Finding ideas for what to write or post about on your travel blog or social media can be hard, especially when you’re not traveling 24/7. With so much existing content out there, how do you find fresh ideas and create content that people actually want to see?
In this blog, we’ll share some best practices and strategies for generating original, creative, and engaging content that your audience will love. Keep reading to learn our tips for creating high-quality content and how to use Viator Affiliate tools to inform your content creation
1. Stay up-to-date with industry trends
Did you know? 70% of Gen Z and millennial respondents agree that they have “been inspired to travel to a destination after seeing it featured in a TV show, news source, or movie,” according to Travel + Leisure.
From the “rise of ‘set-jetting,'” (destination decisions that are heavily influenced by a binge-worthy show or film) to a renewed desire for food-focused travel, the travel industry is constantly evolving, and there’s always something new to report on. As a travel content creator, it’s important to keep an eye on the latest news and trends in the industry and be one of the first to report on them. Whether it’s a new hotel opening in Bali or a must-try street food spot in Tokyo, your audience will appreciate your insider knowledge and fresh perspective.
Check out Viator’s 2023 Travel Trend Report to find key insights on how the industry has evolved, as well as what may motivate consumers’ travel decisions in the coming year and how those decisions are reinforcing the return of travel.
2. Share your personal experiences
Your audience wants to hear more than just a list of things to do in a destination. Share personal stories about your experiences that will help you really connect with your audience. This can make your content more relatable and help your audience connect with you on a deeper level. For example, you can share a story about how you overcame a travel challenge, like getting lost in a foreign city. Your audience will love hearing about your adventures and will be more likely to follow your travel tips and recommendations!
Share your travel experiences on the go through Instagram and TikTok. Capture behind-the-scenes moments, interesting encounters, or breathtaking views. Use these platforms to provide real-time updates and connect with your audience instantly. Incorporate Viator links in your stories and bio to direct followers to activities related to your journey.
3. Listen to your audience
Your readers and followers are your best source of inspiration. Try posting polls and surveys on your blog or social media and ask your audience for feedback and suggestions. For every piece of feedback or question you receive, there are likely 10 times as many people out there asking the same thing. Reading through your audience’s comments can also help you find out what your readers and audience want.
Use your audience’s comments and suggestions to create content that addresses their questions, comments, and suggestions. For example, if your audience is interested in budget travel, create content that provides tips and advice on how to travel on a budget.
4. Update old posts
Do you have posts that are over a year old? A lot can change in one year, especially when it comes to travel! The great thing about updating old posts is that you don’t have to start from scratch. Review your old content and see where there are opportunities to change or enhance what’s there. You can add new information, update recommendations for travel destinations, replace outdated visuals, and update links. Updating old posts is also a great way to improve your search engine rankings.
Tip: Use Viator Selector to swap out any outdated experiences with new, top-converting ones. You can browse experiences by destination, attraction, or category and find new and trending experiences your audience may prefer.
You can also engage your audience by sharing throwback moments on social media. For instance, you can post, “One year ago today, I was exploring [destination]! It was awesome! If you’re planning on visiting this place, here are experiences I recommend.” Use this as an opportunity to showcase Viator experiences and provide relevant recommendations to your audience.
5. Become a member of social media groups
Joining social media groups related to your niche can be a great way to engage with fellow travel lovers and scope out content ideas. Look for opportunities to provide value to the group through a content piece. Is there a common question being asked? Can you provide clarity around a tactic or best practice? By building relationships and engaging with your audience, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and drive traffic back to your website or social media channels. We recommend heading over to Facebook and joining a few groups that align with your brand.
6. Use photos, graphics, and videos to enhance your content
Visual elements help bring your content to life. When choosing pictures, look for high-quality images that capture the essence of the destination you’re writing about. You can also use tools like Canva to create eye-catching graphics and infographics, which can be useful tools for conveying information and data in a visually appealing way.
Videos are one of the most accessible and popular forms of digital content, especially among Gen Z and Millenials. Your audience spends 2.6x as much time on pages with video as they do on pages without. In other words, you’re missing out if you’re not using videos in your blog and social media strategy. Videos can be especially useful for travel content creation, as they allow you to showcase a destination’s sights, sounds, and experiences in a way that images simply cannot. Try adding short video clips of your travels into your content or creating longer travel vlogs to share with your audience.
7. Research your competition
Take a page from the competition! Researching your competition is an essential part of staying ahead of the game and can help you identify gaps in the market and find ways to differentiate your content. The goal isn’t to copy your competitor’s work. You want to take inspiration from their content focus and improve on it, making the content your own and even better than your competition’s.
Here are a few questions to consider when looking at your competitor’s sites or social accounts:
- What topics are they writing or posting about?
- Does their content consist of one-offs, or do they have a regular series?
- What types of media (images, infographics, video, blogs, podcasts) do they use?
- How do they share affiliate links and recommendations?
8. See what’s working and get inspired with Viator’s Performance Trends
Uncover fresh content angles using Performance Trends as your guide. Get insights into your audience’s preferences – from their hottest destinations to their most-booked experiences and favored activity categories, you’ll find out what they like… and what they don’t! Then, refresh your content accordingly. Tailor your posts to match the trending interests and preferences of your audience. This data-driven approach ensures that your content stays relevant and resonates with your followers.
These tips are just the beginning—inspiration is everywhere. Stay flexible, engage with your audience, and leverage your Viator Affiliate toolbox: Selector, Performance Trends, and Link Alert. Unleash your creativity, share unique experiences, and help your audience make memories around the world.