Keys to Success on Twitter

Chris Boothman
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26
Keys to Success on Twitter

It’s a pretty special feeling knowing that we now have 10,000 followers around the world on Twitter! Yes, that’s right 10,000 people have an interest in A Brit and A Southerner – it’s pretty incredible and we never could have imagined when we started out that we would have such a strong interest from all parts of the globe. Not only is it a very rewarding feeling, it is also a learning curve for us as we begin to enter unchartered territory with many of our social media networks.

More followers means higher expectations and none more so than our very own expectations. Trying to keep Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Google+ updated along with maintaining our website is very time consuming. But when you reach a milestone like we recently achieved on Twitter, it makes all of the time spent worthwhile.

Keys to Success

Figuring out the keys to success on Twitter is just like any other social media network. There is no single way to do it ‘the right way’ and everyone’s popularity will vary depending on your specific niche and follower interests.

keys to success on twitter

However, here are five ways in which we feel our Twitter following has grown exponentially over the last 12 months:

  1. Engagement
  2. Tweet Quality and Quantity
  3. Variation
  4. Automation
  5. Passion

Engagement

As with any social media platform, engaging with your following is crucial. When you grow your following, it is inevitable that the number of accounts you follow will also grow. This not only enhances but unfortunately increases the volume of tweets on your newsfeed. Use lists as your friend to create ways to uniquely identify certain groups of ‘tweeters’.

keys to success on twitter

Several times each day I will browse through our newsfeed and interact with different people. The beauty of Twitter is that you can intervene and join in on any conversation that interests you. It’s not like the ‘real world’ where you would never (or at least shouldn’t) just walk up to some random folks and join their conversation. That’s why Twitter is so cool and probably why there are over 284 million active users, according to Twitter’s latest usage statistics.

keys to success on twitter

The more interesting you are with engagement, the more popular you become. By interesting I am referring to bringing value to engaging conversation. Let’s take the travel industry. Someone may tweet that they are taking a trip to Barcelona and looking for the top things to do. Why not interact and provide a link to either one of your own blog posts that detail this or even direct them to a website you are aware of that provides such information!

Tweet Quality and Quantity

140 characters…that’s all you have! Here’s my tip of the day – use them! Twitter is not about writing an essay but at the same time you can create an engaging conversation with that very first tweet you send out. It is also important that you have a quality tweet. We all have our ways at maximizing the 140 character limit, whether it is using the text message lingo such as ‘u’ or ‘lol’ but regardless of whether you opt to use such language it is imperative that you include enough quality inside the tweet.

Let’s take a look at what we should include in a tweet! Hashtags – how many? Research suggests that 1-3 hashtags is the optimal number! Any more than that and you are heading into the realms of spam, hence reducing the amount of engagement and interactions you receive with your tweets.

A hashtag immediately expands the reach of your tweet beyond just those who follow you, to reach anyone interested in that hashtag phrase or keyword.

Links – what format? I recommend using a URL shortener such as Bitly or Google URL Shortener. This enables you to track the amount of click throughs you are receiving from your tweets. Include a link where possible if it contributes to the value of your tweet.

Here are some of my favorite tweets of late that I feel meet both the ‘quality’ and ‘quantity’ standards that I mentioned above:

Variation

Who wants to look at the same old rubbish day in day out? I know we didn’t and neither do our followers so our philosophy surrounds the concept of variation. This works nicely into our fourth key to success on Twitter as automating our tweets really helps us create this variation.

So what do we mean by variation? Use Twitter as an opportunity to showcase your best work, both in terms of different media and your personality. We publish links to all of our blog posts on Twitter, along with intriguing titles and also we have recently started sharing more of our pictures (hoping to increase this in the coming months!).

However, we have also found Twitter to be a great tool for our ‘personal’ lives so that not everything is necessarily travel related. I really believe that our followers (and probably yours too) are interested in our ‘real’ lives, so throwing in a tweet here and there about who you think will win the Superbowl or the World Cup is equally as prevalent as your top recommended attractions in London.

