Are you being approached by travel bloggers or social media influencers? Here's what to do!

Travel bloggers and social media influencers can be very beneficial in promoting your tourism business to a large group of people as they share stories and photos to their thousands of followers. They usually combine blogging with posts on Instagram and Facebook.
They can also dramatically help you increase your number of followers and provide great exposure for your business.

Some do it professionally and make money through advertising, sponsorships or get paid to write about you. Others blog their way around the world and get free accommodation and activities this way. Either way, working with them can be very successful.

Here are some tips to make to ensure the blogger or Instagrammer will meet your expectations.  

Whether you approach them, or they approach them, research them before you talk or to them, research them first:

• How many followers they have on their blog or social media
• What type of visitors does the blog (or e.g. Instagram account) have – what type of comments do they write? Are these visitors similar to your target markets?
• What type of stories they write – what’s their passion?
• How often do they post?
• What’s the photography like?
• Tone of voice: are they genuine, personal and professional?
• Are they credible?

You could also contact your Regional Tourism Organisation to see if they know them
Overall:  do your product ‘fit’ with this influencer?

After doing this research, it’s time to approach them or get back to them. Ask them:

• What’s their experience and specialty?
• What are their target markets?
• If you can see the article before it’s published
• Who else they work with in your area?
• If you pay them or give them contra – what will you get back?
• Can you use the images or text on your own website /social media?
• Will they use your website address,  hashtag and handle to promote you? (this is a must!)
• What do they expect from you?

Some bloggers will provide you with a proposal, others are very casual. By doing the research above, you’ll be able make a more informed decision as to whether you’d like to work with them!

Till next time, Marijke