Interviews

Media Interview with Sarah Gibbons, content editor of Travelbite.co.uk

By ResponseSource

8 Sep 2011

news@responsesource.com

Today we catch up with Sarah Gibbons, content editor of the recently revamped Travelbite.co.uk, which has been named as one of the best new/relaunched websites by Web User magazine. She tells us all about the website’s makeover and where she would like to time travel to and why…

About Travelbite:

Tell us more about Travelbite’s revamp?
The Travelbite.co.uk revamp has been really exciting to be involved in and it has been a great opportunity to step Travelbite up to the next level. Our overall aim was to make the website more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Now every article has tags and related content and the design is much sharper and more aesthetically pleasing. As everything has been designed with the traveller’s needs and interests in mind, finding holiday ideas and inspiration on Travelbite has become even easier.

The destinations pages have been updated and we have created a new feature – 48-hour city guides. Written by travellers who have lived and breathed the destinations they have visited, these guides offer advice on what to see and do, based on personal experience – ideal for a bit of research before travelling.

We have had great feedback thus far and I hope this will continue!

Who reads it and how many of them are there?
The adventurous, inquisitive, UK-based traveller, keen to discover new places and gain inspiration for their next trip. We receive over 35,000 unique visits a month, and growing!

What subjects do you cover? What stories are you most interested in covering?
In terms of holiday ideas and destinations: anything! The more variety of content the better.

We have several sections on the website:
-Holiday ideas
-Features (such as top 5s/10s; monthly round-ups)
-Travel news (and breaking news when applicable)
-Travel deals

What makes Travelbite different from the other outlets in your sector?
Travelbite is a one stop shop for all things travel related. We provide holiday ideas, destination guides, travel news and hand selected travel deals; everything the traveller needs for inspiration for their next trip.

How do you decide the content?
I put myself in the reader’s shoes and think what I would like to read about! After all, I am a passionate traveller myself.

About PRs:

Do you work closely with PRs or do you keep them at arm’s length?
Yes, I do work closely with PRs.

If you could make one change to the way PRs deal with you, what would it be?
Now and again I get emailed press releases which clearly show that the PR has not looked at the website (not good for my inbox!) but on the whole I receive relevant material.

What information/input from PRs is most useful to you?
We are solely a consumer focused website, so news stories etc. must always be relevant to the audience. An interesting or quirky news story is always good, but not too many surveys! I tend to keep a lot of info on file for compiling round-up features. Anything seasonal or relevant to a particular event is always useful (every month I compile a round-up of things to do/events happening in the UK).

Any press trip enquiries are welcome as are travel deals, which we can include in our travel deals newsletter. It’s best if these are sent to me on Monday or Tuesday as the newsletter goes out on a Wednesday.

How should a PR approach you about their client?
I am happy to receive an email or phone call. I will usually ask to be emailed the release (if I feel it is relevant) so I can read through it myself and see if it would work on the website.

About you:

Describe a typical day at work:
My day always starts with a cup of coffee! I then read through my emails and make a note of what I need to do that day.

There are many elements to my job: liaising with travel writers and PRs, subbing, writing and thinking up new projects/initiatives for the website, such as competitions. There is always a lot going on!

What interests you most about your job?
As an avid travel enthusiast myself, I am naturally excited by my job. There are always new experiences and places to discover and I love to open readers’ eyes to the wealth of possibilities out there. I also love the variety of the job; no two days are the same and I am always learning new things.

If you could time travel what time would you go to?
That is a very hard question! Every age has its own fascination. I would probably choose to observe the ancient Egyptians in their prime – that would be pretty amazing! Visiting places before the age of tourism would be really interesting too – to have the place to myself!