There has been an explosion of new marketing opportunities on the Web in 2008.
The keyword that describes best what’s been happening in 2008 on the Web: Collaboration! Working with others is at the core of all that is great about online marketing in 2008.
Twitter: You’ve heard about it, you may even have found out about this blog by following me, but for those of you who have been long time subscribers you need to know this: “I come across so many interesting things each day in 2008, that there is no way to write about them all in long form blog posts.” Twitter lets me post short 140 character updates many times through the day. I also am inspired every day by really interesting people I follow who teach me things every day. You can learn more about Twitter by searching this blog for related posts, however, you can’t really understand Twitter until you use it. I encourage you to try it out. Have a look at my Twitter Page to see the kinds of things I share there.”
TK Podcast: Yup, I really like podcasting, but its time consuming. I’ve been enjoying really interesting conversations that are really relevant to tourism businesses and communities. In 2008, I started introducing listeners to Internet folk from around the world including conversations with people in Boston, Texas, California, Washington State, and even Queensland, Australia. They are social marketing mavens, internet marketing specialists, travel bloggers, travel podcasters, educators, community catalysts. I’ve already planned some great conversations for the new year. Listen right here on the blog or in iTunes (link is in the sidebar).
Tourism Café: Nancy Arsenault, Celes Davar and I have been making blog posts and recording podcasts related to experiential tourism on this new blog. We have really interesting conversations and I hope you’ve stopped in to give a listen. I also encourage you to subscribe to this blog if you are really interested in tourism education, economic development , or new media / web marketing. We just started this project in November, but we’ve already had some great comments from readers and listeners. Our collaborative partnership benefits from expertise in education, community development, tourism product development and e-marketing.
Other people’s blogs: In 2008, I spent a lot of time commenting and writing on other blogs. You can see some of the interesting discussions I’ve been involved in by checking out the backtype link in the sidebar or viewing my Backtype page. You can subscribe to the feed of my commenting in other places if you are interested. By just focusing on the content and not worrying about where it is and letting Backtype bring it here to my blog I can focus on a variety of topics, some related to tourism, often related to the Internet and social media in general. The rich discussions that take place on blogs would not be possible without the social commenting that is possible.
Qik.com: In 2008, Canada got the iPhone and it can’t be overstated: iPhone is a transformative device. At the Web 2.0 Summit in SanFransisco in October, we heard that within 5 years, more people will access the Web via cell phones than computers and iPhone will be the most popular phone in the land. Tourism businesses must create applications and Web sites with the iPhone user in mind in 2009. In addition to researching places to eat, stay and play in the places I visit, I sometimes just turn on my iPhone and send live video to the Internet. Take a peak at my Qik Page and you’ll see what it’s like. I send notes to Twitter a few minutes before I am going to steam video, so folks following me on Twitter can see the content live. If you would rather, you can just log in later and watch the video bits that interest you (note: it can sound like I have a bit of a speech problem, it’s just the microphone on my phone.) I’ve also been experimenting a bit with Viddler, so look for those posts to appear on the blog in the near future…. sort of a video blog posts.
WordPress: In April, 2008 I chose WordPress as my #1 Internet Marketing tool of 2008. WordPress Blogs are also the best tool for anyone considering a new Web site. The best Web sites in the world are blogs. Isn’t it time you had your own. In early 2008 we started training businesses in using wordpress and the results have been great. I will be offering a Webinar on how to use WordPress blog as your primary Web site early in 2009. Stay tuned for more info. For just $25 / year you can edit and host your own professional-looking Web site at www.yourown.com! It ain’t 2006 any more people. Time to meet the future of Web development with a fully developed Web presence with your WordPress blog at its core. (It’s even iPhone ready! – so your web content can look sharp in the palm of a hand.)
In 2008, I led four Cluster Marketing Web development trainings for communities. The best tool for getting your community engaged in producing a successful community Web presence is a shared WordPress Blog. Communities who want to take the next step in economic development should really consider how to get community partners together to undertake such a project. Much more than a portal, a shared blog can include stories, reviews, video, audio, photo libraries and blog posts that reveal the special qualities of your community.
Facebook: Facebook has come into its own in 2008. The gathering place is growing at an unheard of rate of 600,000 users each day! The company is also reporting that, as of December 15, 2008, they have reached 140 million active users. Facebook will pass MySpace as the largest social networking platform in 2009. The social media widgets in the sidebar of this blog represent our readiness for the largest trend we’ll see in 2009 – Open Social Networking. Facebook users will be taking their social persona beyond the walls of Facebook and visiting your Web sites. Are you going to be ready to help your visitors connect with one another on your Web site or blog? We’ve started with Google Friend Connect (see the link at right on our blog), but we’ll let you know as soon as a stable Facebook Widget is available in early 2009 (fingers crossed).
Northern Edge Algonquin has evolved too! The Edge is our nature retreat. Planning our business around Web marketing is why I got involved in all this Internet Marketing stuff in the first place. In 2008, our business model changed and along with it, we have welcomed a half dozen new co-operating partners who have developed new niche market programs for our guests. So I spend my slow time (ha!) working with my staff and co-operating partners helping them stay on the wave of Internet marketing – letting our own experiences tell their stories on the Web.
So, what do you think? Has there been an internet marketing tool, Web site or strategy that you think has emerged as the most important of 2008? Always eager to hear what you have to share. Please comment below.
