Travellers’ Internet tips proving a hotter destination than popular guidebooks

Ditch your Lonely Planet guidebooks and logon on to TripAdvisor. That's what 70% of the folks surveyed and referenced in this article say they do. (The article doesn't tell me much about the survey participants so take this for what it's worth.) I still find the guidebooks useful when I'm walking around a city, but like many people, I plan my trips online first. My husband and I used TripAdvisor to find hotels and activities in Italy for our honeymoon, and recently used it to plan a trip to New Mexico. We're big fans. TripAdvisor features user reviews on accommodations, activities, and restaurants. User reviews are the online equivalent of word-of-mouth. And word-of-mouth remains one of the most powerful marketing tools.

Businesses have caught on. We've been asked by hotels we stayed at to post our reviews on TripAdvisor. Super smart marketing.

Read the article here: Travellers’ internet tips proving a hotter destination than popular guidebooks - WalesOnline

When Cakes Go Wrong -- Fun on a Friday

I've been laughing so hard at the cakes on this site that I literally have mascara running down my face and my husband is beginning to question my sanity (something he should have done a long time ago). This blogger posts pictures of cakes gone wrong, then writes hilarious posts about each. I read about it on another blog, but it sounded kind of lame so I ignored it. Then I read about it on another blog, only this blogger posted pictures, and before I knew it, I was hooked. Soooo funny!

It's not just the pictures -- although many of them are pretty hilarious on their own -- it's what she writes. To wit, here's her explanation of the carrot baby cake above:

This cake is so disturbing, I'm almost glad the picture doesn't include the whole thing. The plastic clone babies wearing naught but mohawks is bad enough, but then they're also riding carrots. What do you do with that? It looks like some kind of perverted vegetable rodeo, or maybe a bizarre clone military exercise, what with their little plastic fists raised high in identical salutes.

And what kind of occasion calls for a "naked babies riding carrots" decor, anyway? No, wait, maybe I don't want to know...

Some of the images are just plain disturbing. Note to the women planning my baby shower: do NOT get me a cake like this! (Or this, which was just too disturbing to post.)

More funny cakes here.

PETA Wants to Put Vegan Ads on Border Fence

Again, from the you-can't-make-this-stuff-up files: PETA wants to advertise on the border fences. They want to warn immigrants that crossing into the U.S. could be harmful to their health because we eat so poorly over here. "If the Border Patrol Doesn't Get You, the Chicken and Burgers Will — Go Vegan" is the message that would be printed in both Spanish and English on the fences.

This doesn't work at all. Seriously, PETA, that's your target market? Or maybe you're trying to get free press for the half-baked idea? You might get it, but I suspect it'll be of the mocking variety.

Read more here: PETA wants to put vegan ads on border fence | Pets Houston | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Study: 49% of Users Utilize Search Daily

Search is the 2nd most popular online activity (email is 1st), yet I can tell you that most small to medium sized businesses still do not include any type of search engine optimization in their marketing plans. Even simple things, like getting listed on Google's Local Search, can have a big impact. There are a number of search engine optimization resources online; just run a quick Google search on "SEO tips" and you'll find plenty. (Or, if you're feeling completely overwhelmed, shoot me a quick e-mail and we'll help you out.)

Read more here: Study: 49% of Users Utilize Search Daily

Look what we found: an online baby journal

I was just telling a friend how I wish there was an easy way to create a digital baby book. I've grown so accustomed to creating digital photo books that I can't quite grasp the notion of printing photos and writing in an old-fashioned baby book. Well, I can grasp the notion and like the idea of being a part of such a cool tradition, but it does seem to me that I could do so much more online, like store videos and share pictures and stories with our relatives. I had contemplated setting up my own secure social network on Ning but this site, Kidmondo, looks like a much better tool. It's an online baby journal. Secure and password-protected, of course, so only those you invite can see all the precious moments of your little one.

As far as marketing trends go, the social networks are a buzz with all things mommy and baby. As we have blogged about before, women love to pass out referrals; in fact, we feel compelled to help businesses grow. As a marketer, if you can tap into that innate desire women have, then you hit the marketing jackpot. Mommy blogs are a great place to start. And I'll bet the mommy bloggers are talking up tools like Kidmondo.

Read more here: Kidmondo: an online baby Journal