GIO PALATUCCI
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5 ways to use Twitter to plan your trip

2/28/2012

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Posted by Gio Palatucci

How do you conduct travel research? Do you... pick up a guidebook? Call a travel agent? Send a tweet out into the Twitterverse? A recent report released by IBM’s Institute for Business Value indicates that more people are doing the latter. In fact, “twenty-eight percent of travelers begin their search with social media, travel opinion websites, and general search engines.”

Social networking sites, like Twitter, can be great for trip planning. And you don’t have to limit yourself to asking the people on these networks that you know personally. I’m planning a spring trip to Portland, Oregon, and although I haven’t purchased a plane ticket yet, I’ve already amassed a laundry list of things to see and do just by crowd sourcing on Twitter. 

Here are five ways to use Twitter to plan your next trip:

  1. Tweet for advice. The most obvious way to use Twitter to plan your trip is to simply ask for advice. I don’t do this every day or even every week, but about one or two times before my departure I’ll ask the Twitterverse for travel tips. One of my recent tweets, “Thinking about traveling to #Portland in May for some hiking and craft brews. Any tips?” helped me connect with @portlandbeers who recommended his site for a list of seasonal brews. I also synched with @OBethPhoto, a photojournalist for the Oregonian, who shared a link to the Forest Park Conservancy’s list of hiking trails within the city limits. These are great tips from complete strangers who are simply passionate about their city.

  2. Advertise where you’re going. On my Twitter profile I list where I went on my last trip (New Orleans) and where I’m headed on my next trip (Portland, OR). This is helpful because when I’m not actively tweeting for tips, I can still get unsolicited advice from Portlanders or Oregonians who notice I’m headed to their hometown.

  3. Be smart with your search. Twitter’s search function isn’t stellar. Typing “Portland” (or insert your destination here) into the search box can return a lot of irrelevant tweets. To refine your search, try searching the destination as a hashtag (#Portland). Adding a hashtag to a tweet takes a conscious effort. It often adds emphasis, which is why tweets with hashtags may be more relevant than other tweets that only mention your destination in passing. Another way to filter your search results is to use Twitter’s photo stream. People tend to eat with their eyes first, so it wasn't surprising that photo results for #Portland helped me find two great breakfast joints courtesy of patrons tweeting mouthwatering food pics of waffles and biscuits. Also, browse people search results to find and follow Tweeps who focus on your destination. This kind of search helped me find @TravelPortland, a handle that answers questions about the city when tweeted to them using the hashtag #inpdx.

  4. Make and follow lists. As you’re searching for merchants and locals on Twitter, add them to a Twitter list to organize all incoming tweets in one location. Also, following lists is a great way to find people on Twitter who have already been identified and vetted as good sources of information. For example @portlandbeer compiled a Twitter list of local breweries that I can follow with a single click instead of searching for and following individually.

  5. Score deals by connecting with local hotels and merchants. Just because you don't live in a city doesn't mean you can't use local coupon deal sites like Groupon or Living Social. I try to follow deal sites, hotel chains, restaurants, concert venues, etc. to see what kinds of deals are being tweeted out before my trip. Even if the deal dates don't work out, I'm still discovering a cool restaurant, museum, or hotel.

How do you use Twitter or other social networks to plan your trips? Share your stories with me in the comments section below.

GP



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ICYMI: A Local's Washington DC, Nanny in the Clouds, Can Social Media Lift Travel?

2/24/2012

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Photo: Gio Palatucci
In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): A weekly digest of interesting news stories about social media, travel, and tech.

Today's #FriFotos theme is "local." Browse a few of my favorite local spots in DC, added to my Pinterest board:

  • #FriFotos: Local via Pinterest
Social seating? In-flight missed connections? What gimmick will the airlines think of next? How about this: A California company is trying to connect registered babysitters with families on the same flight through a program called Nanny in the Clouds:
  • Child-minders at 36,000 feet via The Economist 
Get your adrenalin on with a visit to one of these top 5 countries for adventure travel:
  • 5 Best Countries for Adventure Travel via As We Travel
Is social media the new travel agent? In an effort to increase bookings, sites like TripAdvisor and Expedia are synching with social networks to allow travelers to enlist the recommendations of friends in family before choosing a hotel, resort, or other vacation packages online:
  • Can Social Media Lift Travel? via Businessweek
"I want to go to there" moment of the week:

  • Italy's Asiago Plateau shrouded in fog via Nat Geo Photo of the Week
For more stories, follow me on Twitter: @giopalatucci

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How to Build a Social Media Community: My interview on About.com

2/22/2012

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Posted by Gio Palatucci
Yesterday I was featured on About.com's Online Business Guide, speaking about ways to build an engaged social media community. 

