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Which social media platforms should I focus on? |
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Q: It feels like there are so many different social media platforms to keep up with. How do I pick which one to focus on? And do I really need to be on all of them?
A: It's true. There are so many social media platforms out there, but you only have a limited amount of time, so how do you pick which ones to focus on?
Ultimately, you’re going to have to decide that for yourself, but here’s my opinion. I think you should spend 50 percent of your time on TikTok, 25 percent of your time on YouTube, and 25 percent of your time on Instagram.
Here’s why:
TikTok
If you have to pick one social media platform to spend your time on right now, I believe it should be TikTok. Organic growth on TikTok is still attainable. There are more travel creators on TikTok these days, but the market isn’t oversaturated yet. A lot of sponsorship dollars are moving over there from Instagram. About half our inbound inquiries these days are for TikTok, not Instagram. Also, we’re starting to see airlines, hotel brands, and tourism boards starting up their own TikTok accounts, so this is a really good time to make a mark there. If you want a deep dive on travel content for TikTok, you can download a white paper for free that I co-wrote over at tiktokfortravelbrands.com.
YouTube
First, you should understand that YouTube is a grind! Making long-form videos is much more time-consuming than creating photos or short-form videos. Also, it can take a long time to grow an audience on YouTube, so the sooner you start, the better. We uploaded close to 100 videos before we had one that popped in a big way and our channel finally started growing. Once you finally do hit the algorithm and you see some traction, you can generate really good passive income running ads so it’s very worthwhile. Remember, YouTube is the second largest search engine behind Google, and more and more travelers are turning to YouTube to research trips instead of blogs. If you don’t have a presence on YouTube, you’re really missing out!
Instagram
Many sponsorship dollars are still allocated to Instagram. And travel brands still love Instagram more than any other platform. For these reasons, you should definitely still be on there, but I believe this is the beginning of the end for Instagram. Reels has given Instagram a bit of a temporary infusion, but ultimately it's still a platform in decline.
(Many of you are too young to remember the rapid collapse of Facebook, and how bloggers who were making crazy sponsorship money with Facebook pages with millions of followers found them completely worthless almost overnight. Platforms die all the time and it happens much faster than you expect. It's happened before, and it will happen again.)
Instagram has dominated social media for so long that users are ready for something new. The lack of polish and the authenticity of TikTok made it really appealing next to Instagram’s controlled and curated look. We'll see what happens, but I don’t think Reels will save Instagram in the long run. While you should be on there, don't make the mistake of putting all your eggs in the Instagram basket.
Want to read past issues? Click here for the newsletter archive!
Take care,
Carmen Sognonvi
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How LinkedIn transformed itself into a gen Z-friendly social media contender |
Once regarded as a useful but dull tool for professional networking, the service has added features such as video profiles to attract a younger audience. But will it work?
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The Young Moms Of TikTok Work Hard To Keep It Light |
What I immediately noticed about Mada was her nonchalance. All her pics are selfies that appear to have been snapped at the spur of the moment. Instamoms are typically photographed by invisible husbands (or assistants), often in front of the Insta-ready murals and the pops of color lately strewn conveniently around North American public spaces by municipalities and businesses.
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Instagram introduces Favorites and Following |
The features are meant to help personalize the app experience as the company continues to add more suggested content to user's feeds. Instagram's current format blends these suggested posts with those from followed accounts. But now, users will have the option to view only content from accounts they follow (Following mode) and from a smaller set of up to 50 selected accounts (Favorites).
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iPhone 13 Pro Max
What's the best camera to use for travel vlogging? Unless you're already a proficient videographer, I always recommend starting with an iPhone! It's so easy to use and the quality is amazing.
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Insta360 GO 2
If you want an action camera that is super unobtrusive, the GO 2 is a great choice! The stabilization is amazing, and because it's so tiny, it allows you to get some really creative shots!
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GoPro Hero 10
There's a reason GoPro has been popular with creators for so many years - it's a fantastic all-purpose action camera. Stabilization is great, and it's hardy enough to handle wear and tear.
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Insta360 ONE X2
If you haven't hopped on the 360 camera bandwagon yet, this is your sign to do it! These cameras capture what's in front, back, above, below all at the same time!
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13-Inch Macbook Pro
This laptop pretty much powers my entire business as a travel creator. Not only do I use it to edit all my photos and videos, but it's also a great productivity tool for email, writing, and research.
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Tascam DR-10L Audio Recorder
Viewers can forgive bad video quality, but they won't put up with poor audio. This audio recorder is my go-to for capturing crisp, clear audio. It's so easy to use and the output always sounds great.
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Delta Plans New Lie-Flat Transcontinental Seats in Premium Travel Push |
The Atlanta-based carrier will configure 21 A321neos with 148 seats, including 16 Delta One lie-flat business class suites. In addition to the new suites, the aircraft will have 12 premium economy, 54 extra-legroom economy, and 66 economy seats. The guide did not include a timeline for when the premium configuration will enter service.
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Is it time to rethink COVID-19 travel mandates in the US? |
Despite continuous calls from both travel organizations and travelers, the Biden Administration has given no indication that the current pre-travel testing rule requiring travelers to the United States to present a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of arrival is disappearing. Wednesday evening, the heads of all the major U.S. airlines asked President Biden to drop the mask mandate and the requirement for testing, but so far there’s been no comment from the White House.
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Traveling to Hawaii just got a whole lot easier |
It’s been a monumental day in Hawaii’s COVID-19 journey. The state today dropped all its remaining coronavirus travel restrictions, and TPG was there to see what it was like to travel to the Aloha State paperwork-free for the first time in two years.
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How to Avoid Getting Stuck in a Foreign Hospital |
What if you’re on a trip, but you suddenly have a medical emergency? Travel insurance or credit card benefits will only get you to the “nearest acceptable facility" -- not your home hospital.
Medjet is the premier global air medical transport and travel security membership program for travelers. If you become hospitalized internationally, Medjet will arrange medical transportation to a home-country hospital of your choice for inpatient care.
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Women and young adults propel huge rise in use of anti-anxiety drugs |
Women are more than twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed medication including antidepressants to relieve its symptoms, the study found.
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Why BeReal is taking over college campuses with an anti-Instagram ethos |
Once you get the BeReal notification, you have two minutes to post one picture of yourself and one of your surroundings. You can comment on friends’ posts or react with “RealMojis” (selfies imitating emojis), but there are no likes. BeReal also discourages lurking. You can’t see anyone else’s BeReal of the day until you post your own..
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Kids Are Learning History From Video Games Now |
The games made by Paradox Interactive, the Swedish studio that produces Europa Universalis, are among the most popular strategy titles in the world. Millions of people own the games, which allow players to take control of a historical nation or individual and guide the course of history. The average Europa Universalis player spends hundreds of hours on it. Some spend thousands.
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Disclaimer: This email may contain links through which we are compensated when you click on or are approved for offers.
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