The New Google+ and +1 Button and How They Impact Hotels and Resorts

“Google+” (pronounced Google Plus) and “+1 button” are gaining quick momentum in the social media arena. In just a few weeks, over 20 million users have already signed up for Google’s new services. The best thing about these programs is that they are FREE opportunities to help your hotel or other hospitality business make more money and improve website rankings!

Although premature to predict what long-term impact the Google+ program will have, it might just give Facebook a run for the social media money.…

Google Strikes Back
written by Bill Mitchell, Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer, RezStream, Denver, Colorado

It is common knowledge that social media websites are all the rage these days. And even though Google still dominates the market when it comes to generating revenue for hospitality businesses, it doesn’t mean that Google is resting easy. Google and Facebook are currently in an epic battle to see which platform will emerge as the leading search engine and social media stage. In the past 12 months, Google has been modifying its algorithm to provide the most relevant results, while still…

Google is king of most things related to Internet-based services and products, but of social networking, not so much. However, in Google's attempt gain dominance in the social networking market and to rival Facebook, which has captured over 500 million users, “Google Me” is slated to be released in fall 2010.  Google Me will allow users to access information they have created on other sites like Twitter, Flickr, and so forth. Eric Schmidt, Google’s Chief Executive Officer, reports that with Google Me the company will add another “social layer” this fall season.

Google’s Orkut was…