With more than 600 million Tweets sent daily, it's likely your next customer is on Twitter. The challenge for companies is making their Tweets stand out and building their business by capturing a greater share of the growing market using Twitter. An effective Tweet can boost business by creating the highest engagement with followers, while building a devoted fan base. And while what you say and how you construct a Tweet is important, building an effective Twitter program sets the stage for those all-important 140 characters or less communication. In this article I'll address ways to create an engaging presence on Twitter, as well as give you tips to make every Tweet count. READ MORE

Social media continues to be akin to a wild rollercoaster ride with new developments around every curve. Yesterday's top influencer may find itself on a steep decline with upstarts becoming mainstream in a moment. For the uninitiated - or those with a day job that differs - it can be overwhelming. But to those of us in the business of connecting B to C, it's exhilarating and ever stimulating. Here's an overview of some of what's happening now on the social media landscape - developments that hoteliers may want to consider as part of marketing strategy. READ MORE

When it comes to identifying a brand advocate, nothing can rival the passion and loyalty of a sports fan. While it is highly unlikely that we will ever witness a colleague walking into the office sporting a Marriott™ logo on their t-shirt while shouting, "Guess where I'm going tonight?", hoteliers are striving to capture that same level of enthusiasm with their guests. Social media has forever changed the way consumers interacts with brands. Static, points based loyalty programs may encourage repeat business, however, they fall short in converting guests into true advocates. Has the traditional loyalty model become ineffective? What is the difference between loyalty and advocacy? How to create a compelling advocate marketing plan? Most importantly, can we measure an ROI on advocacy? READ MORE

Hotels of all sizes are finding success using social media to drive their rewards program. The challenges you face as you build your hotel reward program - establishing great perks, creating an easy path to earn extra reward points, and introducing your program to guests - can all be achieved using the right social media strategies. Learn how to employ the best social media strategies to drive engagement and increase enrollment in your hotel's loyalty rewards program, from setting up a social media-powered referral program to establishing VIP social media accounts, using social concierge accounts to improve your hotel's reputation, and more. READ MORE

Live video streaming is not necessarily a new technology, but it has recently experienced quite the rise in popularity. A generation filled with "cord-cutters" has turned Internet video into the new cable TV. As hoteliers, we know that marketing is no longer a straight path, but rather a box of tools for us to utilize given our property's needs. Live video streaming is marketing's shiny new tool that is loved by the millennial market and what might be better termed the "millennial mindset" market. Clearly, other generations love technology just as much and not all millennials love it, so the hype is not necessarily geared solely to the 20-35 year old market. So let's take a look at how live video streaming began, what caused its recent emergence and what the future holds for this rapidly developing technology. READ MORE