1. Tourism Technology Award - deadline to nominate yourself or another operator is March 31 March 31 is also the deadline for the TIANB Pioneer Award, and Parks Canada Sustainable Tourism Get your nominations in today!
2. Social Media Workshops - register now for the second year of TT.com presents Social Media Workshops for Tourism Operators. We've found a great expert, and we're going to take it to the next level. Last year was more of an introduction to the tools. This year, we're focusing on SMART objectives, developing key messages, researching your online status, and measuring impact. Saint John, April 26 Fredericton, April 27 Edmundston, April 29 Register now!
3. It's never too early to register for TIANB Annual Conference, May 25-27 in Miramichi Excellent speakers including Chef Lynn Crawford Social Media guru Amber McArthur Festival Genius Michel Gauthier HR Whiz Pierre Battah Register now!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Social Ostrich reappears
I know I'm supposed to be writing about Online Revealed but I haven't downloaded the presentations and put it altogether in a report yet - patience
What I am going to write about it the continued existence and appearances of the Social Ostrich.
I first noted the Social Ostrich in my post of June 4, 2010
Back then he was cute, perhaps charming, a little out of touch but bearable.
I recently ran into another one just last week at the Fredericton Tourism Launch / Tourism and Parks JackRabbit presentation.
Today in 2011, he is not cute, not charming, but overbearing and down right bad for other people's business.
The Social Ostrich spouts things like:
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it",
"I like to talk to people on the phone",
"I still use my paper based day planner for reservations"
The Social Ostrich has his head in the sand, and he'll keep you down there with him if he can.
DON'T LET HIM
All business operators need to PLAN FOR CHANGE. Using Social Media and moving to online reservations is simply
PLANNING FOR CHANGE!
Someday soon, that Social Ostrich is going to finally pull his head out of the sand and there's not going to be a customer in sight. He'll be starting from scratch trying to find customers and build an online brand. His business that was once going to provide his retirement in Arizona is now worthless. He has no future bookings, and no online customer fan club to fall back on.
If you're smart you'll be the one with all his customers, they are out there for the taking and keeping.
If you think you are a Social Ostrich, email me. The TourismTechnology.com program can rehabilitate you.
If you see one in the wild, let me know, I'd like to take the Social Ostrich and wring it's neck (humanely). I hear Ostrich is the new Turkey ...
Beth
beth at tianb dot com
What I am going to write about it the continued existence and appearances of the Social Ostrich.
I first noted the Social Ostrich in my post of June 4, 2010
Back then he was cute, perhaps charming, a little out of touch but bearable.
I recently ran into another one just last week at the Fredericton Tourism Launch / Tourism and Parks JackRabbit presentation.
Today in 2011, he is not cute, not charming, but overbearing and down right bad for other people's business.
The Social Ostrich spouts things like:
"if it ain't broke, don't fix it",
"I like to talk to people on the phone",
"I still use my paper based day planner for reservations"
The Social Ostrich has his head in the sand, and he'll keep you down there with him if he can.
DON'T LET HIM
All business operators need to PLAN FOR CHANGE. Using Social Media and moving to online reservations is simply
PLANNING FOR CHANGE!
Someday soon, that Social Ostrich is going to finally pull his head out of the sand and there's not going to be a customer in sight. He'll be starting from scratch trying to find customers and build an online brand. His business that was once going to provide his retirement in Arizona is now worthless. He has no future bookings, and no online customer fan club to fall back on.
If you're smart you'll be the one with all his customers, they are out there for the taking and keeping.
If you think you are a Social Ostrich, email me. The TourismTechnology.com program can rehabilitate you.
If you see one in the wild, let me know, I'd like to take the Social Ostrich and wring it's neck (humanely). I hear Ostrich is the new Turkey ...
Beth
beth at tianb dot com
Friday, March 4, 2011
Trip Advisor / Trip Advisory
Some astonishing travel tales both coming and going to NF a couple of weeks ago. I won't bore you with the details but NB should be thankful that most of our tourist don't fly here. I hear even in the summer, landing in St John's can be iffy - and that's your Trip Advisory :)
Jim Brody from Trip Advisor was a speaker at HNL, he had some things to say - namely that Social Media and Travel were made for each other. I agree. If there is one thing that Travel is it's social and interactive.
He also touched on User Testing, User Studies - every person's online experience is unique. No two people visit a website in exactly the same way. The way your eyes scan across the screen (left to right, right to left), the clicks you take, how you use the browser tools. Make sure you're trying to view your own website through fresh eyes. Ask friends and family for honest opinions.
Check out Trip Advisor on Facebook, apparently they have a new game that's highly addictive.
He also mentioned some interesting statistics, they always have statistics.
4800 Brazilians viewed information on NF. That's a little more then one might think isn't it? Now it doesn't mean they are all coming, they could just be displace Newfs viewing images of home. But either way, people all over the world are viewing things all the time.
75% of people use Trip Advisor as a research tool
25% of people write the reviews
So do what you can to promote yourself on Trip Advisor, ask clients to write reviews, respond to reviews. Post new images. Cross link between your site and Trip Advisor. Use the internet to break down barriers
The internet, and I think he means your website really, is the only medium where someone from Boston and someone from New Zealand can view your marketing with the same download speed and delivery time. It's instant.
No waiting for it to arrive in the mail
No attachment errors
No email bouncing
It's available at 3 am or 3 pm
When they want it
What message are you putting out there? Is it good enough?
Using your EQ types, it's about WHAT they are looking for, not where they are or who they are
Later gators,
I'm off to Toronto for a week to learn even more wisdom to pass along
Beth
Tourismtechnology.com
Jim Brody from Trip Advisor was a speaker at HNL, he had some things to say - namely that Social Media and Travel were made for each other. I agree. If there is one thing that Travel is it's social and interactive.
He also touched on User Testing, User Studies - every person's online experience is unique. No two people visit a website in exactly the same way. The way your eyes scan across the screen (left to right, right to left), the clicks you take, how you use the browser tools. Make sure you're trying to view your own website through fresh eyes. Ask friends and family for honest opinions.
Check out Trip Advisor on Facebook, apparently they have a new game that's highly addictive.
He also mentioned some interesting statistics, they always have statistics.
4800 Brazilians viewed information on NF. That's a little more then one might think isn't it? Now it doesn't mean they are all coming, they could just be displace Newfs viewing images of home. But either way, people all over the world are viewing things all the time.
75% of people use Trip Advisor as a research tool
25% of people write the reviews
So do what you can to promote yourself on Trip Advisor, ask clients to write reviews, respond to reviews. Post new images. Cross link between your site and Trip Advisor. Use the internet to break down barriers
The internet, and I think he means your website really, is the only medium where someone from Boston and someone from New Zealand can view your marketing with the same download speed and delivery time. It's instant.
No waiting for it to arrive in the mail
No attachment errors
No email bouncing
It's available at 3 am or 3 pm
When they want it
What message are you putting out there? Is it good enough?
Using your EQ types, it's about WHAT they are looking for, not where they are or who they are
Later gators,
I'm off to Toronto for a week to learn even more wisdom to pass along
Beth
Tourismtechnology.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)