Check it out! About.com

Thanks Bryan!

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Three online dating tips you can apply to your company’s social media strategy

2/21/2012

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Photo: Gio Palatucci

Posted by Gio Palatucci
Last week D.C. played host to Social Media Week-- a global conference featuring panel discussions and workshops about trends in social and mobile media. As part of the week’s events, the D.C. Social Media Club put together a panel discussion called, “I’m Just Not That Into Your Profile,” featuring image, dating, and relationship experts discussing the ways in which your online profile might be sabotaging your search for love.

What does online dating have to do with social media strategy? I asked myself that same question as I sat down at the start of the evening. But soon after the experts began to speak, similarities began to emerge. The goal of both online dating and social media strategy is to form strong relationships. Just as you might craft your online dating profile to attract potential mates, companies must refine their profile and messaging to attract followers and readers. 

So let cupid be your guide to social media success. Here are three expert online dating tips that apply to building an engaged social media community:

  1. Be authentic “Authenticity” quickly revealed itself to be the buzz word of the evening. The dating experts agreed that misrepresenting yourself online-- although might not get in the way of a first date-- won’t help you score that coveted second date. The rule of authenticity can be applied to your company or brand as well. Your social media profile may entice people to ‘like’ or follow your page, but if your messaging doesn’t match what’s advertised, you’ll start to lose followers fast. What can you do to ensure your profile is authentic? Here we can turn to the dating experts again: have a profile photo and description that matches who you are and what you do. Plus, tell stories about yourself that make you seem like a real human.

  2. Don’t over message According to the experts, a big online dating turnoff is over messaging. After connecting with someone online you shouldn’t bombard them with questions or updates. Make the connection, then take it offline (a.k.a. "a date") as soon as possible. The same is true for companies and brands. Don’t overwhelm your audience with updates. As the dating experts advised, be concise. Everything you share should have a particular purpose. And when it comes to questions, concerns, or complaints, take it offline ASAP-- refer users to a customer service line or email.

  3. It takes a lot of time and effort to be successful Everyone on the panel shared the same sentiment that to be successful on dating sites it takes a lot of hard work. You can’t sign up expecting to find your soulmate in a few days, weeks, or even months. Users need to work on building a profile, sending messages, and forming meaningful connections. The same applies to a brand or company’s social media strategy. To be successful on social you have to invest time and effort into monitoring feedback and fostering conversations. That’s why you should consider hiring a social media manager to help get the job done.


GP
Let’s work together. Email me at giopalatucci@gmail.com

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ICYMI: We Met on a Plane, Apple's Secret Travel App, Fall in Love with Chile & Patagonia

2/17/2012

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Riding horseback through a vineyard in Chile (Photo: Gio Palatucci)
In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): A weekly digest of interesting news stories about social media, travel, and tech.

Today's #FriFotos theme is "special moments." See a few of my favorite pics on Pinterest:
  • #FriFotos: Special Moments via Pinterest
Craigslist-style "missed connections" take to the air with WeMetOnAPlane.com:
  • Love is (hopefully) in the air for WeMetOnAPlane social platform via Tnooz
Paperwork submitted by Apple to the US Patent & Trademark Office have some speculating that the company is trying to revolutionize the travel booking space in the same vein it transformed buying music online. See what this app could look like:
  • Up close: Apple’s secret iTravel app for the iPhone and iPad via Australian Business Traveller 
According to a poll of 1,000+ travelers between the ages of 18-35, smartphones and social media detract from having real travel experiences:
  • Travel is best enjoyed without social media or smartphones say young travellers via Travelllll.com
"I want to go to there," moment of the week: 
  • "A story for tomorrow," a beautiful video of Chile & Patagonia via Gnarly Bay Productions on Vimeo
For more stories, follow me on Twitter: @giopalatucci
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Five tips for live-tweeting your next event

2/14/2012

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Live-tweeting an event is a great way to engage followers and expand your audience past the number of seats in a venue. The flurry of tweets can also spice up your Twitter content while letting your audience know that there's a real person behind the brand.

All you really need is a handle and hashtag to get started, but here are five tips I picked up from live-tweeting several events for Nat Geo that will help make your live Twitter event a knock-out success.

