travelalberta 2010 - practical strategies for using social media in your tourism business
DESCRIPTION
Have wondered why social media works the way it does and why it has penetrated almost every aspect of our on-line lives. In this presentation I demystify social media, show you the fallacies and the hype but also present you with a clear and simple to use strategy for starting or improving your social media strategy. In order to success you must L.E.A.D. (Listen, Engage, Articulate, and Demonstrate).TRANSCRIPT
The Savvy OperatorPractical strategies for using social media in your tourism business
Stephen Joyce, CEORezgo.com(A Division of Sentias Software Corp.)
Don't worry, when it comes to socialmedia, it's about quality not quantity.
social media Fallacies
Social Media is a1.FAD
FALSE
113 million blogs...& over 250 million pieces of tagged social media.
400 Million Userson Facebook & 50% log in EVERY DAY
25 Million UsersAnd growth of 1500% in 2009, Twitter
Social Media is2.FREE
FALSE
“Social media trades media cost for time cost” Charlene Li,
Forrester Research
Social Media is3.FAST
FALSE
Social media is about creating relationships that can take months or even years to develop.
Social Media is4.FACEBOOK &TWITTER
FALSE
Social media is not about any ONE tool or site, it is about the philosophy behind the use of the tool & your goals for using it.
social media </ hype >
Everyone is...1. Twittering
Source: Quantcast
Source: NielsenWire
Twitter Quitters
40% use their account. (compared to 70% of Facebook users)
10% of users produce 90% of the tweets
40% of Tweets Are Pointless Babble 37% are conversational 9% are pass along (or RT) 3.5% are spam
Anyone can2. Do social media
Not everyone needs to do social media.
The time cost may be prohibitive. If poorly executed, it can have a
negative impact on the brand.
You can make a3. Big Splash Fast
It takes time to build reputation on-line.
If you have an existing subscriber base or customer base, you can engage them quickly.
If starting from scratch, it can take a lot of time.
You can go4.VIRAL
Things become viral for one reason or another, generally unknown to you.
What you think will go viral seldom does.
You cannot manufacture viral content.
key attributes of the
social web
1. Participation
readers writers
2. Transparency
Disgusting Awfulnightmare
Avoid this place like the plagueWorst Experience everDirty
Amazing Superimpressive
Fabulous location, great serviceEnjoyable stayGreat
3. Conversations
38% conversational
stop talking & start listening
4. Community
2.5 Million Unique Visits
1.6 Million Users
15+ Million Users
why social media
WORKS
we all live in...communities
our history is...about stories
we find pleasure in ...sharing
we seek ...companions
we are ...social animals
social media lets us be human
... only more efficiently
making social media
WORK
To make social media work for your business,
you must
LEAD.
Listen
Engage
Articulate
Demonstrate
5 min. break
1st you must ...
LISTEN
Sign-up for the following accounts
Set up Google Alerts for:
Your brand Your keywords Your competitors
www.google.com/alerts
Alerts via email or rss
You will get alerts for: Blog mentions Twitter mentions News articles Videos/rich media Web site mentions
www.tweetdeck.com
Similar search to Google Alerts
What will you learn? Where people are talking What people are saying How people feel about you Problems & common concerns Trends & opportunities
2nd you must ...
ENGAGE
remember...you're human
don't hide behind...your brand
proudly represent...your brand
Sign-up for the following accounts
disqus.com
gravatar.com
Consider accounts with these sites based on the results of your listening:
Profile Management Rules: Use the same email address Create a square 300x300 profile pic. Use a consistent “About me” (250
words max.) Create a consistent password
scheme.
Engagement Rules: Respond quickly (once a day is fine) Always be polite & professional Ask lots of questions Be honest with your answers. You don't have to have the answers
Ask yourself thisOne Question
What would you do if this customer was standing in front of you?
3rd you must ...ARTICULATE
You have less than 30 secondsto capture your visitors' attention
Awareness
Consideration
Action
Traffic
Content
Call to Action
Dream
Plan
Go
Articulate the Dream
Write stories that inspire and excite the visitor. Share your experiences and love for what you do.
Articulate the Dream
Builds relevant content Increases relevant keywords Builds credibility & authenticity Increases stickiness Defines you as an authority
1) Who are you?2) Why you love what you do?3) What makes your region special?4) Your favorite experience(s)5) Special insider tips (planning etc.)6) History or events
Articulate the Dream
Tools to help you articulate the Dream
blogger.comwordpress.com
typepad.com
Articulate the Plan
Clearly describe how and why the visitor should choose your business. Present all the information they need to make a booking decision.
Articulate the Plan
Use a content management system (CMS) to organize your web content. Your CMS may be the same as your blog platform.
Articulate the Plan
Use a property management system or tour operator software to organize your products.
Articulate the Plan
Provide partners with standard connection methods in order to distribute your products. XML APIs and RSS.
Articulate the GO!
Call to ActionWith a clear...
Articulate the GO!
On-line bookings, requests, or push to phone are all valid calls to action. But they must be measurable.
4th you must ...DEMONSTRATE
Demonstrate your expertise
Share your experiences with other communities. Syndicate your content to blogs, networks, and partners through RSS.
Demonstrate your confidence
Encourage your guests & customers to review your services on sites like Tripadvisor & TripReviews.
Demonstrate your service
Post videos on Youtube & Vimeo, share photos on Flickr & Facebook, share content with partners.
listen
engage
articulate
demonstrate
who, where, why
ask, learn,understand, answer
feed curiosity
Add channels, foster
connections
Start with the big networks. Be selective with sites to join. Make social media a part of your
daily routine. Commit to a plan. Review your results often.
5 Simple Rules
www.thesavvyoperator.com
@stephenjoyce
www.tnooz.com
stephen.a.joyce
Thank you