Client : Expedia
Title of Article: "The Top Honeymoon Destinations in the World, Rated"
Background: We'd seen success with data-driven articles, and I knew it was the right component to set the article apart. Without hard data available, I created a rating system with catchy emojis. I also used best content marketing practices with images, SEO keywords, and numbering.
Results / Stats
1,675 social shares
Article mentioned by the Mayor of Caledon and the Councillor of Yarmouth
“Doing the downward dog with your partner in a lavender field may sound naughty, but it’s exactly what you can do in Magog, Quebec.”
We know you’re looking forward to the wedding. But what you’re really excited about is ditching Aunt Myrtle on the dance floor and starting your honeymoon early. There are so many beautiful spots to spend one-on-one time with your sweetie. Whether you’re looking for city life, nightlife, or wildlife, we happen to know some of the most romantic destinations around.
While these cities are listed in no particular order, we have given them a rating system to measure the best honeymoon spots in the world.
• The #NoFilterNeeded icon represents the lush natural scenery of each city.
• The Swoon-worthy emoji indicates the romance level in the different destinations.
• The Honeypot Fund Leftovers symbol shows how far your money goes in each town.
Best time of year to visit: Jun – Feb
Doing the downward dog with your partner in a lavender field may sound naughty, but it’s exactly what you can do in Magog, Quebec. Bleu Lavande, located just outside the main city, has sweet-smelling flowers as far as the eye can see, and often hosts yoga retreats in the summer. Looking for extra pampering? Spa Nordic Station is an acclaimed spa, where you can enjoy a massage next to the flowers and creek. Winters here are pretty nice, too—especially when you’re whipping down the slopes of Mont Orford. Or, if the weather’s sunny, nothing beats the views of nearby Lake Magog.
Client : Expedia
Title of Article: “Most Active Cities in Canada, Ranked”
Background: I wanted to test an update of “Most Active Cities.” This article included a point system I created, which rewarded cities based on factors like the availability of gyms, yoga studios, marathons, and extreme sports. For the refresh, I updated the format of the data, along with the look of the content. The results were better than the first edition.
Results / Stats
2,723 social shares
Most commented blog of the year
186% increase in performance
“If a man in a kilt starts running at you full speed ahead, don’t be alarmed.”
We see you, lady with the athleisure pants and un-scuffed sneakers putting four Splendas® in your latte. And you’re not off the hook, either, guy-who-always-wears-gym-shorts-and-a-lanyard. Maybe you haven’t been to any of these active cities lately, but we think it’s time to put that sweatband and military-grade sports bra to the test in these top towns.
What makes a city an active city? For our emoji ranking system, we looked at a variety of factors, including but not limited to:
• Average number of marathons and hiking trails
• Access to bike paths, trails, and races
• Per capita gyms, including but not limited to CrossFit, yoga studios, rock climbing, etc.
• Abundance of outdoor activities such as kayaking, canoeing, etc.
Usually, this is the part where we say “in no particular order,” but today, we’re going out on a limb to proclaim: Here are our picks of the most active towns in Canada, ranked!
If a man in a kilt starts running at you full speed ahead, don’t be alarmed. It just means you’ve arrived in the right town. We’re talking about Perth, Ontario, which plays host to Perth’s World Record Kilt Run every year, which welcomes kilt-adorned runners to either break the current world record or maintain the town’s legacy. Frankly, we could stop there, but this place also offers boating at Last Duel Park, walking trails along the Wendy Laut Ribbon of Life, and martial arts at the Perth Athletic Centre. The town doesn’t limit its citizens either, which is why they have the Round Garden for the Blind, which is located at the Lanark County Administration Building and includes waist-level plants for visitors to touch and herbs to taste. And if you’d prefer to see the foliage whizzing by you, there are always bike rentals from Heritage Bikes. Just, you know, wear some underpants under that kilt.
Client : Expedia
Title of Article: "Friendliest Communities (and Towns) in Canada, 2018"
Our 2017 edition of “Friendliest Towns” was highly successful, which made it a top candidate for our annual report strategy. We requested hard data from the client, I went through 700+ data points to find the "story," and then used best content marketing practices with images, town selection, and SEO keywords to write the new article. The results were record-breaking.
Results / Stats
5,842 social shares
Record-breaking backlinks for Expedia Canada
Article mentioned by the Premier of Alberta, a member of Parliament, and top news outlets
“Niagara-on-the-Lake has a lot going for it: beautiful sights, top-rated tourist attractions, and plenty o’ wine.”
Friendliness is so essential when we travel. When you find yourself in a new place and not sure where to go or what to see, you want to meet someone who’s happy to greet you, answer questions, and set the right tone for a new adventure. Luckily, Canada is teeming with friendly towns and cities, and we’re ready to list the best.
To create our second annual report of the friendliest towns in Canada, we took a look at hotel review data from 2017 and found the highest-rated service scores. These ratings indicate the most helpful, dutiful, and welcoming experiences across the country. Out of a list of over 750 destinations, the towns and communities below all had at least 100 reviews and an impressive four-star rating or higher. In order, here are the top 25 friendliest places in Canada.
Niagara-on-the-Lake has a lot going for it: beautiful sights, top-rated tourist attractions, and plenty o’ wine. No wonder it’s the only city to make a repeat appearance from our 2016 report! And this time, it moved from spot 15 to the coveted position of number one. Here are some reasons we suspect it got such high marks.
We dare you to find anyone not smiling after eating a smorgasbord of chocolates. Tour Chocolate FX and see what we mean.
If you’re still not convinced that Niagara-on-the-Lake isn’t the jolliest place in the country, stop into Just Christmas—the oldest year-round Christmas Emporium in Canada.
