Business travelers meet in the blogosphere

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Summary

Recently companies like Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, and Marriott International have been using blogs to promote their product and brand image. Business travelers have now have the ability to review other's comments as well as share their experiences.

Business travelers can now view blogs that address issues of interest to business travelers. In 2007, approximately 21% of business travelers that use the internet read blogs. This is a large market share for a blog sites that focuses on traveling and lodging. Of course they must maintain good and relevant content.

Tracy Gamble, vice president of business development for Propylon, a software company, has found travel blogs to be a great resource. She frequently travels around the nation, and reads blogs to obtain information before she makes her reservations.

Information you would not expect to find maybe posted on a blog site. Last autumn, she said she was too busy to visit her own doctor to get a flu shot, but after reading a post on Gridskipper, she learned that she could get a shot at a kiosk in O'Hare International Airport. So in November, when on a layover at O'Hare, Gamble went to the kiosk and was done in 10 minutes.

Hotels and Airlines are now learning to use blog sites to promote their product and brand image. The Marriott on the Move a success now that it has attracted more than 345,000 visitors, almost a quarter from outside the United States. This year, the company plans to translate Marriott's posts and add the blog to its Web sites in Germany, China and Latin America.

Southwest Airlines has operated its staff-written blog, "Nuts About Southwest," a name that refers to its in-flight snack of peanuts, since April 2006. Starwood started its blog, TheLobby.com, in April 2006 to provide information for participants in its Preferred Guest loyalty program.

Why is this interesting?
Its amazing what kind of information you can find on blogs. Its also a great way to promote an idea or a product. Its even a great way to research a customer's needs and wants. Companies are beginning to use blogs to figure out what customers actually like and dislike. This can help change policies that companies have put in place that may drive customers away.

What will be the impact on you, others, or the whole society?

Sites likes these are always helpful to internet browsers searching answers to their issues. Whether it be traveling, reviewing a product, or looking for a laugh there's a blog out there for it. Its also a great way to express your opinion about a good or bad situation you experience when flying a plane, eating at a restaurant, or staying a night at a hotel.

What is my response?
Creating your own blogs about you're business is a great idea. You can have employee's anonymously post information about their work problems or how great the company operates. There are issues with blogs though, it has to be maintained daily. The content of a blog is very important. It has to be relative to the topic.