Automation

Where we would be without automation! The simple answer is probably a long way from being able to write this post. I want to share with you three awesome tools that if you have never been introduced to them before will make your life using Twitter is unbelievably easier!

keys to success on twitter

Let’s start with Hootsuite. Without doubt this is the best tool to schedule tweets in advance, embed different types of media and also utilize across other social media networks also such as Facebook, Google+ and LinkedIn. We are part of the #WeekendWanderlust Twitter chat every Thursday and Hootsuite is an awesome tool for scheduling questions to be posted every 10 minutes. This is the same logic we use to spread out our focused tweets over the week ahead.

Whether we are collaborating with a brand and focusing our attention on certain aspects of a marketing strategy, or simply scheduling a variety of tweets to cover our recent travels, Hootsuite is an awesome platform to provide assistance.

keys to success on twitter

So you have your scheduling down to an art, what material are you going to send out to your followers? If you are a blogger, I am sure you have plenty of articles out there, both new and archived that you want to share with your readership.

This is where the next tool comes in very handy and it’s actually a plugin that we installed on our website – Evergreen Post Tweeter. This plugin enables you to schedule out archived posts over Twitter on a rotating basis. You set the schedule. You set the format of the tweet. Evergreen does the rest for you!

keys to success on twitter triberr

Finally we have the wonderful tool that is called Triberr. This is a great way to enhance the third key we discussed – variation! By participating in ‘tribes’, you are able to share others work on your platform and this really does help grow a network among your followers.

Essentially you can think of this as a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” but regardless of how you treat Triberr, it is a great way to gain exposure for your account.

Passion

Our final key to success on Twitter is not something that is quantifiable or even something you can prepare for. Having a passion for anything in life is something inherent and this certainly applies to Twitter. Your passion shows through in your tweets and really helps all of the above aspects come together. Be confident, be prepared, be spontaneous but most importantly be passionate!

keys to success on twitter

Another benefit of having passion is that it allows you to think outside the box. This is another key to success with Twitter. Those that are most successful have a tendency to post tweets that are outside the box yet still instigate engagement with their followers.

keys to success on twitter

Summary

I am NOT an expert by any means using Twitter but our experience over the last 12 months has enabled us to build some key success factors. By utilizing all of these keys to success, we have seen our following grow and we have reached 10,000 followers much quicker than either of us could have imagined.

Where do we go next? Hopefully we can continue to grow and learn from our mistakes as much as our successes. We want to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of our followers around the world.

DISCLAIMER – These strategies have worked for us in growing our following at A Brit and A Southerner but as I indicated, there is no guarantee that these will work for you. Please let us know by commenting below what strategies you are using.

Twitter 10K Giveaway

To celebrate our recent milestone of reaching 10,000 Followers on Twitter, we are delighted to announce our latest giveaway where not ONE but TWO lucky winners will win some awesome prizes.

For this giveaway, we will be giving away TWO Travel Tech 101 bundles that we hope will help you as you venture on your travels.

Here are the two bundles that we are offering:

TRAVEL TECH 101 BUNDLE A

  • Inateck 4 Port USB Wall Charger
  • Scosche Charge & Sync Cable for Mini and Micro USB Devices
  • ECKO Glow Stereo Headphones
  • iHome Smartband (Organizer for iPad Smart Cover)

TRAVEL TECH 101 BUNDLE B

  • Inateck Portable Bluetooth Speaker
  • Scosche Charge & Sync Cable for Mini and Micro USB Devices
  • Koss Fitclips Headphones
  • Bolderband Headband

***THE DEADLINE FOR THIS GIVEAWAY IS SUNDAY FEBRUARY 22ND, 2014.***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit Switzerland – Things to do in Zurich

Chris Boothman
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7
Visit Switzerland – Things to do in Zurich

After an amazing train journey traveling through Italy using the Eurail Pass, we decided to base ourselves in Zürich for a few days so we could explore everything Switzerland has to offer. After experiencing Bern, Interlaken, Lucerne and Lugano, we spent our final day in Zürich and want to share all of the amazing attractions that make this city an integral part of the Swiss nation. With so many things to do in Zurich, allocating enough time to see everything is a real challenge!

