Download - Tbex15 Asia Thailand Mariellen Ward
State of Travel Blogging in Asia
Mariellen Ward, India ~ BreatheDreamGo.com
Maggie Wu, China ~ FlyWithMaggie.com
Jade Johnston, Australia ~ OurOyster.com
Breathedreamgo.com
Started travelling in India 10 years ago, and blogging on Travelblog.org Launched Breathedreamgo 6 years ago as an India-focused, female solo travel blog Have spent more than 2 years in country Breathedreamgo is one of the leading travel blogs about India Now live in Delhi in winter, and Canada in summer, travel in both countries extensively
Breathedreamgo and INDIA
Overview of Blogging in AsiaThe only constant is diversity.
India is home to thousands of bloggers and a world-renown high-tech industry.
Philippines, Indonesia and Malaysia have vibrant, thriving blogospheres.
New Zealand and Australia are part of European, Western blogosphere
China’s scene is completely unique.
Mariellen will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in India, plus a call to action.
Jade will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in Australia / NZ, plus a call to action.
Maggie will present challenges & opportunities for bloggers in China, plus a call to action.
Followed by questions, answers, sharing ideas.
Challenges and Opportunities
1. Breaking out of the amateur pool, driven by events and contests. Achieving professionalism in terms of reputation and payment.
2. Countering India’s worldwide reputation as an unsafe place for travellers, especially female travellers.
3. Finding encouragement, training, incentives and a community for creating top quality, professional work.
4. Responsible tourism / sustainability concepts in country of 1.2 billion
Challenges in India
Contest-driven blogging in India
Kerala Blog Express
1. Assignments, projects, books, etc., based on core skill (eg writing, photography). Huge media in India.2. Sponsored content3. Fam trips with best tourism boards: Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan4. International fam trips5. Hone niche, improve quality, reach out and ask for what you’re worth
Opportunities
1. Recognize your worth as a skilled creator, and the value of reaching Indian travellers
2. Say “no” to working for free, especially providing content to a for-profit brand, company; help educate the industry
3. Counteract the reputation of India as unsafe with stories, videos, personal testimony
4. Choose to create quality content rather than look for a quick buck, a contest entry, a viral post
5. Act professional, deliver promised materials6. Foster supportive community among bloggers
Call to action
Pay the artist … writer … photographer … blogger …
Call to action
Shivya Nath, TheShootingStar.com @ShivyaAnuradha Goyal, Inditales.com @anuradhagoyalGaurav Bhatnagar, TheSpunkyTraveler.com @dspunkytravelerAmrita Das, TravellingIdesofMarch.com @Amrita_DassLakshmi Sharath, LakshmiSharath.com @lakshmisharathRachel Jones, Hippie-inHeels.com @hippie_inheelsVJ Sharma, Travelingcamera.com @photojourney_tcAjay Sood, Travelure.in @TravelureAjay
Thanks to Indian bloggers