I have often ranted about the lack of communication and interaction from travel companies online. Companies spend a fortune making their website’s look flash, adding trendy iPhone apps, but forget the people that actually make their business money.

Mainstream twitter

Imagine my surprise when looking through the list of companies featured in tomorrow’s Travolution Summit that more than half of them are on Twitter. Okay, so some of them are dormant, but still it’s good to see that they’re dipping their toes.

Twitter is mainstream, especially now that my nephew, who is 12, a future travel consumer, asked me if I had an account today. It is something that travel companies will have to get used to it, quickly, and learn not everything they do online has to generate them revenue.

Find companies on Twitter

You could use Twitter’s built in search and enter the companies name, but there’s an easier way by simply bookmarking this shared spreadsheet created by Matt Parsons of the Travel Trade Gazette. It categorises companies into cruises, hotels, airlines and travel agents.

Interacting with companies

Simply sign up for a free Twitter account, use a username that is easy for people to remember, add a short bio about yourself, and add an avatar. Then find the company on Twitter and click on the ‘follow’ button on the company’s profile.

Then, send them a message by typing in their twitter username with a @ i.e. @thomsonholidays etc. Hopefully the company is engaging and will respond to your questions. Remember to be polite and the usual internet etiquette. You only have 140 characters so keep it brief.

Finding deals on Twitter

You will find that a growing number of travel companies will add their late holiday deals, offer discount vouchers, website updates etc. So you’re finding deals and product launches before other travel consumers, which is great.

If you’re looking for holiday rental and non hotel accommodation then I would recommend you follow Holidaycrunch or Travelzoo for flight and hotel deals. Occasionally Lastminute.com will publish links to free or cheap theatre tickets.

Here’s a video that will help you learn more about Twitter.

Building your own network

Once joined up, you can follow your family and friends. Occasionally you might find companies follow you. This will be because you have mentioned their company or maybe you’ve left a message about a specific holiday destination.

Don’t worry about this, it just means that they want to make themselves known to you. I think that is it for this guide to twitter for travel consumers, but if I think of anything else to include I will update this post. Please do leave any questions or thoughts in the comments section.

• Travel companies twitter behaviour – Part 1
• Asking questions about travel
• Travel companies starting to understand social media
• Travel agents should use online tools to improve experience
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