Travel Blogger Gary Bembridge puts in the miles – Image by Gary Bembridge
Top UK Travel Blog July – Tips for Travellers
Our top UK Travel blog for September is Tips for Travellers. Since 2005, this blog has been has been providing tips and tricks on luxury travel experience on land and sea with videos, audio and video podcasts and features. All the content is written and made by Gary Bembridge, a London based former marketing executive. Here Gary gives his thoughts on blogging and social media…
What inspired you to start blogging?
I was travelling around the world for work in my job as a Global Marketer at Johnson & Johnson, usually away two or three weeks a month. I would research the places I was going like crazy as would make sure I had a day or two for myself in each place to explore. I knew I had limited time so needed to make sure I knew what to see, how to get there and so on. I realised I had tips and advice that others may find helpful. It was also when YouTube had recently launched and Apple was helping the growth of podcasts in iTunes, which was also new. I am a geek for technology and saw a chance to marry my travel exploits with a chance to play with new technology and distribution channels. So I did. At first my blog, using the also relatively new Blogger platform, was just to share show notes for the podcasts and the tours of hotel room videos I was making. As an early adopter they took off fast.
What destination was your first “proper” blog review?
It was two as did them at the same time: Sydney and Hong Kong. They launched my Tips For Travellers activity as I was on a business trip that went to these two in the same week and I created my first podcasts and blog posts based on these as I sat in my hotel room overlooking Sydney harbour in September 2005.
Have you ever been anywhere you really didn’t like?
Canary Islands. I did not like the concrete and packaged nature of the place. It was so developed and created to cater for tourists and there seemed to be no local feel to it. There seemed to be more English pubs and places to eat then anything else. I think it is the only trip or holiday I paid to leave early.
Where’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten – what was it?
I love going to Din Tai Fung. It is a dumpling chain that started in Taiwan and has spread across other parts if Asia and always hunt one out. Although a chain they make the most amazing dumplings. It is my favourite food.
What’s your favourite view in the world?
Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe / Zambia border. I grew up in Zimbabwe and first visited it when I was about four years old and it is my earliest memory of travelling. It is a magnificent place and unspoilt and not over developed. Watching the Zambezi thundering over the sheer steep rock face and getting drenched in the mist it throws off is magical. It should be on everyone’s must see list.
Which other blogs do you love to read?
The ones I follow most closely are blogs that match my age and interests:
My tips posts, probably not surprisingly based on the site name and what I focus on, are the best performing with the cruise ones in recent years doing very well as this grows rapidly as a travel choice and people are looking for lots of guidance.
Blog posts and podcasts of cruise ship tips are popular with readers – image by Gary Bembridge
What tips do you have for newer bloggers who would love to emulate your success?
First, decide if you want to create a personal journal or a travel resource for travellers. If the first then write and post what interests you and be pleased when others like and follow it. If the second then you need to approach everything with your target traveller in mind and produce content for them. Spend time defining and understanding what they are interested in and always serve their needs first and foremost. It is likely that your target will be someone like you and so really think about who that person is. I have spent time getting to know who my audience is and what they like when it comes to travel.
Secondly, being a blogger does not mean you should focus on writing only. Some travellers like to read while others (and increasingly more) prefer to listen, look at or watch travel content. You have to develop skills beyond writing and into photography, podcasting and video. My video and imagery far outstrips my written content in views and engagement and plays a massive role in my overall travel content and on my blog.
Third, focus. Decide what channels you like the best, your audience is most active in and you have the skill in. There are so many options and do not spread yourself too thin. I focus on Instagram and Facebook in social media and on Video and podcasting primarily as that is where my audience is. The blog itself is part of the mix and I share my content there of course but being where my audience already are is more key to reaching them.
Kirstie Pelling is commissioning editor of Trips100. When she isn't writing here, she is one fifth of The Family Adventure Project, a website all about families getting active and having fun together. Along with husband and co-founder Stuart Wickes and their three children, the family have cycled more than 12,000 miles, across more than 20 countries.
Discussion1 Comment
Thanks so much for featuring me. Much appreciated!