It’s seldom that people can deliver customer service complaints directly to the head of the company, but when a WSJ subscriber tweeted at Rupert Murdoch regarding his paper delivery, he got a speedy response from the media magnate, once again illustrating the connective power of Twitter not just for individuals but also large newspapers.
If there were ever a time to doubt the importance of mobile marketing and website optimization for mobile devices, now is not that time. Currently, one in seven people worldwide own a smartphone, and that number is expected to double within the next three years.
Retailers take notice: 70 percent of consumers reported using Pinterest to get inspiration on what they should buy, while 67 percent use it to keep track of things they would like to purchase. Translation? If your product isn’t on Pinterest yet, that needs to change.
A recent survey by World Independent Hotels Promotion found that Twitter and Facebook’s influence on traveler hotel decisions was negligible, although TripAdvisor increased its influence compared to last year’s survey. But if friends and family remain the top influencers, where are people learning about those recommendations? In related news, travel show icon Rick Steves questions if TripAdvisor is, in fact, a travel information “bully.”
Not to be outdone by TripAdvisor’s controversy, Yelp last week turned to a new weapon: public shaming. The company announced that businesses found attempting to buy positive reviews will have their pages branded with a consumer advisory informing readers of their chicanery.
Kristina Zelisko
Kristina Zelisko : November 2, 2012
