Corporate blogging can benefit your business no matter what industry you’re in, but for companies in the travel industry it should be considered an essential marketing strategy. In addition to driving website traffic and generating new leads, blogging helps build credibility. For travelers deciding which trip planning service to use, knowing that the company has firsthand experience and has “been there, done that” is huge influencer.
It’s simple for travel companies to start a blog, but maintaining it by posting valuable, engaging content on a regular basis isn’t always so easy. One travel company in particular got it right – Utrip, a travel planning service that uses machine learning to create personalized itineraries, has an inspiring, informational blog that serves as a resource for everyone from seasoned travelers to newbies with wanderlust. Following are four key reasons why Utrip’s blog is a success
- Cites Personal Experiences – Travelers feel more confident taking a company’s recommendations if they know it’s based on personal experience. When I was researching before my trip to Thailand, I searched for posts by travel bloggers who had been to Thailand recently – I don’t want a hostel recommendation from someone who has never stayed there. Utrip does a nice job compiling guest posts from international travelers and interviewing subject matter experts to inject personal experience into its blog. For example, the post 8 Cheap Eats in East London from Around the World was written by David Heimowitz, a food blogger who lives in London.
- Fuels Inspiration – Reading about other people’s incredible travel experiences and seeing breathtaking photos can help bring a destination to life and inspire hesitant travelers to book their trip. Utrip’s blog inspires wanderlust by featuring popular tourist activities as well as lesser known attractions in major cities.
- Provides Useful Information – A key factor for the success of any blog is providing information that is useful for your audience. Utrip’s entire platform does this well, but the “Travel Planning Tips” section of its blog is particularly helpful for travelers, offering advice around what to do if your valuables are stolen and how to save money on transportation.
- Includes a Call-to-Action – Including an appropriate call-to-action (CTA) in your blog post helps guide readers to learn more about your company, leading to more conversions from your blog. Utrip nailed this by including relevant CTAs at the bottom of its blog posts (for example, Quick Tips for Travel Savings includes a link to Utrip’s featured trip Poor But Sexy in Berlin) and linking in-line CTAs when a related term is mentioned in a post.
These best practices are important for any corporate blogger to keep in mind, particularly those in the travel industry. What other tips for corporate blogging success should marketers consider?