The internet has its way to influence individuals in making their choice. TripAdvisor, Amazon.com, and other online-based stores have this section where their customers could provide comments and recommendations to future viewers of the product. The new thing in the hospitality indutry that has rise up to popularity is the site called AirBNB.
“Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone.” (https://www.airbnb.com.au/about/about-us) Thats how AirBNB define themselves. They currently have 800,000+ listings and have already catered for more than 17 million customers to those who lists their accommodation there.
Me, myself also have a listing on AirBNB. Customer reviews are the main medium for influence. People who are looking at my listing are influenced by customer reviews. One of the strategy that I used is to ask my friends who came over to my place to book my place and pay for the booking fee, then make a review to it. By that, future customers who are looking at the page can at least be sure of my listing, that it is actually a legit cozy listing that got people feeling comfortable living there. Things got really good after that because now, I have a listing that people can’t possibly resist. My place is always almost full book 30/30 days in a month. That is how the communication ways in the digital era could influence the residents of the internet a.k.a netizens.
I do not regret my actions as what I provide is really what is on the internet. What I wrote on the listings are true. There are even now more reviews on my listing as people do really enjoy fully of my hospitality to them. My action has given me a really positive impact on the branding of my room renting business. People trust me, they love my place. It is fair and good to use the digital communication as to influence other to try something new if it is a legit thing. But it is not acceptable if it is fraudulent.
Digital era has given many people ways to make themselves more visible and popular to others. It has the power to make brands look more attractive than the other, especially if the other brands do not use digital communication as their medium to advertise their products. Nowadays, it really is important and crucial to know and use the internet as a way to promote products as it could help them to reach out the world that can’t be reached through the touch of the hands. Plus, it is a very cheap alternative compare to other medias.