Travolution@PhoCusWright 07 - T-List panel
Just appeared on a panel discussion about travel blogging - all members of which contributed to the recent Tips from the T-List book.
A very interesting point was raised about the difference between journalists and bloggers (obviously there is a rather strong connection here at Travolution).
It invariably whips many of our colleagues into a crazed panic, but there is none.
The most telling comment of the session came from Jens Traenheart from Tourism Internet Marketing blog.
Jens was highlighting about how some blogs could use map mash-ups, booking facilities, video, etc, to improve the customer experience.
But hang on: that sounds like a portal?
Kevin May, editor, Travolution
4 comments:
The traditional blog has changed over the years; it is no longer just a journal, diary of a traveller’s experience. I am really passionate about blogging but I feel that I’ve slowly over the last 12 months started to shift away from a travel blog to as Kev mentions, into a travel portal.
What do you think?
Bloggers the World around have a massive challenge in 2008
People don’t just want to read loads of text and view images, they want to watch videos, listen to podcasts, participate in discussions, and this is where you move even further away from blogging and as Kev mentioned, into a travel portal.
Here are some stats I wanted to share:
75% of visitors are visiting for the first time
Less than 10% of visitors actually comment on the blog
91% of traffic is referred from a search engine
These stats show that the majority of my traffic are people for advice, information and travel experiences and the challenge is to get more of these visitors participating in the discussions, rather than using the blog solely to find information.
I want all bloggers to read this:
What is a blog?
Now you have read the definitions, do you still think you are writing a blog? Or has the definition of a blog changed?
Darren is right of course, blogging is shifting and changing shape though the definition of a blog is now a controversial one, as there's a technical debate as well as a philosophical one.
In my experience, with my own project, I've had people turn my blog down from being listed in a blog directory because it's too commercial.
I don't display Adsense, there's no Amazon affiliation or any affiliate schemes of any description. Yet, looking at all the other blogs in said directory they ALL had Adsense and some affiliate schemes with banner ads etc.
I've also heard it said that my project is not a blog because it doesn't allow commenting.
Yet, despite all of this, The Guardian chose it as one of their top ten favourite travel blogs.
The bottom line for me is, I've stopped caring what so-called 'purists' think of it. What I am more concerned about is it being useful to people. That's why I started it, because it's useful to me!
When people stop finding it useful, that's when I'll stop curating it.
And... I'll find my own way to monetize it ;-)
Nice to see the PhocusWright invited Travel Industry bloggers to participate to the conference in Orlando.
Too bad it took place during the World Travel Market in London..
Only Industry Bloggers who participated to the TList book were invited??
Syl: On this occasion, yes. Sorry...
We think there will be other occasions though.
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