Appnostic

Social Booker “Plus-U” – Press Release

Brian Dass — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:56:54 +0000

APPNOSTIC™ INTRODUCES AN ENHANCED SOCIAL REVENUE CHANNEL FOR SOCIALBOOKER™, THE FIRST HOTEL BOOKING APPLICATION NOW OPTIMIZED TO CREATE COMMUNITIES OF FACEBOOK™ TRAVEL CONSULTANTS

– SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” is primed to help Facebook drive value from its recent Instagram acquisition–

NEW YORK, NY – Appnostic, LLC, a global social media marketing and travel technology provider, announces SocialBooker™ “Plus-U”, an enhanced “fan-to-friend” strategy for the innovative SocialBooker™ hotel distribution application. SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” allows Facebook users to become travel consultants and receive commissions. The announcement was made today by Brian Dass, CEO and Founder of Appnostic, LLC, and comes ahead of the much anticipated Facebook Initial Public Offering set for May 2012.

SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” is primed to help Facebook drive value from its recent Instagram acquisition and future purchases in the social-mobile space. With online travel bookings projected to grow twice as fast as the total market, surpassing $313 billion by 2012 according to the World Travel & Tourism Council, social bookings for hotels are poised to be a multi-billion dollar marketplace.

Specifically optimized for Facebook’s social graph, SocialBooker™ is the first application on the Facebook platform empowering hotels to take full advantage of the F-Commerce boom. Additionally, it will introduce FB users to new entrepreneurial opportunities. “We are building the plumbing to pipe rates and inventory to travel enthusiasts who help their friends, colleagues and clients plan trips,” explains Dass. “Through FB, the SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” app allows hotels to work with consumers and the content they share as direct booking channels much like they work with online travel agencies today.”

Currently, SocialBooker™ offers hotels a completely integrated booking solution for the Fan Page, and the ability to create communities of loyal repeat guests. For the hotel industry, SocialBooker™ provides exposure, room nights and revenue from a network of over 910 million FB users and potential guests. To date, over 50 hotels worldwide have directly installed or are currently implementing SocialBooker™ onto their own Facebook page.

SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” will allow Facebook users booking travel for groups of friends to reap considerable rewards. The platform’s Social Distribution System™ (SDS) provides access to more than 25,000 hotels worldwide and operates on an advanced suite of analytics and reporting. Appnostic is now developing a qualification program for FB users who heavily influence travel planning decisions. Qualifying SocialBooker™ ‘travel consultants’ will be positioned as trusted influencers within their social groups. Working with hotel supplier partners, SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” will ultimately distribute 8 – 12% commissions on Appnostic negotiated rates when travel is booked through a consultant’s FB page. FB users can also share, plan and book their trips as a group based on similar interests, and enjoy exclusive offers targeted to FB friends and families.

Social networking is one of the most powerful forces driving travel planning today. A recent study from the Access America Vacation Confidence Index highlights that 60% of consumers report factoring other travelers’ online reviews into their decision when booking a vacation. Among those travelers who share reviews of their travel experiences online (24% of respondents), social networking sites such as Facebook are most popular. The travel market research firm PhoCusWright reports that 38% of social network users in the U.S. share pictures and video of travel experiences. Twenty-six percent of U.S. travelers who plan trips at least once per year get advice from friends about where to go on vacations. The influence of the viral channel is even higher for international travelers where 4 out of 10 choose their destination based on friends’ & relatives’ recommendations in 2011.

By connecting hotel revenue management with the travel ‘interests,’ ‘likes,’ and even photos of Facebook friends, SocialBooker™ “Plus-U” will bring the booking experience into the persuasive interactions of FB users. “With new access to real-time API (Application Programming Interface) data now provided by top photo sharing programs like Instagram, we are on the brink of tying-in the distribution of rates and availability with the hotel and destination images guests share online,” says Dass.

