Internet Marketing

(Dive Travel Business News - April 17, 2012) -- Dive travel pros take note: Pinterest, the social media scrapbooking site, might be the social media tool best suited to dive travel specialists and suppliers alike.  Divers love taking photos and videos, and that is what Pinterest is all about:  Pinterest is a social network that allows users to create digital collections of photo and video albums and share things they find interesting. Users “Pin” (collect) things they they like (or dislike) and set them up on various themed personal "Pinboards" (albums) for their Pinterest followers to see and share on Facebook, and other social networks.

Unlike Facebook and Twitter, Pinterest is not about selling or telling. It's about showing, and creating conversations with pictures, which plays right into the strengths of how dive travel pros market their trips.  Pinterest lets users tell their travel stories through photos rather than words. Keep in mind: Pinners are not on Pinterest to be marketed to. They are there to collect interesting things and share them with their friends. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 26, 2012) --  Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas has launched a new, free online application called PAW, which is available for industry pros to review online. PAW stands for Profit Application Widget and was designed to provide dive travel distributors a proven method to enhance profits on individual dive travel sales, merchandise while maintaining complete control of their clients and retaining customers on their own website at all times.

According to Debran Nielsen, Dive Travel Specialist with Maduro Dive Fanta-Seas, the initial comments from distributors that added PAW to their website have been overwhelmingly positive.  Beta-testers of PAW said they are realizing more profits from travel, instruction and equipment sales. Fresh content and new specials are motivating clients to return more frequently to the distributor's website. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - January 15, 2011) --

With the growing popularity and influence of social media and online review sites, more consumers are using these sites as resources when booking their travel.  According to a new study by Mondial Assistance, USA, 60% of consumers now say they consider travelers’ online reviews when booking a vacation. TripAdvisor, whose tagline is "Get the truth. Then Go",  has become the world's biggest travel site, with more than 50 million reviews, all written by consumers.

"In these tough economic times, consumers want assurance that if they are going to spend on travel, they are selecting the best experiences, and reviews from peers and colleagues act as a security blanket for uncertain travelers," said Daniel Durazo, director of communications for Mondial Assistance. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - September 26, 2011) -- Travel blogs have become widespread in the last five years due to plethora of experiences and specialist areas available amongst the travelling public and writers. Blogs have also become an important tool for travel companies,particularly within the social media arena and the need for content-driven interaction.

Such is the blog’s significant growth in recent years that conferences dedicated to the subject are held annually, with even WTM getting in on the act this year in its Social Travel Mart fringe conference. But while we leave the discussion to those involved, travel companies are waking up to the power of blogs and the personal edge it can give a brand. read more »