld) ● Travel Media Showcase ● Travel Massives ● Social Media Clubs & Breakfasts ● Niche conferences: Beer, Food, Crafts, Pets
- 30. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Pay to Play ● PTBA (Prof. Travel Bloggers Association) ● Paid database info includes blogger stats ● Navigate Media ● iAmbassador ● Observe these brand bloggers: ● G Adventures "Wanderers in Residence" ● Expedia Viewfinder bloggers ● Housetrip Diplomats
- 31. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Photo Credits My own photos throughout, except.... ● Butterfly & bugs collection - Christian Guthier on Flickr CC ● Magic beans - rich13 on Flickr CC ● Gumby storm trooper - JD Hancock on Flickr CC ● Nancy D. Brown courtesy Writing Horseback Facebook Page ● Tui Snider courtesy her Facebook profile ● Jennifer Miner & Melanie Waldman courtesy LACOT ● Cape Girardeau photo courtesy Visit Flyover Country on Facebook
- 32. @SheilaS @TourismCurrents Thanks very much Sheila Scarborough @SheilaS Tourism Currents @TourismCurrents www.tourismcurrents.com
Editor's Notes
- For TIAK (Travel Industry Association of Kansas) The best blogger may not be a blogger Take a 360 view Know your market & ideal visitor/guest Niche rules DIY or pay Social signals feed SEO Google isn't the only way to search
- Coverage from a luxury travel blogger makes no sense for destinations or hotels that don't fit that niche.
- A stop sign in Chickasaw.
- Build relationships before you make the ask. Build relationships, not just a Rolodex. There's no magic list of bloggers that's right for YOU, other than the one YOU build.
- Who is your market Where are they online How can you get in front of them where they are
- Always know your overall marketing goals and which metrics or KPIs you're using to measure whether you're reaching your goals or not.
- The right blogger for you is the one who can best reach your target market.
- The social web makes it easier to find and connect with your niche markets.
- This writer is perfect for a dude ranch.
- Who are your regional bloggers? Find them.
- Regular meetups of Southern California travel bloggers.
- Adam specializes in the Midwest.
- Dominique also specializes in Midwest online coverage.
- No niche is too obscure, even ukulele. This person is a travel blogger, yes, but she's also in an ukulele rock band.
- Official bloggers for Illinois tourism. Note that Adam Sommers from Visit Flyover Country is one of them; he has multiple outlets
- The official Kansas tourism blog; does an excellent job of covering small towns and niche areas. Get to know the people who blog for it!
- Online publishing goes way beyond blogs.
- Keep your overall marketing goals in mind when you consider what kind of online coverage you seek.
- Sherry Ott has a travel blog, but she's also big on Instagram. Note the #ad hashtag – she is properly disclosing a sponsored/comped trip as required by the FTC (Federal Trade Commission.)
- Flickr is still valid, mostly for SEO value. Video: not just YouTube, but also Vimeo, Vine, and short video on Flickr and Instagram.
- Spike in activity during one of the oldest and biggest chats on Twitter, #blogchat (every Sunday night at 8pm CST.)
- Blog posts have legs; they're the gift that keeps on giving over months and years. Google+ SEO impact is undeniable.
- Podcast listeners are very loyal, this coverage also has long staying power. This is Chris Christensen with the Amateur Traveler.
- Social matters for search. A lot.
- With any group you want to influence: you must go where they are.
- Note that #TTOT (Travel Talk on Twitter) and #TravelSkills are also regular Twitter chats, and #TBEX is also a conference. Note re: LinkedIn. There are your meeting and event planners, tour operators and economic development people.
- There's a conference for every niche.
- These organizations will work to set up fam trips/press trips for a fee.