apple

Apple has introduced a slew of new products in their annual iPod makeover. This year however, it’s really time for more than just the back to school kids to pay attention.

Here are the four most important reasons why your tourism business should invest in a new iPod and benefit from understanding the possibilities of iPod / iTunes makeover to improve your business.

1. High Definition video is built right into the iPod Touch. Are you kidding me? Go to your favourite big box store and look into buying an HD video camera to shoot video for your business. For $200 you can have an HD video camera that does a heck of a lot more than shoot video!  Your international guests can even make person to person video phone calls over wifi networks – with an iPod!
   
2. Experience how easy it is to make handheld reviews and give recommendations. iPod Touch with it’s inherent wifi and instant access to apps makes it easy guests to review your business.   Another reminder to open up the wifi in your building (and beyond) and invite guests to leave reviews.  Traveler reviews is the currency of social networking.  If you are still charging guests for wifi, get an iPod, and learn how easy it is to post reviews on the likes of TripAdvisor, Yelp! and others.  Maybe once you see how guests use it, you’ll give wifi away (like you do with the towels and napkins) like the cool hotels and restaurants do.
3. Start building your location-based information resource for guests. The introduction of camera on iPod Touch will create a larger uptake in the use of QR (Quick Response) codes and other optical triggers like Microsoft Tags to allow you to provide rich media to your ideal guests.  Consider, what information, photos, video, music, audio can I share with my guests here and now that would enhance their experience.  QR codes let guests with iPhones Touch instantly link to that content.  Serve the family market, put QR codes on garden gnomes and send the kiddies on their way. (thx @nancyarsenault).  Got an amazing piece of art hanging on your wall, link to the artists Wikipedia page.  Got a translated verson of your menu online? Link to it from your existing menu. …. etc.  QR codes is how McDonalds in Japan provides nutritional information on their food products.
   
4. With Ping Apple has made it easy for fans and followers to give music recommendations.  Could Ping be the next social network your guests want to follow you on. You play music at your location right?  Ever had a guest wonder who your favourite musical artists are?  Who is playing in your background music?  I wonder if your guests might want to follow you for your musical tastes?  The future of Apples social network could make it THE location to share photos and video along with music. Is Facebook’s lunch next on Apple’s menu?   Wouldn’t it be easy for Apple to let you share your calendar, status updates, etc. with your iPod or iPhone contacts through such a network as Ping?
   

Got any ideas on a fifth reason your restaurant, hotel or inn should buy a new iPod?

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