Are Web Crawlers Creeping Around Your Site? Find Out Via a FREE Website Structure Audit from Lodging Interactive

Are there web crawlers creeping around your site? You had better hope so. Web crawlers are computer programs that the search engines use to gather data and index information from a website. Today, Lodging Interactive is offering a FREE Website Structure Audit Report that provides insightful data about crawl statistics, crawl availability, content and structure crawl stats and more.

Lodging Interactive is an award-winning, interactive and social media marketing agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry. Since 2001, the company has provided more than 650 hotels, resorts, spas and restaurants in over 35 countries with proven ROI-driven online marketing services, including: website design and development, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and online reputation management.

"When it comes to website optimization, most hoteliers are cognizant of keeping content fresh -- from updating specials and photos to adding blogs and social media links -- or at least they should be," said DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive Founder and President. "While each of these elements is vital to a successful web presence, there are far more 'structural' elements that need scrutinizing. Lodging Interactive has the resources and analytic tools in place to drill down and dissect all the critical components, from analyzing domain statistics and social activity, to examining search engine distribution and link status. Let's face it, a broken link could leave your customers hanging.

"In order to have a successful online marketing program, hotel marketers must know how to make website optimization work for them," Vallauri said. "Knowing how to attract the Internet's search engines isn't an easy task. Lodging Interactive has developed analytical tools that search a hotel's site for missing or empty title tags, duplicate page titles, duplicate code, empty meta description tags, conflicting character encoding, lengthy URLs, and the dreaded 'frame.' The fastest way to hamper an Internet site crawler is to build a website that contains 'frames' because most search engines can't penetrate them. Each of these details may seem tedious, but they determine the ranking of a webpage."

Now through January 1st, Lodging Interactive will provide hotels at no cost with their own individual Website Audit Report that scours their websites looking for structural breaches. The audit will test web pages and links for valid syntax and structure, monitor the site to see when its structure and contents change and more. To sign up for the FREE Website Structure Audit Report, click here.

It's Time to 'InnterACT '
Existing customers or those partnering with Lodging Interactive for full digital marketing services, including website design and development, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and online reputation management, also can benefit from the company's real-time website analytics, key performance metrics, and social media monitoring tool, InnterACT. Using a digital dashboard, hoteliers can remotely access analytical production information about their website performance, search engine ranking performance, as well as the bounce rate and average time spent on the site. The system provides real-time ranking reports to determine where their website is positioned on Google, Yahoo and Bing, and view their traffic and determine where it's coming from. Because the dashboard can be customized, hoteliers can view these reports in such a way that is personal to them, so that when they log in, the information they need most is always present, such as website traffic analytics and landing page views.

"InnterACT is an online performance portal that contains the data necessary for hotels to access key metric reports to see how well their website is performing," Vallauri said. "This means Lodging Interactive customers don't have to go elsewhere to see how well their campaigns are running. They can log in and access real time ranking reports to determine where their website is positioned on the search engines and view their traffic and determine where it's coming from.

"The bottom line is this: Whether you need a one-time audit of your website structure or prefer to outsource the analytics process to us ongoing, hoteliers can rest comfortably knowing that their marketing messages and reputations are in extremely capable hands that deliver results," he added.

Lodging Interactive Offering Free Mobile Website to NEW Customers Signing Full Agency Services

Lodging Interactive, an interactive and social media marketing agency
exclusively servicing the hospitality industry, is offering FREE Mobile
Website Development to all new customers contracting full agency
services. Any hotel company partnering with Lodging Interactive for website
design and development, search engine marketing, social media marketing, and
online reputation management — beginning May 2 with the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. (AAHOA) Convention through the Hotel Industry Technology Exposition & Conference (HITEC) June 25-28 in Baltimore — are eligible.

