Picture this: exploring the world’s most beautiful landscapes, capturing every moment on camera, and, on top of that, getting paid for it. Sounds like riding on cloud nine, doesn’t it?🤩 Well, no more daydreaming about it! This is all possible as a travel content creator. Now, how does one effortlessly capture the attention of thousands while making this a successful source of income? It all comes down to your travel marketing strategy. Want to get the full scoop? Read on! 🌟
In this blog, we’ll go over all the basics of how to create a solid travel marketing strategy. From defining your goals to boosting your social media presence, we’ve got you covered. Join us as we explore the tips and insights that will propel you to new heights, content creator edition. Without further ado, it’s time to hit the road! 🚘
From Landing to Takeoff: Choose Your Destination! ✈️
- 📍 Our First Stop: What Is Travel Marketing?
- 🚗 Pit Stop: Content Marketing for Travel
- Next Up: Why Is a Travel Marketing Strategy Important? 🤔
- Travel Marketing Guide — Your Passport to Content Success! 🛫
- 1. Define Your Goals and Objectives ✅
- 2. Conduct In-Depth Research 🔎
- 3. Know Your Target Audience 🎯
- 4. Plan Your Travel Content 🌎
- 1. Do Keyword Research 🔎
- 2. Choose Your Platforms 🌐
- 3. Plan a Content Calendar 📆
- 4. Prepare Your Creative Arsenal 🌟
- ✈️ +30 Travel Content Marketing Ideas
- 5. Promote Your Content 📣
- 5. Track, Optimize, and Adjust 🤓
- A Smooth Landing: Wrapping up Our Travel Marketing Guide! 🛬
📍 Our First Stop: What Is Travel Marketing?
Travel marketing refers to a strategic approach used within the tourism industry to attract potential visitors. The ultimate goal is to generate high-quality leads, resulting in increased bookings, purchases, and revenue streams. Traditionally, this type of planning was used by businesses such as:
Hotels
Resorts
Travel agencies
Airlines
Cruises
As the digital landscape evolved, it opened up a realm of opportunities for this industry to attract new travelers through the dynamic world of content creation. That’s where inspiring travel influencers and content creators (just like you) enter the scene by promoting tourism through highly engaging content, particularly on —though not limited to— social media. 
As you can see, there is a whole world to travel marketing!
Nevertheless, we’re going to focus on content marketing for travel as it’s directly related to your role as a content creator. Let’s explain further. 
💡 Handy Hint: Travel marketing is also referred to as tourism marketing.
🚗 Pit Stop: Content Marketing for Travel
So, what is content marketing for travel?🤔 Well, for starters, content marketing refers to the planning, development, creation, and distribution of valuable and relevant resources through different formats such as:
Blog posts
Articles
📩 Newsletters
🎧 Podcasts
Infographics
📹 Videos
📧 Emails
📱 Social Media Posts
For the tourism industry, this means that the content strives to deliver high-quality information about destinations and experiences to potential travelers. But the power of content marketing for travel doesn’t end there! It simultaneously promotes a brand, business, product, or service in a way that resonates with the target audience, bringing in traffic and converting customers. 
Of course, as a travel content creator, you’ll specialize in producing and sharing said resources and assets with your audience. After all, it’s your unique perspective and take on these adventures that will capture the viewers’ attention, inspiring them to explore the world. 
