The Ultimate Guide to Press Trips for Bloggers
Press trips, also known as media trips or familiarization (FAM) tours, are essential opportunities for bloggers and influencers to explore destinations, experiences, and products firsthand while creating engaging content for their audience. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dive deep into the world of press trips, offering actionable tips and insider strategies for securing opportunities, making the most of your experiences, and building lasting partnerships with brands and tourism boards.
I went on my first press trip this March, to Las Vegas when I attended the Travel Goods Show.
So here’s the skinny on press trips (sometimes call “fam trips” or “fams” from the word “familiarization”).
The Ultimate Guide to Press Trips for Bloggers
How press trips for travel writers or bloggers work
Destinations, hotel chains, tour companies, and others often extend invitations to bloggers to experience what they offer. These invitations, known as press trips, aim to drum up publicity and sometimes social media buzz for the place or business. Typically, writers are invited as a group, ranging from a handful to dozens, coming from different places to one central location.
The idea is for the organization to showcase their offerings so that the writers will write about it and share photos or videos. For the writers, the goal is to create content for publications or videos. Ideally, they’ll enjoy the trip and want to talk about it.
Depending on how it’s set up, writers might have every minute planned out with a set itinerary, or they might have options for different activities or some free time to explore on their own. Transportation is usually provided, often in vans or buses, although sometimes trips to places like beach resorts or safaris involve staying in one place for most of the time.
source: travelwriting2.com
Understanding Press Trips for Travel Bloggers
Press trips offer bloggers and influencers a unique chance to immerse themselves in a destination or brand’s offerings, allowing them to create authentic and compelling content that resonates with their audience. These trips typically include complimentary accommodations, meals, activities, and sometimes even transportation, all provided by the hosting brand or tourism board. By participating in press trips, influencers can:
- Gain firsthand experience: Press trips provide bloggers with firsthand experience of a destination, hotel, resort, or product, allowing them to create authentic and detailed content.
- Build relationships: Press trips offer opportunities to network with other influencers, industry professionals, and representatives from brands and tourism boards, paving the way for future collaborations.
- Increase exposure: By sharing their press trip experiences on their blog and social media channels, influencers can attract new followers, increase engagement, and enhance their credibility as trusted travel experts.
Tips for Finding and Securing Press Trip Opportunities
Securing press trip opportunities requires proactive outreach, strategic networking, and a strong online presence. Here are some tips for finding and securing press trips:
- Build a strong online presence: Focus on creating high-quality content that showcases your unique voice, aesthetic, and expertise. Brands and tourism boards are more likely to invite influencers who have a strong and engaged following.
- Network with industry professionals: Attend travel conferences, networking events, and industry meetups to connect with representatives from brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies. Building relationships with key decision-makers can lead to valuable press trip invitations.
- Pitch personalized proposals: Instead of sending generic pitch emails, tailor your proposals to the specific brand or destination you’re interested in collaborating with. Highlight your relevant experience, audience demographics, and ideas for collaboration.
- Utilize social media: Leverage your social media platforms to showcase your travel experiences and engage with potential collaborators. Use relevant hashtags, participate in Twitter chats, and join Facebook groups dedicated to travel blogging and influencer marketing.
- Join influencer networks: Sign up for influencer marketing platforms and networks that connect bloggers with brands and tourism boards looking for collaboration opportunities. These platforms often list available press trip opportunities and provide tools for submitting applications.
Making the Most of Your Press Trip Experiences
Once you’ve secured a press trip opportunity, it’s essential to make the most of your experience and maximize exposure for both yourself and the hosting brand or destination. Here are some tips for ensuring a successful press trip:
- Research and prepare: Familiarize yourself with the destination, brand, or product you’ll be covering on the press trip. Research local attractions, cultural practices, and current events to ensure that your content is accurate and informative.
- Create a content plan: Develop a content plan outlining the type of content you’ll create during the press trip, including blog posts, social media updates, videos, and photography. Consider how you’ll incorporate branded messaging while maintaining authenticity and transparency.
- Engage with your audience: Keep your audience engaged throughout the press trip by sharing real-time updates, behind-the-scenes content, and interactive polls or Q&A sessions. Encourage your followers to ask questions and share their own travel tips and experiences.
- Capture high-quality visuals: Invest in high-quality photography and videography equipment to capture stunning visuals that showcase the beauty and uniqueness of the destination or product. Experiment with different angles, lighting, and compositions to create captivating content.
- Follow up with gratitude: After the press trip concludes, follow up with the hosting brand or destination to express your gratitude for the opportunity.
- Share links to the content you created during the trip and inquire about potential future collaborations or partnerships. For example, when I left the Travel Goods show, I published this blog post, and posted it on MSN as well. I then sent it to the company along with a thank you email, and was immediately invited back for next year!
