TripAdvisor Action Plan.pdf

TripAdvisor Action Plan O O O O O

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THE TRIPADVISOR ACTION PLAN The complete guide to ranking #1 on TripAdvisor in the next 60 days!

The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only. It is not associated with TripAdvisor in anyway. The material in this guide may include information, products or services by third parties. Third party materials comprise of the products and opinions expressed by their owners. As such, we do not assume responsibility or liability for any third party material or opinions.

The publication of such third party materials does not constitute the guarantee of any information, instruction, opinion, products or services contained within the third party material. The use of recommended third Party Material does not guarantee any success and or earnings related to you or your business. Publication of such Third Party Material is simply a recommendation and an expression of that material. No part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author.

Users of this guide are advised to do their own due diligence when it comes to making business decisions and all information, products, services that have been provided should be independently verified by your own qualified professionals. By reading this guide, you agree that this e-program associated with TripKit Marketing is not responsible for the success or failure of your business decisions relating to any information presented in this guide.

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Table of Contents Part One: The secret of ranking #1 on TripAdvisor. 4 What will I learn in this Action Plan and how can I use it? 4 The 18 things youll learn in this Action Plan. 5 We know TripAdvisor is important, but how important is it? 7 The TripAdvisor Formula: How to Rank #1 8 So how can a tour operator achieve this? 8 What type of reviews will set me back? 10 Part Two: The top ranked tours on TripAdvisor and how they did it. 10 How did we pick the winners? 11 Tips on ranking #1 from the most highly ranked listings on TripAdvisor. 13 Part Three: Setting up your listing the right way on TripAdvisor 17 Getting Started: The 7 step starter plan 17 Step 1: Setting up your TripAdvisor Listing PROPERLY! 18 Step 2: Re-write your description so you can be found in Google. 20 TripAdvisor Tip! Building Instant Credibility: 22 Step 3: Focus on pictures! Pictures can make or break your TripAdvisor listing. 24 Step 4: Make a viral video FOR FREE using TripAdvisor! 27 Step 5: Get your listing on important maps! 31 Step 6: Adding Widgets to your site 35 Step 7: Start selling your products with TripAdvisor affiliates. 42 Three HUGE Advantages of GetYourGuide that could DOUBLE your bookings! 44 Part Four: How to get 90% of your guests to leave a review. 49 So, when and where should you ask for the review? 49 Some things to consider when asking for reviews: 52 Tracking your success rate 53 Responding to Customers the Right Way 53 Responding the Right Way to a Negative Review 55 How to remove a TripAdvisor Complaint 58 Part Five: The part of TripAdvisor no one knows about, and how to use it. 60 Become a Destination Expert in the TripAdvisor Forum 60 Writing TripAdvisor Articles for your Destination 62 Submit a Press Release for your TripAdvisor Ranking 65 Final Words from Us! 69

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Part One: The secret of ranking #1 on TripAdvisor. What will I learn in this Action Plan and how can I use it?

This is the first program of its kind that completely focuses on TripAdvisor for tour operators. We have gone over every aspect of this massive review site to show how businesses can maximize their potential to get more positive reviews.

From a business owners perspective we know how important it is to get those positive reviews and rankings up. Everyone has heard of TripAdvisor, but many owners dont have a real understanding how important it is. And sadly, a lot of companies are not taking advantage of everything TripAdvisor has to offer.

TripKit Marketing has introduced the TripAdvisor Action Plan to show travel companies the simple strategy of generating constant streams of website traffic while promoting their products using TripAdvisor. The best part about this strategy is its so easy to use that you do not need any experience or a large marketing budget to take advantage of this opportunity!

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The 18 things youll learn in this Action Plan.

Were excited you want to take action with our e-program. Here is what youll learn throughout the 60 day TripAdvisor Action Plan:

1) The #1 reason why customers cant find your TripAdvisor page... and how you can fix this in less than an hour. (Hint: Hotel companies are so much better at this)

2) The proven way to build instant credibility that will turn shoppers into buyers... guaranteed.

3) 43 percent of tour companies fail to do this one thing! Which has cost the travel business a total of $10.3 billion worth of potential sales worldwide.

4) The one thing that will get more eyeballs in front of your TripAdvisor page FAST. This will increase your traveller engagement by 150%!

5) The best way to promote your services online. Its free and only takes a couple of hours!

6) How to get customers selling for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with word of mouth advertising.

7) How to create a free promotional video. And the four critical elements to making it!

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8) Simple and easy, step-by-step guidance to get your business listed on TripAdvisors map. You can do this even if youve never used TripAdvisor before.

9) How to radically increase sales by submitting your company to this one crucial website (HINT: This site is directly affiliated with TripAdvisor)

10) How to get your company on TripAdvisors exclusive City Guides App FOR FREE.

11) How to get thousands of large travel agencies selling your products around the world within a couple of hours. Travel agencies like: Thomas Cook, STA Travel, Lufthansa Airlines and more!

12) How to get professional photos of your company on TripAdvisor (for free!)

13) Three ways to literally TRIPLE the amount of positive reviews you receive in 90 days or less.

14) 11 TripAdvisor widgets you can show on your website that will showcase and encourage future reviews.

15) The simple step-by-step guide to adding TripAdvisor to your Facebook Business Page. This is a social media power tool!

16) Five things you must include when responding to any negative reviews on TripAdvisor (you can lose a lot of business if you dont respond this way).

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17) Simple strategies to get 5-star reviews and tons of referrals in less than 5 minutes a day.

18) Learn the 1 hour a week strategy on how you can take advantage of TripAdvisor and leverage all those happy clients into lucrative, no-cost referral sources.

We know TripAdvisor is important, but how important is it?

Since TripAdvisor, a revolution has taken place in the way travel companies do business. Millions of travellers (250 million to be exact) visit TripAdvisor on a monthly basis to research, compare and write reviews on travel companies around the world. Here are some other facts we know:

*The stats above were formulated by TripAdvisor and Convergys.

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81% of travellers who were surveyed said that guest-generated reviews are very important 46% of travellers write and publish hotel reviews 49% of travellers wont book a tour that does not have substantial reviews A one star increase on your average rating online can increase your revenue by up to 9% According to Convergys, one negative review can cost your business up to 30 travellers which can equate to thousands of dollars in lost revenues per year.


After reading these stats we really hope no more convincing is needed. TripAdvisor can help your business by bringing you more guests... ultimately making you more money. OR it can lose you a lot of guests and a lot more money.

The TripAdvisor Formula: How to Rank #1

After examining the top ranked businesses on TripAdvisor, it has been established there are TWO main factors in determining how you are ranked:

85%: Your review score PLUS

15%: How many reviews you have AND how recent they are

= More positive reviews you get + the more recent they are = then the higher your overall rating is.

So how can a tour operator achieve this?

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However, your online reviews are only as good as your quality of service. And if you are providing exceptional service and you are still not getting as many reviews as some of your competitors, then you need to work on giving the guests the opportunity to write reviews.