@kelseyinlondon 🇨🇿 Weekends in Prague ⬇️ For a romantic holiday, you need to spend a weekend in this magical city and stay at @andazprague, a @Hyatt hotel. As a World of Hyatt member (free to join!), I booked my stay for 25,000 points a night and upgraded to a beautiful suite with points too! 🏰 Located in the iconic Old Town of Prague, Andaz Prague is the best base to explore one of Europe’s most charming cities. It’s walking distance to the iconic Charles Bridge, Old Town Square and the Astronomical Tower and there is also a tram stop right outside the hotel’s entrance, making it even easier to explore Prague. 🛁 After a day of exploring, I enjoyed soaking in a hot bubble bath with a glass of sparking Czech wine in my spacious suite. I woke up to sunrise views across Prague's Old town and a mouth-watering in-room breakfast spread that set me back by 8,000 World of Hyatt points. 🎨 And if you love beautiful design like me, you'll appreciate the hotel's commitment to showcasing local 1920s retro-futuristic Czech art and architecture details that play homage to the building’s rich history. 🍽️ You can't miss a lunch reservation at the popular avant-garde Czech restaurant @ZEM PRAGUE which serves a fusion of traditional Czech dishes with Japanese flavours. An elaborate lunch here cost me around 10,000 World of Hyatt points. With the World of Hyatt loyalty program, you can use points for free nights, suite upgrades, toward a gourmet meal or relaxing massage & more at over 1,250 hotels and resorts worldwide. To start earning points, sign up to become a World of Hyatt member for free at hyatt.com. #WorldofHyatt #Hyatt #HyattPartner #prague #praguecity #praguetravel #praguetrip #praguecastle #thingstodoinprague #prague🇨🇿 #praguefood #pragueoldtown #visitprague #praguefoodguide #praguefoodie #loveprague #visitczechia #czech #czechrepublic #czechrepublic🇨🇿 #czechia #travelcreator #travelblogger #uktravelblogger #travelguide #traveltips ♬ Idea 10 (Slowed & Reverb) - Gibran Alcocer
@kelseyinlondon 🇮🇹 Weekends in Florence 🍷🍝🍦 I’ve fallen in love with this charming Italian city during my stay at the stunning IL Tornabuoni – an Unbound Collection hotel by @Hyatt I booked a standard room for 30,000 points a night and then upgraded to a suite on additional points, thanks to my World of Hyatt membership. It meant I got to enjoy my morning espresso with views across the historic Piazza Santa Trinita. The 2:00 pm late check-out* was an added perk! IL Tornabuoni has one of the best rooftop bars in Florence, the perfect spot to watch the sunset with a spritz 🍹, while their restaurant, IL Magnifico, has a sensational selection of traditional Italian dishes and Tuscan wine. I also booked a World of Hyatt FIND experience – a private walking tour. I used 25,000 points on the tour which was totally worth it to discover lots of hidden gems with a local guide! To start earning points, sign up to become a World of Hyatt member for free at hyatt.com. You can use points for free nights, suite upgrades, toward a gourmet meal or relaxing massage or more. *Discoverist tier, when available. AD #WorldofHyatt #Hyatt #IlTornabuoniHotel #HyattPartner #tuscany #tuscanyitaly #tuscanygram #tuscanylovers #visittuscany #discovertuscany #toscana🇮🇹 #toscana #florence #florenceitaly #florenceitaly🇮🇹 #firenze🇮🇹 #firenze #italytravel #italytravels #italytrip #italytraveltips #italydestinations #italytraveldestinations #italyaesthetic #travelitaly #travelitalia #visititaly #visititalia #thingstodoinitaly #italyvibes ♬ love song (hesitations) (sped up) - Lofuu & Shiloh Dynasty & dprk
🌴 Want to join the adventure? Discover all you need to become a travel content creator!
Next Up: Why Is a Travel Marketing Strategy Important? 🤔
If you’ve scrolled through your favorite social media app, you’ll notice that content creation has taken the world by storm, quite literally! Surveys show that there are nearly 400,000 full-time content creators in the U.S. alone. So, to stand out in a competitive sector, a well-thought and data-driven travel marketing strategy is a must. Plane and simple. 
Consider it this way, your travel marketing strategy can have a strong impact on your overall performance as a travel content creator. It will help you shape how you promote those dreamy destinations, build brand awareness, engage with your audience, and drive conversions.
Still wondering if it’s really necessary?
Let’s take a closer look at its importance:
1. Build up Authority & Expertise 😌
While traveling is exciting, the idea of visiting unknown destinations can sometimes be a tad overwhelming. But, that’s where you enter the scene! As a travel content creator, you can provide valuable insights on how your audience can make the most out of this experience. 🛫
For instance, you can share a trip itinerary with the most iconic places to visit or a video with expert tips on how to buy the best plane tickets. This way, you’re helping future travelers hop on this adventure by providing solutions to their pain points. As you build authority and credibility, your viewers will know they can trust your content as their go-to source for top-tier info. 😀
2. Optimize Your Resources & Efforts 🧑🏻💻️
Having a clear, laid-out travel marketing strategy will help you establish your goals, who your target audience is, and what platforms and tactics are most effective in reaching them. This strategic approach ensures all your efforts are purposeful and aligned with the specific needs and preferences of your demographics. No need to shoot in the dark! 😌
Needless to say, strategy is key to success. Think of it this way: you’ll be tailoring your marketing messages to resonate with the right people at the right time. On top of that, you’ll be able to optimize your resources and make data-driven decisions about your next step as a travel content creator. 🌟
3. Boost Your Visibility & Engagement 🚀
As we mentioned in our last pointer, as you craft your travel marketing plan, you’ll understand who your ideal audience is and what resonates with them. This is essential for creating content that’s both appealing and relevant. Moreover, it contributes to defining what you want to communicate, thus building an authentic and unique brand as a content creator. ✨
For example, an active social media presence with stunning assets can call for a scroll-stopping moment, especially if we’re talking about traveling. Add in well-researched, SEO-optimized content, and it’s a win-win for visibility and engagement as you fuel the travel journey for your audience. 🤩
🌍 Want to unlock this captivating infographic? Click here!
