Entries from July 2009

Website Design Which Works in International Markets

July 31st, 2009

Both consumers and business buyers demand a local language. We found that non-English speaking or consumers with limited English proficiency are 4.8 times more likely to buy products offered and documented in their own languages.
In 2006 and 2008, my colleagues and I at Common Sense Advisory conducted two large-scale international surveys to understand language preference [...]

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Tags: Internet Marketing · Search Engine Optimisation

Consumers consolidating travel loyalty memberships

July 29th, 2009

The recession is taking a toll on travel industry loyalty marketing and rewards programs, according to Colloquy research on U.S. consumer attitudes and perceptions.
The travel-specific results indicate that customers are consolidating their spend with fewer hotels and fewer airlines as the travel-whenever-you-want-for-business “bubble” has burst, and consumers are no longer able to earn elite status [...]

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Tags: Hotel Marketing · Travel Marketing

Canadians Travellers Focus on Budgets

July 27th, 2009

It seems we Canadians are cheapskates when it comes to travel. The qualifier “cheap” is a popular one to include in searches in all of the markets we monitor.
It seems we Canadians are cheapskates when it comes to travel. The qualifier “cheap” is a popular one to include in searches in all of the markets [...]

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Tags: Hotel Marketing · Travel Marketing

Engaging Customers on Twitter – Top Ten Hotels

July 25th, 2009

Hotels are utilizing the social media channel of Twitter to reinforce their brand image and to communicate directly with their guests. While each hotel chain interacts differently with their following, here are the TOP TEN I think are doing the best job in providing customer service, building brand loyalty and engaging their followers with suite [...]

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Tags: Hotel Marketing · Social Media Marketing for Hotels · Travel Marketing

How to Get Great Traffic to Your Site that Converts into Revenue

July 17th, 2009

In search, some people are great at getting lots of traffic, while yet another group of people are great at turning traffic into cash.
In search, some people are great at getting lots of traffic, while yet another group of people are great at turning traffic into cash. It is a rare talent to be good [...]

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Tags: Search Engine Optimisation

Pros and Cons of Putting TripAdvisor’s Reviews on Your Website

July 15th, 2009

What are the pros and cons of creating a link on the hotel website to the customer reviews page of the hotel on TripAdvisor and displaying TripAdvisor reviews directly on the hotel website via the TripAdvisor Review Widget.
We have always recommended against both of these options. Here is why:
1. Creating a [...]

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Tags: Hotel Marketing · Social Media Marketing for Hotels · Travel Marketing

Optimising the Website for Global Audience

July 13th, 2009

One of the most challenging tasks in search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing for an international audience.
One of the most challenging tasks in search engine optimization (SEO) is optimizing for an international audience. Improving a brand’s image in multiple countries while simultaneously avoiding duplicate content issues incurs a wide array of obstacles including foreign link [...]

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Tags: Search Engine Optimisation

Using Twitter for Improving Customer Service

July 9th, 2009

But after signing up for my own Twitter account earlier this year (www.twitter.com/michellehiggins) — and being guilty of all of the above — I can now attest to at least one practical use for travelers: complaining.
As hotels, airlines and other travel companies line up on Twitter to promote their brands, customers who voice their grievances [...]

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Tags: Social Media Marketing for Hotels · Travel Marketing

Promotional Coupons – Searches Online Up 46%

July 7th, 2009

US Internet users have responded to the economic downturn by using the Web to save money. Coupons have played a large role.
According to the “State of the US Online Retail Economy in Q1 2009” study, from comScore, online coupon services have enjoyed a huge surge in popularity during the recession. Since March 2008 year-over-year growth [...]

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Tags: Internet Marketing · Social Media Marketing for Hotels