Summary of RobertKCole’s Tweets for the period ending midday October 12. Highlights include Advertising Age and Forrester hinting that big changes are required for marketing, YouTube’s Content ID confirms authenticity & monetizes media distribution, US Hotel performance & Sabre stats don’t look too good, and RobertKCole makes the list of Travel Twitterers to follow.
New FTC Rule Helps Improve Social Media & Travel Reviews
October 5, 2009 By Leave a Comment
The United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) took a much needed positive step forward by introducing guidelines designed to differentiate between legitimate personal opinions and sponsored commercial endorsements made through social media. Individuals blogging or posting product reviews are now required, under threat of fines up to $11,000 per post, to disclose any material connections between themselves and the companies selling the products they are reviewing. This will improve the accuracy and reliability of hotel reviews and help eliminate unethical practices designed to artificially improve travel industry product rankings.
Change Your Thinking about Social Media
September 30, 2009 By 3 Comments
A parable of two men sharing a hospital room provides a foundation for considering the true spirit of hospitality and how the sharing of experiences through effective communication can create inspiration. For hotels, resorts, attractions, destinations and other travel suppliers, it is extremely important to provide a quality experience that meets or exceeds the customer’s expectations. With the growth of social networks, effective communication that is authentic and personal has the ability to inspire travel. To succeed, travel companies need to focus more on the “social” and less on the “media.” As opposed to communicating with customers solely to attain short-term sales, the goal should be to improve travel experiences and enrich the lives of their customers to establish true engagement. This approach helps grow a community that can inspire others to travel and enhance the cycle.
Marketing Your Hotel or Resort in a Web 2.0 World – Presentation at HFTP Annual Convention
September 28, 2009 By 3 Comments
Presented at the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals 2009 Annual Convention in Las Vegas, Marketing your Hotel or Resort in a Web 2.0 World covers the importance of ensuring property product and service delivery is functioning properly and the alignment of traditional marketing with online and social media efforts. Most importantly, marketing strategy must drive technology and channel decisions – ensuring tactics support marketing strategies and business objectives. The presentation includes hospitality industry examples applying rich content, reputation management, search engine optimization, and social media in both small and large properties.
HFTP Presentation – Marketing Your Hotel or Resort in a Web 2.0 World
September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment
Robert Cole presented “Marketing Your Hotel or Resort in a Web 2.0 World” for the Hospitality Financial & Technology Professionals (HFTP) Annual Conference held on September 19, 2009 at Green Valley Ranch Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada. Travel industry executives need to understand guest engagement is no longer broadcasting messages, it is a conversation.
Socialnomics Should Not Be Voodoo Economics
August 27, 2009 By 33 Comments
Socialnomics runs into some fact checking issues with its video heralding the incredible growth of social media. The video inadvertently highlights the key issues most frequently cited by social media critics: First, not referencing its obvious creative source – the Karl Fisch, Scott McLeod and Jeff Brenman “Did you Know” work. Additionally, the difficulty in measuring the impact of social media is amplified by several statistics turning out to be grossly inaccurate or based on unsubstantiated opinions.
