Why Meeting Fellow Travel Bloggers is Important
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Recently we have had the chance to meet several fellow travel Bloggers. Over the past year, we have been on our own trying to bounce ideas off of one another while working in our travels.
While that has worked out well to a point, it hasn’t been until these past couple of months that we have been really inspired and excited about the future of travel and blogging.
Meeting Fellow Tweeters in Paris France
It all started with our first tweet up in Paris with Paris Buff. We learned quickly that Twitter personalities really do shine through. Marlys at Paris Buff was as perky and friendly as I imagined her to be. As successful entrepreneurs and fellow writers, she and her husband Michael asked us about the direction of our Blog. We realized that we hadn’t given it a lot of thought in the past. It was having somebody that is like minded ask us the question “where is it that you want to be?” that we had to actually sit down and think about our future goals and plans regarding Canada’s Adventure Couple.
We didn’t have a concrete vision of how we wanted to move ahead with the Blog, and meeting fellow writers and Twitter friends reminded us that we need to have goals and a concrete plan.
Meeting Fellow Travel Personalities in Alaska
Just a few days after Paris, we went on a Princess Cruises Press Trip. The people that we met on #FollowMeAtSea were inspirational and professional. While we all had the best time of our lives traveling through Alaska, we also took our job on the ship very seriously. We tweeted and wrote diligently about our time on the Coral Princess and we worked hard to give Princess Cruises the results that they were looking for.
Bouncing ideas off of one another was exciting at dinner. We learned from some of the top Twitter and Bloggers on the internet about what they do to raise funds and gain publicity and how they put together packages for tourism boards and companies and what exciting applications they use to track results and gain information. We couldn’t wait to get home to start implementing some of the ideas that we came up with to take theplanetd brand and our travels to the next level.
We noticed that the more successful the people, the more they are wanting to share. Everyone in that group, were the cream of the crop and at the top of their fields. Many suggested ideas to us that we hadn’t even thought about before and shared their successes with us all. People are quite the entrepreneurs and we learned that we to have the capacity to take our blog to the next level and do something special with it.
To follow more of these great people, here are their twitter handles.
- @RickGriffin
- @OrlandoChris
- @Travelogged
- @BethBlair
- @Gadling
- @traveldudes
- @CruiseBuzz
- @EarthXplorer
- @PrincessCruises
The momentum kept going when we went to The Travel Blog Exchange in New York. While we didn’t get what we wanted out of the talks and seminars (we were only there the final day) we met up with some of our favorite writers and personalities on the Internet. Because of TBEX, we have the biggest project of our lives coming up next year. We will be participating in the Mongol Rally with Sherry Ott of Ottsworld. Michaela from Briefcase to Backpack filmed us all committing to the project in New York and we are now in the planning stages of driving across a continent together with the possibility of Rick Griffin from Mid Life Road Trip coming along!
Since then we have met up in Toronto with Canadian Writers and Bloggers forming the Toronto Travel Tribe thanks for Mariellen of Breathe Dream Go. Talking to Janice of SoloTraveler made us realized that we are all on the cusp of something great. The world of travel writing, tourism and promotion is changing and if we all play our cards right, we can be a part of it. Once again, we met great people and bounced ideas off one another and we are looking forward to seeing them all again and getting to know them better.
Which brings us to today…
We had a wonderful weekend in Montreal thanks to an invitation from Todd and Lauren of GlobeTrooper. It is saying yes to last minute plans that can really make for something special. We had a blast checking out the Just for Laughs Festival with them and Marcello of Wandering Tradr. But it was our chats at breakfast that we enjoyed the most. What Globetrooper has done in a few short months is impressive. They are moving up the ladder of the Trip Planning and Travel Community websites quickly and are truly fun and great people.
We chatted and brainstormed together and bounced ideas off of one another. We all learned something from each other and we all formed a bond that is deeper than simply chatting online.
Meeting GlobeTrooper and Wandering Tradr in Montreal
Everyone that we met these past few weeks have become great friends. We will all help and support each other as we all learn and grow together.
So the next time you hear about a tweet up, a meet up or receive a last minute invitation to go out and meet a fellow traveler or Blogger, take it! The meeting may open up an entirely new direction of ideas and possibilities.
