Meta tags were started back in the early 90’s when the Internet was just getting its brand new legs and they were used to help the search engines organize the growing number of web pages. This was an easy way to get your site indexed and listed high.

Soon after unethical webmasters started to abuse the meta tag by either spamming the page full of keywords or sometimes even made different websites appear in the results for a completely different keyword. Gambling sites would stuff their meta tags with more commonly used phrases in order to bring their sites to the first page and trick the search engine and moreover the user.

Now obviously, most search engines have discontinued the use of meta tags for organizing their search results. Algorithms have become much more technologically advanced and they use a number of other methods for indexing and sorting. The big question is if they are no longer viewed as a helpful tag, why do some SEO’s still use them?

Meta tags come in a multitude of different names and uses, so which ones do you use? There are four that I often find myself using when I am optimizing a site. They are as follows:

Meta Robots:
This tag is still widely supported and it simply tells the search bots to either follow the URL through or you can ask them not to index certain parts of your site for aspects that may not be relevant to your actual site.

Meta Description:
My favorite tag. This is your first impression, if you don’t have this tag search engines will just tag clips of your index page including the keyword that was being searched for by the surfer. First impressions often is the difference between a sale or no sale.

Meta Keywords:
A controversial meta tag, some use it, some don’t. I still thinks it holds a bit of value if you keep it simple. Don’t add more than 20 or so keywords, as I think it does increase your on-page keyword density.

Meta Content Type:
This is recommended because you may find that if you do not have this tag it could cause display problems.

Now, most search engines don’t use the meta tags as they did in the early nineties, but as I explained you can still use them for a variety of other reasons. There is of course a number of opinions on this matter: Some SEO firms are strong believers in the meta tag and other firms are strongly against it.

In conclusion, my opinion is that meta tags can be used for a number of alternative reasons and still offer you a great place to sell your stuff.

I always will recommend the use of at least a small number of Meta Tags, and if used correctly they will greatly improve your chances of more sales and higher rankings.

About the Author: Carrie Haggerty has been working in SEO and Internet marketing for the past 3 years. She has started her own SEO Firm and also her own SEO article website.

• When your vocation becomes your vacation, you’ll never work another day in your life.
• No one can succeed in any endeavor that they don’t like. If you don’t love what you’re doing , then don’t do it.
• Your chances of success are directly proportional to the degree of pleasure you drive from what you do.
• Do something that you have a deep personal interest in. Do something you’d enjoy spending twelve to fiteen hours a day working at, and the rest of the time thinking about.
• Don’t set compensation as your goal. Find work you like and the compensation will follow.
• Work is not your punishment. It’s your reward, your strength and your pleasure.
• Real success is achieved when you like what you do. Work is love made visible.

Hello Everybody! I have been at a destination wedding in Belize for my son Curt and Heidi’s wedding since I last blogged. We had a wonderful time, the wedding was beautiful, Belize is a paradise, snorkeling was amazing, accommodations were glorious, food was incredible, and the people were true ambassadors!

We had an experience in Belize that will live in our memory forever. Wow! Forty-four people flew in for the wedding and enjoyed the same experience. The trip was an adventure, several connection flights, an Island hopper, and boat ride just to get there. So, you can package that dream vacation even though you are off the beaten path…our vacation was proof of that!

How can you become a “wedding destination” and deliver memory making experiences?

Thank you Curt & Heidi for making our dream vacation come true. Congratulations on your wedding and much love to you always! Momma

• Are the roads and driveways leading gto the property accessible by motorcoach?
• Does the hotel have a minimum of 25 rooms to commit to the tour?
• Are the rooms double/doubles? (most tours will need a minimum of 22 2-bedded rooms)
• Can the property provide key packets for the guests to expedite check-in?
• Do you provide a step-on welcome?
• Can rooms be blocked in advance for the ground floor?
• Does the property have an elevator if the group cannot be located on ground floor?
• Can luggage handling be arranged, what is the charge for this service, how long does it take for the luggage to be delivered to the room upon arrival, and how much time does it take for morning pick-up?
• Can the property provide special services such as welcome receptions?
• Does the property have indoor corridors for room access?
• Are corridors and rooms sufficiently lighted?
• Are there safety chains or bolts on room doors?
• Are there gripper bars in the tub/shower area?
• Are non-smoking rooms available, if so- how many?
• Do the rooms have air conditioning, television, telephones, etc.
• Is there a loading and unloading area near the entrance, is this covered - and if so, is there sufficient clearance for a motorcoach drive underneath?
• Is there motorcoach parking for overnight?
• Is the parking area well lighted?
• Does the property want to work with group tours?
• Are group rates available, and how is billing handled?
• What type of reservation confirmation system is in place, are there any penalties for cancellation?
• Is there a comp policy for the motorcoach driver and/ or escort?
• How are individual expenses handled (i.e. long distance phone calls, etc.)?
• Can the property accommodate early morning check-out?
• If the property serves breakfast, can early bbreakfast be arranged?
• Is there a restaurant on site, or nearby?

