20130129-105058.jpgMy husband Bruce and I have just enjoyed a wonderful little road trip holiday is gorgeous and delicious Tasmania. This is our 2nd campervan trip to Tassie, our first was in 2009 when we had a little longer (7 nights), but they have both been thoroughly enjoyable.

But the difference between our two trips, only 3 years apart, from a digital perspective is quite significant. We would have been making Facebook updates I’m sure but checking in to places so folk know exactly where you’re at, uploading photos to Instagram that sync directly to Facebook and reach dual audiences, has become an expectation. Not so much for safety (so your loved ones kow where you are), but just in the spirit of sharing.

My best friend in the world, Kellee, made it her resolution this year to “put herself out there more”, and she meant digitally. She has previously been mostly a Facebook voyeaur, she always watched what was happening but never commented, liked or participated – but would then mention to me in person later on, what she had seen online. My hubby Bruce is a Facebook demon. He loves it and I tease him sometimes for how much he uses it but he is unashamed. He says you get out of it what you put it, which is true, of Facebook, and of life in general. The more you share, the more people respond. The more you participate, the bigger the return on your investment of time.

And if you’ve been watching TV or listening to the radio lately, you would have noticed that brands and publishers are enticing consumers to engage with them through road trip competitions where users upload footage of their summer road trips to win prizes or just for the fun of participating and sharing. And some may argue that it’s not great content that is being created, but others will completely disagree and love the road trip content that is being generated.

20130129-105136.jpgThat’s what social media and road trips and life is all about, doing it your way and putting it out there for others to like, dislike and comment. Whether you like it or not, how we communicate has changed, how we share our experiences is transforming from oral storytelling to written letter and then emails and now through blogging and micro-blogging and social media. Post once, reach many.

And because I love to travel, I want to share my road trip stories and I love seeing, reading and hearing other people’s as I need inspiration for my next road trip. Where do you want to go? I’m thinking Burning Man and New Orleans. If I can only convince Brucey 😉

Picture of the beach is seven mile beach outside Hobart, near the airport.

The hidey-hole is beauty point in north tassie in the Tamar valley wine region