Travel writers can seem like a pretty small tribe at times. We see each other at major conferences and events and at lunches and cocktail parties. We might not know each other well — or at all — but we generally get used to seeing the same faces. At least that’s how it used to be. Increasingly, over the past several years, there has been a new group of party crashers on the scene — bloggers.
These bloggers are an eclectic mix. We may not have heard of them or their sites — and their office can be the kitchen table or the local coffee shop — but there is no denying their impact on travel. Thousands of travelers seek out the personal, opinionated, practical information provided by blogs every travel season, and the only credentials necessary to get into the industry is expertise in some aspect of travel and the willingness to share this information with anyone and everyone.
As you’ll read in this issue’s cover story, “Better Blogging for Travel Agents,” some travel sellers are having great success with their professional blogs. After all, there is no shortage of agent experts out there, and, technically and financially speaking, blogging is probably one of the cheapest and easiest forms of marketing. The only real barrier to entry for agents is the time and energy required to blog. But, as the story shows, there are some strategies agents can use to overcome that hurdle as well.
At TravelAge West, our blog is called Travel To Go, and our content is composed of tips and insights we have learned on our travels. Our latest blog feature is “Been There, Do This,” and it’s an opportunity for editors to share real-world tips. If you have a client looking to experience the nightlife in Madrid, for example, Been There, Do This has a tip for you. Want to tell your client where to hear great street musicians in New Orleans? Check out Been There, Do This. We update our blog weekly, so visit often for more advice.
Whether you find blogging a bit self-indulgent or personally satisfying, hopefully, over time, you will see results that satisfy your inner businessperson, if not your inner artist.