🌟 Noted, there are many advantages of having a travel marketing strategy. Ready to create your plan to succeed as a content creator? Stick around for the next section!
Travel Marketing Guide — Your Passport to Content Success! 🛫
By this point, you’re probably wondering how to turn your travel experience into captivating content that inspires your audience. Or maybe you’re brainstorming all sorts of awesome social media ideas that have them hitting that “follow” button. In any case, you’re in the right place! Let’s unravel the tactics behind a successful travel marketing strategy. 😀
💡 Think of this as your step-by-step content marketing guide for traveling:
1. Define Your Goals and Objectives ✅
As one of the most important aspects of creating your travel marketing strategy, this step essentially answers the question: “What do you intend to accomplish with your content?”. Of course, everyone is looking to boost their online presence or gain millions of followers overnight, but Rome wasn’t built in a day. So, it’s best to set realistic and achievable objectives you can measure. 🔎
➡️ While sometimes used interchangeably, your goals and objectives differ a bit from each other. Let’s check each one of them quickly:
Your goal is a broad statement that helps you define what you want to achieve with your marketing efforts. While they answer the “what?” to your strategy, they don’t provide specifics on how to do it. However, they serve as an outline of what you want to reach in the long term. So, establishing your goals lays the foundation for your strategic vision. It’s like looking at the big picture! 😀
Objectives are SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-bound steps that contribute to fulfilling your marketing goals. Think of it this way, they break down your previously set aspirations into specific, tangible actions that enable better planning for your strategy. Instead of looking at the big picture, we’re now focusing on the details! 
🛅 Examples of Travel Content Goals and Objectives
Let’s say that, as a content creator, your goal is to establish your brand as an authority within the travel community. In that case, your content marketing objectives could be divided into the following actions:
🗺 1. Post two destination guides per month to increase social media shares by 20% within the next 12 weeks.
💬 2. Host a monthly live Q&A session on travel-related topics with an average of 200 viewers per broadcast.
📧3. Implement a newsletter sign-up incentive to grow your subscriber list by 10% within the next quarter.
As you can see, goals become attainable when you break them down into smaller, strategic tasks that walk in the same direction. By clearly outlining each aspect, you’re on the right track to succeed as a travel content creator!
➡️ That being said, here are other content goals you can use as a starting point for travel marketing:
📱 Maximizing social media engagement
🌟 Boosting brand awareness
👤 Increasing subscribers and followers
🌐 Driving more website traffic
📨 Growing your email subscriber list
✏️ Diversifying content formats
💬 Improving audience engagement
💸 Monetizing content
2. Conduct In-Depth Research 🔎
Before you set sail, it’s important to define the “why” behind your brand as it will directly impact your content strategy for travel marketing. Think about your unique value proposition (UVP), AKA, what sets you apart from other professionals within the same niche. Is the purpose of your content to inspire, educate, entertain, or perhaps all of the above? 🧐
➡️ To help you get started, here are a few questions you can use as a guide to define your unique value proposition as a travel content creator:
✈️ What sets your travel experiences apart?
🗺 Have you explored destinations that might be less common in mainstream content?
💬 How do you personally connect with your audience?
✅ Are there specific themes, niches, or aspects of travel that will consistently define your content?
💭 Do you have specialized knowledge about certain destinations, cultures, or travel-related topics?
📸 What makes your visual style unique?
📹 Are there specific elements in your photography or videography style?
💛 What emotions do you aim to evoke in your audience through your travel content?
