By Emma Elsworthy
Millions of British holidaymakers are replacing postcards with ‘boastcards’, according to research.
Seven in 10 people admitted they no longer send or receive the traditional paper postcards, preferring to share holiday memories online instead.
And 90 per cent of adults said the only reason they post on social media while on holiday is to boast to friends and family.
A third of those polled try to post glorious holiday snaps online at 9am on a Monday morning – in a deliberate attempt to make work colleagues jealous.
A further 34 per cent will upload a ‘boastcard’ or two on a Sunday evening when they know most people will be dreading the working week ahead.
While 31 per cent attempt to post holiday pictures when they know colleagues will be suffering from the post-lunch slump.
The Royal Caribbean International survey of 2,000 adults, conducted via OnePoll.com, shows more than half feel absolutely brilliant or it makes their day when their online holiday snaps receive lots of ‘likes’ from people back at home.
One in 10 went as far to say sharing holiday photos was more important to them than a holiday romance, and 12 per cent reckoned it is more important than enjoying amazing holiday weather.
Incredibly, four in 10 holidaymakers will take their first photograph within two hours of stepping off the plane.
Following that, they’ll post on social media up to three times a day to share what a good time they are having.
However, despite this love of online bragging, 50 per cent of Brits admit they lack the confidence when it comes to capturing the perfect holiday shot.
To help Brits sharpen their social boasting skills, Royal Caribbean has teamed up with travel experts, social influencers and founders of The Whole World is a Playground, Elaine and Dave Murray, to identify the top ten tips to capture the perfect ‘boastcard’.
Elaine Murray said: “The ultimate social postcard – or what we like to call ‘boastcard’ – starts with choosing the right holiday.
“Very few really deliver those stand-out moments that will make your social feed famous; anyone can post a sunset or a sandy beach but to capture the ultimate holiday snap that will generate hundreds of likes, you need to book a holiday that promises to take you on an extraordinary journey right from the start.”
Together, Royal Caribbean and ‘The Whole World is a Playground’ have identified the following steps to capturing the ultimate, bragalicious #Boastcard:
1. More for your money – Pick a holiday that will provide a wealth of experiences and destinations worth boasting about
2. Pick your time – ‘Golden hour’, the hour just after sunrise or just before sunset, creates the most evocative light for holiday photos, so set that alarm clock!
3. Shock factor – Get out of your comfort zone, go on a giant zip line, sky dive, go surfing! Seek out new experiences to increase maximum boasting potential.
4. R-E-S-P-E-C-T – It’s always important to treat the locals with respect, so if there’s a sign saying no photos, don’t take one.
5. Editing – Whether you’re using a phone or a DSLR it pays to edit your photos before posting. A few small tweaks can switch a photo from good to awesome!
6. # – Hashtags increase the reach of your images, for Instagram try 3 or 4 in the main photo caption followed by more in a comment below … and why not try a shameless #Boastcard.
7. Location, location, location – Always tag the location of a photo when posting. This instantly increases the reach allowing others visiting to find your photo.
8. Frequency – A maximum of two Instagram pictures a day works well without jamming up your followers’ feeds, while Instagram stories are a great way to add a post about your adventure.
9. Do your research – To get the best shots you need to seek out the best photo locations, so plan ahead!
10. Last but not least, have fun! – Remember you are on holiday and surrounded by incredible and often once-in-a-lifetime scenes – so have fun and live in the moment!
Ben Bouldin, Royal Caribbean Managing Director UK & Ireland, commented: “The beauty of the ‘boastcard’ is it’s instantaneous.
“All our ships have high-speed broadband, so the days of having to wait to pull into port to send a physical postcard are over; people can now post from the side of the pool in the middle of the Caribbean, no postbox necessary”.
ENDS
