Blogs, Twitter and Facebook aren’t just for kids anymore . . .
I would venture to say there isn’t a day or a week where a business owner isn’t posting a research trend, blog or comment on how social media and user-generated content is shaping how they run their company. However, this new world can be a little overwhelming when you don’t know the language: DM, RT, OMG! BTW! LOL! #FF #TT #TNI – what does it all mean and am I too late to get on board this runaway train?
NO – You’re not too late!
However, what you’ll find interesting if not ADDICITVE is the way consumers are commenting and communicating about your product or service, and how easy it is to get and respond directly to the person who commented! The web is rapidly changing from searching and consuming to connecting and exchanging. This paradigm shift is having an enormous impact on the way companies are running their business and communicating to their customers. It’s becoming more personal, and yesterday’s quiet consumer now has a vehicle to share positive or negative remarks. This feedback is unsolicited and honest, and the information business owners are gleaning from social networking sites is priceless! Business owners are listening and acting on the feedback – good or bad – which could mean the difference in survival or demise in this post-recession.
Connecting with Travelers and Suppliers
In the travel industry, the reviews, photos and trip-planning blogging have an influence on how travelers plan, connect and interact with suppliers. I am amazed when I travel to industry events how many world-class travel providers are not using any of the social media outlets for market research, or have hired PR firms to manage it for them. I often find myself at the pool, lobby or in a ballroom somewhere hosting informal training session with VP’s of Marketing or the DSO themselves showing them a world they have heard about but hadn’t bought a ticket to yet.
#TNI - Your Ticket to What's Hot
Knowing how travelers are using these sites, and being able to leverage and connect the traffic to their brand, and communicate personally with their customers, is going to be key. At ZipSetGo.com, we are well-entrenched in social media – and LOVE IT! We host a weekly TweetUp every Thursday from 3:30 pm – 5:00 pm EST called Travelers Night In or #TNI, and we have Facebook pages and LinkedIn accounts! We use travel apps on our smart phones when traveling, and are currently writing a book on our adventures and the #tips #quotes we’re collecting from our friends. We find we are able to meet and gain greater insights immediately into what’s happening in the world of travel. We have met friends all over the world and our Zip Line subscribers have had a steady increase weekly. If you need any help or a quick tutorial around social media and how it could work for you, DM one of the Go-Girls; we would be more than happy to help.