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I’m excited to watch the unfolding of the Mongol Rally – especially as I witnessed the inception. Just think, a year from now you will be off on that adventure!
.-= Michaela Potter´s last blog ..Reflection- Morgan’s Tale =-.
It is very exciting. Thanks for recording it! We have learned that if you “put it out there” and commit to something great things happen. You have no way of backing out either, so no matter what you figure out a way to make it work!
We are excited too Michaela. We are overwhelmed with the planning and how we are going to make it work, but I know it will all work out with the great people we have joined forces with:)
Dave and Deb, the day we spent together in New York City was one of the best I’ve had in a long time…it’s wonderful to meet people who not only get what it is to look forward to a whole quiet month of SEO back-tracking, but also to be a couple who equates “settling down” with finding a place to sleep for the night.
I’m thrilled you guys are joining Sherry in Mongolia next year, and hope it’s (yet another) life-changing experience!
.-= Melanie@TravelsWithTwo´s last blog ..Si Como No- Yes and No =-.
Agreed Melanie. You are so awesome! We loved meeting you and learning from you and being inspired by you. Let’s do it all in L.A. again some time soon!
Very cool! I went to TBEX as well, and I agree–not all of the panels quite gave me what I wanted–but it was so fun connecting with other travel bloggers and coming away with new ideas and motivation. Wish I had met you guys! Another travel blogger in Austin and I are going to start monthly travel meetups here, so hopefully that will be another way to stay inspired–sounds like those are working really well for you guys!
.-= Emily´s last blog ..Check Out My Guest Post on Beers and Beans =-.
That is fantastic that you are starting your own travel tweet ups. I bet it will grow like crazy. It is the meetings and connections that are important. I wish that we would have met you too! We missed meeting so many people because we only showed up on the Sunday. It was difficult to join in on the fun. It was also difficult to try to have a conversation with everyone that we wanted to.Oh well, at least we are meeting people on the road and at the Toronto Travel Tribe meetings.
Wonderful post! I’ve found that the people in the travel writing/blogging community to be the most supportive and generous with their time and advice……I try to take advantage of every opportunity to meet other writers & bloggers, and I always come away from it inspired and motivated, and with new friends, of course!
.-= Trisha´s last blog ..PR-Blogger Relations Manifesto =-.
You are right Trisha, it amazes me just how open and supportive everyone is. The travel blog community is the best community on the Internet.
Great post. I have been lucky enough to meet many fellow travel writers/bloggers due to being located in New York. Each and every one of them have been better than expected in person, kind, smart and just great to hang out with. Looking forward to Mongol Rally updates w/ the lovely Sherry Ott.
Isn’t that the truth. It is always amazing to see how bang on our impressions of people are. It is hard to hide your personality in Blogging and luckily almost everyone is just as spectacular and friendly in person as they are on their fabulous blogs.
We had a great time with you as well guys!! Look forward to seeing you guys soon! We should all plan a trip on http://www.globetrooper.com and get all the travel bloggers to go!!
.-= Marcello´s last blog ..Quebec Sightseeing-Festival of laughs =-.
It is rather amusing to find out from this post that Dave and Deb got some “insights” from their tweeting up with us (as @ParisBuFF). Let us set the record straight: if we have not met them, we would not have started blogging. They have shown us, by active example, that one can have fun, and perhaps even earn some, by doing what one is passionate about. In our case,it is hiking (aside from Paris of course.) If anything, our lives were enriched from meeting them.
We just want everyone to know that personally meeting @theplanetD, the famous Canadian adventure couple, was an inspirational awakening for us. They have always fascinated us from the day we “met” them via Twitter. And I’m sure those who have met them will agree with us that they are the most delightful company and such genuinely friendly folks. If only for the great fortune of getting to know them, we absolutely agree: meeting other tweeps and bloggers — GOOD.
.-= Michael and Marlys´s last blog ..What Is Easy Hiking =-.
We are blushing:) We did gain a lot of insights from you. What we loved is that you asked the right questions that actually made us take stock of our situation and where we want to be. that is very important for any business and something that we neglected. I am glad that we could inspire you and we are looking forward to watching your blog grow.