How to Get Invited to Press Trips and FAM Trips
Securing invitations to press trips and familiarization (FAM) tours requires a proactive approach, strategic networking, and a strong online presence. Here’s a detailed guide on how to increase your chances of getting invited to these coveted opportunities:
1. Build a Strong Online Presence
- Develop a professional-looking website or blog that showcases your travel experiences, expertise, and writing style. Optimize your site for search engines to improve visibility.
- Grow your social media following across platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Share high-quality content regularly and engage with your audience to build a loyal following.
- Create a media kit that highlights your audience demographics, engagement rates, previous collaborations, and partnership opportunities. This will serve as a valuable tool when pitching to brands and PR firms.
2. Network with Industry Professionals
- Attend travel conferences, trade shows, and networking events where you can connect with representatives from brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies. Be genuine and approachable, and focus on building authentic relationships.
- Join online communities and forums for travel bloggers and influencers. Participate in discussions, share insights, and collaborate on projects to expand your network within the industry.
- Follow brands, tourism boards, and PR agencies on social media, and interact with their content regularly. This will help you stay informed about upcoming opportunities and showcase your interest in collaborating.
3. Pitch Personalized Proposals
- Research brands, destinations, and PR firms that align with your niche, interests, and audience. Tailor your pitch emails to each recipient, highlighting why you’re a good fit for their upcoming press trips or FAM tours.
- Include specific ideas for collaboration, such as content formats, themes, and potential deliverables. Demonstrate your creativity, professionalism, and enthusiasm for the opportunity.
- Follow up on your pitches politely but persistently, especially if you don’t receive a response initially. Keep track of your communications and deadlines to stay organized.
4. Create Compelling Content
- Consistently produce high-quality content that showcases your storytelling skills, photography, and videography. Use your blog, social media channels, and other platforms to share engaging travel stories and inspire your audience.
- Demonstrate your ability to generate buzz and engagement around travel-related topics. Showcase your unique perspective, voice, and personality to stand out from the crowd.
- Collaborate with other bloggers, influencers, and brands on joint projects and campaigns. Cross-promote each other’s content to reach a wider audience and attract the attention of potential partners.
5. Attend Industry Events and Workshops
- Participate in workshops, webinars, and training sessions that offer insights into influencer marketing, PR strategies, and content creation. Learn from industry experts and apply their advice to your own approach.
- Volunteer or speak at industry events to raise your profile and establish yourself as an authority in your niche. Networking with attendees and speakers can lead to valuable connections and collaboration opportunities.
How to Reach Out to PR Firms and Get on PR Lists
Building relationships with PR firms is essential for gaining access to press trips, FAM tours, and other collaboration opportunities. Here’s how to effectively reach out to PR firms and get on their radar:
1. Research and Target
- Identify PR firms that specialize in travel, hospitality, and lifestyle clients. Research their clients, past campaigns, and areas of expertise to ensure they’re a good fit for your niche and audience. A great place to do this is on Instagram itself, or on LinkedIn.
- Follow PR firms on social media, subscribe to their newsletters, and monitor their press releases and announcements. Stay informed about their latest projects, events, and opportunities.
2. Craft a Persuasive Pitch
- Tailor your pitch emails to each PR firm, addressing the recipient by name and personalizing the content based on their clients and interests. Highlight why you’re interested in collaborating and what value you can bring to their campaigns.
- Showcase your previous collaborations, success stories, and audience demographics to demonstrate your credibility and reach. Provide links to your blog, social media profiles, and media kit for easy reference.
You can get my free pitch templates, and what I include in my pitch emails here!
3. Be Professional and Persistent
- Follow PR firms’ submission guidelines and deadlines when reaching out. Keep your emails concise, professional, and error-free to make a good impression.
- Follow up on your pitches politely but persistently if you don’t receive a response within a reasonable timeframe. PR professionals are often busy, so a gentle reminder can help keep your pitch top of mind.
4. Attend PR Events and Mixers
- Look for networking events, mixers, and meetups organized by PR firms or industry associations. Attend these events to meet PR professionals in person, exchange business cards, and build rapport.
- Offer to collaborate on events or projects with PR firms, such as hosting a press trip or attending a media event as a guest speaker or panelist. Demonstrating your expertise and professionalism in person can lead to future opportunities.
5. Follow Up and Nurture Relationships
- After establishing contact with PR firms, stay in touch regularly by sharing updates, content, and feedback. Keep them informed about your travel plans, upcoming projects, and areas of interest.
- Build genuine relationships with PR professionals based on trust, respect, and mutual benefit. Show appreciation for their efforts and contributions, and be responsive to their requests and feedback.
Securing invitations to press trips, FAM tours, and collaboration opportunities with PR firms requires a combination of proactive outreach, strategic networking, and high-quality content creation. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this guide, you can increase your visibility, credibility, and opportunities for collaboration within the travel industry. Remember to stay persistent, professional, and authentic in your interactions, and success will follow. Happy travels!
