The Local Intelligence Field Kit
Turn every walking tour into a structured content research mission - define targets, capture intel, map the city, validate recommendations, and track content performance.
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Pre-Tour Intel Brief
Define what you are looking for before you go. Treat every walking tour as a deliberate intelligence-gathering mission.
Content Category Targets
Check the categories you want to hunt for on this tour.
- Late-night food spots
- Local music / live venues Local music and live venues
- Neighbourhood undergoing change
- Under-the-radar markets
- Hidden viewpoints / photo spots Hidden viewpoints and photo spots
- Immigrant or cultural enclaves
- Morning-only / time-sensitive spots Morning-only or time-sensitive spots
- Community events tourists miss
- Creative / arts districts Creative and arts districts
- Other (fill in below)
Pre-Tour Prep Checklist
- Book tour first thing on arrival day
- Review targets Review content category targets above
- Prepare 3-5 questions Prepare 3-5 core questions for the guide
- Set up voice memo app on phone for quick capture
- Download offline maps for the area
- Identify 2-3 tours in different neighbourhoods
The Collection Plan Principle
Walking tours are not just experiences - they are structured intelligence-gathering missions. Before every tour, define exactly what content categories you are hunting for. This turns casual exploration into deliberate research that feeds your content pipeline for weeks.
On-Tour Capture System
Use these 4 structured question prompts during your tour. Each one is designed to extract a specific type of local intelligence.
The Hidden Gem Prompt
"If I had to film one place tourists never see, where would it be and why?"
The Local Favourite
"Where do you actually eat, drink, or go on your day off - not the tourist version?"
The Temporal Gem
"Is there anything here that only exists at a specific time - morning, late night, certain days?"
The Change Signal
"Which neighbourhood has changed the most in the last 2-3 years? What is driving it?"
City Human Terrain Map
Map the city by content zones and record key local contacts for future return visits.
Zone Mapping Template
Key Local Contacts
Temporal Hidden Gems
Walk alternate paths at different times of day. A street that is quiet at noon might have a thriving morning market at 6am or a late-night food scene at midnight. The best local content often exists in these temporal windows that most visitors never see.
Cross-Validation Checklist
Verify every recommendation from multiple sources before creating content. Not all tips are equally reliable.
| Spot / Recommendation | Source | Source Reliability | 2nd Mention? | Maps Check | Local Reviews | Verified? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Source Reliability Guide
High reliability: Resident, local business owner, long-term expat. Medium reliability: Tour guide, restaurant staff, taxi driver. Lower reliability: Hotel concierge, TripAdvisor top picks, tourist information office. Always cross-validate with at least one other source before building content around a recommendation.
Content-to-Platform Converter
Use this reference to convert each type of local intelligence into the best content format and platform.
| Intel Type | Content Format | Best Platform | Hook Angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurant / food spot | Short-form reel / carousel | Instagram / TikTok | "Locals only eat here..." |
| Hidden viewpoint | Photography tutorial / B-roll | Instagram / YouTube | "The view no guidebook mentions..." |
| Neighbourhood story | Long-form video / blog / newsletter | YouTube / Substack | "This neighbourhood is changing fast" |
| Time-sensitive spot | Quick reel / story series | TikTok / Stories | "Only open 6-9am. We made it." |
| Market / street life | Cinematic walk-through / vlog | YouTube / Instagram | "The market tourists always miss" |
| Local person / guide story | Interview clip / Q&A reel | YouTube / TikTok | "I asked a local guide..." |
| Cultural enclave | Mini-documentary / carousel | YouTube / Instagram | "[City]'s hidden [community] neighbourhood" |
Trip Content Tracker
Log every spot, the content you created, and how it performed. Use this to refine your pre-tour targets for the next trip.
| Spot / Rec | Source | Content Created | Platform | Reach / Views | Saves / Shares | Worth Repeating? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Feedback Loop
After each trip, review which content categories produced your highest-performing content. Update your pre-tour targets for the next destination based on what your audience responds to. Over time, you will build a refined content intelligence system tailored to your audience.