This thing we call the internet has clearly been used by many to such good effect and by others for not always honourable uses.
As a sole trader interested in telling people about tours to London/England with its rich history and tradition not to mention that biggest of world ‘soap operas’ – ‘The Royals, it is a quite fantastic medium or at least it can be.
Only recently I heard a story on a BBC Radio programme which told of how a successful author had been promoting his own works by way of excellent reviews on the Amazon website under a false name but worse than that, he had actually taken to undermining the work of his supposed ‘rivals’. It seemed from what was being said in the programme that the volume of ‘reviews’ on Amazon were such that they were not able to police them as well as they might like.
Hearing this saddened me as I felt that being able to see what readers have said about a book can be very helpful when deciding on one’s next purchase. Having heard the story I was beginning to wander how much of what I was reading I could actually believe as being the truth about what somebody ‘out there’ really thought about it or was the product of some ‘clever’ marketing of the positive or negative variety.
I talked about this with a few friends some of whom are far more internet savvy than I and having listened to a cross-section of opinions concluded that one could not discount all that is ‘out there’ just because there is an element of ‘foul play’. Indeed, where something has received quite a lot of reviews and especially where they were mixed, I have felt that I could still gain a valid sense about whether a book or other product might be worth buying or not.
More personally I was concerned that if there was a growing feeling that internet reviews were not above-board then any good ones that might be given about my guiding services might equally be undermined.
So what can I add to this debate. Well first off although I deal with a lot of people and a lot say they will write a review about you – the reality is that very few actually do it. That is not a criticism – far from it. That is life and not least with a one day tour which might form part of a much longer visit. Yes, on the day you hope having done your best that your clients had a great day out and got from it what they were hoping for or better.
However, by the time they have got home and back into everyday life so I guess the memory of a single day on what might have been an action packed trip can fade pretty quickly as everyday life takes over.
What I have realised from my own experience is that when somebody does take the time and trouble to sit down and write a review – it means you have made a significant impression on them and they clearly remember it well enough to want to spend the time it takes to tell others about it.
Now in a previous life I did work with a company which had many reviews but often and for many reasons of a negative type. Thus it seemed that people who had a bad time wanted to be able to tell others about it as a means of letting off steam about it. However, the lack of a good review did not mean the majority did not enjoy the experience – they just did not find the time or inclination to sit down and tell others about it.
To get a good review is therefore very uplifting. Of course it is a bit of an ego boost but it is more than that.
It is a person who has been prepared to make the effort to tell others about something they got something out of and must surely be the greatest form of marketing there is – word of mouth.
So I sincerely thank Michael D of NJ, USA for saying the following which appeared this week on Trip Advisor. I hope that as the number of such reviews grows for my or any other business that readers can get some sense of genuine feedback on the internet which might help guide their decisions about whatever product or service they may seek on the net and that we don’t allow those who seek to undermine its value to ruin it as a medium for the expression of genuine views.
Michael D
Hamilton, New Jersey, United State
“Mitchell Cregor helped make our trip even better!!”
Reviewed 27 November 2012
We recently hired Mitchell to take us on a trip from London to Stone Henge and Windsor Castle. He was certainly a wealth of information on many topics….. He spent the day with us traveling to see the sights, offering knowledgeable and insightful information about our destinations. His upbeat personality and sense of humor were certainly appreciated! We soon felt like we were old friends and chatted up a storm!
Thank you Mitchell, you made our trip that much more terrific!
Visited November 2012
Before I sign off – an update on London.
We have another Royal ‘event’ to round off this remarkable jubilee/Olympic year – I could not believe the extent to which it has aroused interest around the world. We will no doubt learn of every ‘twist and turn’ for the next 9 months – as nothing of course compared with the debate/vote on Scottish Independence !
Today saw the Chancellor of the Exchequer (the money man) set out his autumn budget statement – far from being full of yuletide joy but I tell you this – the shops in central London are full of people – there are spectacular Christmas Lights all around and here is literally a gem of a place to get some Christmas bling – ‘The London Silver Vaults’ another of those nuggets to be found in ‘Hidden London’.
As from February 2013 you will be able to go to a viewing platform on the 72nd floor of London’s latest ‘Landmark’ building – The Shard – currently the tallest building in Europe and shortly to be offering to all the highest viewing point in London.
‘The Shard’ – London
Tags: England, Guided tours, London, Private guided tours