Blog homeI don’t ask for much from the readers of this blog (you):
- I don’t inflict advertising on you
- The RSS feed has the full post in
- No subscription required
My content goals are:
- Analysis over news
- A press release free zone
- A single daily post
- Not to replicate the trade press - but to add to it - and provide a practitioners perspective.
- Say it how I see it…. sometimes this gets me into trouble - but that is how it is
- To engage with the trade press where I can….. although I tend to focus on Travolution because they are writing about subjects worth engaging with (in my narrow interest area) - and also because they make the effort to engage with non-traditional media types like me.
- Make the blog something I would want to read (if I wasn’t writing it!)…. I know that many people in ecommerce teams at travel companies don’t read the travel trade press….. so the goal is you can read this instead!
- Global, but with a UK / European perspective
However, 1 year from launch, this is becoming difficult to keep up. Quality content cannot be rushed - it has to be considered and well written - otherwise there isn’t much point publishing.
You can help me four ways:
- Tell me what you want me to write about
- Please comment more often!
- Am I pitching the content at the right level?
- Please ask your colleagues to subscribe (either via email - or the RSS feed directly)
Tell me what you want me to write about
Do you prefer my web design & usability reviews, my strategic posts, my thoughts on other companies’ projects or do you like me jumping around all the time?
Or…. when you see something happening in your region and you think it would make a great topic deserving of wider attention - please do send the idea to me and the chances are I will write about it.
Please comment more often
Is anyone out there? If I don’t hear from you - I may assume not!
Sometimes I can slave over a new post for a couple of hours, publish it, and then get no comments. Ummm….. depressing - even though the post is a good one. Mind you, everyone considers their own children are beautiful…..
Am I pitching the content at the right level?
For example, recently I have had feedback that I use terms that not everyone understands…. should I try to be more inclusive with my posts - or should this blog address those with greater web / travel industry experience.
Don’t forget, we have already launched Small Fish Big Ocean for small tour operators and niche agents - hence Musings remains targeted at larger travel companies and the industry in general.
Please ask your colleagues to subscribe
There are two main ways - either via RSS - or if you visit this site - you can subscribe via email. About 20% of the subscribers are via email….. so it works!
Conclusion
Yes I am asking you for a favour - unless you are in the USA - in which case I am asking for a favor.
Somehow I need to convince myself that having a blog written daily is potentially worthwhile. Otherwise I may go back into my shell and publish much less often. That would be a pity as I quite enjoy the mental exercise of writing blog posts - and my “real world” presentations and strategy papers are much better as a result of all this experience.
So go on….. tell me this blog sucks and I should just shut up. Hopefully though you will say nice things, send me some great stories to cover and get all your colleagues to subscribe.
If you want to be notified next time something is published sign up for email alerts or subscribe to the RSS feed. Thank you for reading!
Alex, keep up the good work…I do read all your posts (via RSS of course) and while I might not always agree, you’ve often stirred up some good discussions & ideas.
Cheers from your neighboUr across the pond
Michael.
For fear of pandering to your plea for nice comments or boosting your ego, Alex, Travolution would want you to carry on doing exactly what you are doing.
As i’ve said privately and publicly on a number of occasions, Musings is the best travel ecommerce blog on the web.
Keep up the good work.
I couldn’t agree more with Kevin, your blog is great full of really interesting and refreshing in depth coverage which some other blogs can’t/don’t reach (sounds like that beer commercial) and I for one look forward to your posts.
I wouldn’t worry about getting comments too much, I guess it usually means that the posts are usually on the money and it would require a more considered response, or stumped the reader into thought submission…
I’ve just started my blog and I think that they probably come a good way of getting things of your chest, and if anyone reads them thats a bonus.
Anyway, it looks Kevin wasn’t going getting any sleep this morning!! Oh the joys of fatherhood!
Thanks and KUTGW ;-D
I think sometimes it’s easy to think that people aren’t reading just because they don’t all comment. I’m not a big commenter but do enjoy reading this blog. I’d say I generally I only comment if there’s something in particular I have to add or disagree with. It’s probably a testament to the quality of the writing if I don’t have anything to say. I’d like to echo that more of the same is all I’d like, but if it’s become a chore then I’d certainly settle for slightly less than to see you disappear completely.
I only stumbled across this site recently and I must say it turned out to be a blessing.
I visit for trends, inspiration, mental exercice…
Please conitnue
I read for my client Pegasus, and admit I usually don’t feel smart enough to comment. Not to say you’re talking above the audience, maybe I’m just reading out of my league! I find you’re posts well thought out and relevant - I just don’t have much to add.
Best,
Ariel
Hi Alex,
I find your posts very helpful and thought-provoking - although they don’t always apply to us (being a small operator in South Africa), most of them give us some great ideas and the start-up/website blogs are very useful. While we often don’t have time to comment, we do appreciate your work! Keep it up!
1. Tell me what you want me to write about
3. Am I pitching the content at the right level?
I’m actually really happy with what you write about now. I especially enjoy the ‘technical meets travel business owner’ type approach since it rings close to home.
2. Please comment more often!
I’m actually surprised to see I’m one of your top commenters, since I’ve only been reading your blog for a year or so. You others need to stop slacking!
4. Please ask your colleagues to subscribe (either via email - or the RSS feed directly)
I think they all are
Hi Alex,
Please do keep doing what you’re doing ’cause you’re doing it well. I love the content goals, especially the fact that you are pushing the travel industry to think and act like an active community and not like a bunch of sheep, following the powers that be.
I am Belgian, and this is a TUI and Thomas Cook dominated landscape: these buggers control more than 80% market share. Here the independent travel agents and the niche tour operators need all the help they can get.
Promised: you will get more comments from me. I have presented the Long tail of Travel on a travel agent’s seminar two months ago and the attendees were just flabbergasted by the concept.
Hang in there, and enjoy the ride.
Jan
Hey thanks everyone.
Really very much appreciated. I am trying my hardest to be informative and interesting - but its like writing an essay every day - which is actually quite a bit harder than most people would think.
A friend of mine said the other day, after posting a comment on this blog for the first time, that he felt very exposed when writing publicly - because his ideas may be ridiculed (or just wrong). I can feel like that sometimes too! However, after years of working in IT, I now have a very thick skin.
Over the coming months I am going to try even harder to write good posts. I just hope I can meet everyone’s quality expectations.
I agree - please keep up the good work. I only found you today and it’s very interesting reading.
One question though - why don’t you monetise at all?
Maybe providing full RSS feed is having a negative impact Alex?
I read 99% of your posts in my RSS reader, so I have no reason to visit the blog, which means I don’t comment.
If I was to get an extract, and found the first paragraph and title enticing enough (which I probably would!) then I’d be more likely to come on to the blog, and leave comments.
Just a thought.
Also, someone mentioned that they were afraid of commenting in case they were ridiculed.
I probably feel the same because I have zero experience of working within the travel industry, and blog on my own experiences as a consumer. I do enjoy reading your blog, and I wouldn’t change a thing, I like your direct style, no messing approach.
I don’t always agree with you, but that’s why blogs are so damn good, because everyone can have an opinion, and leaving comments allows us to show our opinions.