The ultimate guide for creator visits

Applying for creator visits

When you apply, destinations can easily access your recent adventures and featured photos in addition to your application. That means a strong application starts well before you write it.

It starts with your profile

• Your adventure. Create the type of content destinations want to see if they were to choose you for a creator visit. Write detailed descriptions, feature your best photos, and create a theme for your adventure.
• Your bio. This is where you can tell travelers and destinations what you’re all about. Give viewers a feel for who you are, what you love about exploring, and the type of content you focus on. Including your interests, perspective and how you love to travel is also a great way to get matched with the right opportunities.
• Your profile photo. Add a fun photo that truly reflects you and your brand.
• Your social media links. Make sure these links work and are up to date so destinations can discover your other platforms.
• Your featured photos. Make them stand out. Show a mix of landscapes, action shots, people interacting, lifestyle, and video clips. What would be helpful in making someone want to visit the places you have gone? Consider this as you are choosing.

Then, the application

• Fill out your application completely and accurately. Tailor it to fit the needs of the destination, and consider rearranging your featured photos to highlight why you’re a great match for the creator visit.
• Leave a personalized note. Destinations want to hear about why you want to work with them. What excites you about this particular creator visit? Why are you the perfect fit? Be personal in your notes, and avoid sounding too much like an AI-generated message.

You were chosen for a creator visit. What’s next?

1. Confirm your visit date

   Confirm the dates you’re available for the opportunity, or request a date change.

2. Get in touch with the destination

   Reach out via the Shrpa platform to establish a channel of communication.

3. Work out your lodging details

   Whether the destination is comping your stay or you’re in charge of booking your accommodations, communicate dates, times, and locations.

4. Touch base on your visit plan

   Confirm the plan and any comped items that have been added to this visit.

You’re ready for your visit.

5 tips for success during your stay

1. Come in with a game plan

   While we all know travel doesn’t always go according to plan, it’s good to be prepared for what your busy weekend will entail. Have your stops planned out with enough wiggle room to add another stop or two that you come across while you’re there.

2. Take lots of pictures from a bunch of different angles

   Not every photo you take is going to be a winner, so snapping photos from lots of different angles will let you truly capture the essence of a location while being able to choose from your best. Include a combination of photos of happy people as well as pictures of the location.

3. Re-read the destination’s guidance right before your trip

   Take note of the themes they want you to cover, and do your best to visit and engage with each location with that theme in mind.

4. Jot down notes after each stop

   A few notes about the location and your favorite part of your time there helps refresh your memory when you sit down to write your location descriptions within 10 days of your visit. In your notes, think through how the theme ties into that location.

5. Talk to employees and business owners

   Don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation at the places you visit. It can give you a new perspective on the location and help you cover more of what makes it unique.

Best practices for highlighting locations

Cover the basics

Highlight the awesome locations and businesses you visit on your trip. Take great photos of each location and give a beautiful visual to the experience. Personalize your write-ups to showcase your fun perspective and positive experience in the destination.

Write extra detail about the locations the destination specifically wanted featured

Really touch on your personal experience, as well as what you observed, what was unique, and how other travelers can experience that location.

Check for grammatical errors, including sentence structure, before publishing

When creating paid content for a local destination, it’s important to be accurate with your grammar and writing style. Grammarly is a great, free tool that you can use as an extension in your browser.

Use a combination of pictures with people, and of the location

Destinations love seeing a range of photos that make their community look fun and desirable to visit. A combination of photos with happy people and great shots of the location and its ambiance makes your content more engaging.

You’ve completed your creator visit… now what?

• Let the destination know about your experience there.
• Create a post on social media, in-feed or reel, promoting the destination. Our guide to creating your social media post covers carousel and reel tips, tagging, and which music you’re allowed to use.

Get started today

If you haven’t joined yet, all it takes is a profile, a travel boundary, 15 photos or videos, and one adventure. Start with become a creator today.