One of the best ways to explore any city is to visit the local tourist information office and see if there are any passes or discounts available. Zürich has an awesome tourism office and the ZürichCARD is their version of the one (or multiple) day pass to explore everything in and around this city.

ZürichCARD

What better way to explore Zürich’s finest architecture, historic museums and gorgeous scenery than by purchasing a ZürichCARD. There are two options available to tourists when looking at this card – a 24 or 72 hour pass.

After purchasing your ZürichCARD, you need to validate this at one of the many machines scattered throughout the city. This is what triggers the card to start and the expiration is either 24 or 72 hours from the point of validation.

The ZürichCARD is the ideal ticket for culture lovers and urban explorers who would like to transform their short stay into a journey of discovery at a minimum of cost.

Here are some of the key benefits of purchasing a ZürichCARD along with pricing for the different options available:

  • Unlimited 2nd class travel on all public transportation around Zürich and surrounding area.
  • Free admission to a variety of museums throughout Zürich.
  • Discounts in various local stores.
  • Discounts on Zürich city tours.

Prices are as follows:

24-Hour Pass

ADULTS – CHF 24 (24 EUROS)

CHILDREN – CHF 16 (16 EUROS)

72-Hour Pass

ADULTS – CHF 48 (48 EUROS)

CHILDREN – CHF 32 (32 EUROS)

Zürich Museums

Forget London, forget Rome and forget Athens! If you have any interest in museums then Zürich is certainly worth visiting because there is a plethora of history and fascinating places to explore here. One of the regrets I already have is that we didn’t spend more time in the city centre of Zürich so that we could have explored all of these museums.

With Switzerland being such a hot spot for watches, it is no surprise that the Clock and Watch Museum on the Bahnhofstrasse is a popular attraction. Home to one of the world’s largest clock collections, the Beyer Museum is definitely a place worth exploring to see some really cool vintage designs along with elaborate mechanics that make the Swiss such legends in this industry.

Are you an art enthusiast? If so, head over to the Kunsthaus Zürich and experience a myriad of collections, most notably works by Alberto Giacometti.

things to do in zurich

However, one of the most impressive designs has to be the National Museum Zürich which is located in the heart of the city by the main train station. Dubbed as the home of Swiss history in a fairytale castle setting, it is unsurprising when you see the gorgeous architectural design on the outside. Standing at over 100 years old, this museum provides a history of Zurich through a variety of sculptures and crafts to the more mundane everyday objects that typify Swiss culture.

Stroll along the Bahnhofstrasse

Walking around any city is one of our favorite pastimes, so naturally the moment we arrived in Zurich’s main station we headed out and started to wander!

things to do in zurich

Visiting on New Year’s Day, taking a stroll along the main street (Bahnhofstrasse) was eerily quiet with very little open aside from McDonald’s and a few restaurants. Window shopping, finding hidden gems down side streets and taking in the surrounding architectural brilliance were the highlights of our stroll as we made our way to the lake front.

things to do in zurich

Renowned as one of the world’s most lucrative and exclusive shopping avenues, the Bahnhofstrasse is highlighted by a number of leading establishments on every street corner and Zurich’s metro system that runs directly through the heart of this street. If you have a fond interest in fashion then I am confident in saying that Zurich is THE place to go, with designer shops to be found everywhere.

things to do in zurich

The water fountain inside the courtyard just off the main Bahnhofstrasse was certainly a popular attraction for those hardy souls braving the elements and celebrating the New Year with a walk around Zurich. The majority of the fountain was frozen over, though part was still flowing as the lingering water fought to survive the freezing cold temperatures.

things to do in zurich

One of the most intriguing aspects about walking around Zurich is allowing yourself to get lost among the Swiss culture. The quintessential side streets provoke a stereotypical resemblance of European lifestyle, with the cobbled streets and narrow gaps a perfect spot for an evening stroll.

