My Travel Community and Photos from Davenburgh
This post is part of the Confident Writing Group Writing Project hosted by Joanna Young.
The first and foremost goal of this website, aptly named Sharing Travel Experiences, is to help build an internet outpost, virtual watercooler – call it what you like – but build a place where people can talk about really spectacular travel experiences. You might call them ‘peak experiences’, but I’m somewhat reluctant to use that term as I don’t want people to put them on a pedestal too high to reach.
So when I saw Joanna’s group writing project, I started to reflect about how the idea of a community integrated with what I’ve been doing in the blogosphere; after all, I’m trying to build my own community of travel addicts – and so far I think I’ve been pretty successful.
Twitter Travels and Article Monthly Roundups
I’ve had so much fun interacting with folk on Twitter and building, not only a following of people interested in what I have to say (which I think is most marketer’s goals with the tool) but also giving something back and listening to what others have to say. I love all the interesting reports from both cultoftravel and soultravelers3. But I’ve had so many helpful souls drift in and out. For example, when I needed some planning help on a driving itinerary, I got several replies from users with really useful details I couldn’t seem to find online. I’ve even had a few great recommendations for theatre here in Edinburgh – how fun is that? – so really pleased with what’s happening over there. If you’re not on Twitter, I recommend it. If you are, be sure to follow me.
Further to the point about fun, I have been inundated with submissions for the next Inspiring Travel Monthly Roundup. Although I consider myself a well-read and knowledgeable travel, I must say I an humbled by the diversity of topics and information I’ve received and all the interesting photo shots! The volumes of entries is crazy – obviously I’m not the only one who wants to be inspired, and that’s great. The next carnival comes out next week (it is a monthly edition); stay tuned and if you want to get involved, check out the rules and submission form.
Photos from Davenburgh
The most amazing bit about building a travel community is not only the online adventures, but offline as well. I met several folk here in Edinburgh as a result of Twitter related events, such as Tweetup and EdTwestival. However, the most powerful event I’ve recently attended was Davenburgh, which Dave and I announced at the beginning of the year. It ended up being just the two of us, for various reasons, but we still wore our lanyards – why not, they were so lovingly hand-crafted!
We talked a lot about our various travel adventures and stories, and I got such great feedback from Dave about this site – many a new feature which you’ll be seeing here soon. It was so amazing to get some external input and to realise that someone so far away has the same travel ideals, goals, and dreams that I do. We’ll be planning another Dave meetup soon, hopefully far abroad in an exotic locale.
If you want to see pictures from the event – including Greyfriars Bobby sporting a Davenburgh Lanyard – check out this post on Dave’s site, Blogography. He posts daily about a number of random topics and is definitely worth a spot in your RSS reader. His graphic design skills are superb – beyond description in fact – so at least do yourself a favour and go admire his stuff. It’s good.
Win a Prize!
In the spirit of Davenburgh as well as the Group Writing project, I’d like to put a small reward out there for those of you listening. I’ve got an extra pack of the limited edition, absolutely fantastic Blogography Story Deck. Not only can you enjoy four different stories about Lil’ Dave and Bad Monkey, but you can also use them as a deck of cards too. Check them out:
So how do you win? Well between now and midnight GMT (that is midnight in London/Edinburgh), Friday April 3rd, comment on this blog entry and answer the following question:
What does ‘travel community’ mean to you?
I’ll leave it pretty open for you to say whatever you think. A few rules:
- Please, let’s have some well thought out answers. A simple ‘Not sure’ just to win a pack of cards isn’t really in the spirit of the game, is it? Unhelpful responses will not be posted.
- As long as you submit by midnight Friday April 3rd, you’re OK. Your comment may go into moderation but the submission time is what counts.
- If your local jurisdiction does not allow you to participate in such contests, then do not submit a comment.
- You can comment as often as you like, but your name will only go into the draw once.
- The winner will be announced here on a new post on the blog.
So…you’ve heard my thoughts and now you’ve seen the question. Weight in down below.
Airport image courtesy of Photocapy. Special thanks to Dave for the prize donation.
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March 27th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
What a wonderful contribution to my project Andy, thank you. I love the idea of a community travelling and adventuring together – both virtually and in the real world, not to mention the emphasis on having fun! Off to explore this Davenburgh escapade you’ve been up to now
Joanna Young’s last blog post..Inclusive Language: I, We, and You
March 27th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
While many types of writing is solitary, I enjoy travelblogging because it is interactive.
I can ask questions of my readers, and they of me. I can toss out a request for information, I can participate in Facebook, a forum, or some other type of group discussion.
My readers, other travelbloggers, and just casual folks that stop by to comment, are my community. And they make me not just a better writer, but a better person.
Mary Jo’s last blog post..Celebrate 4,500 Days of Martinis at Tini Bigs
March 27th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Was great to meet you… thanks so much for staying out on a work-night to hang out at Bobby’s! Hope to see you again on one of our future travels.
Dave2’s last blog post..Day Seven: Edinburgh
March 28th, 2009 at 2:06 am
I’m honoured by the mention Andy! I really enjoy being part of your travel community.
For me, travel community means having a group of people I can turn to for inspiration and motivation when it comes to travel and all things travel related. Interacting with people who “get” my love for travel makes all the difference for me.
My sense of travel community has changed a lot over the past 15 years what with the development of the internet. Social media, web 2.0, travel forums, etc. means that my travel community is now always accessible and much broader than before. Back in the internet stone-age, my travel community was made up mostly of a very few like-minded friends with whom I’d reminisce and swap travel stories once in a while.
In a nutshell, being able to instantly and spontaneously share & learn with many different kinds of travelers at any time and any place is what makes it real and meaningful for me.
March 28th, 2009 at 7:14 am
Hmm, this is an interesting question. I hope ‘not sure’ is allowed as part of a broader response!
I’ve always had friends who enjoy travelling, people with whom I’ve swapped stories & guidebooks on an individual basis, but the concept of a ‘travel community’ is one I’ve only really encountered online in the past few months. The implication of a community (to me) is that there should be a many-to-many relationship between members of the community – the sort of thing that’s easy on Twitter and blogs and Facebook, whereas in the ‘offline’ world it would require getting a group of people round a table. So this is pretty new to me, but has already had benefits in terms of getting tips & suggestions. Interestingly, the suggestions I *most* value about a place come from the people who live there rather than from fellow tourists – I love to see things from a local perspective. So my online travel community includes people who live in the places I want to visit, too.
Rachel Cotterill’s last blog post..Eyam
March 30th, 2009 at 11:57 am
[...] I mentioned in Friday’s post about travel community, I’m enjoying some great interactions on Twitter. So when Tourism New Zealand said hello, I [...]
April 3rd, 2009 at 7:44 am
[...] My Travel Community and Photos from Davenburgh by Andy Hayes at Sharing Experiences The first and foremost goal of this website, aptly named Sharing Experiences, is to help build an internet outpost, virtual watercooler – call it what you like – but build a place where people can talk about really spectacular travel experiences… The most amazing bit about building a travel community is not only the online adventures, but offline as well. [...]
November 2nd, 2009 at 4:51 pm
[...] I mentioned in Friday’s post about travel community, I’m enjoying some great interactions on Twitter. So when Tourism New Zealand said hello, I [...]