Design Goals

Creating an itinerary for a website involves many factors. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to plan and execute this task effectively.

Itineraries take many shapes and are a broad description of content covering lists, trips and trails.

Creating an Impactful Itinerary Experience

Itineraries are not just about listing places. They are a blend of experiences designed to cater to the interests of the visitors. To create an impactful itinerary:

• Focus on the overall experience rather than individual places. The sum of the places should result in a memorable journey.
• Adopt a thematic approach, such as a road trip, family weekend, or nature and outdoors, to make the itinerary more engaging.
• Provide itineraries as blueprints that users can customize based on their preferences.
• Use photos and imagery to communicate the essence of the itinerary.

Crafting Stories with Itineraries

Compelling storytelling is key to an engaging itinerary. Here are some considerations:

• Narration can be used to convey the personal experiences associated with the itinerary.
• The main content should focus on the itinerary's journey, not just the description of places.
• Create compelling visitation experiences by highlighting unique attractions or experiences.

The itinerary editor has an AI tool to assist content creators with adding narrative to their itineraries.

Turning Content into Action

Ensure your itinerary contains actionable information, including:

• Maps to show distances and relative locations, helping users make informed planning decisions.
• Contact information such as address, phone number, and websites to enable users to act on their interest.

Provide detailed self-guided itineraries

When creating a resource for self-guided trips, consider:

• Alternative options: Visitors should have options for accommodation and eateries. Account for availability and pricing factors.
• Flexibility: Allow trip extensions by suggesting optional activities. Provide rest stops for long drives.
• Opening hours: Include these for each location so visitors can plan their day accordingly.
• Directions: Incorporate navigation options. Allow visitors to click on a location for directions.
• Access Information: Include details about accessing each location, like carpark availability for a national park.
• Nearby Attractions: Include options for attractions close to their current location. This encourages spontaneous visits and adds flexibility to their journey.
• Mobile-Friendly Content: Given the likelihood of users accessing the itinerary while traveling, ensure the content is easy to navigate and consume on mobile devices.

Designing Useful Itineraries

The usefulness of an itinerary enhances its value to visitors. To make your itinerary useful:

• Personalize: Suggest parks for kids, coffee shops for a quick breakfast, and key services to cater to individual needs.

Setting Objective Measures

Identify what you want to achieve with your itinerary. Is it to increase onsite engagement? Lead to more product clicks? Increase visitor numbers to specific locations? These goals should shape your design objectives and dictate your 'conversion' points.