Sunday, July 30, 2006

Newsletter Costs & Resources - a Question

Could you PLEASE tell me how to do the newsletter thing you told us about in Corner Brook. I remember you had subscribed to a newsletter templated service that did wonderful things for you.
The price was not over the edge, but worth it for the service. Did I hear you wrong?
What was the address? ~ Pete

Hi Pete, thanks for your question.
For more on Newsletters visit our tutorials: /35.htm
At the bottom of the page are a handful of decent options.
WE use Campaigner, others have vouched for Constant contact.
$30/mo seems to be about the range to get started ...

When choosing a provider, be sure the service allows for people to directly add themselves to the database. Take a peak at how Naturally Superior (Constant Contact) and Outdoor Yoga Trips (Campaigner) do it.

Please add me to the recipient list when you get your newsletter going!

Regards,
Todd.

posted by Toddles @ 1:30 PM   0 comments

Burst: ALMOST THREE OUT OF FOUR online users planning summer vacations

According to a recent Burst Media survey of almost 3,000 adult Web users, (74 percent) say they will use the Web to plan their trip. When asked what types of information makes them want to return to travel sites, popular answers included destination information (63 percent), the ability to check flight, hotel, and car rental rates/availability (61 percent), travel promotions and specials (54 percent) and travel bulletins and alerts (25 percent).

Does your Web site feature any of these items? Which can you easily add by providing links to relevant Web sites.

Todd Lucier - TourismClicks.com

posted by Toddles @ 1:18 PM   0 comments

Newsletter Checklist

Planning your Next Newsletter - here is a useful checklist to ensure you get everything right before you press send!
For Quality Assurance check:
  1. The database is set up and mapped for personalization (personalizing content can boost open rates 5-10%).
  2. All links and redirects are accurate and inclusive of proper link-naming conventions for tracking purposes. (check the links)
  3. The text is accurate and spellchecked
  4. The site and tracking system is properly tracking (check stats on previous email newsletters and adjust content accordingly)
  5. Responses are routed properly (When people respond to your email, who is responsible for replying - ensure these staff know if there are any special offers, etc. by making sure they preview the newsletter before sending to your list)
  6. All forms pages are active and posting data properly (Remember your goal is interactivity, be sure the forms and links on the pages you route people to, function properly)
  7. Subject lines and "from" names are consistent and spelled correctly
  8. Images display properly and are properly coded with tags (proper tags will ensure that previewers of your email, turn on the html to get the best of what you are sending)
  9. SPAM scoring and HTML validation is complete (you want to ensure your email gets through).


Todd Lucier - TourismClicks.com

posted by Toddles @ 1:03 PM   0 comments

Help your visitors plan cheap flights

The following Web sites use technology to help travellers make travel plans. In addition to providing your guests with links to the airlines that serve nearby airports, consider providing links to these great cheap flight resources.

http://www.kayak.com - large flight comparison and travel planning site.
http://www.farecompare.com - tells when to buy to get the best price
http://www.farecast.com - provides predictions on what will happen to air fares over the next week based on millions of data points.

Others like: SideStep, Mobissimo, and FareChase have also recently entered the growing field of cheap flight finders. Look for further fractures in this market to be based on the niche types of travellers and types of travel in the near future.

Todd Lucier - TourismClicks.com

posted by Toddles @ 12:54 PM   0 comments

The Social side of Search

Social search is widely considered to be the gravity towards which searhc is headed. The promise is that search can be enhnaced by analyzing the data and behaviors of searchers. Yahoo is investing heavily in the research and development of a social search application. It has already committed to acquiring new startups that should help achieve its goal. Sites like Flickr, Del.icio.us, Yahoo Answers, Yahoo Groups and Yahoo Mail are the start of fusing human-aided data mixed with computer-generated data. Making this new search dynamic seamless and user friendly is the goal.

See http://www.outdooryogatrips.com and look in the upper right hand side of the page. The Delicious link is currently the most popular tool for sharing links to Web sites that people are inspired by.
Wink.com is the first search engine to provide page rank based on user preferences.
Other social search tools currently in beta include: Swicki.com, Rollyo.com , Clusty.com, and Lexxe.com

Todd Lucier - TourismClicks.com

posted by Toddles @ 12:45 PM   0 comments

Friday, July 14, 2006

Toronto Star in the Tourism Business with interactive podcast tours

http://starweb.blogs.com/audiotours/
Take a look at how podcasting works..... to boost Toronto Tourism.

Does this stimulate any ideas for boosting tourism in your region?

posted by Toddles @ 8:12 AM   0 comments

Friday, July 07, 2006

Wordpress.org and other free and almost free Blogging tools

If you are blogging and looking for a free, yet versatile blogging tool, consider using Wordpress.
You may need to be a bit more geeky to use this. For simple simple blogging stick with Blogger.
If looking for blog services that are both simple and versatile consider a paid service like Typepad.

Todd Lucier - TourismClicks.com

posted by Toddles @ 11:56 AM   0 comments