Picture this:
You’re standing in Trafalgar Square, phone in hand, and you open a typical mobile guide. Here’s what you see:
”Nelson’s Column in a monument in Trafalgar Square, central London, built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.”
Yep, straight out of Wikipedia. But is this what mobile guiding should feel like?
Sure, the description is accurate, but it’s also boring – and clearly written for someone sitting at home, browsing on a desktop. But you’re not at home. You’re in Trafalgar Square! You don’t need a mobile guide to tell you what you can see with your own eyes. You need a story. Something that sparks curiosity.
The Problem with Most Mobile Guides
A real human guide wouldn’t start by telling you where you are. You know that already. Instead, they’d reel you in with something juicy – maybe a mystery you never knew about, a hidden gem of history that’s not on the tourist website. They’d take you on a journey, revealing the untold stories of Nelson, the square, and maybe even a few quirky secrets about London.
So why do most mobile guides just dish out the basics?
Because it’s easy. Pull content from Wikipedia, slap it into an app, and call it a day. Tourist organizations often do the same, reusing content written for desktops. Back when that content was created, it was meant for someone sitting at their computer, not standing in the middle of the city, phone in hand.
Want to Create a Standout Mobile Guide?
Here’s the secret: get out there. Go to the places you’re writing about. Soak in the atmosphere. Notice the little things others might miss. Listen to the sounds, feel the energy, and then tell the story of that moment. When you write from within the experience, your content will resonate with users on a deeper level.
That’s how you create premium content. Content that’s worth paying for. A mobile guide that feels personal, engaging, and unforgettable.