Posts
Google Wave....changing the way you think of email.
Everyone knows email has been around for a quite a while but is very limiting from a technology standpoint. Here's Google's new take on communicating electronically via a new product called Google Wave. Google Wave is a combination between email, discussion forum, a wiki, social networking and a real-time translation service. It's simply an amazing tool that's capable of helping businesses cross borders and work more efficiently. The full scope of the product is almost impossible to describe. Here's a short video that starts to explain the capabilities of this amazing product :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pgxLaDdQw
Check out wave at http://wave.google.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6pgxLaDdQw
Check out wave at http://wave.google.com
Good article on link building
The following article talks about some affordable approaches to link building. Link building is is one of 3 key elements (relevant content, on-site optimization and link building) of search optimization and probably the single most important element of natural search engine optimization.
http://searchenginewatch.com/3635630
Mike Monahan
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Avoid Social Networking Mistakes
I found an interesting article on social networking, and thought it was worth sharing :
http://blogs.imediaconnection.com/2009/10/25/8-Idiot-Mistakes-in-Social-Media_962.aspx
Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile
Share This Not Sharing Correctly with Blogger
Ok conducted a few tests and found that the Share This widget doesn't correctly convey links to Blooger when the links contain a "+" sign in them. Documented the error and reported it to ShareThis. Hopefully it will get fixed shortly. We're looking into ways to eliminate plus symbols in URL's in the interim.
Suggestions for getting more from Facebook
There are some great articles out there that can help newer FaceBook users get up to speed and help them understand the business opportunities that are out there on FaceBook. Here's some reccomended reading :
Ten Things You Need to Know About Facebook by Thomas Krivak (Note data is from March 08)
5 Tips For Getting More from Facebook - from Duct Tape Marketing
Facebook 101: 25 Tips and Tricks - Switched.com
Networking on FaceBook is a key part of many agent's marketing plans. Make it part of yours and succeed.
Ten Things You Need to Know About Facebook by Thomas Krivak (Note data is from March 08)
5 Tips For Getting More from Facebook - from Duct Tape Marketing
Facebook 101: 25 Tips and Tricks - Switched.com
Networking on FaceBook is a key part of many agent's marketing plans. Make it part of yours and succeed.
Posting a link to FaceBook or Twitter? Encode, Shorten and Track.
If you're adding a link to a posting on Face Book consider the following tips. Don't just post the link as is, encode it first. Face Book frames URL's, and in doing such it breaks many url's in the process. The way to fix this is to Encode your URL first by making sure it doesn't contain non-Ascii characters. Often URL's will contain non-ascii characters, and can be found in browsers, but this doesn't work when an address is framed. To fix this, be sure to encode your url with the Ascii equivalent.
For example
non - encoded :
For example
non - encoded :
Here's a handy link to help you encode your URLs to this format : URL Coding Converter
A second recommendation - use URL shortening services from http://bit.ly/ , http://shorturl.com/ or another such service (Please note you still need to encode the URL's ). Using these types of shortened URL's gives you two advantages - 1. you can track click through traffic. 2. - You can post shorter links on Twitter posts, FaceBook status posts and other such postings.
Attack of the "Partner Booking Link"
Agents often have suppliers asking them to use their "Partner Booking Link" websites. These are websites that sell only that supplier's brand - and look and act like the cruise line's or tour operator's website, but have the agent's contact info. While these programs appear to be appealing, they are truly a disservice. I truly think it is not in the best interest of the agent to EVER affiliate in this manner. Here's why...
As an agent, you need the consumer to come directly to you. If in going to you, you immediately direct them to something that looks like the cruise line's site then the message you're sending the consumer is that the cruise line is the expert. The next thing that goes through the consumer's mind is - well why do I need to go through the agent - I'll cut out the middle man and save myself money. Partner Booking links send the wrong message to the consumer, and encourage the wrong behavior. The message you're sending when you use such a link is that you're not the expert, the cruise line is. It encourages direct booking behavior from the consumer in a subtle but effective way. The messaging throughout the site can have your contact info in bold blinking lights, but the consumer gets the branding message to book direct with the cruise line.
The one thing to remember is that consumers typically visit a site 6 times before making a buying decision. In the case of a partner booking link, it's hard to believe that by time #6 the consumer is still typing in your address rather than the supplier's directly.
Imagine for a moment that a cruise line offered to take your phone calls for you and give you a commission on any sales they make - do you think that your consumers would be in better off in their hands? Do you think people would continue to call you? Would your client base grow? Would you make more money? If you think the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it's time to rethink your place in this business.
As cruise specialists we're driven to add value to every transaction through better advice and experience, better insurance, unbiased advice and a commitment to truly act as the advocate for the consumer. You can't do this when unbiased info doesn't appear on the web page and is completely out of the equation. Partner booking links commoditize what agents do, and they're truly your enemy. Treat them that way and thrive.
As an agent, you need the consumer to come directly to you. If in going to you, you immediately direct them to something that looks like the cruise line's site then the message you're sending the consumer is that the cruise line is the expert. The next thing that goes through the consumer's mind is - well why do I need to go through the agent - I'll cut out the middle man and save myself money. Partner Booking links send the wrong message to the consumer, and encourage the wrong behavior. The message you're sending when you use such a link is that you're not the expert, the cruise line is. It encourages direct booking behavior from the consumer in a subtle but effective way. The messaging throughout the site can have your contact info in bold blinking lights, but the consumer gets the branding message to book direct with the cruise line.
The one thing to remember is that consumers typically visit a site 6 times before making a buying decision. In the case of a partner booking link, it's hard to believe that by time #6 the consumer is still typing in your address rather than the supplier's directly.
Imagine for a moment that a cruise line offered to take your phone calls for you and give you a commission on any sales they make - do you think that your consumers would be in better off in their hands? Do you think people would continue to call you? Would your client base grow? Would you make more money? If you think the answer to any of these questions is yes, then it's time to rethink your place in this business.
As cruise specialists we're driven to add value to every transaction through better advice and experience, better insurance, unbiased advice and a commitment to truly act as the advocate for the consumer. You can't do this when unbiased info doesn't appear on the web page and is completely out of the equation. Partner booking links commoditize what agents do, and they're truly your enemy. Treat them that way and thrive.
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