8 Social Media TrendsThat Are Changing Tourism

Trend #1

Smart Phone Apps“There’s an app for that!” Apple’s game changer, “smartphone” application marketplace (Open SDK)

Context is now king

Enables users to share deep content via Social Networks regardless of location.

Trend #2

FoursquareLBS Mobile Game

User connect via locations with “check-ins” at venues to earn points/social-cpaital

Opportunties for small businesses to connect with Loyal Customers known as “Mayors” and create unique timely offerings

Trend #3

Geo MashupsCustomizable User generated maps such as GoogleMaps API

Socially Transportable to Blogs / Social Webspaces

Inline contextual media: images, video, reviews, etc.

Guys love this, now they don’t ever have to ask for directions ;)

Trend #4

Micro-BlogsTop Growth SNS - Twitter + 2nd tier FriendFeed

“Email Killer” Users Sharing brief ideas 140 characters at a time with “Friends”

Users: Professionals, Age 25+, becoming a model for Open Business

Trend #5

Mobile VideoiPod Nano + iPhone 3Gs video enabled devices remove price boundaries for UGC

Business should expect more video reviews of products & services

Business need to become part of the conversation and embrace video as touchpoint

Trend #6

Photo-Sharing Networks

Standard in the Social Media diet of people and the HQ for brands’ images

Travel Experience Extensions: geo-tags, slideshows-sharing

Photo Tribes: User generated Groups

The original Crasher Squirrel photo was taken by Melissa and Jackson Brandts in Banff

Trend #7

CouchSurfing.com- Travel Exchange

Online Social/Cultural worldwide network, enables low-cost travel exchanges with trustworthy Hosts.

Trend #8

Yelp - Customer Generated Reviews

Social Tool like TripAdvizor becoming more widely used

Strong Reach due to trusted customer generated reviews of a wider variety of products and services

Thank YouContinue the conversation via twitter:@MMagnus ( #socialmedia #tourism )

www.twitter.com/Mmagnus