Comments on: Marketing Travel: a role for bloggers http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/ connect. engage. and grow Sat, 29 May 2010 16:11:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Marketing travel: travel blogger case studies | velvet connect http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Marketing travel: travel blogger case studies | velvet connect Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:31:32 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-86 [...] wrote an article several months ago about the role travel bloggers can play in marketing travel. Since then, I’ve been on two travel blogger press (or ‘fam’) trips. Travel [...] [...] wrote an article several months ago about the role travel bloggers can play in marketing travel. Since then, I’ve been on two travel blogger press (or ‘fam’) trips. Travel [...]

]]> By: velvet http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-51 velvet Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:11:24 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-51 Hi JoAnna, Oh, you're definitely on the list! :-) ps/thanks for the comment. Cheers, Keith Hi JoAnna,
Oh, you’re definitely on the list! :-)
ps/thanks for the comment.
Cheers,
Keith

]]> By: JoAnna http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-50 JoAnna Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:04:03 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-50 I agree with Dian that writers would need to be honest and straightforward upfront about any comped stays/tours/meals they received. That said, this would give travel bloggers more fodder for their blogs, force hospitality services to up the ante and provide potential visitors/users honest critiques of the services and amenities they can expect to experience. Let me know if your idea goes anywhere ~ would love to be included on that list of trusted Velvet Connect travel bloggers. :) I agree with Dian that writers would need to be honest and straightforward upfront about any comped stays/tours/meals they received. That said, this would give travel bloggers more fodder for their blogs, force hospitality services to up the ante and provide potential visitors/users honest critiques of the services and amenities they can expect to experience.

Let me know if your idea goes anywhere ~ would love to be included on that list of trusted Velvet Connect travel bloggers. :)

]]> By: velvet http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-49 velvet Mon, 12 Oct 2009 21:21:48 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-49 Hi Dian, Thanks for your comment. Agree with you there. It should be clear when a trip is being sponsored and I would add, the blogger should have sufficient room to also comment on less positive aspects (in a constructive manner). Cheers, Keith Hi Dian,
Thanks for your comment. Agree with you there. It should be clear when a trip is being sponsored and I would add, the blogger should have sufficient room to also comment on less positive aspects (in a constructive manner).

Cheers,
Keith

]]> By: Dian http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Dian Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:45:43 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-48 Hi Keith, I recently was invited on a fam tour by Biltmore Estate to visit Asheville NC and of course tweeted about the experience. I think the trip was a valuable exercise for both myself and Biltmore. I had previously visited the city on a very short visit and felt that I had not had enough time to really experience everything. Biltmore was interested in an expanded review of their estate and the city. My one caution is the bloggers must clearly state when and if a trip has been sponsored and by whom. Hi Keith,
I recently was invited on a fam tour by Biltmore Estate to visit Asheville NC and of course tweeted about the experience. I think the trip was a valuable exercise for both myself and Biltmore. I had previously visited the city on a very short visit and felt that I had not had enough time to really experience everything. Biltmore was interested in an expanded review of their estate and the city.
My one caution is the bloggers must clearly state when and if a trip has been sponsored and by whom.

]]> By: velvet http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-47 velvet Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:42:54 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-47 Thanks Evelyn for this wonderful comment. I do agree 100% with your thoughts. Not everyone can do it well and it is important to be selective. That's where I see Velvet Connect playing a role - in recommending people who I know will do a great job in communicating effectively. About the 'honesty' factor. I thought very hard about it when I wrote this post and I took comfort in Stephanie's tweets about having to pay significant sums for internet access at the resort. There should definitely be room for constructive criticism which both parties can discuss. I think the sponsoring party can definitely benefit from the feedback provided. Thanks once again for your comment. I really appreciate it. Cheers, Keith Thanks Evelyn for this wonderful comment. I do agree 100% with your thoughts. Not everyone can do it well and it is important to be selective. That’s where I see Velvet Connect playing a role – in recommending people who I know will do a great job in communicating effectively.

About the ‘honesty’ factor. I thought very hard about it when I wrote this post and I took comfort in Stephanie’s tweets about having to pay significant sums for internet access at the resort. There should definitely be room for constructive criticism which both parties can discuss. I think the sponsoring party can definitely benefit from the feedback provided.

Thanks once again for your comment. I really appreciate it.

