Hotmail7 tips for blogging your way to a better trip
 | Slideshow |
 | more photos |
| Slideshow |
 | Viva Las Vegas! Sin City is a major entertainment center and business travel destination, known for its carefully cultivated image, gambling and nightlife. more photos |
 |
 Kid chef cooks holiday treats Nov. 27: A 13-year-old cook teaches the TODAY hosts how to whip up a turkey risotto that is perfect for the holidays. |
|
 Family ditches home for RV Nov. 27: With the high rate of foreclosures, many families are going to extremes to survive. NBC's Michelle Franzen has the story of one family who is spending their days on the road. |
3. Be opinionated
Don’t be shy about telling your audience what you think about a particular travel product or experience. Feedback — both positive and negative — is often welcome not just by readers, but travel companies. “I’d recommend that bloggers take the opportunity to be a key resource for companies looking to enhance their service by providing fast and fresh feedback,” says Joe Poulin, chief executive of Luxury Retreats, a villa rental company.
4. Tell an interesting story
“Think about what you would want to know about a foreign city or country before traveling for the first time and incorporate those details in your blog,” says Reggie Miller, the chief executive of Iced Media, a New York City-based online marketing and research agency. He says travel blogs can serve as both a glimpse into your own travels and offer a service to fellow travelers who are looking for advice on their next trip. “Details are key,” he adds. “The more information without getting too wordy, the better.”
5. Be real
One of the things that set bloggers apart from mainstream-media types like me is that they write in a more informal, conversational style. They also tell it like it is without worrying about upsetting an advertiser or source. “Be honest and write about a subject or destination that you are passionate about,” says Jason Sarracini, who blogs at Tripquips.com. “The best teachers are ones that are passionate about their subject — and the same applies to bloggers.”
6. Play fair
A blog may not be a newspaper, but some of the rules of journalism should still be considered, if not followed. For example, if you’re slamming an airline or resort, think about asking your subject for a comment. “If you did not like a certain aspect from your travel experience ask a decision-maker to provide details on why or why not,” says Katena Carvajales, the media-relations manager at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. “That will give their reader an opportunity to make the decision on their own.” (That assumes, of course, that the company will take questions from a blogger — some don’t.)
7. Think beyond words
The most effective blogs don’t just use the written word, but also audio and video, to convey their message. Discount travel agency STA Travel hosts several employee blogs, and has found that multimedia really clicks. “The video blog from our last intern, Pat Blute, was great because people got to actually see Pat in the Galapagos and watch him skydiving in Australia rather than just read about his experience,” says Kristen Celko, the company’s vice president of marketing and ecommerce.
|
It’s about time. Those of us who had the power to push for change, the folks who reported for the established media, have fallen asleep on the job for the most part. We’ve become tired and complacent, cozying up to our advertisers and rarely writing a critical word about an industry that has forgotten the meaning of customer service.
For us, blogging is a long overdue wake-up call.
More on Vacations | Christopher Elliott
Every Monday, my column takes a close look at what makes the travel business tick. Your comments are always welcome, and if you can’t get enough of my column, drop by my blog for daily insights into the world of travel.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
-
Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM TRAVEL |
 Travel Section Front |
| Add Travel headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links
Resource guide