Provide a UNIQUE experience & encourage ALL travellers to write a review. There is no reason why asking for reviews should be a difficult or an awkward process.

There are endless ways to approach your traveller however the best thing that works for travel companies is a personal style. But as always, its important to consider various factors before making such a request. These include:

Their experience! First and foremost, its essential to be alert to the kind of experience your travellers have had before considering whether to ask for a review. If the guest has had a fantastic, trouble-free time then, by all means, feel free to go right ahead! On the other hand, if a guest has had a negative experience, ask yourself if management has done everything within their power to rectify the issue before considering a review request!

Guests may still maintain a positive impression (despite negative experiences) if you have gone above and beyond the call of duty to rectify problems! For these reasons, sometimes a negative guest experience may even result favourably for your establishment because you reacted in such a way that the guest left feeling satisfied or even impressed with your teams problem-solving abilities!

Your audience! Who is your audience? If you attract a younger crowd or your tour already has a strong focus on adventure and youth, then your guest demographic is likely to be familiar with social media outlets and review sites. As a result they will probably be open to the possibility of using these.

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Its also quite possible that some people - such as groups or business travellers or those over 65 - simply wont have the desire, time or patience to leave an online review. In a 2013 survey by Quantcast, guests over 65 made up less than 6% of total reviewers.

What type of reviews will set me back?

One HUGE setback that can significantly affect your ranking is the integrity of your review. If you are pressuring guests to write a review or fake reviews yourself this can put you at the bottom of your ranking.

TripAdvisor tells Revinate.com, We take content integrity very seriously and screen every review. If you are caught breaking our guidelines, it can take a big hit on your popularity ranking.

For this reason NEVER bribe or fake reviews. TripAdvisor has advanced technology that tracks false or misleading reviews. There are a number of sites online that will offer this, however 80% of them get flagged which can potentially lead to your listing becoming blacklisted by TripAdvisor. We have seen this with a number of our clients at TripKit Marketing who have had to delete and re-build their TripAdvisor listing from scratch.

Part Two: The top ranked tours on TripAdvisor and how they did it.

Before we get started, we interviewed and examined the highest ranked business listings in the top 10 travel destinations in the world (as voted on TripAdvisor. We learned A LOT from them and have collaborated the best tricks and tips for our readers.

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How did we pick the winners?

We picked 10 cities based off of TripAdvisors Top 25 Destinations.

We then picked the tour operators with the most positive reviews and who were ranked #1 as a sightseeing tour in each of the areas. Weve included their TripAdvisor page beside each listing. Here are the winners:

1) Istanbul, Turkey: Culinary Backstreets

2) Rome, Italy: Rome in Limo

3) London, England: Sandemans New London Tours

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4) Beijing, China: Catherine Lu-Day Tour

5) Marrakech, Morocco: L'atelier Faim dEpices

6) Siem Reap, Cambodia: Quad Adventure Cambodia

7) Berlin, Germany: Insider Tour, Berlin

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8. New York, USA: Real New York Tours

9. Barcelona, Spain: Barcelona Segway Guides

10. Sydney, Australia: Kangarrific Hunter Valley Wine Tour

Tips on ranking #1 from the most highly ranked listings on TripAdvisor.

We asked the above businesses a series of questions on how they were able to rank #1 in their destination with so many reviews. We have summarized their tips and tricks below:

How did you manage to get so many reviews? Do you follow up with your clients after their service to ensure they leave a review?

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We do follow up with the clients after their service, ask them to put their input and review about us and they usually do. One might think that by simply asking for a review from a customer means they will do it. You do of course have your Trip Advisor junkies that will write a review and post in forums all the time about anything and everything. These are not really the people we hope to get reviewed by. They write so many reviews they almost seem to forget that there are living, breathing people behind these company names and they review with a certain recklessness that can be unfair. I've had people take away a star because the weather was bad or because there was a lot of walking when they knew they had booked a walking tour. I've even encountered people that have said, "I never give a 5 star review out of principal!" What? Crazy!

I've found that over the years that the majority of honest, well thought out legitimate reviews come from people that use Trip Advisor as a tool for only when they are traveling and or people who have never used it at all. The folks who use it to socialize or to write in forums to try and jump start a travel career can just be unfair.

The average person is busy and often has to play catch up after a vacation. As they get settled back into their lives their vacation begins to fade from their memory. I've always felt that giving people the space to settle back in is important. We do send a friendly email out to all our customers asking first and foremost whether they had a good experience and if they have any feedback they would like to share with us. The goal of the email for us is to let our customer know that just because they have come and gone they have not faded from our minds.

So essentially it becomes a friendly follow up/ thank you for booking letter. Only at the end as an afterthought do we say, "If you had a

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great time and feel like spreading the love about your experience on TripAdvisor we would greatly appreciate it." You never want to seem pushy or that you are emailing strictly for a review. It's just not cool.

Being subtle is always a good approach. In spite of all this if you don't provide a great service people will not write a review or even worse write a negative review because you have now reminded them. So if your service is not perfected or perhaps you had a customer that day that seemed difficult or that it might not have been their type of tour experience, best to make a note and not mention the review to them. This is not to say don't follow up with them because they may have some helpful criticism but best to try and keep that off the record. That is something you can't always control though. On ending i will say to trust your service and your intuition and you will be alright. You won't be able to please everyone but you'll find that 95% of the people just want a cool informative experience with great customer service and they want to feel safe and looked out after.

Who monitors your account and how often do they go on?

I personally deal with our Trip Advisor site and any management responses although I do highly recommend encouraging ones staff to also keep a close eye on it. Our guides do check Trip Advisor to see if anyone wrote a nice review about them and often if i don't catch it first they will call to tell me that there is a customer who left negative feedback. The more hands on deck the better as far as i'm concerned.

Some people don't want to deal with confrontation and thats why i make sure that my response is courteous and professional. I am truly concerned when someone has not had a great time. I'd honestly rather

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just refund them and chalk it up that we were not a good match for them. Often i find that if you sincerely show concern and respect for their time and money people often will even be willing to take down a review. On that note you CAN"T ever ask anyone do so. It is against TripAdvisor's regulations and you can be removed from their site. So i just say kill them with kindness. If you are lucky maybe they take their review down. If not you know you did the right thing and they may even give your company a chance again down the road.

How do you deal with negative feedback on TripAdvisor? Have you ever requested this to be removed? How did you do this?

As the owner of the company only i or my wife deal with management responses. You have to be very careful when writing management responses. You can't let your personal feelings get in the way. Often before i write a management response i send them a private message first through Trip Advisor to express my concern with their issue. I will often ask them who their guide was if they don't mention it and their name just to make sure they are a legitimate customer and not a competitor. Unfortunately we have had competitors try to sabotage us in the past and Trip Advisor has been fair about taking down reviews that seem suspicious. If someone does not respond to my private message i often get suspicious.

If you have any other tips for how you have managed a 5 star TripAdvisor listing please advise!

