2.  A Little About Me  Why are we here  Some Quick Statistics  Why those stats matter  Leveraging the Web and Its related Technologies  Connect with me AGENDA

3.  In case you forgot my name is Adile Abbadi-MacIntosh  I’m not Scottish in case you are wondering  Partner and Technology Guy for Backgrount  Digital Technology Agency focused on Small to Mid Sized Businesses  15+ Years of Experience  Expert in custom web technology development  Done pretty much everything – mobile, custom software, ecommerce, CMS, social apps  Current portfolio includes Spruce Meadows, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Wesclean, Apex Field Services, Clearwater County, Akita Drilling and of course the Canadian Badlands  I’m not a tourism expert  Believe it or not I use to be a Paleontologist and worked at the Tyrrell  Actually launched the first large scale website the Tyrrell had A LITTLE ABOUT ME

4. THE INTERNET IS TAKING OVER!! Today 5 2003 <5% Internet connected devices are owned by the average household Of households connect to the internet via anything other than a computer

5. 2012 ONLINE TRAVEL INDUSTRY STATISTICS

9. SO WHY DO WE CARE? Now more than ever before – we can engage visitors online Before, During and After their experience with our city, town, village, region, attraction, event and accommodation What you do online is and should be an integral part of your business

10.  Your website  Design  Its important to be current  Ease of Use  Doesn’t look dated  Features  Calendar of Events  Reservations  eCommerce  Social Components  Maps  Content  Content is and always will be king  eCommerce  Pre-sales  Don’t focus on selling merchandise ENGAGE ONLINE BEFORE THEY VISIT  Social Channels  Trip Advisor  Participate as an owner  Google Maps  Go social when it makes sense  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest  Social Ads  Partners  Canadian Badlands  Online Channels that are related to your industry  News feeds sites are powerful  Have someone talk about you is very powerful free advertising

11.  MOBILE MOBILE MOBILE!!!!!!  Mobile Friendly Website  Have Local Ads encourage engagement online while visiting  Use QR Codes  Encourage mobile/online brand engagement while onsite  Mobile App for content  Make the experience interactive while onsite  Scan for Content ENGAGE ONLINE DURING THEIR VISIT  Internet Hotspots  ShawOpen  Social Channels  Encourage check-ins  Incent sharing

12.  Connect Afterwards  Through ecommerce  Incent revisits  Respond to a survey  Incent their friends  Encourage Reviews  Your website  Social Channels  Trip Advisor ENGAGE ONLINE AFTER THEIR VISIT  Engage Socially  Incent sharing  Respond to reviews  Share visitor posts/comments/pictures  Online Contests  Website  Social  Analyze and Track  eCommerce to engagement  Metrics before and during

13. CONNECT WITH ME Questions, Comments or you just want to Talk/Complain Adile Abbadi-MacIntosh Backgrount Technologies 403.383.5285 adile@backgrount.ca http://www.backgrount.ca