With a mobile website, hotels can offer mobile users a dynamic and streamlined user
experience regardless of mobile device. Up to 10 static pages will be provided
as part of the package, with an option to purchase more. Pages can detail the
property, including description of rooms, amenities, premise, packages,
restaurants, spas, recreation facilities, loyalty programs and online
reservations. Additional features may include mapping and directions,
click-to-call functionality, photo gallery, embedded video capability, convention
and/or meeting listings, social media links, guest reviews and more. Mobile
website management and hosting also is provided by Lodging Interactive.

"We understand just how important it is for hotels to have a mobile web strategy today," said DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive Founder and President. "Industry analysts predict that
the mobile web will be bigger than desktop Internet use by 2015. Therefore
there's no time like the present to jump on the mobile bandwagon and start
reaching mobile savvy travelers via the channels and devices they depend on
daily."

Hotels interested in launching a new mobile website can visit Lodging Interactive at both the 2012 AAHOA Annual Convention & Trade Show in Atlanta May 2 to 5 at the Omni Hotel and the
Georgia World Congress Center in Booth No. 124 or they can call 877-291-4411
ext. 701 to get started. Deadline for the FREE service is June 28, 2012.

Technology + People = Reputation Management

Is your hotel using its reputation management software to its fullest potential? Are you responding to guest reviews in a timely manner? Are the reports you are generating being analyzed to correct issues in operations or guest services? For the majority of hotels, the answer likely is "no." Adopting social media technologies that monitor a hotel's or brand's online reputation is critical today to better connect with travelers. But unless those tools are being maximized, reputations and business practices can still suffer.

CoMMingle by Lodging Interactive has teamed up with leading hospitality reputation-management companies to supplement their technology applications whereby CoMMingle will provide the human resources necessary to answer guest reviews and manage guest responses on behalf of the hotel.

Consider this data provided by ReviewPro:

• A negative review or comment on the Twitter, Facebook or You Tube Web sites can lose companies as many as 30 customers (Convergys Corp)
• 92% of Internet users read product reviews and 89% of people say that reviews influence their purchasing decision. (e-tailing group)
• 85% of executives use social media during a purchase decision (Forrester research)
• TripAdvisor reviews are viewed three times more often on partner websites than on TripAdvisor.com (Tnooz)
• 69% of online shoppers said they trusted the Internet for advice, vs. 43% for magazines and 35% for TV (Yahoo)

"With guest review management becoming critical to the success or failure of a hotel's social media program — and its online marketing campaign overall — hotels would be remiss not to dedicate a full time team to social media monitoring," said DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive Founder and President. "But let's face it, unless you are a mega brand or luxury resort, finding the financial or human resources to monitor social channels to their full potential and creating effective responses to guest reviews in a timely fashion, is increasingly difficult. That's where CoMMingle comes in.

"We have spent the last few years building relationships with guest-review companies so that we can complement their technology with 'our people,'" Vallauri said. "Hotels that are using systems such as Revinate, for example, can outsource social media monitoring and guest review responses to us. Our teams log in as the hotel, and reply to guest reviews accordingly, always keeping the hotel apprised of comments and alerting it to concerns. It doesn't matter what type of guest-review technology platform a hotel is using; CoMMingle can work within the tools to maximize the messaging and deliver more consistent responses. Hotel General Managers especially appreciate this service, since it saves them considerable time in personally responding to reviews."

Lodging Interactive is an award winning interactive agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry. CoMMingle by Lodging Interactive is an outsourced social media marketing agency that develops customized solutions for hotels, restaurants and spas. The company works with its customers to grow and better manage their use of social media channels, provide reputation and consumer sentiment monitoring, and social search engine optimization. CoMMingle is designed to assist hotels in engaging online with social media strategic planning, growing and managing social media channels, word-of-mouth marketing and experiential marketing, reputation and consumer sentiment monitoring, and social search engine optimization.

