The Fine Line Between Blog and Bluff

©2012 adventures with ben LLC

The Fine Line Between Blog and Bluff

Ben Reed

adventureswithben.com

facebook.com/adventureswithben

@adventureswben

slides available at adventureswithben.com


The best travel blogs have regularly written content that

is useful, engaging and consistently on-topic.


The Problem?



It’s really tough to write regular content that is useful, engaging and consistently on-

topic.

©2012 adventures with ben LLC ©2012 adventures with ben LLC





Filling Your Content Pipeline

Refining Your Niche

Creating a Posting Schedule

Content Engagement Ideas

Agenda


Filling Your Content Pipeline








Successful blogs must solve a problem.



Travel ExtensivelyTake Lots of

Photos

Immerse YourselfCapture Every

Idea

Read Extensively Plan Your Content

Filling Your Pipeline


Travel Extensively


Your expertise, credibility and trust by your readers (and the travel community), can only

be developed through significant, first-hand

experience. Travel Bloggers must immerse themselves in

their topic all the time.



Take Lots of Photos



Immerse Yourself~

Depth vs. Breadth


Sydney Harbor Bridge


Sydney Harbor Bridge - Climb


Sydney Harbor Bridge - Pylon Lookout


Sydney Harbor Bridge - Founded


Sydney Harbor Bridge - Best Photo Spot


Sydney Harbor Bridge - Walking Across



Capture Every Idea




Read Extensively


Don’t write about what’s already been written. Tell a story that no one has heard before. And then tell another

one, and another one.


Read Extensively

RSS Feeds

Travel Books

WikiTravel.org

Visitor’s Bureau’s

Local, Twitter Hashtags


http://www.google.com/reader/bundle/user%2F14633477289540472476%2Fbundle%2FTravel%20Blogs

Google Reader Bundle


Benefits of Reading Extensively

You become a well-informed traveler

You know what’s been written before (great for linking back)

Discover the gaps


Plan Your Content


Victoria Falls



18 Posts3 Day/2 Night Trip


Application Part 11. Identify the problem you’re solving

2. Evaluate your travel schedule & adjust

3. Start taking lots of photos

4. Download:

• Evernote

• SimpleMind+

5. Subscribe to RSS Feeds


Refining Your Niche








Successful blogs serve a purpose. They fulfill a need the reader has, and position the blogger as an “authority”

on their chosen niche.


A “niche” is more than what you write about, but also includes how you tell that

story and with what intention?


Bloggers must be able to articulate, with precision, what their niche is. This is the first step in writing consistently

on-topic.


Aspiration Product

Audience Voice

Your Niche












Components of Your Niche

Aspiration - What are you trying to achieve?

Product - How do you do that?

Audience - Who do you write for?

Voice - How do you tell your story?


My Niche ComponentsAspiration: Do Extraordinary Things

Product: Tell engaging, vivid, inspiring and practical stories

Audience: Travelers and wanna-be travelers from all over

Voice: A light-hearted, approach; Fun


Application Part 2

1. What’s your aspiration?

2. How are you going to reach that goal? What’s your product?

3. Who do you write for? Who is your audience?

4. What’s your voice?


Creating a Posting Schedule








All blogs, no matter the niche, must write on a regular

schedule. Regularity will vary by niche, but unpredictability

in publishing will result in reader disengagement.


Rules for Writing

1. Find a Routine

2. Eliminate Distractions

3. Know What You’re Writing in Advance

4. Manage Your Time: 1 Post = 90 Min.

5. Frustrated? Stop

6. Use Your Filter



Have Posts in Your “Back Pocket”



Take a Break



Application Part 3

1.Download:

• WP Editorial Calendar

2. Write Your “Back-Pocket” Posts

3. Relax


Content Ideas








Blog readers (and writers), will, at some point, reach

fatigue and disinterest. New ways to tell your story will continue to keep everyone engaged with your blog.


Find a Local Angle


Write a Series


Write an Opinion


Photo Essay


Poll Your Readers


Photo Caption


List Posts


Travel Gear Review


Photography Tips


Seasonal Stories


Application Part 4

1. Write one new post style each month





Questions?


The Fine Line Between Blog and BluffBen Reed

adventureswithben.com

facebook.com/adventureswithben

@adventureswben

slides available at adventureswithben.com