HotmailChanging travel, one tweet at a time
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5. Monitor the buzz
There are any number of tools and applications — from Twitter’s search function to Tweetlater — that allow you to keep a finger on the pulse of the so-called Twittersphere. “It lets you see what people are saying about where you’re visiting, where you’re staying and what you’re eating ahead of time,” says Amanda Blum, a social media instructor who publishes the site Are You Socially Acceptable. I use an application for Twittering called TweetDeck that shows which trends are “hot” at the moment. You can join the conversation by adding a hashtag to a keyword in the conversation. (For example, if it were about travel, you’d include “#travel” in your entry.)
6. Talk back
Most travel companies have Twitter accounts that are monitored regularly. Those include Southwest Airlines, Marriott International and Virgin America. For now, this may be one of the most direct ways of communicating with a company. Take advantage of it. Maria Bailey did. The author of the book “Mom 3.0: Marketing with Today's Mothers by Leveraging New Media and Technology” was caught in a snowstorm last month, so she sent a direct message to her airline, JetBlue. “I got a response within minutes and knew to avoid Kennedy airport,” she says.
7. Participate regularly
You’ll get out of microblogging what you put into it, say pros. “Share wonderful experiences, like guides, great local events, walks and hikes,” says travel blogger Kathy Dragon. “And publish photos.” What makes microblogging content so special is that it’s completely unique, she says. So don’t regurgitate guidebook content, but include your own insights and opinions. You’ll be rewarded with the unique insights of other members of your network the next time you’re on the road.
8. Listen
Some microblogging content is more of a lecture than a conversation. That’s doesn’t necessarily make it boring. For example, Oregon's Twitter site offers tips on everything from the best happy hour spots in Portland to its new sesquicentennial stamp. In San Francisco, the Bay Area Rapid Transit System uses Twitter to communicate information about delays. The State Department issues travel warnings and even the Transportation Security Administration is on Twitter. “Now you can get short, real-time posts as your journey unfolds,” says Andy Renk, a social media expert and blogger.
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A Twitter user helped him save $150 on a ticket while he was flying around Southeast Asia. “And in Tunisia, a local family hosted me for a weekend and organized a local bloggers meetup using Twitter,” he says.
No doubt, now that it’s gone mainstream, microblogging is changing travel one tweet at a time.
More on Twitter | microblogging
Every Monday, my column takes a close look at what makes the travel business tick. Your comments are always welcome, and if you can’t get enough of my column, drop by my blog for daily insights into the world of travel.
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