All I can say is treat Trip Advisor as your good friend. Pay attention to it. Respond to it not just when you receive negative feedback but write a management response when their is good feedback. Showing that you

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are active helps your ratings i believe. Nothing will help if you don't have a good product and service. I also truly believe in keeping our side of the street clean. Meaning i can only control my own company. Although i know that there is a company in the top five that has hundred of fake reviews I never have to stoop to such levels. My wife always say's, "Those that cheat their way to the top will not stay their for long."

Unfortunately nowadays their are people that you can pay to write reviews for you. It's horrible. I've watched companies come out of nowhere with hundreds of 5 star reviews. Next thing you know their right behind you. The NYC tour business is pretty tight knit. We know who has been around doing tours for years, working Trip Advisor honestly and we know whose not. The problem is the public doesn't know. Even worse Trip Advisor can't monitor everything that's why you have to. I'm not sure if i will ever understand how Trip Advisor's algorithms work. Even after we lost our number one spot a few years ago the numbers didn't make sense to me. Sometimes i feel they just try and keep the #1 spot in big cities fairly active and revolving to keep things interesting. I don't know anything for sure it's just my opinion. Either way Trip Advisor has been a great resource and life saver for small business' that otherwise would not have the capital to compete in a city like NYC. For this i am truly grateful.

Part Three: Setting up your listing the right way on TripAdvisor Getting Started: The 7 step starter plan

Whether already have a listing, just got started or have no idea how to set one up, we have perfected a 7 step starter plan to ensure your listing is set-up properly to gain as much attention as possible.

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Just like setting up your website, your TripAdvisor listing is just as important (if not more important) to ensure potential guests can find information and contact you.

Step 1: Setting up your TripAdvisor Listing PROPERLY!

This is the number one problem that travel companies using TripAdvisor have. Hotels have taken advantage of this and guests use this as one of their main forms of contact. This is something all travel companies should be using to their advantage!

Did you know that 43 percent of all businesses have at least one incorrect address on an online business listing or review profile page? In total, about $10.3 billion worth of potential annual sales are lost because of wrong or inaccurate local data. Which is senseless, because its an easy fix. If you have changed your business address, website, or phone number, then make sure you update it.

Below is a great example of the most updated listing possible. There are THREE things to make sure you have on your listing:

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Correct address: Ensure the map compass is correct with the most updated version of of your address. Main intersections can also be added.

Email & Website: Make sure both a valid email AND website is added in here. Many travellers try to use this contact form. If your email isnt listed or hard to find theyll move onto the next listing (aka your competitor).

Hours: 85% of listings dont show your hours. This is is easy to add onto your listing and shows potential clients when they can contact you and expect a response.


EXAMPLE: This is a listing from Barcelona Segway Guides. Ranked #1 of 359 for sightseeing tours in Barcelona with over 907 reviews.

What if Im not registered yet?

Very Simple! Copy and paste the link below to get right to the signup page:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/GetListedAttraction

It takes less than 5 minutes to register and they will only ask straightforward basic questions about your company.

Once youve registered, double-check your business name, address, phone number as well as the links to your website and e-mail. Any edits can be made through the Update business details form in the Quick Links section of the Management Center. This will allow you to

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update or add information, and as an official representative of the business, your edits will override any existing content.

Step 2: Re-write your description so you can be found in Google.

After youve claimed your business listing, spend some time writing a detailed description of your business. Avoid sales pitches and clich ad copies; instead focus on highlighting the key features that distinguish you from your competition.

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TO DO:

Claim your business listing on TripAdvisor or establish a listing. Ensure all information is correct that is listed on TripAdvisor (website link, phone number, email, address).

Instead stating your address try to be more descriptive and mention any major attractions around location.

Check to make sure the phone number and email listed on TripAdvisor work correctly.


92 percent of travellers choose a business that includes detailed attraction or tour descriptions over one thats missing information!

Sometimes travellers will add a description for your listing if you havent provided one already. When you submit your own description, the Traveller Description will be replaced by an Owner Description.

Here is a description for Real New York Tours that demonstrates a great description of their tours.

The better your description is, the more likely youll be found on Google!

TripAdvisor listings regularly appear on search engine result pages. Do a bit of research to find your industrys most relevant keywords (use the Google Keyword Tool or a similar service) and make sure you add some of these to your description text, but dont overdo it!

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Keyword-stuffed descriptions dont read well and actually work against you in Google rankings. Keep it simple and readable. By being equally search-engine-friendly and visitor- friendly, you put yourself in a good position to convert TripAdvisor users into customers. Bottom line, the more detailed your page is the more likely potential customers are to choose you!

For Real New York Tours (as shown as above), they have done such a good job with their keywords that their TripAdvisor listing shows up as #2 (right after their site). So when travellers are googling information they can see they have a strong and positive presence on TripAdvisor.

TripAdvisor Tip! Building Instant Credibility:

Bottom line: people buy from people they trust. This is true for any type of product or service. So how do you build instant credibility that will turn shoppers into buyers? Here is the guaranteed formula you can add into your TripAdvisor description:

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1. Add up the total number of years of personal and professional experience within your company (include your staff or supplier partners).

Example: If you have been in business for over 10 years, write this down.

2. Add up the total number of personal and professional clients (include your staff or supplier partners) have served.

Example: Having served 150,000 guests, with suppliers serving 200,000 guests= 350,000.

3. Create a short summary statement, (the essence of what you do, offer, or location). Include any special awards or recognition, especially from any known media associations (TripAdvisor could be one!).

4. Combine the year you started your business (from step #1) with total numbers of clients (from step #2) and create your first draft credibility statement.

Example: 10 Years of Guiding Excellence Over 350,000 Happy Clients

5. Or if you have not been in business that long or have not served a lot of customers, combine total number of years of personal and professional experience (from step #1) with short summary statement (from step #3).

Example: Since 1996, Quality Airport Transfers

Now, put this slogan on everything...especially your TripAdvisor description! Business cards, flyers, your website or any other promotional

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marketing material your company has! This provides instant credibility and experience customers need to know before making a decision.

Step 3: Focus on pictures! Pictures can make or break your TripAdvisor listing.

This is the one thing that will get you more attention on your TripAdvisor page FAST. Travellers want to know what to expect at your

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TO DO: Update your Description

Type of Tour Activities included in attraction Fee or price range Recommended length of visit Owner description Use Google Keywords relevant to your company in the description. Use this space to add some rich details that will help distinguish you from your competitors!


attraction. The more photos and videos your listing has, the more engaged theyll be.

How many pictures should I upload?

Recent studies have shown that businesses with 30 or more photos have 41% more traveller engagement than those with 10 or fewer. And travellers engage 150 percent more with pages that have 20 or more photos.

What type of pictures should I upload?

Add authentic and high-quality images that showcase your businesss location and special features. DO NOT add corny shots of popped champagne bottles and models sun-tanning on the beach. You should upload photos to show potential visitors what they can expect and impress them with all the fun to be had with your company.

As an owner, you are entitled to upload an unlimited number of images. Make sure you let travellers see what they can look forward to, whether its an adventurous walking tour or an exciting fishing charter. Once you have some photos, select one as your primary photo to help you make a strong first impression with travellers. You can manage your attractions photos through the Management Center.

