The Digital Tour Guide Approach to Travel Blogging

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The Digital Tour Guide

Bloggers are essentially online tour guides. This post outlines how both guides create itineraries, present content, and set the mood. Consequently, the more we consider ourselves Virtual Travel Guides, the more we can connect with our readers and the content we write. Bloggers essentially serve as online tour guides. As we delve into the art of creating compelling travel blog posts, we’ll explore how these two roles overlap in crafting itineraries, presenting content, and setting the atmosphere. Embracing the Digital Tour Guide approach enables a deeper connection with readers, enriching the content we create and enhancing their virtual journey with us.

_{This post is sponsored and/or contains affiliate links, from which I earn a commission at no extra cost to the reader. I appreciate your support and know that all the views expressed are my own.}

Tips for Tour Guides and Good Travel Blog Posts

It was a little funny, but after my last guided tour, I realized that blogging is essentially like being a tour guide online. Both bloggers and tour guides create itineraries. We both present the content and set the pace and mood. Here are 6 elements I think are important to include in your blog posts that could help digital tour guides write more compelling content. You can’t argue with #4, there’s always one, right?

Check out some of the best museums around the world that show where we’ve been and where we’re going.

1. Keep it Brief

I have a short attention span. You probably do too, so keep it brief, yet entertaining.

2. Delivery is a Key Component

You may miss the best meal of your life if it’s given to you in a crumpled brown paper bag—show some personality, wit, and humor.

3. Just the Facts Ma’am

Give them a taste, leave a few things to the imagination or to be explored later. Virtual Tour Guides focus on the who, what, where, how, and when.

4. Get it Right

You need to be trustworthy, so triple check your content: facts, spelling, and grammar—everything. Because there’s always that ONE GUY who will point out when you get it wrong and question your expertise. When (notice I didn’t say if) you do, don’t freak out, just make the corrections and say thank you.

5. Broad Appeal

Bloggers are digital tour guides, and they have groups that are made up of random backgrounds, ages, languages, and interests, so try to appeal to 2-3 audience types to get the most exposure.

6. Make your Writing Visual

Write with the five senses in mind. What does it sound, feel, taste, look, and smell like? You can limit using your passive voice. I have a hard time with this one; it can be difficult. One of my new tools is using ChatGPT to help me find inspiration.

7. Stay in Your Blogger’s Lane

The best digital travel guide writes about what they know. Just because something is trending on Quora or Twitter doesn’t mean you need to blog about it—unless it’s something you’ve done and it falls within your blog’s scope, where you can add value or provide a unique perspective.

8. Link Up w/ Other Digital Tour Guides

Make sure you add links to a few of your related articles. This may encourage readers to explore more of your blog, increasing opportunities for engagement. Find related blog posts and ask to be included in their articles. Make sure to offer reciprocation.

Have you ever participated in a blogging conference? If so, I’m curious about the insights and knowledge you gained from the experience. What were your standout moments, and how have they influenced your blogging journey? And would you consider attending another?

If you’re open to it, I recommend an excellent upcoming conference set for next month in Salt Lake City, Utah. It’s renowned for its engaging workshops, networking opportunities, and a roster of influential speakers from the blogging community. This event could be a valuable investment in your blogging career, offering fresh ideas, strategies, and connections that could take your blog to new heights. And you’ll meet some new friends in the process.

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