Blogging For Travelers how the Arizona Office of Tourism started* a blog. *is starting

Travel 2.0 An industry-focused blog which discusses the latest trends in technology and the effect on the travel industry. Be confident and comfortable about the topic. Be aware of the dedication required. Be patient while building your audience. Post often. Post actionable topics. Cultivate your community. Participate and communicate with other bloggers.

Travel 2.0

An industry-focused blog which discusses the latest trends in technology and the effect on the travel industry.

Be confident and comfortable about the topic.

Be aware of the dedication required.

Be patient while building your audience.

Post often.

Post actionable topics.

Cultivate your community.

Participate and communicate with other bloggers.

Why a blog? Why should the Arizona Office of Tourism, or any travel organization, start a blog? Communicate openly with potential travelers. Provides an alternative form of communication. Engage the influencer audience. SEO. Change perception of your destination. Public relations. (Somewhat) Easy solution for online participation. Employee ownership / pride / moral.

Why a blog?

Why should the Arizona Office of Tourism, or any travel organization, start a blog?

Communicate openly with potential travelers.

Provides an alternative form of communication.

Engage the influencer audience.

SEO.

Change perception of your destination.

Public relations.

(Somewhat) Easy solution for online participation.

Employee ownership / pride / moral.

Random Stats. According to Forrester Research, the demographic breakdown of ‘Spectators,’ defined as online users who read blogs, watch videos or listen to podcasts. 49% of 12-17 59% of 18-21 54% of 22-26 41% of 27-40 31% of 41-50 26% of 51-61 19% of 62+

Random Stats.

According to Forrester Research, the demographic breakdown of ‘Spectators,’ defined as online users who read blogs, watch videos or listen to podcasts.

49% of 12-17

59% of 18-21

54% of 22-26

41% of 27-40

31% of 41-50

26% of 51-61

19% of 62+

Rethink success. Would you rather have… 500 people who have actively subscribed to receive near-daily updates from a blog. Or 5,000 people who have subscribed to receive monthly emails (that they don’t open).

What you need. So, you have decided to start a blog. But where to start? What do you need? Multiple, dedicated bloggers. Blogger / content schedule. Turn-key blogging platform. Design / layout / specs. Tone / voice guidelines. General blog guidelines. Marketing / promotional / distribution plan. Goals / tracking / statistics / monitoring.

What you need.

So, you have decided to start a blog. But where to start? What do you need?

Multiple, dedicated bloggers.

Blogger / content schedule.

Turn-key blogging platform.

Design / layout / specs.

Tone / voice guidelines.

General blog guidelines.

Marketing / promotional / distribution plan.

Goals / tracking / statistics / monitoring.

Consider. Prior to launching your new blog, consider these points. Will you and your team dedicate the time required? How do you motivate the blogging team? Will you openly show blogger(s) identity? What happens when a blogger leaves? How will you address negative comments? Does the organization understand the commitment? Is this the right tool for your demo / audience? How will your blog fill a void?

Consider.

Prior to launching your new blog, consider these points.

Will you and your team dedicate the time required?

How do you motivate the blogging team?

Will you openly show blogger(s) identity?

What happens when a blogger leaves?

How will you address negative comments?

Does the organization understand the commitment?

Is this the right tool for your demo / audience?

How will your blog fill a void?

What to do. The good stuff. Write all of this down at least 3x in your little notebook. Know your audience. Begin posting content to your blog prior to launch. Determine the SEO value of /blog or blog(dot). Research and find other local bloggers. Develop a 3 and 6 month evaluation plan. Prepare for pain. Incorporate your blog in everything. Read, friend, link, talk, learn, reference. Use proper grammar and punctuation.

What to do.

The good stuff. Write all of this down at least 3x in your little notebook.

Know your audience.

Begin posting content to your blog prior to launch.

Determine the SEO value of /blog or blog(dot).

Research and find other local bloggers.

Develop a 3 and 6 month evaluation plan.

Prepare for pain.

Incorporate your blog in everything.

Read, friend, link, talk, learn, reference.

Use proper grammar and punctuation.

What not to do. The bad stuff. Whatever you do, don’t do this. Post infrequently. Disguise or fake your identity. Write content months ahead of time. Farm out the work. Delete / erase comments w/o guidelines. Ignore comments. Plagiarize. Obsess over traffic and PageRank. Get off topic. Consider yourself bigger than your readers.

What not to do.

The bad stuff. Whatever you do, don’t do this.

Post infrequently.

Disguise or fake your identity.

Write content months ahead of time.

Farm out the work.

Delete / erase comments w/o guidelines.

Ignore comments.

Plagiarize.

Obsess over traffic and PageRank.

Get off topic.

Consider yourself bigger than your readers.

Examples. I hope no one from the ‘bad examples’ group is in the room. (If you are, sorry, try harder) The Good Travel Oregon uwishunu Pennsylvania The Bad Delaware Scottsdale South Idaho

Examples.

I hope no one from the ‘bad examples’ group is in the room. (If you are, sorry, try harder)

The Good

Travel Oregon

uwishunu

Pennsylvania

The Bad

Delaware

Scottsdale

South Idaho

Me. Troy Thompson Senior Interactive Marketing Manager Arizona Office of Tourism [email_address] Blog: travel2dot0.wordpress.com