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One of the reasons she has done so well is because of the professional photos she has uploaded with descriptive captions. As shown below the pictures are professional with relevant titles.

Professional photos added by management give customers a great idea of what they can experience. The caption also helps with explaining what potential customers what to expect.

TripAdvisor Tip: More ways to get found on Google!

You can also add an unlimited number of pictures to your TripAdvisor listing, and tag each one with up to six keywords to optimize them for search results. For example, when customers Google Paddle-boarding in Bermuda the pictures you have tagged on TripAdvisor are likely to come up in Google images.

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Step 4: Make a viral video FOR FREE using TripAdvisor!

The best way to promote your tours on your website and TripAdvisor is to create a viral video. This will create a flood of new visitors; its free and only takes a couple of hours!

You can always pay thousands of dollars for someone to film your attraction and create a budget. Well how about if theres a FREE option?

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TO DO: Update and add 30 photos that show:

A fun group of the staff. What the exterior of the office looks like. Any equipment that is provided throughout the attraction. Great shots of the customers in action and having fun. Scenery or nature shots of where you will be taking your customers.

Add keyword-rich captions to the photos so they show up on Google images. description. Use this space to add some rich details that will help distinguish you from your competitors!


You can use TripAdvisors tool to show off all of your features to the public using TripWow. If you already have some pictures it literally takes minutes to put a beautiful video together. Videos can make a big difference: having at least one video can increase traveller engagement with your listing by 34%.

They do the work for you all you do is choose the photos. The result is a stunning, animated display of images that appear right on your business TripAdvisor page.

How do I start?

1) Visit your Management Center.

2) Log in to your TripAdvisor account and head to your Management Center, where under the Manage your TripAdvisor page header you will see a note telling you that your slideshow is not yet active. Click on Create one now and follow the instructions to quickly upload your photos. You may add anywhere from 5 to 25 photos of your business for inclusion in your slideshow (we recommend the latter!).

3) Choose and upload photos that truly represent your business and the best you have to offer. There is no better feeling for a traveller than to choose an attraction based in part on its attractive photos...and then to arrive to find exactly what they were expecting (or more). Youll find guidelines on photo size and acceptable file types in the instructions

4) Let TripWow create your slideshow!

5) Click Submit and youre all set! Your slideshow will be live on the site within 12-24 hours, appearing directly on your business

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TripAdvisor page. Plus, your direct contact details and any Special Offers you are running will appear at the bottom of the slideshow at all times, providing further incentive for travellers to explore your business.

The best thing is, you can also upload the video to YouTube, Facebook and keep it on your website. It really is one of the best tools to interact with potential guests. If you want another look to your video, check out some more free, online websites that will help you wow guests with promotional videos:

http://www.powtoon.com/

http://viddyad.com/ http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows-live/movie-maker

How do I put my video up on TripAdvisor?

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In order to upload a video to TripAdvisor, please follow these steps:

1) Log into your TripAdvisor account

2) Go to tripadvisor.com/PostVideo (Currently this must be done through English language sites so please log onto TripAdvisor.com to upload your video).

3) Follow the on-screen instructions. If your video meets the formatting and family friendly guidelines, it will appear online within 1-3 days!

TripAdvisor Tip: Get customers selling for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with word of mouth advertising.

This is one of the most powerful secrets for travel operators; its easy and customers love it. The majority of travel operators are not using this, which gives YOU an advantage over the competition. This can significantly increase your prospect inquiries and get you a lot more sales!

How to get started:

1) Get a low cost audio recorder, video camera or use a simple smartphone camera.

2) Provide a great service /experience for a client or friend in your line of travel and hospitality (since service is the foundation of your industry, you had better make sure you are doing well here.)

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3) Now here is where it gets exciting! Ask your client or associate to share just one thing they remember or enjoyed about your tour or service and record it. Tell them all you need is 1 minute of their time and what they most loved about their experience with you. When you provide great service and ask for a comment, most happy customers are glad to share their good experience.

4) Now take your new short audio or video testimonials and post them to your website, Facebook page, Instagram, twitter or blog (preferably in a highly visible spot) using any of the free audio or video players available online.

With over 94% of ALL travel being researched online, what youll now have is your best clients selling for you on your website, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This is automated Word of Mouth Advertising at its very best. Testimonials and word of mouth advertising is getting your best clients selling for you!

Step 5: Get your listing on important maps!

Maps help visitors place your attraction

within the area they are visiting and better plan their trip! If your listing is not located on the map, or your business is displayed in the wrong location, you can update it through the Management Center.

This is an easy, step-by-step guide to get your business listed on TripAdvisors map. You can do this even if youve never used TripAdvisor before!

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1) First you will need to find the exact latitude and longitude decimal coordinates of your business. To do this, go to www.bing.com/maps and:

o Type in your business location

o Zoom in as far as the map will allow.

o Right click on the location of your business.

o Your coordinates will automatically appear (for example: 45.498681,10.943272).

o Copy and paste those coordinates into a separate document.

2) Now you can go to the Manage your TripAdvisor page tab in the Management Center and click on Change business location. This will work both to correct a map location and to add a map on your listing.

3) Then:

o Fill in your business details.

o Put your business latitude and longitude decimal coordinates in the comments box.

o Click Submit.

4) It will take between 24 and 48 hours for the correct map to appear on your listing.

Get on Google Places NOW!

This is crucial! Whenever someone Googles your business Google Places help give potential customers even more information making the buying decision easier. It provides customers with all the necessary information they would need....and if you dont have it, they will probably go to your competitor.

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So what is Google Places? When people search for your company, Google generates a small informational box that shows your company on a map, your address, phone number, hours of operation and any reviews that are on Google already.

Fortunately, Google makes claiming your place a very simple and straightforward process. It only takes a couple of minutes. Heres how to do it:

1) Go to Google Places Navigate to the Google Places homepage (http://www.google.com/places/) and choose Get Started under Getting your business found on Google. Once there, you will need to login with your Google Account.

2) Check For Your Business Google Places is organized like a traditional phone directory would be, so the first thing Google will want you to do is search for your phone number. It is possible that Google has

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already created a basic Google Places profile of your business. The phone search will tell you if that is the case.

3) Add Your Basic Information The next page will allow you to add or revise your official business details. Your basic information will include your address, phone number, email address, company description, and website. It is recommend to fill out all of these fields.

4) Add Your Hours of Operation For retail or customer service locations, Google allows you to add a full listing of your office hours.

5) Add Photos & Videos You can add photos and videos about your business to help potential customers understand what you do. You will, at a minimum, want to add your logo to this area. If you have an information video about your company, be sure to add that as well. You dont need to go crazy, but giving potential leads a feel for who you are can be a great advantage. The more you add, the more you will stand out.

6) Add Additional Details Google provides a great area to add additional details about your business. This area can be full of great SEO (search engine optimization) content that will help Google link you to relevant searches. Again, the more information the better.

