Still think social media are a fad?

[Rocket Rab]

I hesitated about posting this in the Cafe. Or perhaps the time has come to consider broadening the title of this forum? Something like "Personal Websites and Social Media"?

Then again, it may be just a passing fad....

[starcana]

wow, a really interesting post, thanks.

[kendalcottages]

I've seen a similar video before.

I'm going to stick my neck on the line though and suggest that most owners here do not get most of their bookings via social media.

Speaking for ourselves, we've so far had just one booking via Twitter and none from Facebook.

This doesn't mean I'm not in favour of social media, but I do think it's over-hyped sometimes.

[Mouse]

Some interesting figures thrown out there, and I do take the point about peer group trust (i.e. recommendations) but of course it all depends what people are talking about on social networks. is holiday accommodation (and recommendations of) a big discussion subject?
The age group too is important.
Most traffic, and therefore strength of word of mouth marketing, I suspect lies at the younger end of the market

I know for example that our 'young' clients circulate information on the villa via FB. But I have yet to see a booking via that medium.

I would love to give the heave ho to the rental websites but I can't see that happening for a long time.
Of course the large companies that have a strong presence on FB and use it well no doubt will see a difference and I suspect it engenders product loyalty leading to repeat buying.

Does an owner of a rental property stand a chance of using FB/twitter successfully at the mo to attract business? I doubt it.

Mouse
x

[CSE]

but I do think it's over-hyped sometimes

sadly that can be said for a lot of things that are being talked about in this world.

[Nemo]

It's certainly true that social media has changed the lives of many and the way we communicate. However, like everything it has its place and it certainly has yet to prove its place in the business market. Maybe it will, in which case I'm sure we'll all jump on the bandwagon as and when we need to.

[GoDot]

Both Google and Bing use data from social media sites as a ranking factor.

Here's Googles Matt Cutts on the issue - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofhwPC-5Ub4

If you care about rankings - go social

[Jimbo]

Jackson Browne wrote:

And when the sand was gone and the time arrived
In the naked dawn only a few survived
And in attempts to understand a thing so simple and so huge
Believed that they were meant to live after the deluge.

As somebody who, with his professional photographic colleagues, idly and complacently discussed far into the night and over congenial bottles of wine what - if any - the effects of digital capture would have on their businesses and then watched aghast as much of what we've believed in and had worked for was swept away in the deluge, I'd say that social networking is unlikely to be a fad.

I'd guess that the effects of social networking will be profound and far-reaching but immensely difficult to predict. And they will be coming soon to a business near you. The technological juggernaut cares nothing for you - either you recognise its significance and try to clamber on board or you'll be swept aside.

Jim

[Giddy Goat]

Thanks for opening the topic RR and we've had some helpful input already, including Dot's YouTube link. You are right of course Jimbo, and whether we like it or not, we have to run with the concept or be swept aside as you say - even flattened - by the juggernaut.

[kendalcottages]

Personally, I think social media is to be embraced but I don't think ignoring it will necessarily mean that you're swept aside. There are lots of ways to market yourself effectively, and social media is just one possibility to consider.

[la vache!]

I've never had a booking from Facebook or Twitter, either. Out of all the users on Facebook and Twitter, how many are actually active? Probably less than half. I think it's a bit sad that Facebook is now more about business promotion than keeping up with friends which I presume was the original purpose of it. I gave up with Twitter some time ago, as did quite a few other owners. Unless you are sitting at a computer day and night, I don't really see the point of it.

[Giddy Goat]

I gave up with Twitter some time ago, as did quite a few other owners. Unless you are sitting at a computer day and night, I don't really see the point of it.

.... except if you listen to Matt Cutts (aka the horse's mouth) on YouTube.

[e-richard]

I really think this article sums up my opinion perfectly.

Social media is not the panacea, but neither should it be ignored.
It is nonetheless way over-hyped.

[Beachcondo]

I think most of us on this forum grew up without a computer or mobile phone (let alone smartphone).
When the kids, who cannot go to sleep without saying "good night" to their friends on FB first, are in the age where you pay for renting a vacation villa - social networking might be THE WAY to go.

I've got approximately 100 friends on FB, and I am really not that interested in getting many more.
Is there a 20 year old with less than 500 "friends"?

[e-richard]

True. We grew up without t'internet, smart phones etc., but we still had "friends". We spoke on the phone, and we met in coffee bars. We socialised a lot, and we met new people as a result.

But did we build businesses based on our network of friends or did we use smart marketing techniques like advertising, PR etc. or perhaps we did both ?

Its no different today.