My site and self is new to the travel scene and I couldn’t agree more on showing each other the way or even enjoying each other’s company. It’s an honour to belong to a group who truly practices the word “community”.
.-= Nomadic Chick´s last blog ..Worst Washroom of the Week =-.
As someone who has only recently ‘come out’ to a few people, I found the concept originally frightening. There are reasons for blogging anonymously but the advantages of meeting others outweigh them. Pity Australia is so far away. There are some great people on the travel side like yourselves I would love to meet!
.-= Gourmantic´s last blog ..The Rocks Aroma Festival 2010 =-.
I seem to think that there are a ton of great Bloggers in Australia. I have heard that there is a Sydney Travel Tribe even? What town are you in? I bet you can easily find some people. We look forward to meeting you one day and we shall come and visit when we finally do make it to Australia.
I met a couple just last week that did the Mongol Rally this year on motorcycles. I couldn’t believe their stories – it sounded to be an amazing experience and one for a great cause. Made my story of, “Oh I moved to New Zealand,” seem like a walk in the park!
Great post. I can’t wait for TBEX next year when I can put a face on so many of the great people in the travel blog community.
.-= Matt´s last blog ..Reaching 25 Countries By the Age of 25- Experiences Along The Way Part 2 =-.
Very cool that you met people that did the Mongol Rally Matt. Now I am excited. It is certainly cool to put a face to the name. It makes blogging and tweeting so much more fun too because you know the person.
Nice. Makes me feel a little guilty. If anyone’s passing through Wellington, New Zealand I’d love to put this post into practise.
I mostly see (saw?) blogging as a personal, individual passion. A window to my soul. It seems it’s blossoming into a field of bright ideas.
If anyone’s passing through Wellington, New Zealand I’d love to put this post into practise.
.-= Ant Stone´s last blog ..Tips for Travelling with Parents =-.
We are hoping to come to New Zealand next year…if all goes well:) We will look you up for sure!
LOVED meeting friendly, warm people like you two! I agree, it’s VERY important!
.-= Candice´s last blog ..Reconnection and Celebrating a Newfoundland “Come Home Year” =-.
Meeting fellow travelers and bloggers is something I’ve added to my list of things to do in the not-so-distant future as I try to get my own travel blog off the ground. The travel blogging community really is an amazing, unique one, full of genuine people who (like you said) really do want to help each other out. Great post!
.-= Amanda´s last blog ..4 reasons why I’m restless- and what I plan to do about it =-.
Great that you guys have been able to connect and meet with so many like minded and uplifting fellow bloggers/tweeters while travelling. Would love to meet you guys sometime in the future, for a crazy international meal!
.-= Migration Mark´s last blog ..8 Glamorous Asian Icy Desserts =-.
We would love to meet you Mark! Your food posts make my mouth water and you know all the best places in the world to eat! When we get back on the road in a couple of months, we set a date!
It’s great to know that travel bloggers are ready & willing to share what’s made them successful. I also like putting the names to faces (or Twitter handles in this case..)& I agree, getting together off-line is an important component of social media today. Plus, it looks like you had a great time doing it! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Tuula. That is something we love about the travel blogging community. Everyone is so willing to share information and discuss ideas. I always chalk it up to the fact that we travelers are just happy people. How can we not be, we are always experiencing new and exciting things:)
I agree, to really get into the loop it is important to meet other travel bloggers and such. The timing sure is the trick.
.-= Shawn´s last blog ..FeedBurner’s Delusional Subscription Statistics =-.
Very true Shawn. The timing couldn’t be working out better for us lately. WE keep taking it as a sign that we are supposed to be meeting all these great people. Because we just seem to be around and in the right place at the right time to meet everyone.
Hi Dave and Deb, thanks for the shout-out! It was fun to meet up with you two, and everyone else who came to the Toronto Tweet-up. Alicia Taggio and I are meeting this week to formally launch Toronto Travel Tribe (we have a FaceBook page so far), so that we can organize weekly meet-ups and help promote and support travel bloggers in Toronto.
You two bring a sense of excitement and community wherever you go. Thanks so much for being such a great inspiration — and for being such great travel blogging role models to us newer bloggers. Love you!
