A conversation about bloggers and their networks

Todd Lucier — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:21:04 +0000

In this delightful conversation with @SEKeener, director of Boots N All Travel Network, @Elliottng VP of Marketing for Uptake.com and @KimMance editor-in-chief of gogalavanting.com and founder of TravelBlogExchange.com discuss the importance of travel blog communities and how tourism businesses can connect with travel bloggers.

If you are a tourism business looking to connect with new media don’t miss this insight-filled conversation about bloggers and their communities.

Background:

Boots N’ All Travel Network – 6-7 year old blogging community connecting people.
Uptake – 1.5 year old travel information site / search engine just launched a travel blog network that helps promote the search engine and promote richly tagged search.
TravelBlogExchange – over 400 bloggers have joined in less than three weeks forming small groups discussing all kinds of issues relevant to travel blogging

The value of networking – connecting bloggers has many benefits:

bloggers get exposure that may lead to exposure in many different locations including high profile publications
community participation leads to comments and feedback on content that a blogger can’t get without connecting via networks.
cause-related issues – Passports with a Purpose and blogging networks can move issues.
bloggers can help one another by focusing on their strengths and helping one another grow their skills and abilities.
travel blogging networks provide more visibility for individual bloggers
coming together like the mom-bloggers gives the community more power and influence
The social side of blog networks can be difficult to monetize or at least measure, but the power of stories to influence travelers decisions is huge.

How does a tourism business get their story told by a blogger?

experiment with all kinds of media, don’t try to follow others
connecting with folks in social media – connect with the people who care the most about your destination
search the Travel Blog Exchange to find bloggers to tell a story
It’s all about relationships: Why should a blogger care about your business?
foster relationships with bloggers to get exposure for your business
connect with bloggers in their medium, using the social networking tools they use
be personal and transparent- don’t hide behind your business brand
be interesting

Kim’s 3 Tips to connect with bloggers:

Email the blogger by name and reference something relevant that you have seen on their blog
Provide and link to great photos.
Develop a database of customized discount codes for the blogger to use to promote their story.

Twits you might want to know more about that were mentioned in this podcast:

Other Websites of interest noted in this podcast:

Internet Marketing for Tourism » travel blogger