Travel to Facebook for Better Travel Deals

Airlines, hotels, and travel booking sites are beginning to use social media websites like Facebook, Twitter more than ever before. Some airlines are offering free frequent flier miles if you "check-in" on Facebook when you are at the gate. According to smart money.com some 16 million people will book a flight via smartphone or tablet, thats 33% of all tickets booked.

Different companies are developing apps that let you keep track of your travel on an updated timeline. This gives the user an incentive to keep it updated and it gives the marketer an updated client list. Social media is a trend that isn't going away anytime soon and the quicker companies become involved in these types of sites the quicker they will see the profit rewards from their actions.

http://www.smartmoney.com/spend/travel/facebooking-travel-for-better-deals-1335388941670/?link=SM_hp_ls4e

Have you guys ever booked a flight on a social media website? Would you if there was an incentive?

In Response to Christine

On the social network site LinkedIn they will have two new tools targeted updates and follower statistic's.  This way a company can pick certain groups of people and send only them the messages.  These messages would be based off of certain criteria such as job, geography, and job seniority.  Some large U.S businesses have already started using these new features such as Microsoft, AT%T, and Dell.  

Do you think these new tools are too invasive or do you think they could help out business's?


I do not believe these new tools are too invasive, if you don;t like them, don't sign up for the site. I can understand the frustration if these tools where hidden but the company has made it public knowledge that the use information tracking tools such as these. I think these kinds of tools help marketers reach their target market more effectively. 

Amazon and "Old Media"

According to marketwatch.com J.P. Morgan believes Amazon.com still has growth potential in "physical media" business. This was a very interesting article. It explained that tools such as iTunes have made it so easy to digitally purchase media, there are less and less people buying "physical media". Physical media would be a CD in a CD case,a DVD, or Blueray Disc. 

Amazon.com may not be as successful in digital media but they have a leg up in physical media. With Amazon's huge client base they are able to offer a wider variety of products via internet than any other company is able to do. 

Personally I still believe Amazon is on the decline, so many forms of media now are streamed for example HBO GO.  People don't want to order something online and then wait a few days to receive it, they want it right away and streaming media is the way to go. 

In Response to Christine

Google has developed a new tool to be used when searching on Google webpages.  When on the websites users are sent to answer simple questions made from the host company before they can continue on the site.  It is advertised as an affordable option for companies to find out what their customers or consumers want.  Google then organizes and analyzes the data.  Google only charges between .10 cents and .50 cents for the responses.

If you were a business owner would you use Google's Customer Survey Tool to find out more about your consumers needs?


I have never heard of anything like this before but it seems to make a lot of sense. Unfortunately I have never encountered one of these surveys because I would be one to take it. My question is what incentive does the consumer get for filling out the survey? I do not believe a lot of people like waisting time doing surveys when there is no incentive for them to complete them accurately. $.10-$.50 seems relatively inexpensive for the data that could be really helpful.

Walking Billboards

Recently I read an article on msnbc.com (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21979076/ns/business-us_business/t/tattoo-ads-turn-people-walking-billboards/#.T14sMJjGK20) about how some companies are trying their hand at a new form of marketing; temporary tattoos. 

The popular value wine brand, Yellow Tail, recently sent out 600,000 temporary tattoos in an October issue of the New Yorker magazine in efforts to help brand awareness .A study done last year by the Pew Research Center shows that 36 percent of 18- to 25-year-olds have at least one tattoo, while an even higher 40 percent of 26- to 40-year-olds have at least one. This goes to show that tattoos are popular and fun. By providing consumers with a temporary tattoo shows the company is trendy and thinking outside of the box. 


I believe other companies should consider temporary tattoos as a form of marketing. Fruit Rollups have begun marketing temporary tounge tattoos with their products and I believe kids like to think they are older than they really are. Tempoarary tattoos may be a great way to reach a younger generation and get them to know your product. 


How do you guys feel about advertisers using temporary tattoos? Would you wear one?

In Response to Keera

Do you guys think LinkedIn is the next popular social networking kind of site? Why or why not?

I believe LinkedIn is a great site for working professionals, but will never reach the popularity of Facebook or Twitter. Personally I am not a LinkedIn user, but my Father is and I will most likely join the site in the near future. Although it may not be as trendy or flashy as Facebook or Twitter LinkedIn can be a really good professional tool.

LinkedIn is great at helping you stay connected with your professional contacts. I like to think of it as a high-tech rolodex. It can also be a great tool when looking for a new job, hopefully it can help me out in the near future. LinkedIn is a great business tool and is not going anywhere any time soon.

In Response to Keera

Do you think marketing through texts is effective marketing?

Texts have become the way most people communicate throughout the day. They are short, easy to produce, and straight to the point. However marketers must be careful when approaching this topic.

I believe texts can be a good way for companies to promote products or sales but I do not believe companies should send these texts out blindly. I believe that companies should have to get costumers approval in order to send them promotional texts.

People do not want their text inboxes filled with junk mail like most of our emails are. Texts are more personal and therefor companies should establish a relationship with the costumer before they start texting.