Cheers,
Keith

]]> By: Evelyn Hannon http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Evelyn Hannon Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:09:25 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-46 In principal this is a great idea and I agree wholeheartedly. I'd like to add a few thoughts. We all know that not all writers and travel agents are born equal. And just because someone has a lot of followers doesn't to my mind make them a good candidate for tweeting. I like to look at how the followers are acquired and whether these folks tweet and retweet with discretion. Then I put the responsibility into the hands of the PR and Tourism Boards. Sending out tweets about their destination is not enough. To be ahead of the game they should have their eyes wide open in terms of identifying candidates to sponsor and then ...most importantly ... will they encourage these reporters to tweet about the negative as well as the positive. And, when you, the writers, are guests will you feel uncomfortable tweeting about something that doesn't appeal to you knowing that your host is reading your comments in 'real time.' It's really hard for most people to be honest in this type of situation. This opportunity is not as simple as it sounds for both the writer and the destination. That said we should all be thinking about ways this instant travel reporting can take place honestly and how it can happen in a sponsored situation. Thanks for this post, Keith and for giving me the opportunity to think about it and comment. In principal this is a great idea and I agree wholeheartedly. I’d like to add a few thoughts. We all know that not all writers and travel agents are born equal. And just because someone has a lot of followers doesn’t to my mind make them a good candidate for tweeting. I like to look at how the followers are acquired and whether these folks tweet and retweet with discretion.

Then I put the responsibility into the hands of the PR and Tourism Boards. Sending out tweets about their destination is not enough. To be ahead of the game they should have their eyes wide open in terms of identifying candidates to sponsor and then …most importantly … will they encourage these reporters to tweet about the negative as well as the positive. And, when you, the writers, are guests will you feel uncomfortable tweeting about something that doesn’t appeal to you knowing that your host is reading your comments in ‘real time.’ It’s really hard for most people to be honest in this type of situation. This opportunity is not as simple as it sounds for both the writer and the destination.

That said we should all be thinking about ways this instant travel reporting can take place honestly and how it can happen in a sponsored situation.

Thanks for this post, Keith and for giving me the opportunity to think about it and comment.

]]> By: Rachelle http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Rachelle Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:04:52 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-45 It's so true! Everytime I go on a trip I tweet what I'm doing in real time. People enjoy following along like a mini-tv travel series on Twitter. I get great feedback on what to check out where ever I am traveling as well as a ton of questions from people following along. Twitter is a great way for companies in the travel industry to start a buzz. Great for @TravelDesigned to be in Maya Riviera! I was just there in August. Mexico needs some help overcoming the swine flu notices being blown out of proportion. I had a great time, didn't get sick ... didn't even meet anyone that was sick. The beaches are gorgeous and the water as blue as the sky. --Rachelle aka @Travelblggr It’s so true! Everytime I go on a trip I tweet what I’m doing in real time. People enjoy following along like a mini-tv travel series on Twitter. I get great feedback on what to check out where ever I am traveling as well as a ton of questions from people following along. Twitter is a great way for companies in the travel industry to start a buzz.

Great for @TravelDesigned to be in Maya Riviera! I was just there in August. Mexico needs some help overcoming the swine flu notices being blown out of proportion. I had a great time, didn’t get sick … didn’t even meet anyone that was sick. The beaches are gorgeous and the water as blue as the sky.

–Rachelle
aka @Travelblggr

]]> By: velvet http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-44 velvet Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:24:46 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-44 Thank you for your comment Janice. When I was on the Amalfi coast last week and sent various tweets and pics, my followers were re-tweeting my tweets and pictures. Many fellow Tweeps were as excited as I was about the sights. There are definitely opportunities for bloggers and the travel industry to collaborate. I too believe it would be a win-win proposition. Cheers, Keith Thank you for your comment Janice. When I was on the Amalfi coast last week and sent various tweets and pics, my followers were re-tweeting my tweets and pictures. Many fellow Tweeps were as excited as I was about the sights. There are definitely opportunities for bloggers and the travel industry to collaborate. I too believe it would be a win-win proposition.

Cheers,
Keith

]]> By: Janice http://velvetconnect.com/2009/10/marketing-travel-a-role-for-bloggers/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Janice Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:14:04 +0000 http://velvetconnect.com/?p=128#comment-43 I think using Twitter in this way is a 'win' for everyone. Travelers enjoy learning about destinations and/or living vicariously through the travel of others. They can do so in real time with Twitter. Agents can use Twitter to share their travels, differentiate themselves from other agents and develop loyalty with customers. Bloggers already tweet about our travels and travelers, our followers on Twitter, follow our trip and share in the experience. I have over 3000 followers. Because of the nature of our work, it is likely that most bloggers have more followers than agents do, so sponsoring bloggers to travel makes sense. Follow me on Twitter <a href="http://www.twitter.com/solotraveler" rel="nofollow">@solotraveler</a> I think using Twitter in this way is a ‘win’ for everyone.

Travelers enjoy learning about destinations and/or living vicariously through the travel of others. They can do so in real time with Twitter.

Agents can use Twitter to share their travels, differentiate themselves from other agents and develop loyalty with customers.

Bloggers already tweet about our travels and travelers, our followers on Twitter, follow our trip and share in the experience. I have over 3000 followers. Because of the nature of our work, it is likely that most bloggers have more followers than agents do, so sponsoring bloggers to travel makes sense.

Follow me on Twitter @solotraveler

]]>