Lake Zurich Tour

After strolling around the Bahnhofstrasse and being amazed by the gorgeous Swiss architecture that resides through Zurich, what better way to end your day by hopping on a cruise and taking a tour of Lake Zurich. This is a great way to see the city from a distance plus also have the opportunity to experience some of the surrounding neighborhoods that are close to Zurich.

things to do in zurich

It was a little chilly on the top deck outside but we were still able to capture some shots of the lake and also looking back on the city. However, the most rewarding aspect of this tour was meeting a friendly Swiss lady who gave us our very own guided tour and pointed out some of the landmarks as we made our way around the lake. It’s these types of encounters that really make a difference and convince us that we couldn’t be doing anything better with our time than traveling around the world.

things to do in zurich

Taking a cruise on Lake Zurich is classified as a form of ‘public transportation’ so you can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that this 90 minute tour is included in the purchase of your ZürichCARD.

Summary

Let’s face the facts, there are a whole bunch of things to do in Zurich! Whether it’s strolling along the Bahnhofstrasse, taking a cruise around Lake Zurich or visiting the myriad of museums around the city, there is something that will likely fit your interests.

Our recommendation is to purchase a ZürichCARD for 72 hours and take your time exploring everything this beautiful city has to offer. Regardless of where you are staying, whether it is in the heart of Zurich or even at the airport as we did, the public transportation around the city is second to none in Switzerland and all included with the ZürichCARD.

If you would like to see more of our pictures from our experience exploring Zurich, you can visit our photo gallery here: Zurich 2015.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Zürich Tourism for providing us with complimentary ZürichCARD’s. The content of this post are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post. 

Why Visit Liechtenstein? Simple Answer – Why Not!

Chris Boothman
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17
Why Visit Liechtenstein? Simple Answer – Why Not!

Why visit Liechtenstein? Is it really worth your time? Both are very valid questions and certainly ones that we had prior to visiting the sixth smallest country in the world (Yes, this was just a few days after visiting Vatican City which is the smallest nation!). Exploring Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Austria for a week during our Eurail adventure provided us with a perfect opportunity to take a trip to Liechtenstein so we figured why not!

How to get to Liechtenstein?

How on earth do you reach a country that has no airport, no train station and very little public transportation! Surprisingly we found it relatively easy to reach Liechtenstein, in particular the capital city of Vaduz. Based in Zurich for a few days as we explored Switzerland, we planned our day trip to Vaduz and then on to Innsbruck, Austria. It was a pretty ambitious itinerary, especially given it was New Year’s Eve and we knew that train and bus service would likely be less than a regular weekday.

visit liechtenstein sargans train station

Leaving bright and early at 6:45AM, we left Zurich Airport and headed for the small town of Sargans which is about a hour South-East of Zurich. Arriving in Sargans just before 8:00AM, our research suggested we had to look for the ‘green bus’ that would take us directly to Vaduz. Surely it couldn’t be that difficult to find a green bus, given that Sargans is a pretty small train station and the bus station is located directly next to the train station.

visit liechtenstein

Our first challenge at finding this ‘green bus’ or the ‘number 12’ as it often referenced was the limited schedule given that it was New Year’s Eve. We quickly found out that the number 12 bus did not run on Saturday’s which was the schedule followed given that it was a holiday, but fortunately the number 11 was still running on the hour. If you intend to visit Liechtenstein on a public holiday or weekend, be sure to do your research and find out the bus timetables!

The bus driver spoke very little English but we were able to correspond effectively enough to purchase two single fares to Vaduz which cost 5.80 Swiss Francs each. The journey to Vaduz was pleasant and took around 30 minutes. As you pass across the border between Switzerland and Liechtenstein…well, hopefully you will have more luck than we did in noticing this because the only way I knew was following our journey on our GPS and noticing we were in Liechtenstein.

Buses are also available from Buchs SG train station so depending on where you are heading from, there are several alternatives for visiting Vaduz.