If you want to work with the group tour industry, you must know the answers to these questions. Do you have a Group Tour Fact Sheet or contract addressing these issues? Give a copy to your DMO so they can help sell your property to this market. Win-Win

• Are the roads and driveways leading to the restaurant accessible by motorcoach?
• What are the hours of operation and can special hours be arranged if needed?
• Does the restaurant want group tours?
• Is the restaurant large enough to accommodate the tour as well as normal trade?
• Does the restaurant have sufficient staff to service the group as well as the normal trade?
• Are tours requested to come before or after the normal mealtime rush?
• Is the service fast, friendly, and efficient? How much time should be planned for the meal?
• What type of menu is offered and are there any specialities or recommendations?
• Are special group menus available?
• Can tour participants choose from a couple of different menu items, if so- how much notice is needed?
• Can the restaurant accommodate special dietary needs, if so - how much notice is needed?
• Does the restaurant have a lounge or bar area?
• Are group rates available, what are the billing and gratuity policies?
• What type of reservation confirmation system is in place, are there any penalties for cancellation?
• Is there a comp policy for the motorcoach driver and/or escort?
• Are there conveniently located public restrooms, are these well maintained,  how many stalls are available in the women’s restroom, how many in the men’s restroom, and is the plumbing adequate to service the increased usage by a group?
• Is there an area near the entrance for loading and unloading of the motorcoach, and can this be reserved or blocked off in advance for the motorcoach?
• Is there parking available for the motorcoach?
• Is a step-on welcome and send off available?

It is important to know the answers to these questions and preparing a Group Tour Fact Sheet to distribute to your DMO and all group tour inquiries, including sample menus to help sell your restaurant. What sets you apart from others in your community? Now that is what I am talking about…answer this and you hold the key.

• 90% of manifestation is complete in the declaration
• Most people don’t declare intentionally
  • Complaints are intentions
  • Gossip is an intention
  • Describing what happened is an intention
  • Describing what you don’t want is an intention
  • Analyzing is an intention
• Your focus is an unstated intention
  • Clarity is everything
  • Reality is nothing more than what you say to yourself and others about yourself, others and situations

Tip for setting intentions:

• Use the language of creation verse the language of description
• Speak to your in the language that it uses to create reality

2. Keep doing what you are doing.

• New ideas are an expression of where you are
• Stopping will put you in survival = breakdown, frustration, off track

3. Ancient Vietnamese Proverb - Phuk Hau

• The How is not your job - it’s the job of the universe
• You will only see the next few steps ahead…take those!

4. Tell Everyone what you are intending

• Opportunity lies in people
• Sell the vision

5. Connect deeply with everyone, step over on one

• You never know who the one will be
  • Honor people

6. The Perfect Game

• Accept what’s offered
• Do what’s suggested
• Declare it perfect
• Be a “yes” to life!
• Stop saying no!!
• If the universe could get frustrated, it would be with you by now!!!!

7. Ride the waves

• Results and experiences may have ups and downs…enjoy the process
• Even before it manifests, you start talking about how it’s not manifesting yet and kill it off
• Get excited about everything
• Make everything mean “it’s coming”

8. Don’t get attached to how it looks

• You don’t see it when it comes!
• Be flexible

May 2008 be all that you manifest! Happy New Year!

