I created this infographic for one reason: to illustrate the significant impact digital media has on consumers’ travel habits.
Is there still a place in the world for print media? Of course there is. I love travel magazines–heck, I even stop at tourism bureaus and pick up actual paper pamphlets when I arrive in a new town. The internet is not the only thing. But it is a huge thing, and it is not going anywhere any time soon. Working with digital content providers can be very beneficial to destinations for these reasons along with the following:
- Digital content creators (like me) often have the power of publishing. We do not have to hope our story is purchased–we simply research it, photograph it, write it, and publish it ourselves.
- Digital content creators (like me) often do what we do not for money, but for passion. Look left and then look right–do you see any ad space? No, you do not. This site is a labor of love. And to do something out of love is always better than to do it for money.
- Of course, digital content creators also like to earn a living. Which is why we also work tirelessly to promote what we’ve written and hopefully see it spread to other venues.
- Digital content creators are adept in writing for the web. Do you need content created on your own site? We can help you with that.
Infographic references:
The Impact of Social Media on Travel and Tourism. www.four-pillars.co.uk
Zheng Xiang. Role of Social Media in Online Travel Information Search. Tourism Management 2010
The 2013 Traveler. Google Think Insights. November 2013
The Suitcase Scholar stats on January 6th, 2013, less than an hour into the new day and less than a week into the new month.
Overview of The Suitcase Scholar
As you can see, travel planners Google. This is a fact. Thus, every experience, tour, restaurant, hotel, and destination featured on The Suitcase Scholar is written to answer traveler questions with well-crafted, detailed, and entertaining posts.
For example, if someone is visiting San Francisco and wants information about San Francisco’s CityPASS, the chances are very great that they will stumble upon my post on the subject, San Francisco CityPASS: Why It Rocks. Those trying to figure out how to visit Tobacco Bay Beach while on a Bermuda cruise will likely end up perusing Bumming Around Bermuda: Walking from St. George to Tobacco Bay and using the directions–and photos–provided to guide their own trip.
Because I seek to answer questions, my posts are written in a way that is SEO-friendly. Thus, new readers make up more than 60% of all visitors. If you are interested in having a detailed, photo-rich blog post featuring your destination, hotel, tour, restaurant, or experience show up on the first page of Google search results, I would be happy to help make that possible. Please contact me at tracyantonioli@gmail.com.
Sponsored Posts
I have found that working with tourism boards, private tour companies, and hotels is extremely beneficial to everyone involved. I am able to travel more; thus I am able to grow The Suitcase Scholar in depth and breadth. Tourism boards gain the ability to link to these posts, thus creating more content for their particular site. And tour companies, hotels, and restaurants get effortless promotion (often at no cost to them; I simply fill an empty space in a hotel or on a tour) through my photo-rich, detailed posts. In my book, that’s a win-win-win situation.
The links below feature posts sponsored by a variety of tourism boards, private travel companies and hotels, and specific tour companies.
Destinations
The Next Big Thing: Why You Should Visit Pittsburgh in 2013
Holiday Travels: New Orleans for Easter
There Once Was a Man: Nantucket Past and Present
Mount Royal: Urban Hiking in Downtown Montreal
Nothing Like Prison in the Springtime: Alcatraz
Lodging
Modern in Midtown: TRYP Hotel Times Square
Sometimes I’m Wrong: On Major Hotel Chains
My First Solo B&B: The Candleberry Inn
Cruising Considerations: Why a Balcony Cabin is Worth the Cost
The Best Lodging Outside Yosemite: Evergreen Lodge
Events
The Greenwich Wine and Food Festival: Best Day Ever
Nerdy Nightlife at the California Academy of Sciences
Museums and Tours
Faking It: Enhanced Photography at the MET
In Sunshine or Rain: The Sandwich Glass Museum
Cape Cod at Night: The Liberte Schooner Sunset Sail
Dining
Educational Eats: That Time I Had to Google My Lunch
Some Like it Hot: NCL’s Asian Restaurant
Evergreen Lodge: The Restaurant
Meals on Rails: Dining Aboard the Napa Wine Train
An iPhone screen shot of The Suitcase Scholar’s stats, taken on October 23rd, 2012.
Visitor Stats
Unique Visitors Per Month: 900-1100 and rising
Average Monthly Visits: 3,000-4,000
Percent of New Visitors: 63%
Percent of Visits from Google Search Results: 74%
Klout Score: 57
Top Search Terms: Suitcase Scholar, Busch Gardens Christmastown Reviews, Norwegian vs. Royal Caribbean, Universal vs. Disney, San Francisco City PASS, educational travel, solo travel to [destination]
Destinations Featured (so far):
Europe–London, Bath, Paris, Amsterdam
USA–Vermont, North Carolina, DC, New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando including Walt Disney World and Universal, St. Augustine, New Orleans, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Napa, Yosemite, Maine including Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park, Cape Cod and the Islands, Charlottesville/Virginia Wine Country, Pittsburgh, Miami
Canada–New Brunswick including Fundy National Park, Nova Scotia including Halifax, Peggy’s Cove/Lunenburg, and Cape Breton, Prince Edward Island, Montreal
Elsewhere–Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Cozumel/Playa del Carmen/Tulum
References
I’ve found that working with tourism boards as well as private companies is mutually beneficial for both parties. I’ve been given some great feedback from people I’ve worked with. The people I have worked with have found me to be thorough and professional, and I think you will, too.
I have a list of professional references available upon request. Just email me at tracyantonioli@gmail.com!
You can also check out my personal resume HERE, or visit my Beyond Credentials page, which offers even more information about me, my writing, and what I can offer your organization.
Or, if you’d prefer, check out my Google stats, available in PDF files:
Analytics The Suitcase Scholar Audience Overview April 2013