  1. Prep your online audience: Before the event begins it's important to set the stage and put the talk into context for those who randomly stumble upon your handle. Prepare your audience by describing the atmosphere, remind listeners about the event's hashtag, share a 140-character bio of the speaker, or link to relevant information online so followers can educate themselves on the topic before the talk begins.
  2. Do your homework: Craft as many tweets before the event even starts. Write introductory tweets, a call for questions, and a sign off. Once the event starts, you'll have little time to think, so having pre-crafted messages (within the 140-character limit) will allow you to copy and paste into Twitter (or another dashboard) with minimal effort. I also like to have a prepared list of relevant, shortened links about the person speaking. For example, during a live Q&A with Nat Geo Traveler contributor, Andrew McCarthy, I had a list of links to McCarthy's feature stories online so I could copy and paste the links into my tweets if he mentioned one of them during the talk. 
  3. Take good notes: During live-events I try to capture as much information as possible on a notepad or a Word document. Oftentimes when trying to shrink a soundbite into 140-characters, you miss what came next. Getting down great quotes or thoughts first, then tweeting, allows for better organization, fewer typos, and more accurate tweets. If you can get someone to take notes for you, all the better. Two brains are much better than one. But when in doubt, use your audience. Followers always appreciate a re-tweet.
  4. Expect the unexpected: A good live-tweeter is someone who stays calm and can think on their feet when unexpected issues arise. When the Wi-Fi died on me towards the end of an event, I pulled out my iPhone to finish the last few questions. 
  5. Publish a recap: Putting together a recap of your event allows followers who didn't make it (online or in person) to catch-up on what they missed. Also, publishing a recap on your website or blog helps you to stitch together a narrative from all your tweets and add in media like photos, video, audience comments, and links. I like to use the program Storify to build my recaps because it allows you to build a timeline from not only your own social content but also the content shared by the audience (tweets, Facebook photos, YouTube clips, etc). Storify is great because you can embed your timeline right into your blog-- see how I used Storify to recap the Nat Geo Live! talk, "Bus to Antarctica & Beyond" on the Intelligent Travel blog.

What's your secret to successfully live-tweeting an event? Share your tips with me in the comments section below!

Related resources:
Live-tweeting Best Practices via Twitter
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ICYMI: The Cheapest Time to Fly, Doomsday Travel, Yosemite is Gorgeous

2/10/2012

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Owly Images

Black sand beach in Vik, Iceland (Photo: Gio Palatucci)

In Case You Missed It (ICYMI): A weekly digest of interesting news stories about social media, travel, and tech.

Today's #FriFotos theme is sand. See some of my favorite sand pics on Pinterest: 
  • #FriFotos: Sand via Pinterest
There must be a serious case of the winter blues going around because everyone is talking about how to fly on a budget:
  • Tips for flying cheaper in 2012 via Gadling
  • The Cheapest Time to Buy Your Flights via Forbes
Is it the end of the world as we know it? National Geographic Traveler's Digital Nomad has traveled to southern Mexico to, "discover the Maya, their country, and their calendar." This is digital storytelling at its best:
  • Traveling to the End of the World via Digital Nomad
Are you a travel company, content creator, or web start-up? New research suggests you get an app or get out of the game:
  • Research shows massive surge in iPad travel browsingvia tnooz
Hmm, maybe this Pinterest thing can actually be useful: 
  • How I'm Using Pinterest to Plan My Trip to Puerto Rico via Kidventurous
"I want to go to there," moment of the week:
  • Yosemite timelapse via Project Yosemite on Vimeo

For more stories, follow me on Twitter: @giopalatucci
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#Project365: Tips for shooting and sharing one photo a day

2/7/2012

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[1/365] (Photo: Gio Palatucci)
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[6/365] (Photo: Gio Palatucci)
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[14/365] (Photo: Gio Palatucci)
I committed to a year-long photography project on a whim. How did it happen?

Last year I noticed friends on Facebook posting photos using the tag #project365. After some research, I discovered the tag was part of a daily photo project, where each snap is meant to capture something significant, memorable, or even mundane happening in your life. At the end of the year you can look back on this “album” and remember all things good and bad that occurred over the last 12 months. Cool, right?

Although I loved the idea of this project, I’d forgotten all about it until I saw my friend, travel blogger @MiddleSeatView, post her first #project365 photo on New Year’s day. When I spotted the hashtag, I had a flash of inspiration. Without really thinking (or devising a long term plan) I snapped a shot, tagged the photo, and uploaded it to Instagram. From that moment on, I was all in, and I haven’t missed a day since.

I've stayed committed because the whole process is making me a better iphoneographer-- I now think about things like lighting and composition, for example. I’m also happy that I’m documenting a big year-- I left a full-time job to start my own business. When I look back next January, I hope to have captured some pretty significant and wonderful moments in my life. 

