2012Media Kit

CAroundTheWorld.com

Unique. Chic.

Boutique.

YOUR GUIDE TO VALUE LUXURY VACATIONS

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• Chris Around The World is edited by travel expert Chris Gray Faust, an award-winning travel journalist and social media consultant.

• The site includes first-hand reports from unique, chic and boutique destinations, and offers travel tips for the sophisticated Value Luxury traveler.

What is Chris Around the World?

Rule of thumb: “Is this a vacation worth bragging about at a cocktail party?”

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• Value Luxury is….splurging on what’s important to you - and saving on what’s not.

• Value Luxury is….feeling that your vacation is special, without feeling ripped off.

• Value Luxury is….a holiday that’s so awesome, you can’t wait to share it with friends and family.

What is Value Luxury?

Value Luxury is….how smart people travel.

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• Luxury and boutique accommodations, including home and apartment rentals.

• Cruising, particularly on smaller ships, and shore excursions.

• Spas and wellness facilities.• Soft adventure (hiking,

kayaking, snorkeling)• Restaurants and “foodie” travel

experiences.• Wine-centric vacations.• Getaways with girlfriends and

family members, as well as solo experiences.

What We Cover

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• Chris Around The World enjoys both mainstream media exposure and a large social media platform. The blog won a Lowell Thomas travel writing award in 2010.

• Chris Around The World is syndicated through the USA TODAY Travel Alliance and all blog posts appear on the USA TODAY Travel website(Sample of Chris Around The World placement on USA TODAY).

• Chris Gray Faust has over 10,400 followers on Twitter and was named a

Top Travel Twitter Personality for 2012 by Christopher Elliott.

• An “influencer of influencers,” Chris Gray Faust has more than 2,100 Facebook fans and friends, many in the travel industry.

• Focusing on Value Luxury, the Chris Around The World monthly newsletter grows consistently each month.

Reach

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• Monthly Unique Visitors: 23,000*

• Monthly Pageviews: 38,000*

• Google PageRank: 4

• Alexa score: 50,900

• Twitter: 10,400 followers

• Facebook: 2,200 fans and friends

• Audience tends to be childless, college educated men and women in their 30s through 50s.**

By the Numbers

* Google Analytics, as of April. 2012** Alexa demographics

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Chris at a Glance

• Chris Gray Faust is an experienced content provider, with 20 years of journalism experience as a staff writer and editor at USA TODAY, the Philadelphia Inquirer and the New Orleans Times-Picayune. She’s author of the Philadelphia Essential Travel Guide, an iPhone/iPad app released through Sutro Media.

• Chris Gray Faust also has real experience in corporate copywriting and social media, serving as a staff content writer at Microsoft. Consulting clients include Stash Hotel Rewards.

• A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Chris Gray Faust has years of working and building relationships with PR professionals. She understands how the travel industry works and what brands need to stand out and succeed in the media marketplace.

• Chris Gray Faust is an active freelance writer. Regular and recent outlets include Frommers.com, IndependentTraveler.com, CruiseCritic.com, The San Francisco Chronicle and the Huffington Post.

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Press/Media

Written for… Quoted In…

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Chris Gray Faust follows strict editorial policies to ensure that her writing and reporting is ethical and within current travel industry practices:

• “I follow the ethical guidelines of whatever publication is purchasing my work.

• I disclose when outside entities pay for travel, either in the body of the text or at the end of an article. Sponsored posts will be marked as such, and consulting relationships with clients will not dictate editorial.

• I accept press trips, travel gear and freebies only when they coincide with the site’s editorial goals. I’m particularly experienced in trips with a strong social media component. For help on setting up such a campaign, contact me.

• I strive to keep my voice strong and my opinions honest – so readers can continue to trust my writing.” 

Editorial Policies

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Hire Chris: Advertising

Opportunity ManagementBanner & Sidebar Ads All banner and sidebar advertising is

administered through the USA TODAY Travel Alliance. Contact them for more information.

Newsletter Sponsorship/Advertising A monthly newsletter featuring Value Luxury travel tips.

Sponsored content All sponsored posts are labeled as such (sample). They are written by Chris Gray Faust to maintain the editorial standards of the site.

Giveaways Giveaways are great opportunities to create excitement for your product.

Sponsorship/spokesperson Chris Gray Faust is open to sponsorship or spokesperson opportunities with the understanding that it extends only to her own website and not her position with outside publications.

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Hire Chris: Writing/Consulting

Service SolutionFreelance writing Chris Gray Faust is an active freelance writer

specializing in travel, tech, lifestyle and news. Contact her for assignments. Clips.

Freelance editing Want help whipping a piece into shape before submission? Chris Gray Faust is an editor for hire, with a delicate hand, a sharp eye and the years of experience to make your work shine. 

Corporate Copywriting With an extensive background in consumer writing, Chris Gray Faust specializes in business-to-consumer communications. Need quick turnaround? No problem.

Social Media Consulting Flummoxed by Facebook? Tempted by Twitter? Chris Gray Faust works with the Value Luxury Network to develop destination marketing campaigns that work.

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Chris Gray Faust is available for speaking engagements and travel shows.

Topics include:

• Technology Tips for Travel

• Staying Safe and Healthy on the Road

• Packing Tips from a Pro

• Social Media for Travel 101

Hire Chris: Speaking

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"This blog shows how a journalist can build a brand around herself or himself with quality content, well organized and connected to the audience."

-University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 2010 Lowell Thomas Awards

“I’ve worked with Chris at two newspapers. She’s a pro – a deft editor and talented writer who thinks big and makes things happen.” – Eugene Kiely, Executive Editor, Factcheck.org

“I’m so glad to find this blog. Reading all the posts here helps me decide whether to go there {Israel} early while we’re still young and able to walk a lot and explore the country.”

-Reader comment

“I will be traveling with my cat for the first time next week. I have done a lot of research already but I feel more confident about the journey after reading this. Thanks for the great tips!”

- Reader comment

Testimonials

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• chris@caroundtheworld.com (Chris Gray Faust is frequently on the road; email contact is preferred)

• Mailing address: Chris Gray Faust,

4560 53rd Ave. SW, Seattle, WA 98116• Skype: CAroundTheWorld• Phone: 215-681-9181• Twitter: @CAroundTheWorld• Facebook: Chris Around The World

Contact