Technology + People = Success
Revinate is a software platform designed exclusively for the hospitality industry that makes it easy for hotels to take control of their online reputation by using online reviews and social media to learn from and connect with travelers. CoMMingle works side-by-side with Revinate customers to provide staff to respond to the reviews.

"As a software company, we provide software, extensive training and best practices, but look to partners for managed services," said Marc Heyneker, Revinate Co-Founder and VP of Sales. "Having partners such as Lodging Interactive’s CoMMingle division handling the social media at hotels makes it a very robust solution for online reputation management -- as well as using data to drive operational changes and engage with clients. Revinate provides the technology backbone, while CoMMingle serves as the eyes, ears and mouthpiece of the hotel, monitoring conversations and posting instant replies if desired."

CoMMingle has been providing social media assistance to hundreds of hotels since 2009. The company works closely with each property to understand its goals and objectives, then crafts a strategic plan, backed by proprietary technologies and experienced social media marketers.

"Hoteliers need to understand that just because they purchase reputation management software, it can only do so much to improve communication between the property and its guests," Vallauri said. "While hotels receive a dashboard of information as to how the property and its service is perceived by travelers, it also needs to interpret that data and respond to reviews to manage their ongoing relationships with guests. That alone can get overwhelming. CoMMingle, however, is able to help."

Lodging Interactive Launching Affordable 'Hotel Website Solutions'

When it comes to website design and development, web hosting, maintenance, and search engine optimization, there are three key ingredients that today's mid-size and independent property owners are looking for: Price, Price, and Price. Therefore, Lodging Interactive is unveiling a new Hotel Website Solutions program designed to offer online marketing services at a low, month-to-month fee with all upfront costs removed. The service will include website design and management, reputation management, search engine marketing, real-time analytics and accountability, PLUS Lodging Interactive's Content Management System and its coveted Guest Review System.

Lodging Interactive is an award winning interactive agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry, and its subsidiary, CoMMingle is an outsourced social media marketing agency that also develops customized solutions for hotels, restaurants and spas. Hotel Website Solutions will debut at the Asian American Hotel Owners' Association (AAHOA) Annual Convention in May in the Lodging Interactive Booth #124.

"It's time to make online marketing easier and more affordable for everyone," said DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive Founder and President. "With social media channels making online marketing more critical than ever before, smaller hotels and independent properties need the same quality design and maintenance services as the big resorts but without the expense. Unlike some companies that try effortlessly to convince small- to mid-size property owners that they need a costly full-service web-management program, we have designed an alternative program with fairness and affordability at its core."

With Hotel Website Solutions, hoteliers can refresh their web site every two years, supporting up to 25 web pages, at no additional cost.

Included in the Hotel Website Solutions package:
• RFPLink group lead capture and reporting
• InnterACT client reporting online portal
• Homepage call-to-action tile images
• Website Hosting & Server Management
• Robust Content Management Solution (CMS)
• Optional Guest Review System Inclusion at no additional cost

InnterACT by Lodging Interactive provides real-time website analytics, key performance metrics, and the latest social media monitoring tools. Using a digital dashboard, hoteliers can remotely access analytical production information about their website performance, search engine ranking performance, as well as the bounce rate and average time spent on the site. Owners and marketing managers can log in and access real-time ranking reports to determine where their website is positioned on Google, Yahoo and Bing, and view their traffic and determine where it's coming from. Because the dashboard can be customized, hoteliers can view these reports in such a way that is personal to them, so that when they log in, the information they need most is always present, such as website traffic analytics and landing page views.

Also part of the Hotel Website Solutions package is Lodging Interactive's Guest Review System. This web-based tool is successfully helping hotels verify, review and display customer comments directly on their websites. By allowing management to respond to comments in real time, hotels are improving hotel-to-guest communications and boosting guest retention and loyalty. The GRS posts traveler's comments and scores their hotel experiences based on service attributes. Hotel managers receive real-time alerts advising when pending guest reviews pop up, eliminating delays in addressing concerns and turning potential problems into new opportunities.