7) Submit For Review & Confirmation Once you have completed your profile of information, you will need to enter the review and confirmation process. In this process, Google will physically mail a card to your location. This card will contain a confirmation code that you will need to enter. While tedious, this process is in place to ensure that no one but you can claim your Google Place.

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And thats it! Claiming your Google Place is a very simple, and an important, step for any business. Once you have your place claimed, you will be able to make adjustments and changes but you will always want to stay within the official guidelines set-up by Google.

Step 6: Adding Widgets to your site

One great way to spread the news about your listing is to add a TripAdvisor widget to your own website. Widgets can showcase your reviews and encourage guests to write new ones.

What is a widget?

A widget is a small snippet of code provided by TripAdvisor that can be installed within any HTML-based web page. It can display static images that lets you show off your TripAdvisor status, or a widget can bring in live content like TripAdvisor reviews without you ever having to make updates.

There are two categories of widgets available to you for FREE through TripAdvisor: widgets for businesses and widgets for destinations.

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What content from TripAdvisor is available for websites?

Rated on TripAdvisor Badges: These badges come in three varieties - Featured, Rated, or Recommended on TripAdvisor - depending on traveller ratings and reviews. The widget will update daily to reflect changes to your rating and review count.

Review Snippet Widget: display your TripAdvisor rating, recent review snippets, and more on your own website in a variety of styles.

"Bravo!" Badges: Available for businesses that have received a minimum number of excellent reviews.

What's Nearby? Widgets: Shows nearby businesses that may be of interest to your customers, such as restaurants near your hotel, or places to stay near your attraction.

Write-A-Review Widgets: Invite visitors to begin reviewing your business right on your website.

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TO DO: Create a TripAdvisor video for your company!

Create a video using TripWow. Upload to TripAdvisor. Create testimonial videos and upload to website and Facebook.


TripAdvisor App for Facebook Pages: Share your TripAdvisor ratings and reviews with your Facebook fans.

Award Badges: If you have been awarded the Certificate of Excellence or the Travellers Choice award, share your achievement on your own website.

Logo Button Widget: Available in two sizes and colors, the Logo Button allows your business or destination to easily link to its TripAdvisor page.

Linking Widgets: One widget shows visitors where to read reviews of your business or destination; the other invites them to write their own. These widgets are smaller and can easily fit on most web pages.

Rave Review Widgets: Create a scrolling showcase for your most recent excellent review. GreenLeader Widgets: Show the world you're a TripAdvisor GreenLeader!

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How do you add Widgets to your website?

1) Head to the TripAdvisor Widget center: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Widgetsenter and enter your business or destination name to see what widgets you can choose.

2) If you are representing an attraction, you'll be directed to the Free Marketing Tools page for your business. If you are looking for a destination widget, you'll be directed to the Promote your destination page.

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3) Choose the widget category you require and pick the design and size from the available options.

4) Copy the code from the Your Code box and paste it in entirety into the source code of your web page. The content will be updated automatically once the widget is installed. Alternatively, use the Email this code link to send the code to your website manager, who can add it to your site.

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IMPORTANT: Please do not alter this code, as doing so will damage the functionality of the widget.

What is the simplest step-by-step guide to adding TripAdvisor to your Facebook Business Page?

Creating fresh, relevant content for your followers on social media can be time consuming. Let TripAdvisor help by installing the TripAdvisor App on your Facebook page, youre able to leverage existing TripAdvisor content, like traveller reviews, ratings, and photos of your attraction. Theres absolutely no HTML or coding ability required simply follow our easy installation guide to begin sharing valuable guest feedback with future customers!

1) To get started, log into your Management Center homepage and navigate to Free marketing tools. Then, select the TripAdvisor Reviews for Facebook.

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TO DO: Get your company on as many maps as possible!

Get on TripAdvisors map. Get on Google Places map.


2) You will be automatically redirected to Facebook, where you will be prompted to login and then select the appropriate Page from the dropdown menu. The dropdown menu will display any Pages connected to your account.

3) Make sure that you are logged in as the administrator of your businesss page, and, if you manage multiple Facebook Pages from a single account, make sure that you select the desired Page.

What will my TripAdvisor App display?

Your TripAdvisor App is fully customizable, allowing you to choose which elements to display to your fans on Facebook and which elements to hide.

To modify the elements displayed in your TripAdvisor App, click the Customize link in the top right corner of the page. Then click the corresponding check boxes to select which of the following elements youd like to display to your fans, and which youd like to hide:

Review Snippets

Candid Traveller Photos

Travellers Choice and Certificate of Excellence awards.

You may alter these display selections at any time in order to hide or show particular sections. Thats it your TripAdvisor App is immediately visible to the public. You are now successfully sharing all the great things guests have said about you on TripAdvisor.

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Step 7: Start selling your products with TripAdvisor affiliates.

This step will radically increase your sales! In this step well show you how to submit your company to GetYourGuide.com so you can start making more sales fast!

TripAdvisor has partnered with some external companies that are dedicated to tour companies and attractions. And a lot of companies arent taking advantage of this! To maximize your TripAdvisor potential, it is essential to get on their partner site GetYourGuide (www.getyourguide.com).

Why should our company join GetYourGuide?

GetYourGuide is the world's leading online booking platform for tours, attractions and activities. After you become a supplier with GetYourGuide, you can expect increased sales and global marketing. The vast distribution network creates additional revenues for each company.

How can I sell my products on GetYourGuide?

First you need to sign up as a supplier on GetYourGuide. After they have checked your details, they will grant you access to the system so you can start uploading your products online. Once your products are approved, they will be put online and customers can start booking! You can sign up as a supplier here:

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TO DO: Add more TripAdvisor Widgets.

Pick the widget available for your site.


https://supplier.getyourguide.com/en/register.php

What happens after I sign up?

After you sign up, your profile will go through two stages before being activated.

First, you will be assigned an Account Manager. They will check the basic information you have provided to make sure your business and type of products match their target market. If you are a local supplier of tours and activities, your profile will be granted access.

Second, you will then have access to the various features of your profile within the system and can start uploading products.

If your registration is not complete, your account will not be activated and your products will not be displayed on the website.

How much does it cost to use GetYourGuide?

It's free to use GetYourGuide. There are no sign-up or subscription fees. You only pay a commission on successful bookings that you decide to accept. After sign-up, they will get in touch with you to discuss a commission fee that fits your economic needs.

What kind of companies and products are suited for GetYourGuide?

They are open to all kinds of suppliers of tours, attractions and activities. The suppliers include end-activity operators, wholesalers and niche aggregators, destination management companies, incoming agencies, and business incentive companies. Their suppliers are usually

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direct operators and tend to offer products in the following categories:

Tours

Activities

Nightlife

Cooking Classes

City Cards

Ground Transportation / Transfers

Snow & Winter Sports

Attractions

Shows & Events

Rentals

Shore Excursions

Three HUGE Advantages of GetYourGuide that could DOUBLE your bookings!

ADVANTAGE #1:

By registering with GetYourGuide, you can get your company on the exclusive TripAdvisor City Guides App FOR FREE!