📍 Crucial Checkpoint: Your Creative Expedition
As we talked about before, part of a successful travel marketing plan has to do with making data-driven decisions. This also means conducting strategic research to tweak your content strategy accordingly. So, put on your detective glasses and keep an eye out for:
🚢 Traveling trends
🏖️ Popular destinations
📆 Seasonal content opportunities
📈 Market trends
👫🏻 Consumer behavior
💬 Best-performing keywords & search queries
✏️ New content formats
📌 Noteworthy: Don’t forget to check out the work of fellow content creators to immerse yourself in the world of travel marketing. Exploring their diverse approaches will keep you updated on this industry and help you access emerging trends.
3. Know Your Target Audience 🎯
Is your target audience the adventurous backpacker, the savvy digital nomad, or the glamour-on-the-go vacationer? Understanding your demographics provides insights into their pain points, interests, and preferences. Say you already have a follower list on social media, you can start by pinpointing aspects such as:
📆 Age
👤 Gender
🧑🏻🏫️ Ocuppation level
🌎 Geographic location
🏀 Interests & hobbies
🛍 Purchasing habits
💬 Communication style
💻 Online habits
🧭 Essential Navigator: Creating Your Travel Persona
When we’re talking about travel marketing, one of the essential aspects is to understand the trip interests and motivations of your audience. For instance, you can research the following:
What type of destinations do they love to explore? (beach, mountain, city, wood)
Do they typically opt for budget-friendly adventures, luxurious getaways, or a mix of both?
Are they more inclined toward solo travel, traveling with a partner, friends, or family?
Do they prefer staying in hotels, hostels, or alternative accommodations?
Are they interested in sustainable or eco-friendly travel options?
What challenges or concerns do they often face while traveling?
Don’t be afraid to get really specific! Remember, if you’re trying to cater to everyone, you’ll end up catering to no one.
Once you get a grasp of this information, you can create your traveler persona and tailor all your marketing efforts to address their specific needs. From the tone and style of the messaging you’ll use on your posts to the format and platforms you’ll share them on, these insights will help you create an engaging experience that resonates with your audience. 
4. Plan Your Travel Content 🌎
There are several aspects to creating high-quality content, from researching to organizing a calendar and promoting it on different platforms. No need to worry, though! In this guide to content marketing, we’ll break down each step into easy, achievable tasks for success:
1. Do Keyword Research 🔎
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is one of the key elements to an effective travel marketing strategy and gaining visibility online. Well-optimized content can rank better on search engines, thus attracting more traffic, increasing brand awareness, and reaching a wider audience. 🚀
Now, this type of research involves finding relevant keywords and travel-specific queries to effectively use them in your content. Maybe travelers are looking for the best spot to vacation during the winter or the ultimate suitcase for long trips. In any case, this will ensure you’re targeting exactly what your audience is looking for. 🎯
There are several online tools and workflows that can help you conduct keyword research for travel content marketing like Ahrefs or Semrush. Nevertheless, if you’re looking for SEO-specific guidelines and tips for social media, we have these expert guides!
2. Choose Your Platforms 🌐
Remember your previous research? Well, here’s where it comes in handy! This step will depend on the insights you’ve gained when understanding your demographics as it ties up closely with where your target audience is more active. 🤓
So, for example, let’s say your traveler persona tends to use Instagram as their go-to social media app. Then, your content should be tailored to this platform’s specific features. This means you’ll be using formats such as reels, posts, and stories to engage with viewers. 🤩
Here’s the good news!😀 Placeit by Envato has a whole collection of stunning social media templates for travel influencers and content creators. These dazzling visual assets are perfectly designed to fit each platform’s dimensions, so you can pick out your favorite, customize it, download it, and share it instantly! Take a peek at some of the incredible options you’ll find:
3. Plan a Content Calendar 📆
A content calendar helps you maintain a consistent posting schedule, thus creating an efficient workflow. Moreover, planning in advance gives you an overview of the topics, formats, and themes you can use to make sure you’re diversifying your content. This lets you keep your audience hooked by catering to different preferences and leveraging trends. ✨
Remember, it’s all about being strategic, and timing is a must!⏰️ So, your content calendar should also align with relevant holidays, peak seasons, and booking times. For instance, showcasing winter wonderlands in preparation for Christmas or tropical paradises around Spring Break. ⛄🌴
🗓 Talking about major holidays and events, make sure you never miss another date with this E-commerce calendar for hustlers!
4. Prepare Your Creative Arsenal 🌟
Here’s where the fun begins! We can’t help but stress this enough: creating high-quality, relevant, and valuable content is the cornerstone of capturing your audience’s attention and fostering a genuine connection with them. 😀
🌟 Want to create the perfect travel aesthetic to charm your viewers? Check out this visual branding guide!
