Grade scale for Final Assignment from Think Tank

Your final post is due 27/04 - no class is scheduled - just your online work.

The final post is 30% of your grade - here are the guidelines:

1. The post is an essay on what you have realized from the Think Tank topics

****NOT what was said - what insights you have gained

2. Text link 2 new references that support what you have learned - articles, videos, websites - all ok

3. Also note in your post - which session had the greatest impact on you + why

4. tag your post DDiH

Bonus points:

+ 5% if you use 2 additional social medial to 'publish' your posts - tagged DDiH

+10% if you use 3 additional social media - tagged DDiH + cross linked

Questions - comments - ideas - just let me know.

10 Travel SEO Actions

Applies to hotel sites as well - which ones did we cover in class?

Free YouTube Biz Cards from MOO

A very cool idea - do you have your own YouTube channel??

Stimulate Search - A Case Study

Short discussion - using online news releases to stimulate strategic searches + social sharing.

Case Study PPT download

Dorchester Group Spring Emailing

View the presentation here... what do you think? Post a note in the comments.

Today's Concept - Crowdsourcing 13/04

Class exercise outcome -

How can crowdsourcing be effectively used in the hospitality industry?

The most innovative, actionable ideas will get a prize at the Think Tank.

Is crowdsourcing a valuable business tool? or just a Flashmob?

http://www.mob4hire.com/

http://www.elance.com/

http://www.crowdspring.com/

Take a look at a crowdsource contest sponsored by Starbuck's

Jumpstart Thinking

Presented at Cannes Masters of Marketing - Cannes

Class Work - 08/04

Now that you are all SEO experts...we will move onto SMO

Let's take a look at the Master Map from the first session - this will put SMO in context of overall online efforts.

Today's in-class exercise is an extension of last week's - design a measureable SMO campaign for your selected hotel.

1. Go through the steps in this article

2. Review your work from last weel + update it with better SOM tactics

3. Detail the measurements for each phase of your SOM - do NOT just use 'bookings' as the measurement

4. What is the relationship between followers and influencers?

Post online.

Final Assignment - Post by 27/04

Instead of the ususal final exam or final presentation...there will be a final post due on 27/04.

You must attend the Think Tank on either April 23 or 24 and the final post needs to examine one of the four topics being discussed.

Questions about the topics can be found here - each one set up as a separate forum.

1. Luxury reframed

2. Reviews and Revenue

3. Augmented Reality + location based services

4. Mobile outlook

Your final post criteria:

• YOUR in-depth examination of the topic - with a concrete, actionable conclusion
• Commentary on the perspectives presented
• 2 text links to articles/Slideshares/videos supporting your conclusion
• A link in the Think Tank forum to your final blog post - topic specific.

The final post will be 30% of your grade - if there is a problem to attend one day of the Think Tank, please let me know by 14/04. The one day attendance at the Think Tank replaces the last class on 27/04.

http://ping.fm/jvdyy

Required Reading - Switch to Twitter

For the next classes, create your blog posts from Tweets - stop using the industry news sites.

You will need a Twitter reader - there are many choices, but I prefer these two:

Twhirl

TweetDeck

Your blog post should include the Tweet link - example http://www.bit.ly/9FUJvS

Then you post your comments.

Due date - Post - 3 days before next class

Cross Comment on someone's post - 1 day before next class

What NOT to do for SEO

This is a link farm - no content. A site listed here runs the risk of being banned by Google.

A rather bizarre app - ChatRoulette - I don't rercommend it but Travelocity is using it.

April 1 Hoax??

The Google techno followers are not buzzing about this...so maybe a hoax of a hoax??

What do you think?

01/04 Today's class exercise

Hotels And Social Media

View more presentations from Bryce Maddock.

Thank you to the 7 people that Pinged - everyone else, please do it today in class + show me your Ping.

Today you will do some online research and see how well hotels + hotel groups are using social networks to engage their guests.

You may work in groups of 2 or 3 - each person doing a different part of the research.

1. Find a hotel or hotel group you'd like to analyze
2. On their site and in various digital touchpoints, determine what SN they are using
3. Evaluate how effectively each touchpoint is being used.
4. Be sure to include the 'quality' of the message - does it add value for the user...or just a sell tactic
5. Conclusion - what are the areas of opportunity for hoteliers

To frame your analysis of social networks benefits:

>>>look at the matrix on this experts blog - here.

>>>Take notice of how many SN tools he is using to communicate.

A member of the Web Strategy community translated it into FR + made a Slideshare - why?

Please be ready to share your work in 1 hour.