TripAdvisors City Guides App is a mobile opportunity that could mean a serious advantage for your company. You can see one example below and download the app here:

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https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/tripadvisor-city-guides/id480066121?mt=8

This is an exclusive partnership. Only suppliers who are listed on TripAdvisor AND registered with GetYourGuide will be featured in this app.

This partnership is only with the TripAdvisor City Guides App and independent of the partnership with the TripAdvisor website.

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This app only features the following destinations (for now):

North America:

Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Hawaii, Houston, Las Vegas, Mexico City, Miami, Montreal, Nashville, New Orleans, New York City, Orlando, Panama, Philadelphia, Playa del Carmen, Portland, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Petersburg, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC.

South America:

Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro Santiago, Sao Paulo

Europe:

Aarhus, Amsterdam, Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Birmingham, Brussels, Budapest, Copenhagen, Dublin, Edinburgh, Florence, Frankfurt, Helsinki, Istanbul, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Manchester, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Prague, Rome, Seville, Stockholm, Venice, Vienna

Asia/Australia:

Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, Melbourne, Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney, Taipei, Tokyo

Middle East/Africa:

Cape Town, Dubai, Marrakech, Tel Aviv

ADVANTAGE #2:

Get thousands of travel agents across the world selling your tours. Through GetYourGuides extensive partner network they display travel products to millions of potential customers worldwide. Leading travel websites, destination websites, online travel agents, travel communities, hotel websites and tourism boards are all among GetYourGuide's

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partners in the tourism industry who will help promote your products. If you sell through GetYourGuide, your products are automatically sold through some of the largest travel platforms on the web.

ADVANTAGE #3:

They will take professional photos of your attraction/tour for free. You could increase your conversion rate twofold by displaying 10 or more amazing, high quality photos on your tour page.

Customers will be drawn to your tours over others. Simultaneously, your ranking on the homepage will be improved which makes it more visible.

Free professional photos for your GetYourGuide site will give your potential customers more transparency about the tour and a better insight into what they can expect from it.

How can you start?

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Once you sign up on GetYourGuide you will receive an email regarding this opportunity. Reply to the email and indicate on which days the photographer can come (for instance: Every Tuesday and Saturday 10am; or Daily from 8am - 6pm) for the next few months and on which tours he/she can join.

Also indicate (if necessary) if they need special permission to enter a site and what equipment (e.g. Cameras) they are allowed to bring.

**Please note this is subject to destination. BUT they are constantly expanding their destination base.

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TO DO: Get your company on GetYourGuide.com

Register your company on GetYourGuide.com After they have checked your details they will grant you access to the system so you can start uploading your products online.

Get on TripAdvisors City Guides App. Get thousands of travel agents across the world selling your tours.

Get professional photos taken for free.


Part Four: How to get 90% of your guests to leave a review. So, when and where should you ask for the review?

1) During the checkout process!

This is the best time to ask since positive memories from their experience are still fresh. Your staff can ask if the guest had a positive time after their tour. If they did, encourage them to share their thoughts on a review site of their choice.

Leaving a sign in a prominent location will also serve to remind guests that you value their opinion. Another way of reminding them to leave a review is handing out small cards with a thank you and a reminder to leave a good review if they enjoyed their time. This non-invasive option is particularly effective if asking directly isnt right for your companys target group.

2) Business Card

On the back of your hotels business card let your guests know that you would love to hear about their experience and stay. A straightforward, Thank you for your patronage. We truly value your opinion. Please take a moment to review us on TripAdvisor will suffice.

3) Staff Cards

There are things you can do to encourage your staff to deliver the best service possible and empower them to proactively ask for reviews at the same time. They look like your typical business cards, but at the back,

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theres a short, catchy blurb encouraging guests to spread the word about them along with a list of the most popular online review sites. The card also prompts the guest to mention the specific hotel staff who catered to them during their stay. You can reward your staff monetary or otherwise for every positive review he or she gets.

*Check out the Staff Social Business Cards in the toolkit for customizable templates.

4) Get involved in social media channels:

Engage with guests on social media channels. Pay attention to what they are saying about you and ask if theyd mind repeating any positive comments on a review site! Thats why Facebook and Twitter are so important.

5) In follow-up emails:

Many attractions send an email to customers after they leave to thank them for their stay. Consider placing a link to review sites within this message.

Needs Improvement:

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Subject Line: Thanks for choosing Mellys Tours!

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for choosing Mellys Tours for your recent stay in Cape Town. We have read your comments about the experience you had and we greatly appreciate that you took the time to write them as our guests satisfaction is our main priority.

We invite you, please, to share your opinion on TripAdvisor using the following link: www.tripadvisor.com

It is very important for us to share guest experiences. It was a pleasure to have you as our guest. We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your collaboration and we hope to see you again in Cape Town.


Improved:

Ask for the review 3 times! Iteration is important because according to experts, people need to hear the same message at least three times before they take action.

TripAdvisor Tip! Follow up with them by giving them something they want.

1) Take pictures of your customers while they are on your tour. Take group shots, pictures with the guide, destinations, and other unique encounters they will experience. This is easy as you can take these pictures with smartphones or less expensive cameras.

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Subject Line: Pictures of you from your experience with Mellys Tours!

Thank you for choosing Mellys Tour for your recent stay in Cape Town. I was delighted to hear you had an enjoyable time with us!

As you saw, we were taking some great shots of the group while you experienced Cape Town. Weve attached all of the shots and there are some great photos of you!

(Attach Photos)

We hope you enjoyed the photos as much as you did the tour! If you loved your experience and want to share your love of Cape Town with others please share your experience on TripAdvisor!

It takes less than 5 minutes and means the world of difference to us at Mellys Tours.

You can write a review on our TripAdvisor page here: (Insert direct link to TripAdvisor page) It was a pleasure to have you as our guest and we hope to welcome you back soon!

Kind regards, - Melanie Walters Mellys Tour

444-444-4444 [email protected]


2) Find out everyones email! Its a good idea to ask for a couple of emails from each person (one work and one personal) as there is a higher chance they will respond.

3) Send an email out within 7 business days of them completing the tour with attached photos. Mark the email with a subject line of Pictures from your (company name) or Great pictures of you from (company name or service). People LOVE pictures of themselves...especially on vacation. If you want to go a step further you can include a watermark logo at the bottom of the photos. If customers then share pictures on Facebook, others will see your company name.

4) Now, ask for the review! By showing them pictures it will bring back good experiences they had with your company. Make sure this is clear. Examples of how you can ask for this are below.

5) If your travellers dont mind, upload some of these pictures on TripAdvisor under Management photos, and ask your customers to do the same.

Some things to consider when asking for reviews:

It comes from an individual person instead of a faceless entity. Response rates typically increase when an e-mail comes from one person, giving your brand a personal, human touch.

It is more focused on the customer, and less about the company. A customer may not care what is important to the company, so position this request as a way for them to share an experience with friends.

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It is a bit shorter, so the message intent is very clear. This shows more consideration for the guest, who may be very busy.