Exploring Vaduz

After passing through the small towns of Balzers and Triesen on the Liechtenstein Bus, we finally arrived in the capital city of Vaduz. The first thing worth noting is that Vaduz is hardly a city. We really had no clue where to get off the bus because we were expecting to approach a main bus station but the main stop is just on the side of the street in the heart of this town.

visit liechtenstein

Ok, so it’s time to explore! Where do you begin? So much to see and so little time to visit everything! Well, you don’t have to worry about that because the reality is you can explore EVERYTHING Vaduz has to offer in just a few hours. It was made even easier for us given that we visited early in the morning and also as it was New Year’s Eve.

visit liechtenstein

Vaduz is without doubt a quaint little town, stereotypical of this part of Europe and there are definitely some attractions worth exploring. The main highlight in Vaduz has to be Vaduz Castle that overlooks the city. Visitors can make their way to the summit of the hill and take a look at Vaduz’s finest piece of architecture that is the residence of the Prince of Liechtenstein.

visit liechtenstein

There are a number of museums open to the public including the Kunstmuseum, Landesmuseum and Postmuseum. But for us, the real enjoyment in Vaduz was walking around the city or what the locals refer to as ‘Städtle’. I really enjoyed passing by the Government building and Cathedral of St. Florin which portrays a variety of historic architecture, and both buildings provide a stark contrast with the reputation that Liechtenstein now has in the financial sector.

visit liechtenstein

You can’t visit Liechtenstein without heading to the Tourism Office in the heart of Vaduz and getting a Liechtenstein stamp in your passport! Unfortunately this will cost you 3 Swiss Francs (CHF) or 2.50 Euros but it’s well worth it. It’s actually a really popular spot along with the variety of tourist shops along the Städtle district. Postcards, magnets and a myriad of other souvenirs are available to provide memories of your short stay in Vaduz.

visit liechtenstein

Summary

Liechtenstein may be one of the smallest countries in the world but it packs plenty of interest that makes visiting a worthwhile trip. Don’t let the fact there is no international airport or train station sway your decision about visiting this principality!

visit liechtenstein

Plan to spend a few hours here and cherish the memories you make wandering around Vaduz. If you decide to spend a little more time here, there are various hostels and hotels available both in Vaduz and nearby Schaan which are the two largest towns in Liechtenstein.

Why visit Liechtenstein? As the title says – why not! It’s actually very convenient to reach and after exploring Vaduz we hopped back on the number 11 bus and headed to Feldkirch in Austria to board the train to Innsbruck.

For more pictures of our visit to Liechtenstein, please visit our photo gallery here: Vaduz 2014.


Eurail Pass – Consider Exploring Europe by Train!

Chris Boothman
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18
Eurail Pass – Consider Exploring Europe by Train!

Traveling around Europe using any means of transportation is an amazing adventure. However, following our recent trip to mainland Europe, we would love to share our experiences to convince you that taking the train is the best approach for you. After reading this post, I am convinced that you will consider exploring Europe by train and why not! Exploring seven countries in just one week, using the train was probably the best and only way to maximize our time in all of these destinations.

Who are Eurail?

Eurail is an organization that provides visitors to Europe the option to purchase passes that will greatly help your travel around this continent. Explore up to 28 countries with a variety of passes, all customized to fit your specific needs.

The Eurail pass is your key to experiencing the most of Europe – at your own pace.

Visit Eurail’s website to find the pass that is perfect for you! Throughout our experience with Eurail, we found the customer service team to be extremely helpful, always willing to assist with questions and offer a plethora of knowledge to enhance your adventure exploring Europe.

eurail pass

However, the best part of this experience has to be the ease of use of the passes and the amazing ‘offline’ app that we will go into more detail later that really was a godsend during our trip.

Which Eurail Pass is right for you?

Here are some details on the various passes available:

  • Global Pass (Up to 28 countries)
  • Select Pass (Up to 4 bordering countries)
  • Regional Pass (2 country combinations)
  • One Country Pass (Pick from 27 countries)

Each of these passes have varying lengths in which you can use them. For example, we opted for the Select Pass for 5 days. This allows you to use the pass in any of your four chosen countries for 5 days over a 2 month period. Alternatively, you could purchase a 6-day, 8-day or 10-day pass depending on your needs.

eurail pass

You can also choose whether you want First or Second Class train travel. Our pass allowed for First Class travel which we both admit is nice because the seats are more spacious, less crowded and an overall more relaxing atmosphere.

