Mexicovacationtravels.com is a wonderful detailed travel site, dedicated to providing visitors and locals with extensive information for every Mexico travel destination. Whether you are interested in taking a small trip to Cancun or San Carlos, or staying at the Cabo Surf Hotel for a week, Mexicovacationtravels.com has all of the information you need to plan your dream holiday!
The site offers several key categories which helps visitors choose what they want out of their ideal vacation: Beaches In Mexico, Budget Travel, Colonial Cities, Family Travel, Food, Forests, Holidays, Ruins, Scuba Diving, Shopping, Snorkeling, and Spa Travel. For more information on Mexico and Mexico travel deals, go to their website and fill out the contact form.
Happy travels! Katy Lynch Community Manager @whereivebeen
Out of all of the Twitter tools out there, I have found one which really hits the nail on the head when searching for specific Twitter hashtags (#). With TweetTrail, Twitterers can search for the top 20 tweeters of the month in any given topic. Whether you are looking for current trends within Travel, Facebook, Social Media, Social Networking or mobile devices such as the Iphone, TweetTrail stays on top of those who are constantly tweeting about those key topics.
If you aren't too familiar with Twitter, you may want to read this article first. The Ultimate Guide For Everything Twitter. It tells you everything you need to know - from tweeting, to changing your profile background, to adding friends, to re-posting tweets.
You will also get to know this little guy. The Fail Whale. He's cute but watch out for him, he comes with an entourage of birds. *wink* What are your fave Twitter tools? Feel free to talk about them here!
Katy Lynch Your Community Manager @whereivebeen - follow me!
With Facebook's recent announcement that they have over 276 million monthly unique users on their site, it is clear that social networking sites are continuing to flourish, attracting people from all around the world. For travel marketers, this is a perfect opportunity to strike gold by using social networks to their advantage, increasing their brand awareness online. Within a year alone, social networking sites have significantly jumped 60%. See chart below:
Ajene states that the "share of referrals from social networks to hotel websites is growing rapidly (up 151% since February 2008) ...the more interesting finding is that the conversion rate of the referrals from social networks to hotel websites exhibits a similar growth trend, growing 98% year over year ...these findings indicate that social networks are increasingly a source of in-market traffic for hoteliers." (source: blog.compete.com)
It is clear that travel marketers can use social networking sites to their own advantage, taking them for all they are worth. Ajene adds that travel marketers can be strategic, testing and using social networking sites that resonate well with their brand. Competitive digital intelligence "can be used to investigate brand shopper engagement with various social networking features to ascertain which features and functionalities would align with a brand’s own social media implementations." (source: blog.compete.com)
What do you think of the increase of traffic within the online travel industry? If a certain social networking site fails, how/will this affect the online travel industry? Can the online travel industry survive without social networks, or have they become too dependable on them?
I stumbled across Tweleted today, a service that recovers deleted tweets by comparing a person’s Twitter history to Twitter Search. Initially, I thought it was quite a fun, harmless little site, but actually, it could get you in a lot of trouble - especially with your boss.
The site has two modes - Good and Evil. On Good mode, you can find the tweets you accidentally deleted, or the ones you lost over time. The evil mode, however, is quite the contrary. Those embarrassing drunken (or hungover) tweets creep up and show face. These tweets were deleted for a reason, but they can be recovered in a second.
My advice? Be careful what you tweet and when you tweet. That 4am drunken tweet might be funny now, but by Monday morning there may be a packed box waiting for you on your office desk. Want to know more about Twitter etiquette and the Twitterosphere? Then read about the 14 Ways to Use Twitter Politely.
Where I've Been is giving away Chicago Wolves hockey tickets to 7 lucky people in/around the Chicago area. If you can identify all 10 Chicago landmarks below, post the answers to my email address: katy@whereivebeen.com with the email header "I love Where I've Been". The first 7 people to respond, correctly, will win two Wolves tickets (one for you, one for a friend) for the Chicago Wolves vs. Quad City Flames game on March 28th, 2009.*
In your email, Please post: Your name: Your email: Your answers:
What's your FAVORITE drink when you go on vacation? Tag yourself and your 15 friends in "Where I've Been: What drink are you on Spring Break?" on Facebook!!
Many, if not all of you, have seen the changes made by Facebook Friday morning/afternoon. Remember when the old Facebook changed to the new and many users were up-in-arms about it? Well, Facebook has gone and done it again. This time, though, there isn't a whole lot that has actually been changed.
When you click on Home, you will be faced with a page full of feeds (status updates) in the center. These feeds are divided up by the Networks you belong to. For example, I have two Networks: Chicago and Where I've Been. I can see feeds from both, separately, or together. Very cool and very convenient and also very... Twitter.*
"I believe Facebook's recognition of status as the most important and most powerful social gesture seals the deal. Status is where it's at in social networking. This is very good for Twitter and its also very good for the other social nets who recognize this and move quickly to provide status updating features and open them up to the social web."