Greet the guest accordingly: Hello and Hi are informal and light, encouraging friendliness. Dear may be more appropriate, if the guest demands a certain level of formality - when addressing an older or VIP guest, for example.

Focus on you not I, or we. This highlights the fact that their satisfaction is your number one priority and not yours!

Explain why their feedback is important. People like to feel useful. Make it as easy for them as possible. Include links if you can.

If youre running a hotel, for example, it might be a good idea to wait until guests check out before you hand out a Comment Card and ask for a review. After all, if a review is submitted from your reception lobby, it may appear to TripAdvisor to be written by your staff. Just be careful is all were saying.

Tracking your success rate

If you try any of the approaches above for your hotel, or decide to implement your own TripAdvisor review seeking method, remember to track your success rate. Tracking success will allow you to have an understanding of what works and what doesnt, which can help you to tweak your call to action for best results.

Responding to Customers the Right Way

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A timely response is an essential part of maintaining your reputation within TripAdvisor. It shows how attentive and receptive you are to customers feedback.

It also shows how likely you are to handle specific complaints or suggestions that guests have made. Weve outlined below the best way to set this up:

To prevent slow responses or a lack of responses, make sure you assign ONE employee in tracking and responding to TripAdvisor reviews. Its recommended to pick someone with a supervisory role.

Reply to a negative review of three stars or less within 24 hours of it being posted.

Determine the steps to follow for resolving issues, and always make sure you have a way of documenting the incident (for records or for future staff training).

Dont immediately give compensations as a means of appeasing. Its fine if you realize and admit that you made a mistake. But there are cases when you cant and shouldnt shoulder the blame for a negative review.

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Hotels and B&Bs that have responded to at least one review see 17% more engagement from travellers compared to those with no responses. Properties that respond to reviews at least 13% of the time see a 21% boost in engagement, compared to those that never do. This increase in engagement trends upward the more management responds.


Responding the Right Way to a Negative Review

We have included an example below on the best way to respond. Stick to this template when handling complaints made through TripAdvisor:

Complaint:

Response:

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According to recent PhoCusWright research, 84% of users agree that an appropriate management response to a bad review improves their impression of the hotel.

Trevor, I am disappointed to hear about your experience with us in Las Vegas and would like to discuss it with you offline as soon as possible. We pride ourselves in customer service and our 4 star rating so I apologize for your poor customer service experience. Please give us a chance to resolve this and call me at 901-94-6683 when you have a moment. Ask for Tim. Thank you-Tim Haynes (Customer Service Manager at Las Vegas 4 Star Resort).


Format:

Include guests name

You are disappointed in hearing about their incident

Want to discuss it offline as soon as possible

Offer a chance to resolve

Include contact information, phone number, name, title and company name

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Its important to ALWAYS respond to reviews...good or bad. Following these seven guidelines when responding to TripAdvisor reviews:

1. Respond quickly: A timely response is expected and appreciated. It shows you are attentive and receptive to feedback, and it leaves a lasting impression. Also, the more quickly you respond, the greater the number of people who read your comments.

2. Keep the tone professional. Whether the review is critical or glowing, your reply should always be polite and professional, just as you would handle any other customer service reply. It can be tempting to respond harshly to criticism, but it is best not to lose sight of the fact that your audience is hundreds, if not thousands of potential customers, as well as the individual reviewer. The vast majority of people recognize that not all customers raise reasonable concerns, and not everything will always be perfect. They will give you a lot of credit for offering a courteous and thoughtful explanation, especially when the criticism is unwarranted. This is your chance to set the record straight.

3. Avoid jargon. Dont be tempted into using online jargon. The use of ALL CAPS, HTML tags or excessive typographic symbols, can appear abrasive or result in miscommunication.

4. Highlight positive changes and updates. Use the opportunity to communicate new improvements youve made to your business. If youve addressed a situation that has generated comments from customers, its important to state that youve taken their feedback seriously and made positive changes.

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5. Be careful of individual privacy. Your responses should never contain the personal information of any person, including names, addresses, phone numbers or other information that may be used to identify an individual.

6. Be original. Customers dont respond well to stock answers. They appreciate an individually tailored response, because they will realize that you are addressing their particular situation. It is tempting to post material from other sources that support your point of view, but customers prefer direct and unique comments from you. Its especially important to avoid posting correspondence from another guest.

7. Show gratitude. Gratitude builds goodwill. Management responses are great opportunities to tell guests and customers that you are thankful for their positive comments, as well as their constructive feedback. Dont hesitate to let people know you appreciate them. It goes a long way. Wrap-up Following these steps can help you maintain a positive reputation online. Remember that, while you may be responding to one reviewer, thousands of others may read your comments and form opinions about you and your brand. Make sure they know you run a respectful, attentive and thoughtful business. Your customers will appreciate your interest.

How to remove a TripAdvisor Complaint

The information below is from the article Climbing TripAdvisors Rankings on ReviewPro.com written by Daniel Edward Craig. Reviews can be disputed by completing a form in the Manage your reviews section of TripAdvisors Management Center.

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What criteria does TripAdvisor use to decide whether or not to remove a disputed review?

Said Payea, It all comes down to whether it is in keeping with our guidelines. It must be a travel-related review of property. It cant be from a neighbor who doesnt like the noise or the trash collection.

But, he added, It doesnt necessarily have to be [from] someone who stayed there. If someone had a travel-related experience on the phone and didnt like the reservations agents discussion, then the review is valid. We would also allow it if someone walked into the lobby and didnt stay because they had a negative experience. Or if the hotel was overbooked.

However, he said, people cant review aspects they didnt experience. If you believe someone has written review outside the guidelines, about things they could not have experienced, dispute it and provide as much info as possible to the investigators.

Keep in mind, however, that TripAdvisor often declines to remove disputed reviews on the basis that travellers are entitled to their opinion. If you dont agree, post a management response to respectfully provide your side of the story.

What are the conditions for having all previous reviews erased?

Said Payea, The conditions for starting fresh or removing old reviews are: a change in ownership, a change in brand, or a substantial renovation. He cautioned that submitting a request based on a renovation is a pretty high bar. You must provide a lot of documentation to substantiate that the guest experience has entirely changed.

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He added, One condition that does not qualify is a change in management. So if ownership and brand are the same but new management comes in, it does not qualify.

Part Five: The part of TripAdvisor no one knows about, and how to use it.

TripAdvisor doesnt just get traffic with their reviews, there are dozens of extra features on the site that attract millions of viewers with their content. Weve gone over them all to help boost your listings exposure.

Become a Destination Expert in the TripAdvisor Forum

The TripAdvisor forum is one of the best ways to reach travellers that are interested in heading to your destination. Each forum post is seen by thousands of travellers around the world.

TripAdvisor prevents companies from promoting themselves directly on the forum. However if you regularly comment and provide expertise on the destination you are in, then you are providing value for travellers. So when a traveller asks a question directly pertaining to your business...you can respond with an educated answer.

