This document discusses how social media can be an effective marketing tool for tourism operators. It notes that the internet is now the most important marketing channel, surpassing traditional media like television, radio and print. It provides statistics on social media usage, especially Facebook, to demonstrate the large audience that can be reached. The document outlines four rules for using social media successfully: having a presence beyond just your website, using social media as one channel among many, creating engaging content, and treating it as a conversation rather than just broadcasting messages. It concludes by introducing the author as an expert in integrated communications strategy.

1. Making Social Media
Work for You "
Allan Gates, Revolution Strategy"
June 10, 2010"

2. This is Allan"
• Partner and Executive Vice President
with Revolution"
• Leads the Tourism New Brunswick
account"
• Integrated communications strategist
and planner"
– Traditional media (TV/Radio/Print) +
Digital (Social Media/Online Ads/SEM/
SEO), PR"

3. The Internet is
the most important
marketing tool for
Tourism Operators"

4. Here comes
everybody

5. Photo:
Flickr
User
Alex
Kess

6. In the Old Days"
Advertising
Vehicles"
Your News "
Customer"
Message" Media"
Travel"
Trade"

7. But now…"
Your Customer"
Message"

8. ADVERTISING
KINDA
SUCKS

9. Social Media is
an Opportunity"

10. Advertising = $"
Social Media = time"

13. There
are
112,291,180
Americans over
18 on Facebook"

14. There
are
13,612,520
Canadians over
18 on Facebook"

15. Facebook saw 540
million unique visitors
in April, 35% of web
users, and 570 billion
page views"

16. 45% of
Facebookʼs US
audience is 26
years old +"

17. The fastest
growing
Facebook
segment is
females 55+"

18. 4 New
Rules"

19. 1
Itʼs Not"
(Just)
About
Your Web
Site"

20. Photo:
Flickr
User
WillNotMove

21. The Web Is An Ecosystem"

22. 2
Social
Media is
Just a
Channel"

23. Photo:
Flickr
User
B
Rosen

24. 3
Donʼt Be
Boring"

25. Photo:
Flickr
User
Kevin
McShane

26. 4
Itʼs a
Conversation"

27. Photo:
Flickr
User
eye2eye

28. Thanks"

29. Allan Gates"
EVP, Revolution"
506-642-4445"
allan.gates@revolutionstrategy.com"
www.allangates.com"
Facebook.com/allangates"
@redgateca"
http://www.slideshare.net/agates99"