... and he's right. Status IS where it's at in social networking.
So, what do you think about Facebook's updated layout? Do you think it's beneficial to Facebook and its user numbers?
*Let's talk about Twitter for a minute. Facebook hasn't exactly stolen their idea. Statuses have been around for quite some time, and Twitter is still an incredibly powerful tool on its own and throughout Facebook. (See Twitter applicaton.) They both go together like two peas in a pod... and I will continue to use them both equally.
By now, we have all heard the news story of the plane crash in the Hudson. Back in January, US Airways Flight 1549 was forced to make an emergency landing on the Hudson River after hitting a flock of birds during takeoff. Pilot Chesley B. Sullenburger was noted for his bravery and courage in successfully landing the airplane, saving all passengers on board.
Below is an computer animated recreation of the flight. Although it is not an exact depiction of what happened on the day, it's the closest thing to it and the radio communication only adds to how surreal the whole event really was.
The new Where I've Been site is coming very soon and so the team have completely re-vamped the Where I've Been group page and the fan page in preparation for the big day! If you are a current user of the Where I've Been application, please join the fan page for regular updates, photos, videos, and other member information. If you are a new user, welcome and please use the fan page as a resource for information about our company! We hope you enjoy using our application as much as we enjoy creating it!
We absolutely love feedback and we encourage you to post as much information, whether it's pictures, videos, comments or questions on the fan page wall. Invite your friends and family! Keep up to date with what is going on within the travel industry!
We are currently looking for people to test our application to let us know what you think about our product. For more information, please contact Jessica Ray (Business Development) at jessica@whereivebeen.com
If you are interested in blogging about Where I've Been, and our product, please email Katy (me!) at katy@whereivebeen.com. I have loads of great, exciting information to share about our company and, in return, I would be happy to blog about your company.
On Tuesday March 10th there will be a tweet-up in Chicago for the Twitchhiker! Who is the Twitchhiker? The Twitchhiker is Paul Smith, and he is on a mission to travel the world in 30 days solely relying on tweets and the good-hearted people behind those tweets! He can only accept travel and accommodation from Twitter members, cannot make arrangements more than three days in advance, and if he only gets one offer, he must take it within 48 hours. Mr Smith's goal is to raise £3000, mimicking Barack Obama's fundraising model and persuading lots of people to donate tiny amounts.
Why is he doing this? His inspiration for doing this? Combining his childhood dream to hitchhike with the modern twist of using social networking. =] About the Tweet-up
When: Tuesday, March 10th 2009 Where: The Kerryman Irish Pub and Restaurant, 661 N. Clark Street (MAP) What time: 7-10pm What to wear: Casual More info: "Twitchhiker Tweet-up" (Facebook event page) Help!: support@whereivebeen.com
Hope to see you there! Katy Lynch Community Manager
Ever wanted one of those groovy, expensive gift bags that celebs get when they attend the Oscars and other award shows?
Well now you can get one! Stylit.tv are giving away TONS of free stuff today! Goodies include clothes, sunglasses, cell phones, jewelry, MP3 players, and makeup. Why? Stylit.TV's web show, Gift Bag Robin Hood, is ready to launch and they are giving away the bags as part of their debut. Woo hoooooo!
When you were a wee girl, there was nothing quite like a good sleepover: lots of girl friends, delicious snacks, hot gossip about celebrities and style, mini fashion shows, midnight makeovers, and loads of giggles.
As we get older and more sophisticated, we grow out of these fun Friday night plans with our buddies, but we never forget the memories.
Well, now, nine women have taken the childhood dream and turned it into their own by adding a technologically-tricked out suite & some wonderful, inspirational ideas about technology and business!
It's called Sleepover 2.0 and it's happening in downtown Chicago on March 7-8, 2009 between the hours of 4pm - 10am. That's right, these women are pulling all-nighters to provide you with entertainment, laughs, knowledge, wisdom, and countless prizes. Where I've Been will be providing trivia questions throughout the entire evening. Be sure to tune into Sleepover2.0 and answer the question correctly .... there will be prizes for the winner! To particpate all you have to do is tune into Sleepover 2.0's UStream channel anytime between 4pm on Saturday, March 7th until 10am on March 8th. You can also follow Sleepover2.0 on Twitter for live updates. For more information on how to participate, click here.
What is the 50 States Project? The 50 States Project has brought together 50 photographers from across the United States. Each photographer will take pictures that best represent their state. Every two months the photographers will be given an assignment and will each have to product one image. Overall, the 50 States Project exists to capture the essence of America, and what America is today, through snapshots of its residents and places.
The first assignment, "People," was released on The 50 States Project website recently. Check them out here.