So, how do you transform your wonderful trips and experiences into captivating content? Well, you’ve already taken the first step in the right direction, which is preparing your travel marketing strategy. Now, why not unpack your creativity with these content marketing ideas:
✈️ +30 Travel Content Marketing Ideas
Trip Itineraries
Destination Guides
Trip Packing Lists
🏖️
Top Local Spots
Best Photo Locations
🚶🏻
Solo Travel Tips
🎁
Travelers Gift Guide
🗓
Local Events Calendar
🗼
X Places to Visit in (Location)
🐶
Traveling With Pets Guide
💵
X Things to Do for Free in (Location)
🏕
Camping vs Glamping
💸
Best Budget Destinations
🌴
Top Vacation Spots
📱
Essential Travel Apps
✈️
Airport Etiquette 101
🚗
Road Trip Essentials
🛅
What’s in My Suitcase?
😴
Jetlag Trips & Tricks
👗
Travel Outfit Ideas
✅
Long Trip Must-Haves
🧳
Carry-on vs. Checked Bag
🍝
Must-Try Local Dishes
🛬
Secret Airport Hacks
🙃
Trip Planning Do’s and Don’ts
🛫
Booking a Flight 101
🌁
Underrated / Overrated Spots
🤩
Traveler’s Bucket List
🚫
Mistakes to Avoid While Visiting (Location)
🎒
Beginner’s Guide to Backpacking
🪙
Insider's Guide to Traveling on a Budget
🤯
Expectations vs. Reality: Living Abroad
Use these concepts and topics as inspo for blog posts, stories, videos, and other cool social media content ideas to share all your travel tales with your audience. From showcasing dreamy destinations to your latest adventures, Placeit is your go-to creative ally for stunning travel designs, logos, videos, social media templates, and branding assets. ✨✈️
5. Promote Your Content 📣
Ready to hit that “Share” button? Before you take over travel and social media or your chosen communication channel, keep in mind these tips to make the most out of your content:
📸 Use high-quality photos and videos that showcase the beauty and unique aspects of the destinations you visit.
💬 Include CTAs to encourage interaction from your viewers. For example, you can prompt them to share their own travel experiences, hacks, or what they like to see next.
🔎 Research popular travel-related hashtags to increase the discoverability of your content. Be sure to include relevant keywords, but be careful not to stuff your captions on social media.
✨ Stay consistent across all communication channels. Ideally, your brand should be cohesive regarding all its visual assets, tone, style, and messaging.
♻️ Keep track of high-performing content to gain insights on popular themes and topics within your audience. You can also repurpose it to extend its lifespan and reach new viewers.
💡 Learn everything about repurposing your content here!
5. Track, Optimize, and Adjust 🤓
Once you’ve posted your blog, video, or any other cool asset, the job doesn’t stop. What you’ll want to do next is monitor its performance to evaluate the effectiveness of your travel marketing strategy. Knowing what’s working and what can be improved is a huge game changer when it comes to planning future content. 🤓
While your exact KPIs will depend on the goals and objectives you defined in the first step, there are different metrics you can use to gain valuable insights into your travel content. For instance, keep in mind this data when tracking your social media progress:
💬 Likes, shares, and comments
👸🏻 Follower count
🤳🏻 Average engagement rate
📢 Click-Through Rate (CTR)
🌟 Top-performing content
📌 Important Reminder: Social media dynamics change rather quickly. So, consider setting time aside on a weekly and monthly basis to keep track of your metrics and understand how users interact with your content over time. 🔎
A Smooth Landing: Wrapping up Our Travel Marketing Guide! 🛬
As you can see, there’s a lot of hard work involved in creating the perfect travel marketing strategy. However, by being consistent, doing research, and staying up-to-date with the latest industry trends, you are paving your way to success as a content creator. Plus, you already have all the key insights to get started on this adventure! 😉
Whether you’re posting some hidden gems around the globe or sharing snippets of your latest trip, remember that the world of travel marketing is dynamic. So, strive for dedication and keep up with high-quality content to transform all your world escapades into a unique narrative that captivates your audience. ✨
Now, we want to hear from you! Are there any other tips you’d like to share with fellow content creators aspiring to dip their toes into travel marketing? Share your golden advice below and bon voyage! 😌✈️
