LordBalfors' Rules for How to Write an Effective Travel Review
Dec 01 '03 (Updated Dec 08 '03)
The Bottom Line Unhappy with your travel review ratings? Perhaps these ideas may help.
Hi there!
Yes you, I’m talking to you. Come over here a minute. Pull up a chair and sit down.
So you’re looking to improve your Epinions travel review ratings are you? Tired of “Somewhat Helpful” ratings of your work? Tired of low readership? Tired of being lost in the crowd?
Well, I don’t profess to be an expert. I don’t think I’m the most talented writer (of which there are many) on Epinions. I’m certainly not the most prolific, nor the most highly regarded. Still, I think I’ve done pretty well, and have definitely learned a few things over the past couple of years. These are things that have helped define my writing style and set me apart from others out there. They are the things that define me as an Epinions author, and I would guess that (some of these things at least) could help define you too.
And so, here they are, the rules that I try and follow whenever I write a review. Feel free to take a look and pick and choose as you wish. I’ve found them all to be good techniques for me and I firmly believe that some of them (at least) may well be good for you too.
1) First and foremost, get your facts straight. Remember you are trying to convey information to someone. You are trying to provide them with the data they need to make a travel decision. Keep in mind that travel is an expensive proposition. It can cost big bucks to take a trip somewhere. People want good, honest information. I recognize that my voice is just one persons' opinion, and it’s certainly no more valuable than anyone else’s, but the fact is, people may make financial decisions based (in part at least) on what I say, so I owe it to them to do the best job I can in providing them with the information they are looking for. If you are writing an Epinion, the same is true of you. You have a RESPONSIBILITY to be as honest, accurate and complete as you can. Make sure your information is as up-to-date as possible. I sometimes even go back months later to update a review if I know that something important has changed since I originally wrote the piece. You should also give them ENOUGH information to make the review worthwhile. I know, I know, I sometimes get carried away in this regard, but the fact is, I hate skimpy reviews that really don’t say anything. Remember, people can always skip over parts that they are not interested in.
2) Besides the raw, basic information (always important), add a little color. It seems to me that people are interested in not only the hard, cold facts about a potential travel destination, but also about the "feel" of the place - what is it like to really be there (particularly for exotic locations). So use some imagery. Close your eyes and REMEMBER what you felt being there. Were you relaxed, tranquil, at ease – or were you nervous and excited? If you are writing a review of a large, vibrant city, describe the interesting people on the crowded sidewalks or the hard-driving thump of a disco or nightclub as you were passing by outside. Could you feel the music through your feet, or in the center or your chest? If you are writing of beach resort describe the feel of the warm soft sand between your toes. Did you walk the beach at night, listening to the gentle lapping of the waves and admiring the distant sparkle of city lights across the water? Did the palm trees rustle in the breeze? Did the seabirds cry as they swooped and dove about in the midafternoon sun? Did the sound of sealions echo across the dark, still waters late into the night? If so, tell the reader about these things. TRANSPORT him to the locale you are reviewing. If it was wonderful, make the reader feel wonderful too. It’s the little things that people tend to remember about a place, those special moments (perhaps with a special someone) that last a lifetime. I think people like to hear about those things. Those kind of special memories are the things that other people seek themselves. Did the place give you memories like that? If so, the place may do the same for others as well – so tell the reader about them. Tantalize them with what they may well find there themselves.
3) Remember, you are not typing your words into a computer, you are TALKING to someone – a living breathing person, with their own unique thoughts, experiences and feelings… just the way that I am talking to you now. Interact with that person by proposing ideas or asking questions. Yes, I know, you’re not going to get an answer back – but you are going to get the reader to THINK about the answer. Language is a powerful tool. Use it as such. Lead the reader along the path you want him to follow by posing questions that make him think about the things you want him to think of. Lead him where you want him to go. Engage the person so that they feel involved.
4) Break your document up into paragraphs separated by a blank line. This makes it sooooooo much easier to read. In all honesty, I’ve seen reviews that were otherwise very well written and full of great info that I just couldn’t get through because the text all ran together into one great big paragraph. The fact is, if a block of text is too big, people keep loosing their place, and eventually give up trying to read the thing. You know I’m right on this. You’ve probably read such reviews yourself. So don’t make the same mistake.
5) Remember, even empty space can convey a message. Sometimes a paragraph should consist of a single, short sentence or even a single small word. Such paragraphs should be used sparingly, but featured properly, they can convey a dramatic pause and a sense of importance.
6) Include links to appropriate sites. If you are writing about a particular hotel, include the URL to the official hotel website. You are trying after all to whet the readers’ appetite for more (at least in cases where you are writing a positive review), so give them the opportunity learn more about the subject. Also, I take a lot of photos on my trips and post them on Webshots. This way I can show the very things I’m speaking about. I consider myself to be a pretty fair wordsmith, able to bend the English language to my will so that I might paint a picture in the readers’ eye. However, no matter how good a job I do, I think that an actual photo still adds a great deal. So consider posting your photos somewhere where they can be seen. The combination of (hopefully) effective writing and actual photos creates a “package’ of information that’s much more complete than either the text or the photos are alone. Remember too that some folks will stumble upon the photos and perhaps have their interest sparked enough that they want to read your reviews – so be sure and include a link back to your Epinions article in the photo comments. This really works folks. In part due to my accompanying photos, my reviews average well over 1,000 hits each (most of them are NOT Epinions members). The photos in turn are closing in on 2 million hits. So I really urge you to consider doing this. It really can help build your readership.
7) Try to take a unique approach to your review – something to catch the readers’ attention right off the bat. I wrote a review of Mt Rainier where I likened the great peak to beautiful young woman, and my infatuation with the place to a quarter-century long love affair. Each review is different, as is each subject that you write about. Try to take a unique slant or approach – hopefully one inspired by the subject matter itself. In this particular review for example, the approach I’m taking is that I’m talking to YOU.
8) Try too keep speling/grammatecal mistacks too a mininimum az readers find them distrackting.
9) Write about things you care about – either good or bad. You will find that your passion and enthusiasm will filter through into your work and hopefully carry over to the reader.
Well, there you have them – the rules that I try to follow when I write a travel review. What do you think? Do they work?
I think so.
Let me know what YOU think.
Ken
PS: Just after publishing, this article was moved here from a less appropriate category. Thanks Mobiprof for point that out.
PS2 - If you wish to see an example of how I use some of these techniques, you can find one here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_120181395076
Or... this rather humorous (at least I hope so) example here:
http://www.epinions.com/content_1893048452
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Epinions.com ID:
LordBalfor
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 - Top 1000 |
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Member: Ken Klein
Location: Seattle, Wa
Reviews written: 36
Trusted by: 109 members
About Me:
I am in love with the tropics (especially the South Pacific).
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