Social Photography Visual Storytelling

Sheila ScarboroughTourism Currents

#smshi@SheilaS

What's In This For You?

Better storytelling that connects with customers

Joy & universal language of visual sharing

More content in less time

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) boost

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Disclaimer . I'm self-taught

#NotAnExpert

You can do this, too!

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Why

Photos?

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Surfing:

A boy balances on a surfboard & catches his very first wave, near Diamond Head

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On Facebook, people Like photo updates twice as much as text updates.

Ragan link: Photos & video drive the most engagement

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Other ways to tell visual stories

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Instagram

Instagram is....

A Micro Art Gallery

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Tips for Instagram

Severe cropping drives composition

Slow data rates make it hard to share

It's a mobile-first platform

Most only use a few filter options

Mashable link: Which filter when

Easy to Like & Comment on the go

** Bought by Facebook

Foodspotting

Foodspotting is.

Grinds Porn(so ono!)

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Tips for Foodspotting

Spot unique food or drinks

Locals are a huge help!

Use Macro setting for close-ups

Slow data rates/GPS can hamper

Dim restaurant lighting a problem

Easy to Like & Comment on the go

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Foursquare & Yelp

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Foursquare/Yelp are.

I was here.You should go!

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Tips for Foursquare/Yelp

Check-in & review photos are more service-oriented

Exterior shots ---> Is this the right place?

Interior shots ---> What's it like inside there?

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Savannah, Georgia CVB

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Columbus, Ohio CVB

Pinterest is....

A Digital Inspiration Board

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Tips for Pinterest

Hugely, suddenly popular

Some legal concerns with pins

NOT the place to be hard-sell

Destination marketing hot there

Anne Hornyak Link: DMOs on Pinterest (Google Doc)

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Don't Forget Old School

Photos to TwitterTwitpic, Lockerz, Yfrog, others

Easy from your phone

Photos to Facebook PagesTIP: use email to send photos from phone

Each Page has unique email address

Works in low data rate areas

Can do it from feature/flip phones, too

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Even MORE Old School:

Go offline with photo walks

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Use snail mail for your pics

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Lots of photos?Create an Animoto video out of them

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No time for all this?

Create once, use over and over

Now that you're a photographer, learn to think like one

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Your last move before shooting with a phone camera?

Wipe off the lens.

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Big social photography benefit:

SEO

(Search Engine Optimization)

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Takeaways

A photo is a story

Your phone = publishing machine

Create once, use many times

Think like a photographer

Give search engines descriptive text for SEO

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Photo Credits

All photos my own except....

Me with camera: BJMcCray on Flickr CC

Boy surfing: Waikiki Beach Services

Screaming woman: kandyjaxx on Flickr CC

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Thank You!

SheilaScarborough

Tourism Currents

www.slideshare.net/SheilaS

@SheilaS@TourismCurrents

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