How to Create Content for Travel Collaborations: Part 2
So you booked your first travel collaboration… now what? This is Part 2 of the highly requested travel collaboration series sharing how to create content for hotels and destinations once you’ve got your first travel collab on lock. I’m spilling all the details on what exactly that you need to capture during your trip, the hotel/destination’s expectations, and how to create content that flows that you’re proud of.
First, I recommend reading Part 1 of this series, “How to Book Travel Collaborations.”
To catch you back up, I completed my first travel collaboration a couple weeks ago, had the BEST time, and learned so much that I wanted to share with those of you working toward doing the same. My last few years spent in the blogging industry, as well as coming from a PR background, has taught me a lot about marketing and what brands look for when working with bloggers. Though I’m no professional, I hope to help others reach their goals as much as I can.
One of the first things to know is if someone hires you for a travel collaboration, regardless if it’s your first or not, it’s because they’re confident that you know what you’re doing and are fully capable of meeting their expectations. You should aim to exceed those, but let’s start with the basics. Below are a few of the posts I did for my collaborations with The Kirby Hotel in Saguatuck, Michigan.
Clarify expectations.
During the planning process before going on the trip, clarify with the hotel/destination what it is they’re looking for so you can properly execute it. There may be specific activities they’d like you to participate in and promote during your stay, or maybe even a schedule they’d like for you to follow. They may also request a dedicated blog post on your stay, a specific number of social media posts, expected metrics, rights to all of your images, etc. Nailing down all of these details ahead of time will save you some stress and will reassure both parties that you understand the deliverables of the collaboration.
Use their requested hashtags and handles.
This is a huge part of brand collaborations in general and should always be taken seriously, especially when they’re giving you free food and a place to stay, you know? This will help them and others find your content and will be a consistent reminder of where you’re at to further reinstate the marketing you’re providing. Check with them on what social media platforms they’d like for you to promote them on and what their handles are for each. I think it’s ideal to share it on all platforms regardless of what the specific ones that require, so I suggest doing that. Also, be sure to tag their accounts and the accounts of places you visit in your images and posts, as well as any other accounts that are relevant (i.e. the city of Saugatuck/Douglas has an Instagram account, so I tagged them in all of my photos from the trip). Once you write your blog post, be sure to include links for everything too.
Document the experience from beginning to end.
From the beginning of the day until the end, capture as much as you can. There’s no such thing as getting too much content, and I’d rather have way too much than not enough to post when I go back to draft my blog post. Instagram stories changed the game for this and makes “live” updates so much easier. Focus on in-the-moment content that can be posted immediately, as well as content for your blog and social media that you can edit and post at a later time. The goal is for the hotel/destination to want to repost these images, so providing a lot for them to choose from makes them happy, and helps get your work seen and your name out there.
Stick to a theme and overall vibe.
Though some may argue that this is unnecessary, I think what makes a great body of work (especially online and on social media) is clear branding, creativity and fluidity. This also provides a beautiful set of content for the hotel/destination to repost, which makes both YOU and THEM look good. Doing a great job on your first travel collaboration will help you book future ones, and your content serves as a point of reference for any future hotels/destinations who may find interest in you and your work. Be yourself and strive to create unique content that they can’t get from anyone else.
Here’s what to capture + share:
- Hotel room tour
- Food/meals
- Sites specific to the area (shops, restaurants, parks, landmarks, etc.)
- Scenery
- Activities
- Why others should visit
- What you enjoy and recommend
- Outfits (if you’re a fashion blogger as well, share what you wear for various activities)
- Your final review
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I hope this post is helpful! Like I said in my last post, let me know if you have any questions and I’d be happy to answer them as best as I can. I just booked my second travel collaboration coming up in August (eeeek!) and I couldn’t be more excited to get to experience this side of the blogging industry a bit more! As per usual, check back for a new post on Friday and have a great day, everyone!