For example, if you run a dive shop in Cozumel, Mexico then you would participate in the Cozumel Travel Forum. Travellers headed to the area will post questions like this:

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Now obviously, you dont want to directly sell them on your services (or your forum and business listing will be flagged) but advise them of your business establishment while seeming unbiased.

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When answering forums be sure to make sure of the following: Rephrase the question and offer why you may be able to help.

Advise what the traveller should look into when considering an operator (example: price, operator experience, size of group etc.).

What your recommendation is and why with a direct link.

Offer other advice on other operators and things to do in the area.

Never:

Pretend youre a past traveller.

Provide negative feedback on a competitor.

Use sales material or more than one direct link or email.

How to get started with Forum Advertising: Assign someone to the TripAdvisor forum section (preferably the same person who manages the complaints).

Post in your destination forum 2-3 times week even if it doesnt directly relate back to your business. This is how you become a destination expert within TripAdvisor.

Sign up to receive updates on any responses or comments you get from the forums so you can stay active within the conversation.

Writing TripAdvisor Articles for your Destination

TripAdvisor articles are just as popular as the forum, but very few businesses know how they operate. Most articles are listed on the destination page. However, for smaller destinations they may not have

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articles listed its recommended to write an article for the territory or state you are listed in.

For example, the company Rome Top Driver wrote an article on the private drives available within the Rome area. It was listed in transportation under guided drives:

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In the article, Rome Trip Drive advises why its a popular activity, what to expect and recommends the company by providing their contact information. The TripAdvisor articles for Rome can be found here:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Travel-g187791-s1/Rome:Italy:Inside.html

*Template for the article above can be found in the TripAdvisor Toolkit Section.

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When answering forums be sure to make sure of the following: Explain a description of the activity you are talking about.

Advise what the traveller should look into when considering an operator (example: price, operator experience, size of group etc.).

What your recommendation is and why with a direct link.

Offer other advice on other operators and things to do in the area.

Never: Pretend youre a past traveller

Provide negative feedback on a competitor

Use sales material or more than one direct link or email.

Submit a Press Release for your TripAdvisor Ranking

Distributing a press release to relevant media formally announcing your new TripAdvisor awards is a great way of connecting social media platforms with traditional ones. Make sure you target local media publications, newswire services, and niche-specific papers, magazines, channels, and radio stations. The increased media attention that youll get from such a publicity campaign can attract more potential guests.

Weve included an example of a PR submission you can submit below. Once you have the PR article finished submit it to www.travpr.com. TravPR.com enables travel businesses around the world to get immediate search exposure for their company news and announcements in the major search engines, social media sites and news portals for free. In most cases the releases are picked up and listed by search engines within minutes of publication. The basic submission is free, however you can

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upgrade to get more coverage (generally not required for a TripAdvisor press release).

After your submission, it can take up to 3 days before it gets submitted to the following sites:

News Sites - Google News, Yahoo News etc.

Search Engines - Google Search, Yahoo Search, Bing Search etc. Social Networking Sites - Twitter etc.

Social Bookmarking Sites - Yahoo Buzz, Digg, Technorati etc.

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News Sites - Google News, Yahoo News, NewsVine, Allvoices etc.

Search Engines - Google Search, Yahoo Search, Bing Search etc.

Social Networking Sites - Twitter, Facebook, Google + etc.

Social Bookmarking Sites - Yahoo Buzz, Digg, Technorati, StumbleUpon, Reddit etc.

Social Media Release Sites - PREngine etc.

RSS Feed Sites - Feedfury, Million RSS etc.

Video Portals - YouTube, HolidayRental.tv etc.

Travel Partner Sites - TripGuideDubai.com, TravelGuideAlgarve.com, Lateholidaybreaks.com etc.

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News Sites - Google News, Yahoo News etc.

Search Engines - Google Search, Yahoo Search, Bing Search etc.

Social Networking Sites - Twitter, Facebook, Google + etc.

Social Bookmarking Sites - Yahoo Buzz, Digg, Technorati, StumbleUpon, Reddit etc.

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Social Media Release Sites - PREngine etc.

RSS Feed Sites - Feedfury, Million RSS etc.

Video Portals - YouTube, HolidayRental.tv etc.

Travel Partner Sites - TripGuideDubai.com, TravelGuideAlgarve.com, Lateholidaybreaks.com etc.

Top 100 Newspaper Travel Sections - Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Sunday Times etc.

Top 500 Travel Magazines - National Geographic, Conde Nast Traveller, Travel Channel etc.

Top 100 Travel Trade Magazines - Hotel Management Magazine, Travel Weekly Magazine etc.

Leisure Magazines - Ski Magazine, Golf Magazine, Outdoor Channel Magazine etc.

Online Travel News Websites - TravelMole, TravelWeekly, TravelDailyNews etc.

Once everything is submitted, its up to the sites listed above to continue with a news article on your travel service. This type of press release is a great way to boost your brand visibility and improve your search engine rankings.

Weve provided an example on the type of press release statement you can submit for a TripAdvisor business listing:

Calabaza Sailing Cruises rank as a top attraction within Barbados.

Calabaza Sailing Cruises now rank as one of the top attractions within Barbados. Well known for offering private and personalized cruising services within the Barbados area. Travellers around the world love experiencing the real Barbados through an unforgettable, relaxing cruise on their spacious Catamaran.

Calabaza consistently offers an exclusive experience to ensure everyone feels special and pampered for the day at sea. Each traveller will experience an award winning service that includes:

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Learn to sail with the Calabaza Captain who has more than 40 years of professional sailing experience to share with you

Swim in the cool clear waters of secluded bays

Explore mysterious undersea caves

Laze about or walk along pristine golden beaches

Eat the freshest fish and other delectable Caribbean food.

Meet new friends, to share adventures and exciting experiences of a life time

Wander about in picturesque traditional villages

Have professional quality photos and underwater photos of your holiday as a gift from us to you.

Ranked as the #1 activity within Bridgetown on TripAdvisor and awarded the Certificate of Excellence in 2013. Travellers are ecstatic after their experience with Calabaza Cruises and leave rave reviews like Far and away the best tour we have ever taken. They took what started out as a stressful visit and turned it into the most enjoyable and memorable day of our vacation! And Thank You Gina for the most memorable day. It was everything perfect from the transfer, the food, which was really self cooked and amazing, to the great staff on board. More reviews can be found at their TripAdvisor page:

http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g147263-d1217081-Reviews-Calabaza_Sailing_Cruises-Bridgetown_Saint_Michael_Parish_Barbados.html

Website: http://www.calabazasailingcruises.com/cruises.html

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: 1-246-826-404

*Templates for the press release above can be found in the TripAdvisor Toolkit Section

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Final Words from Us!

Congratulations! I know weve provided you with a lot to think about in this eBook, but you now have the knowledge to take the information that you know and apply it to your TripAdvisor listing and start ranking higher.

For a re-cap of everything youve learned please refer to the TripAdvisor check-list to go over the essential steps in this program.

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Documents

TripAdvisor Action Plan.pdf