"At Lodging Interactive, we understand the importance of a well-maintained and up-to-date website, as industry reports show direct bookings via the hotel's proprietary website are on the rise," Vallauri said. "Hotel Website Solutions will enable hoteliers, regardless of their hotel segmentation, to keep their websites fresh with relevant content that is recognized by the various search engines, and benefit from customized programs. "

Also at no additional cost, Lodging Interactive will include in its Hotel Website Solutions program: Initial SEO research and analysis, creation of strategy and implementation; InnterACT client portal real-time web analytics; Weekly website analytics; Monthly SEO ranking reports; and, Quarterly SEO refresh (review, analysis and implementation recommendations). Customers will also have access to Lodging Interactive's Content Management System (CMS), giving property managers the ability to modify page content and images.

Hotels interested in learning more about Hotel Website Solutions should call 877-291-4411 or visit www.LodgingInteractive.com. The company will also be exhibiting at the AAHOA Convention in May in Booth #124.

AAHOA Members to Receive Aide Via New Lodging Interactive Membership

Lodging Interactive has joined the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) as an Allied Member. The interactive and social media marketing agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry will unveil a comprehensive program during the AAHOA Convention in May that is designed to assist members with website design, optimization and content management.

"On behalf of the nearly 11,000 AAHOA members who own more than 40 percent of all U.S. hotels, we would like to officially welcome Lodging Interactive as an Allied Member,” said AAHOA President Fred Schwartz. “We wish them the best as they join us for what we expect to be a very successful new year.”

More than ever before, hotel owners and operators are looking for ways to improve their Web presence, increase direct web bookings, control their online reputations and better direct their overall online marketing programs and use of social media. As an Allied member, Lodging Interactive will work to build relationships with hotel owners and assist them in all of these areas through strategic and affordable services and consulting.

"These are still challenging times," said DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive President and CEO. "The economy is beginning to recover, but we're not out of the woods yet. That's why Lodging Interactive will introduce new financial models at the AAHOA Convention designed specifically for both small hotel owners and those running full-service properties with multiple flags."

Plan, Socialize, Engage and Measure
"Also at the show, we are encouraging members to sign up for a no-cost, no-obligation social media marketing audit through CoMMingle, Lodging Interactive's full-service social-media marketing agency," he said. "The explosion in social media offers owners powerful new ways to interact with their guests and prospects. The CoMMingle team will assist members with planning their unique social media strategy based on their individual property goals. Then they will teach members how to socialize online, 'comingling' and managing their message on the channels (blogging, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube and more) that work best for their properties. CoMMingle ensures that each hotel's message is communicated smartly, efficiently and effectively, constantly measuring each plans' critical success factors and fine-tuning each strategy for long term success.

"By leveraging the support of Lodging Interactive and CoMMingle, we are confident that AAHOA members will be widely successful in 2012 and beyond," Vallauri said.

Lodging Interactive information can now be accessed via AAHOA's website at http://www.aahoa.com/Source/Products/Search.cfm?Section=Search. The company will also be exhibiting at the 2012 AAHOA Annual Convention & Trade Show in Atlanta May 2 to 5 at the Omni Hotel and the Georgia World Congress Center in Booth No. 124.

Info-graphic: Hotel Social Media Explained

Two Weeks In, Google Says "Search Plus Your World" Going Well, Critics Should Give It Time

Two weeks ago, Google launched Search Plus Your World. Since then, Google has faced strong criticisms that SPYW is making its search relevancy worse and favoring its Google+ social network too much. Not so, says Google search chief Amit Singhal.

via searchengineland.com

Hotels Collect Guest Reviews From Facebook

Lodging Interactive, an award winning Interactive and Social Media Marketing Agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry, announced today the integration of its Guest Review System with Facebook. The Facebook integration enables hotels to collect and share their guest reviews right from their hotel Facebook pages.