.-= Mariellen Ward´s last blog ..Build a village in India =-.
Thank you Mariellen. You bring a sense of calm to a room. You are so centred. I am guessing it is all the yoga. That is what is amazing, we are all so different and yet so similar with our mutual love for travel that the conversations are inspiring. Looking forward to more travel tribe tweet ups!
This is such a great reminder. I sometimes get closed in my own little dream world of travel and aspirations and hot a wall of questions and what next? Truth is, I only need to turn to my fellow travelers for answers and though we are each on a journey of our own, I have found so much clarity in reading their stories and just taking in their energy.
Thanks for this post! And can’t wait to hear more of what’s to come!
.-= Carol @NYCityMama´s last blog ..Eastgate Tower Hotel Offers A Chance to Meet Picasso at The Met =-.
Carol, your comment is so poetic. It is so important to meet other bloggers and travellers, it re-ignites the passion and excitement all over again.
Thanks Carol. Meeting fellow travelers and bloggers can really help to get a person out of a rut or a block. The creative energy is contagious.
Hey Deb and Dave,
We had an absolute ball with you guys and Marcello last weekend. It was such a pleasure to meet people on the same wavelength. How awesome was the Just for Laughs festival?!
Really looking forward to catching up again at the Toronto Travel Tribe. We also had a great time with Alicia and Jeannie only a couple of weeks prior and I imagine they’ll be there too.
PS It’s taken me so long to write because of all the work created by your great ideas.
.-= Globetrooper Todd´s last blog ..HOW TO- Create a Travel Budget You’ll Stick To =-.
We had a fabulous time too! Thanks again for the invite You two are awesome and we are so impressed with what you have done with your blog. I know how you feel, we have so many ideas flowing and so little time. We still totally have to do that twitter thing we were talking about, but when will we all find the time!:)
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Looks like a fab time with some fab peeps indeed! So, when are you coming to Stockholm? *giggles* (I forbid you to go there without contacting us so we can meet up!)
Awesome! It is a date. We will see you when we come to Stockholm. We really do want to come one day soon!
I agree, I think meeting fellow travel bloggers and just active travelers in general is a great thing. It’s always great to be able to bounce ideas off each other as well as get great ideas for new trips.
.-= Mike´s last blog ..How To Get A Passport For A Child =-.
Your right Mike. We have been coming away from these meet ups and tweet ups totally pumped to get to work. We all come up with such great ideas together. There is something to say for energy in a room as opposed to being alone at a computer to get the creative juices flowing.
Meeting fellow people in general, open-minded people who share the same things as you is always a pleasurable and meaningful experience. I’m very glad when I can have the company of same-minded people. I wish you more times like these, and also – a greeting from a Bulgarian digital nomad.
Thanks Ivo. It is moments like this when we can meet up on line and who knows, possibly remain friends for years to come until we meet on the road. We have planned on coming to Bulgaria one day, we will see you then!:-)
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I really enjoyed this blog, since i am a travel blogger i found it very useful. Hope i will keep following you.
.-= Africa car rentals´s last blog ..Africa Car Rentals =-.
We also have regular “tweetups” here in Ottawa, Ontario which are get togethers for fellow twitter users and bloggers.
Awesome, we will have to come to one some time.
Good advice! We have been thrilled to meet great travel bloggers, fab bloggers that we know from other niches and social media, as well as fans of our blog when we do regular tweetups on our open ended world tour these last 5 years.
We’ve also had great “meetings” via skype webcam calls with the same which is almost as good as in person. We’ve never done a press trip or conference & are constantly on the move as a family with a young child on a VERY low budget, so it’s often the next best thing. Syncing up timing with travel bloggers can be a challenge.
Meeting wonderful people is one of the best things about travel, whether it is locals, expats, other bloggers or fans! The world is small!! Hope we can sync up one of these days too!
.-= soultravelers3´s last blog ..Mourning While Traveling- Tragedy Back Home =-.
I’m sure it will happen soon. We have been in the same neck of the woods twice now. One of these days, we’ll be close enough to have a drink together:)
You guys have been awesome so far. Hopefully will get to meet in person sometime soon! Cheers
Thanks guys. I am sure that we will get to meet sometime soon for sure!