As the founder and project manager of Travels Unfiltered, a travel themed YouTube channel and online brand, I lead a talented team of creatives, collaborating closely to craft authentic travel content. My role extends beyond leadership; I am actively involved in every aspect of the brand. This includes scriptwriting, where I weave engaging narratives; videography, capturing the essence of diverse travel experiences; and video editing, where I meticulously piece together our stories. Additionally, I oversee brand management, ensuring that our content aligns with our core values and resonates with a global audience. My responsibilities also encompass SEO management, a critical aspect in maximising our online presence and reach. In our latest venture, a partnership with Arinara Beach Resort in Phuket, my multifaceted role was instrumental in presenting an immersive and genuine portrayal of the resort, showcasing the depth and versatility of my involvement in Travels Unfiltered.
Initiating the Collaboration
In recognising the potential for a mutually beneficial partnership, I took the initiative to reach out to Arinara Beach Resort in Phuket, identifying them as an ideal candidate for a collaboration. My proposal was centred around creating a unique promotional video that would not only showcase the resort's exquisite offerings but also significantly boost its brand awareness. The primary objectives were twofold: to elevate Arinara's presence in the travel and hospitality sector and to drive an increase in bookings.
In recognising the potential for a mutually beneficial partnership, I took the initiative to reach out to Arinara Beach Resort in Phuket, identifying them as an ideal candidate for a collaboration. My proposal was centred around creating a unique promotional video that would not only showcase the resort's exquisite offerings but also significantly boost its brand awareness. The primary objectives were twofold: to elevate Arinara's presence in the travel and hospitality sector and to drive an increase in bookings.
The process involved extensive negotiations with the resort, where I actively engaged in back-and-forth discussions regarding various aspects of the campaign. These discussions were crucial in aligning our goals and expectations and covered a range of topics from content direction to financial considerations. My involvement was comprehensive, managing the negotiations on pricing, the specifics of the content to be produced, and other key elements of the campaign. This phase was instrumental in laying the groundwork for a successful partnership, ensuring that the final output would effectively meet the objectives of increasing brand awareness and bookings for Arinara Beach Resort, while also aligning with the authentic and engaging content style of Travels Unfiltered.
Shooting at Arinara Beach Resort
Travelling to Phuket, I embarked on an extensive and meticulously planned videography venture. My approach was to capture a comprehensive range of shots, from sweeping exteriors to intimate close-ups, and to ensure minimal disruption to the resort's daily operations. The goal was to be almost invisible, blending seamlessly into the background to maintain the resort's tranquil atmosphere. To achieve this, I coordinated with the resort management to strategically schedule filming during less busy periods. We also informed guests in advance about the filming through posters placed around the resort. These notices detailed the specific days and areas where filming would occur and provided instructions for guests who preferred not to be filmed, ensuring their privacy and comfort.
In terms of equipment, I used a Samsung S22 Ultra to film in stunning 4K resolution, ensuring the highest quality of footage. For certain shots, particularly those requiring movement, I utilised a gimbal to provide extra stabilisation. This combination of high-end technology and discreet filming techniques was key in capturing the essence of Arinara Beach Resort without intruding on the guest experience. This experience laid the groundwork for future promotional materials, ensuring that we had a rich library of content to draw from for various marketing efforts.
Collaboration and Script Writing
Working closely with Arinara Beach Resort's marketing staff, we decided to highlight their unique selling points such as their large swimming pool, pool access guest rooms, and floating breakfasts. I wrote a script that balanced the promotional content with an honest review of the resort, maintaining authenticity and transparency for our audience.
Working closely with Arinara Beach Resort's marketing staff, we decided to highlight their unique selling points such as their large swimming pool, pool access guest rooms, and floating breakfasts. I wrote a script that balanced the promotional content with an honest review of the resort, maintaining authenticity and transparency for our audience.
Editing and Final Touches
After our talented voice over artist, Jen, recorded the narration, the video was assembled by our in house video editor, Megan. I personally handled the final edits, subtitles, and captions, ensuring the video resonated with our audience and adhered to our high standards. The final touches were applied with a commitment to quality and viewer engagement. This attention to detail in editing and finishing ensured the creation of a polished, captivating video that effectively showcased Arinara Beach Resort's charm.
After our talented voice over artist, Jen, recorded the narration, the video was assembled by our in house video editor, Megan. I personally handled the final edits, subtitles, and captions, ensuring the video resonated with our audience and adhered to our high standards. The final touches were applied with a commitment to quality and viewer engagement. This attention to detail in editing and finishing ensured the creation of a polished, captivating video that effectively showcased Arinara Beach Resort's charm.
For this video I employed a strategic approach to ensure our video not only reached but also resonated with our target audience. The first step in this process was keyword research. I meticulously identified keywords and phrases most relevant to our content and the interests of our target audience. This included terms related to Phuket travel, luxury resorts, and specific highlights of Arinara Beach Resort. These keywords were then strategically incorporated into the video's title, description, voice over script and tags, enhancing the video's discoverability on YouTube.
In addition to SEO through keywords, I focused on creating an eye-catching thumbnail for the video. The thumbnail serves as the first point of interaction with potential viewers, and its design is critical in driving the click-through rate. I designed a thumbnail that was not only visually appealing, eye catching, and intriguing, but also representative of the video's content, ensuring it stood out in YouTube's search results and suggested videos. I also leveraged YouTube's metadata features to further optimise the video. This included crafting a compelling and keyword-rich description, which provided viewers with a succinct preview of the video's content while also aiding in search engine visibility.
By combining these elements of SEO with an engaging thumbnail, the video was strategically positioned to attract and captivate the audience, increasing its chances of being clicked, watched, and shared. This meticulous approach to YouTube SEO was pivotal in maximising the video's online presence, ultimately contributing to the success of the promotional campaign for Arinara Beach Resort.
Performance Metrics
The video achieved nearly 1,000 views within 48 hours and continues to grow. During this time frame, it successfully directed 600 viewers to the resort's Agoda listing, resulting in 18 bookings - a 3% conversion rate.
The video achieved nearly 1,000 views within 48 hours and continues to grow. During this time frame, it successfully directed 600 viewers to the resort's Agoda listing, resulting in 18 bookings - a 3% conversion rate.
Reflections on the Project
This project was a significant learning curve, combining project management, videography, script writing, and social media marketing. It reinforced the importance of balancing promotional content with honest reviews, a key factor in upholding the integrity and trustworthiness of the Travels Unfiltered brand.
This project was a significant learning curve, combining project management, videography, script writing, and social media marketing. It reinforced the importance of balancing promotional content with honest reviews, a key factor in upholding the integrity and trustworthiness of the Travels Unfiltered brand.
