Solo travel has been a growing trend for the last several years, and the need for social distancing is motivating even more people to discover new social distance travel options. This creates a unique opportunity for travel agents and travel marketers to capitalize on these themes in their content.
If you’re not in the position to develop content like apps or location videos, think primarily in terms of blogging and the support content that goes along with it. Since we cover quite a few content strategy models in other posts on this blog, I’ll just list a few of the support content options you might want to consider to maximize success:
Email — This is the best way to alert readers to new blog posts and other written or video content that you publish.
Social Media — Posting links to your blog posts on social media is a highly effective way to boost off-page SEO, especially when you include calls to action to share your content.
Content Curation — You can capitalize on the research of other bloggers or tourism bodies to deliver accurate, on-location content that gives readers a good idea of what various destinations have to offer. I recommend focusing on official sites, like chamber of commerce sites or sites run and updated by local governments or tourism boards.
I do have a few valuable starting points that I think will help you tap into the solo travel niche. If you haven’t considered any of these options, you might be surprised at how effective they can be. If you have already tried these things and aren’t getting much engagement, it might be time to think about enlisting help.
Professional travel copywriters or a copywriting agency specializing in SEO optimized travel content can provide the added boost you need to get your content seen. I’ll have more on that later. For now, let’s see how many of these you’ve already tried and which ones it might be time to implement.
Review Solo Travel Apps
There is plenty of content out there already about solo travel apps. Still, some of the sites I visited researching this post had some pretty vague and, sometimes, irrelevant options. I think that some of that fringe content exists for the express purpose of boosting SEO and padding with keywords. I also know that this doesn’t work very well.
Do your own research. Download some of the apps to choose to review and see how they work. Some of them rely heavily on other sources, like Google Maps and even dating apps, to bulk up the options for solo travelers. You read it right — dating apps. Please don’t go there.
Don’t simply curate other blog posts that have trouble differentiating between day-tripping and hookups. Vet every source and see the apps you choose to review in action before presenting them to your readers. Bad advice will hurt your credibility.
Secluded Locations
People are looking forward to returning to a sense of normalcy in the wake of COVID-19. One vaccine has been approved for emergency use in the U.S., and several others are making their way through the approval process. Many people are already looking ahead to next summer. Still, caution is going to rule the day for quite a while, and social distancing will still be a good policy for the foreseeable future.
For this reason, now is a great time to push the concept of secluded beaches and other destinations where encountering crowds is less likely than average. Encourage early- and late-season travel and drive the idea of planning early. Again, vet the locations you spotlight and keep in mind that plenty of travelers have the same idea about solo and secluded travel right now. Be sure to present a variety of locations and not necessarily the first five that show up on Google.
Backpacking Location and Equipment Reviews
Backpacking trips are great for solo travelers and those traveling with seclusion in mind. You can blog about good backpacking locations off the beaten path, but you also have another viable option: reviews.
Consider starting a blog that not only tells travelers where to take their next backpacking excursion but also educates them about how to do it comfortably and safely. I’ll say it again: make sure you’re providing good information.
Outward bound travel, especially when you’re alone, carries a specific set of risks. Keep those risks in mind as you make recommendations. Better still, educate your readers on what those risks are and what to expect from a solo excursion into secluded locations. The possibilities with this subject are broad enough to create a well-rounded, authoritative, and informative blog that has real potential for success in the current travel climate.
Social Media Pages for Solo Travelers
Consider setting up a few social media accounts geared specifically toward solo travelers. You can then determine which platform(s) get the best results and start developing content that is relevant and appealing to those audiences. Visual platforms like Instagram and Pinterest are particularly effective for travel marketers, but you might also find that platforms like Facebook and Twitter are equally effective if you bring a unique voice and perspective to your content.
Budget Destination Blogging
Let’s face it: Lots of people have spent at least a portion of 2020 unemployed or underemployed, so money is going to be tighter than ever. The resulting recession spurred on by COVID-19 will also generate some great budget travel options in the upcoming year or years. Some options that were out of reach a year ago may be good options for budget travelers. Encourage making travel plans to various “bucket list” locations and show your readers how they can make the trip work on a tight budget.
All of the above can help drive more engagement and conversions, but only with the right approach and expertise. If you have been struggling to produce effective travel content in the current pandemic environment, contact BeezContent today. We can help you implement some of these ideas and optimize your content for superior results.
