One of the most coveted invitations for bloggers is to get invited on a press tour or press trip. Just like journalists who are invited to an exclusive experience to write about it, many brands recognize the significance of influencers and add them to the media invitation list. A press trip could be local, regional, cross-country or international. Once you find out the dates, times and requirements to attend you may wonder what to do next.
Many blogger press trips are hosted by either the visitors and conventions bureaus of the city seeking the exposure, hotels or resorts, or sometimes social good organizations that serve underserved or developing communities and countries. When a blogger is sought out to join the trip, many times you’ll receive deliverables and background info on the trip before you attend.
10 “Do’s and Dont’s for Blogger Press Trips.
“DO: Tell your audience that you are going on a press tour on social and on your blog. Turn it into a relevant travel story by adding packing and preparation tips. Once there, remember to use a proper FTC disclosure in your shares. Using the hashtag #hosted is sufficient, or simply telling your audience you have been hosted by the brand, per the FTC.
DO: Collaborate and engage with other influencers who are on the press trip. Introduce yourself. Network and meet new people. Follow each other on social media so you can share each other’s posts.
DO: Dress for the occasion! Bring day and evening changes of clothes. Remember that bold colors with limited patterns work best for photos and on-camera opportunities. Ask your contact if there are any dress code requirements or events you’ll want to plan for. If traveling internationally, check with your airline to see if your first bag is free so you can budget your out of pocket expenses accordingly.
DO: Bring your necessary cables, chargers, and batteries for your mobile devices or any converters for international travel.
DO: Use a healthy mix of your photos and the photos and images provided by the public relations department.
DO: Go live on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Periscope to provide immediate coverage. Tag the location where you are visiting.
DO: Ask to come back again. Follow-up about future opportunities.
DON’T: Forget the designated hashtag or social sharing requirements.
DON’T: Share any negative experiences with your reservation, your hotel or your room on social media. Handle any issues with your designated media contact.
DON’T: Miss any invited events and meals – unless it’s due to an illness or emergency. It can be exhausting to do events after a long day of travel but remember the amount of work put into planning a great experience for you and the other media that was attended. More importantly, a press trip is work and you’re there to do a job.
DON’T: Forget to have fun. Enjoy yourself. Tell your personal story and mix in the brand’s message.
DON’T: Forget to say thank you to your hosts and media contacts.
RELATED TOPIC: 8 Tips for Serving as a Social Media Correspondent
Have questions about executing a blogger press trip with top influencers? Contact nadia(at)thenetworkniche.com.