• Are the roads and driveways leading to the attraction accessible by motorcoach?
• How much time should be allowed for the attraction?
• What are the hours of operation, and can special hours be arranged for the tour if needed?
• What type of experience does the attraction offer?
• Are there conveniently located public restrooms, are these well maintained, and how many stalls are available in the women’s restroom, how many in the men’s restroom, and is the plumbing adequate to service the increased usage by a group?
• Are a step-on welcome and send off available?
• Are tour guides provided, or is there sufficient information for a self-guided tour?
• Are group rates available, is a deposit required, and when is payment due?
• Is there a comp policy for the motorcoach driver and/or escort?
• What type of confirmation system is in place, is written confirmation required, are there any penalties for cancellation?
• Is there an area near the entrance for loading and unloading of the motorcoach and can this be reserved or blocked off in advance for the motorcoach?
• Can the attraction efficiently handle 30 to 50 people at one time in addition to regular visitor traffic?
• Are special group entrances and handling available? (tour participants don’t have to wait in line at entrance, if tickets are necessary can these be distributed in advance while the group is still on the motorcoach?
• Is there convenient parking available for the motorcoach while the group is taking the tour?
• Does the attraction want group tours?
• Does the attraction have general appeal, or only local interest?
• What makes the attraction unique or special?

I would recommend that if the attraction wants group tours, they design a GROUP TOUR FACT sheet addressing these issues. Your DMO also needs this information to help sell your attraction as a destination…this is what I call a no-brainier!

DMOs

• Tour planners often rely on DMO’s for information about what they should do and see in an area. Are you familiar with the attractions, restaurants, hotels and other tour opportunities in your area? Are these large enough to accommodate tour groups? What type experiences do they offer? Is there a contact person who handles group tours at these sites? Is the business or attraction interested in working with group tours?
• Do you know approximately how much time it takes to tour the attractions in your area by car?
• What services are you willing or able to provide for tours?
• Is step-on guide service available in your community? If so, what does this service include? Is there a charge for this service, and how much advance notice is needed?
• Are good maps available of your community/area which can be provided to the motorcoach driver?
• Can you “sell” your community/area? Are you excited about your tour offerings? What is unique or special about what you have? How can your area be packaged with other areas?
• Do you supply welcome bags?

Just a thought, but if you do not have marketing materials spelling out each item above, you are missing an opportunity to work with these folks. You must know the answers to these questions to serve this market.

“Branding” is the most misunderstood word in the tourism and downtown development industry. A brand is not a logo or slogan - those are simply tools used to reinforce the brand. A brand is a feeling, what people think of you, not what you say you are.

Branding is the art of setting yourself apart, creating the perception that there is no other place quite like yours. Much more than logos and slogans, your brand is the image, the expectation that your visitors have of you. It must be pervasive throughout the community, so it is obvious to a visitor what you are. This could include decorative signage, façade improvements, attractions development, and more. A brand is your promise.

What are your thoughts?

The overall job of a DMO is to market and sell their destination. Since a DMO wants every single client to be happy, it’s going to do everything it can to match every client with the perfect setting and services for its meetings and most of their services are FREE.

Before a meeting begins, DMO sales professionals can help locate meeting space, check hotel availability, and arrange for site inspections. DMOs can also link meeting professionals with the suppliers, from motorcoach companies and caterers to off-site entertainment venues, that can help meet the prerequisites of any event.

The bottom line — the DMO is working for you.

DMOs

• Encourage groups to hold meetings in their city
• Assist meeting professionals with preparations
• Provide promotional materials to encourage attendance
• Establish room blocks for hotels
• Serve as the official point of contact
• Give meeting professionals access to a range of services and value-added extras

Specific services DMOs offer Meeting Professionals

• Unbiased information about services and facilities in the destination.
• A vast information database and a one-stop shop, thus saving meeting professionals time, energy and money in the development of a meeting.
• A liaison between the meeting professional and the community. For example, DMOs are aware of community events with which your meeting may beneficially coincide (i.e. festivals, sporting events). They can also work with city government to get special permits and to cut through red tape.
• Help meeting attendees maximize their free time through the creation of pre and post-conference activities, spouse tours, and hosting of special evening events.
• Provide hotel room counts and meeting space statistics, and will keep a convention/meetings/events calendar in order to help meeting professionals avoid conflicts and/or space shortages.
• Match properties to specific meeting requirements and budgets
• Collateral material
• Help with on-site logistics, including registration
• Housing bureaus
• Auxiliary services, such as production companies, catering, transportation
• Site inspections/familiarization tours and site selection
• Speakers and local educational opportunities
• Security
• Coordination of local transportation
• Access to special venues

What does your organization offer the Meeting Professional in the way of services?

Information from Destination Marketing Association International