Struggling with your own #project365 or want to get started? Here are a few tips I picked up after a month of shooting & sharing one photo a day:
  1. Set a schedule. There’s no right or wrong way to participate in #project365. Some people shoot pics all week and then upload a selection of shots for a “week in review,” type gallery.  I wanted to tackle this project in real-time, meaning my goal is to shoot and upload one photo a day, in the moment, as it’s happening.
  2. Gather the right tools to shoot and share. I’m keeping it simple with my iPhone 4. I chose to upload all photos to Instagram and share on my Tumblr feed because Instagram doesn’t have a Web component. Others use Flickr or one of the many #project365 apps and sites to organize and share their photos. No matter what you choose, the most important thing is to stick with it. Consistency is key.
  3. Vary your themes. It’s easy to shoot what you’re eating for dinner each night, but that will get old, fast. Don’t get me wrong, on day 38 I’ve already used a few food photos and the obligatory D.C. metro shot, but challenging yourself to seek and shoot varying subjects will help you become a better photographer.
  4. Plan ahead. Take a look at your day and see what interesting events or appointments you have on your calendar. Planning ahead will help prevent you from forgetting to take a photo or wasting a photo.
  5. Take your plan and chuck it out the window. Some of your best photo moments will occur when you forget or mess up your plan. For example, I had planned on taking a mouthwatering food photo at the popular D.C. restaurant, Jaleo. However, towards the end of the meal, I realized I had let my stomach get the best of me. I hadn’t taken a single shot. But my goof made way for an awesome photo op, when firetrucks rolled up to the restaurant and about 15 firemen interrupted dinner service to inspect faulty wires in the kitchen. 
  6. Track your progress. In addition to tagging all my photos with the #project365 hashtag, I also number all my shots (example, [1/365]) and organize them in a single photo album on my phone. 
  7. Support others. Follow other #project365 participants and give them  a “like” or retweet a photo you enjoy. Mutual support will help you see this through to the end.

Follow my #project365 journey on my Tumblr: giopalatucci.tumblr.com


More #project365 resources:

Project 365, take a photo a day (Photojojo)
A beginner’s guide to project 365 (The Next Web)

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Announcing my new project: giopalatucci.com

2/1/2012

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How I went from a job in magazine publishing to starting my own social media consulting business.

Today I’m happy to announce the launch of my new venture: giopalatucci.com. I’m jumping into the world of social media consulting to help individuals and companies build or re-energize their brand online.

I made this decision because I live for social media. What excites me every day is using these tools to share and discover great stories and information online. I want my career to be about teaching others how to build a community, make connections, and ignite meaningful conversations.

But how did I get here? My path started in somewhat of an unlikely place: print.

In May 2009 I graduated from the George Washington University with a liberal arts degree. It wasn’t a great time to be a college graduate: the economy was tanking and unemployment numbers were spiking. Most of my classmates were moving home to live with their parents. Lucky for me, my phone rang and the editor in chief of National Geographic Traveler magazine was on the line to offer me a job as his assistant. I accepted.

Friends and family thought I was crazy. Print was dying. I was repeatedly asked, “Why do you want to work for a magazine? It’s not going to be around in a few months.” Although print and the economy were in decline, deciding to join Nat Geo turned out to be perfect timing. Traveler was reinventing itself from words on a printed page to a global, digital brand. I had the opportunity to observe and participate in this transition from the beginning.

During that transition I came to refer to myself as a digital storyteller-- someone who could craft clear and clever copy on a variety of platforms including tablets, blogs, online, and social media. I found myself gravitating toward blogging and social media because I loved having real-time conversations. It was fast. It was now. Over time, I was able to move from my position as assistant to the editor to blog editor and social media manager.

In less than a year at the reins of Traveler’s social platforms, I doubled our Twitter following, tripled our Facebook fans, and boosted our blog’s pageviews. Why was I so successful? At its essence, social media for me was (and is) about storytelling-- the hallmark of Traveler magazine for over 27 years. I was able to take everything I had learned about great storytelling and apply it to social media. Whether it was a 140-character tweet, a photo posted to Instagram, or a Facebook gallery, it had to be a great story. Stories are meant to be shared, and as our followers and fans started to read and share what we were posting, our social brand exploded.

And that brings us to the present. Managing a social media community and building a new social media community are two very different things, and I’ve missed the experimenting, risk taking, and strategy that come with the latter. Therefore, I left National Geographic to start giopalatucci.com and share my mantra of community, conversation, and connections with individuals and businesses looking to jump into the social media game. I can’t wait to get started!

GP

Let’s work together. Email me at giopalatucci@gmail.com
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    Blogging Social

    Writing/sharing/tweeting from the crossroads of social media, travel, & tech. Read more about me, here.

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