Here are a few of my personal favorite snaps from the "People" assignment: Idaho Kansas California
Do you like to take 4867846 photos while on vacation? Do you travel to lie around on the beach all day long? Are you a student on your "gap" year, gaining world experience? Tag yourself and your friends on Facebook with this fun "What Type of Traveler Are You" image!
HotelVideoReviews.com, HotelVideoReviews.com, a user-generated hotel video review site, is about to launch its "Hotel Video Review" partnership programme and Where I've Been is proud to be one of their traffic network partners!
"On the role played by video reviews during the booking experience on a travel website, Jan Kooman, CEO of HotelVideoReviews.com, said, "Research shows that 78 percent of hotel bookers already use textual reviews when making travel-related decisions. However 42 percent find video to be the most trustworthy. Adding video content on a hotel booking webpage increases conversions up to 200 percent. They are essential to staying competitive in online travel.""
On the new site, which will be launched mid March, Where I've Been will show HotelVideoReview.com aggregated hotel video reviews on the Destination page.
You've opened the blinding red wrapper countless times as a child and adult, and you've probably dreamt about the mysterious lady who whispers "taste the rainbow" in your sleep.
But would you ever dream that Skittles change their appearance online? Probably not. After all, Skittles is just candy. Right?
Wrong. They have proved themselves to be more than that by launching their new social media campaign. Their website, which now pops up as a tiny box, re-directs the user to various social networking channels such as Flickr, Wikipedia, YouTube and Twitter.
The box contains six options: Home, Media, Chatter, Contact, Friends and Products. If a user wishes to see the buzz created around the delicious candy, he/she would click Chatter and automatically be re-directed to the Twitter search results page for Skittles. Here, users can see up-to-date mini posts about the candy. Keep in mind, Skittles are the first company to use Twitter, on their official website, as a tool to promote its product.
For some, this unique way of self promoting has left a sour taste. Some say the new layout is tacky and Some say it's just a fad and a huge waste of time.
But it is creating a huge buzz on the internet and could ultimately prove that Twitter, as well as other social networking sites, are powerful tools that could generate high sales. Could this be the future of the web and Internet marketing?
I moved to the windy city just over a year ago and I'm always asking friends where the hip, cool, trendy, fun places are to go on a Friday night. Although there are hundreds of bars in the Chicago area to choose from, and I am spoiled for choice, it's hard to know exactly which ones will cater to my needs.
I am one of those people who is always open to new, fresh ideas and perspective when planning a night out. One of the cool features of the new Where I've Been site, which will launch on March 10th, is that you can find or submit suggestions about any city in the world! User suggestions can range anywhere from the fanciest restaurants to dine at, to the funkiest boutiques to shop, to places to lay your head while visiting a particular city or town.
Jessie Ray, a devote Where I've Been user, has posted her personal favorite pubs and bars in the Chicago area. (Be warned, after reading this article, you may find yourself wanting to pop a bottle with your friends)
Top 10 Spots for Delicious Beer in Chicago!
1) Quenchers - One of 2 places in Chicago that carry beer that I drank in Namibia. Cash only, but great environment and super friendly bartenders! 2) Maproom - Try your chance at getting through their extensive beer list from throughout the world (hence the name:) Plenty of options if you enjoy drinking beers with a higher than average alcohol content (14%) 3) Long Room - Long Room has a great atmosphere and an amazing beer list. 4) Hopleaf - Ohhh...Hopleaf! They have great food, but even better beer! It gets quite crowded, so if you get there for happy hours, you will be able to get a place to sit. Over 30 beers on draft and an incredible amount in bottles. 5) Edgewater - I adore this neighborhood pub. Everyone here is really nice and really makes you feel at home. They have a decent selection of beers on draft, so get comfy and start enjoying! 6) Duke of Perth - A brilliant Scottish Pub in Wrigleyville/Lakeview. If you enjoy beer from across the pond, you can find plenty of options here! They also usually have Summit (great microbeer from St. Paul) which makes me happy! For those that enjoy Whiskey too, they were voted one of the "GREAT WHISKEY BARS OF THE WORLD" 7) Jake's Pub - I love the beer selection, love the people who frequent, and LOVE that dogs can visit! They do not have food, but they have take out book that can keep you busy for hours:) 8) The Globe Pub - The Globe quickly became one of my favorite pubs in Chicago. They have beers from around the world and great daily specials. They also open up the bar anytime their is any rugby or futbol matches......so if you are missing a little futbol, then head to the Globe to get your fix and meet others who are just as obsessed! 9) Prost - If you like German beer, than this is your place. Prost! 10) Goose Island - Clyborn or Wrigleyville - If you are in Chicago, you have to try Goose Island and it's even better if you drink it at one of their fine establishments. Both locations are great, are spacious, and are tons of fun!
Have a question about a bar listed above? No problem! You can do that on the new Where I've Been site. We have made it easy for users to accumulate all kinds of information with the 'Ask a Question' feature. Additionally, users can upload their own photos and videos, and post comments on a specific bar.