We opted for Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany as our neighboring countries and each day is counted the moment you use the pass the first time that day. A couple of important points worth noting:

  • The first time you intend on using the pass, you need to get this validated at a train station!
  • Ensure that you complete the calendar of travel but more importantly complete the travel date on your ticket each day that you use your pass.

You can find all the details of the different pass options here: Eurail Passes.

As soon as you purchase your pass, you will be mailed a package that includes your tickets, a guide that includes a variety of FAQ’s and a very handy Eurail map so you can prepare your tentative itinerary prior to arriving in Europe.

Eurail Pass

Rail Planner App

If you are heading to Europe for the first time or even if you are a seasoned veteran exploring this part of the world, one issue that we all face is dealing with the lack of Internet connection with our smartphone. Sure, you can pay the extortionate data roaming charges offered by your cell phone provider, or alternatively you can consider purchasing a SIM card in a European country. However, for the mere mortals who simply want to live without cellular coverage for a while, don’t worry you can still find your way around Europe thanks to the AMAZING (I repeat AMAZING!!) Rail Planner App available.

eurail app

The beauty of the Rail Planner App is that it can be used offline. It is available both on the iOS and Android marketplaces. Given that the European rail schedules are consistent on a day to day basis, this app is synchronized to these schedules and allows you to plan your trips as far in advance as you wish. However, the real benefit comes when you miss your train and you are able to access the app and find out exactly when the next train is due to arrive!

Eurail Pass

Another important aspect worth noting is that you can find train schedules for those journeys that DO NOT require a reservation. The key benefit of this is that you can simply hop on and hop off whenever you want to. You are not required to pay any additional reservation costs.

After using the Rail Planner App throughout Europe, we can attest that this app is a definite must if you purchase a Eurail Pass. It was simple to use, offered awesome service and also detailed some added perks within each of the countries that you gain as a Eurail Pass holder.

Eurail Pass

European Rail System

I can’t praise the European Rail system enough given our recent experiences around the four aforementioned countries. Our first journey was from Rome to Milan. As I mentioned, we had to validate our Eurail passes at the train station and this was actually the only trip we took throughout the week where we had to make reservations. We probably waited for a hour at Rome Central Station waiting to get our passes validated but we were soon on our way.

eurail pass

Here is a brief overview of our trips that we took using our Eurail Pass:

Day 1

  • Rome to Milan

Day 2

  • Milan to Lucerne
  • Lucerne to Zurich

Day 3

  • Zurich to Montreux (via Bern and Lausanne)
  • Montreux to Zweisimmen
  • Zweisimmen to Interlaken (Golden Pass line)
  • Interlaken to Bern
  • Bern to Zurich

Day 4

  • Zurich to Sargans (morning visit to Vaduz, Liechntenstein)
  • Feldkirch to Innsbruck
  • Innsbruck to Zurich

Day 5

  • Zurich to Frankfurt
  • Frankfurt to Dusseldorf

An action packed five days but apart from one cancelled train service between Lucerne and Zurich on day 2 of our journey, we had no issues at all. Even with that solitary cancellation, we only had to wait around 20 minutes until the next scheduled train arrived and moved us on our way!

eurail pass frankfurt

Summary

Our Christmas and New Year adventures around Europe were amazing and we both agree that our experiences were ultimately enhanced simply because of the Eurail Pass experience. Everything about Eurail is awesome and neither of us have a negative word to say about them. Without doubt, we would highly recommend using this amazing service. You will not regret it at all.

We will soon be sharing some of our specific adventures such as the Golden Pass and the day trip from Switzerland to Austria via Liechtenstein, but after reading this we hope you will consider traveling around Europe using one of these Eurail Passes.

Disclaimer – We would like to thank Eurail for providing us with complimentary passes for our adventures around Europe. The content of this post are solely our personal opinions/experiences and we were not financially compensated for this post. 

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