“Our Guest Review System continues to gain momentum with hotels, restaurants, and spas since our launch only 3 weeks ago,” said Mr. DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive’s Founder & President. “And now with the integration into Facebook hotel pages, hotels have an opportunity to collect and share their guest reviews to over 800 million Facebook users.”

The Guest Review System is an online service that enables hospitality companies to collect, manage and share guest reviews on their own websites. As a result, consumers no longer need to visit third-party review sites to read reviews or to leave their own reviews.

“The Guest Review System is integrated into our Facebook page and it’s a great way for consumers to have instant access to our guest reviews and ratings. Also past guests can share their own reviews via our Facebook page,” said Mr. Ed Reagoso, General Manager of The Grand Wilshire Hotel in West Orange, NJ. “The Guest Review Service allows me to validate all reviews for authenticity and I receive real-time alert messages every time a review is made.”

 

Another benefit of the Guest Review System is that it allows hotel management to respond to guest reviews, which often helps consumers make informed choices. “Nowadays, every hotel should routinely monitor online reviews closely,” added Mr. Vallauri. “This makes our Guest Review System increasingly valuable because it allows management to control online reviews and post responses as needed”.

The Guest Review System is a low cost, turnkey system for any hotel seeking the ability to control its own guest reviews. “There is no programming required and hotels can be up and running in just minutes,” said Mr. Vallauri. “It’s very easy to use and we even offer a free trial with no long-term agreements, hotels can cancel anytime.”

More Information: www.GuestReviewSystem.com

HotelCast 2.0. NEW! - Guest Review System, Google Flights and Groupon Travel

This Lodging Interactive Podcast has got the scoop on the new Guest Review System that allows properties to gather and post guest reviews directly to their website.  Is Groupon Travel a good deal for properties or consumers?? 

Lodging Interactive does the research, you get the news on Google Flights...really cool stuff!  And, while protecting your high school reputation was important...Protecting your property's reputation right now is crucial.  Commingle is an ace in the hole you cannot be without.   New technology that effects you!  The hottest 10 minutes in the hospitality business is right here at HotelCast 2.0.

 >> Click Here to Listen to Lodging Interactive Fall HotelCast 2.0 podcast <<

New Guest Review System For Hospitality - Industry First

Lodging Interactive, an award winning Interactive and Social Media Marketing Agency exclusively servicing the hospitality industry, today announced the introduction of its Guest Review System designed for hotels, restaurants and spas. The Guest Review System enables hospitality companies to manage and display consumer reviews on their own websites and blogs.

"The time has come for hotels to take control of their guest reviews and to stop sending potential guests to third party review websites where they may never return or worse, book a competitor’s property,” said Mr. DJ Vallauri, Lodging Interactive's Founder & President. “Market research continues to support the fact that over 75% of online travel buyers will consider consumer reviews prior to making their online travel purchase. This trend is not going away and hoteliers have told us they need more control over the guest review process.”

 

 

The Guest Review System is a web based review management system that empowers hotels to collect their own guest reviews and post management responses on their websites. The Guest Review System lets consumers post their comments and score their hotel experiences based on service attributes. Additionally, consumers can share their guest reviews on their Facebook wall and their network of friends. Hotels are notified in real-time of new guest reviews and have the ability to validate guest stay information before reviews are posted on their website.

“We all continue to read about the authenticity of many of the guest reviews on the third party review websites. The New York Times recently reported on individuals and offshore companies established to post fake reviews…in some cases negative reviews about competitors, it’s just getting out of hand,” added Mr. Vallauri. “Our Guest Review System gives back the control to the hotelier where they can validate a guest’s authenticity before the comment is posted on their website.”

"Our Guest Review System is a low cost turn-key system any hotel can use to manage their guest reviews. There is no programming required and hotels can be up and running in 10 minutes,” added Mr. Vallauri. “We offer a free trial and there is no contract to sign and hotels can cancel anytime.”