What hotels should be doing in social media: 10 tips

Brian Dass — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 18:45:41 +0000

Revving up social media marketing can be one of the most cost-effective maneuvers a hotel sales and marketing director can make. Both leisure and business travelers are searchin for the right accommodations on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as much as Google, Bing or TripAdvisor. What follows is a list of 10 things hotels should be doing in social media this year.
1. Have a solid plan.
Executing a profitable social media marketing strategy involves more than updating your Facebook fan page with promotional packages or re-tweeting comments from your most satisfied guests. It is important to identify goals and objectives (soft as well as hard), baseline metrics, the proper staff and competitor benchmarks. Know what you are setting out to achieve in terms of guest services, group inquiries, rooms requested, engagement and even follower and fan counts.
2. Connect with content.
Take advantage of the customizable page apps on Facebook fan pages. They allow you to tell your hotel’s unique story beyond the generic “wall” and “info” apps. A stylishly designed page fusing pictures, video and words will drive more engagement around your hotel’s content. Also, create a content calendar that features links to new local music, upcoming events, worthwhile attractions, travel tips and trends. Consider creating seasonal campaigns as well.
3. Invite all guests to join your Facebook page and follow you on Twitter.
You should already be gathering email addresses at the time a reservation is made. Once a guest has become a fan, ask them to post pictures of their stay at the hotel and some highlights from their trip.
4. Offer smarter responses to complaints and promote tighter coordination with guest services.
Unfortunately, not every comment post comes adorned with smiley faces. However, all comments provide opportunities to speak directly to guests and other potential guests in their social networks — free of charge! What if guest services were able to address a guest’s displeasure at the lack of friendly room service with a genuinely social effort to make amends? A wall post video offering a “three for two” night stay for the now smiling former guest and the three friends he shares your post with could have viral implications.
5. You don’t have to go it alone.
Successful social media marketing consumes ample time and resources. Find a company that provides targeted solutions to meet your marketing objectives. The company should have their own internal tools to manage levels of engagement and reporting as well. Your social media partner should have knowledge of your market sector and the ability to measure your hotel’s progress with advanced user data, analytics and insights.
6. Start a YouTube channel.
Encourage guests to post videos of their stay and offer fun rewards like free champagne upon next check-in. Post interesting and funny videos of your destination from all sources, just don’t forget to credit the producers. In 2012, most travelers will rely more heavily on videos to make decisions about their next vacation destination.
7. Take advantage of new Facebook applications.
Don’t be timid. Over 20 million Facebook apps are installed every day. You can even build your own Flash or image applets for integration into your hotel’s fan pages.
8. Blog.
Not only will it help in terms of increasing your SEO and SEM, but it also builds credibility for your hotel as a trusted voice of authority in your destination. What should visitors to the hotel see and where should they be seen? Have guest bloggers offer their perspectives to keep the content fresh and engaging.
9. Engage with partner networks.
Nearby concert or theater venues, popular restaurants, clubs, bars and lounges all have their own social media profiles offering rewarding social connections that are yours for the taking. Mention local companies and attractions in your Twitter and Facebook posts by using @ and their profile name. This will heighten your engagement levels online and widen your circle of influence. Connect with destinations, tourist attractions and tourist information centers by liking their page and following them on Twitter. Now you’re thinking like your guests! Just by browsing the pages and profiles in your partner network, you will find accommodation inquiries in real time. Start a conversation and include a link to your hotel’s blog to show you’re “in the know” with what’s hot and happening in your destination. You’re generating clicks to your website along with a potential new booking.
10. Extend your reach with sexier Facebook advertising.
By now, you’ve probably witnessed how quickly your fan base can grow with a well-targeted Facebook ad. An 845 million-strong user base, clear-cut demographic profiles, self-reported user interests and viral friend recommendations make Facebook a highly influential, cost-effective advertising channel for hotels. This year, get a bigger bang from your Facebook ad budget with more alluring imagery and text. Test various combinations of images with text that give a specific call-to-action: “Too sexy for travel agents? Book on Facebook for complimentary VIP Upgrade Package,” or, “Like our page, enjoy exclusive room service treat.” Analyze performance by reviewing click-thru rates and connection conversions (how many new fans “liked” your page versus how many clicked through). Always remember to test and refine.

Appnostic – At the Intersection of Social Media and Technology

Brian Dass — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:19:38 +0000

Welcome to the Appnostic blog, where you’ll find useful and current information on social media marketing. When I originally envisioned Appnostic nearly two years ago, it was my goal to build a world-class company based on great products and services. But you can’t have those assets without investing heavily in a team you believe in as much as the product.

Well, two years later and we are realizing our dream one click at a time. Today, we are people strong and spread among three offices around the world. Our background in travel technology naturally led us to explore key industry partnerships with hotel and multiple property operators. To this end, we’re rolling out an entire Facebook publishing and analytics suite we call SocialPromoter, and companies are now relying on us to manage their Fan Pages. With SocialPromoter, we’re expanding beyond travel to key business sectors, including entertainment, professional services, real estate, and more. We have industry “specialists” to provide business insights into the key verticals we serve.

Appnostic now has all the pieces of the puzzle to support our PartnerNetwork — from publishing and analytics tools, to F-commerce applications, to TweetAgent, our all-star content producers, and ProjectInteractive, a full-service digital development and marketing arm. Partners in our network have access to co-branded sales materials, training, customer support, billing, and a host of additional perks to make their sales efforts easier and our technologies more transparent.

So, we hope you come back often and feel free to drop us an e-mail or comment from time-to-time. At Appnostic, we’re building a better social future for brands and companies looking to connect with their consumers.