I wrote our blogs for the first few years. Then I ran out of ideas. Blogging is time consuming and f

Joel Cohen is the Vice President of New York City Vacation Packages , the largest independent tour company in the United States devoted exclusively to promoting “the Greatest City in the World.” Joel has more than thirty years of experience in the travel calculate travel distances between cities industry and is committed to helping travelers see all New York has to offer. calculate travel distances between cities We spoke to him about his experiences in the leisure travel industry and how his advice can help your business.
Travel Agent Spotlight: You studied Accounting at Temple University and received your Law degree from Temple’s graduate program. With those impressive academic credentials, what inspired you to work in the travel industry?
Joel Cohen: I never really saw myself calculate travel distances between cities as a lawyer, or an accountant for that matter; too dry. I opened calculate travel distances between cities a photography studio shortly after completing my education; then circumstances drew me into the travel industry, first as a novice calculate travel distances between cities travel agent. I was hooked after my first family trip.
TAS: One of the most unique parts about living in the United States is the cultural diversity between major cities; for example, Chicago and Houston are two very different destinations. What specifically drew you to New York City?
JC: The story I tell is that my wife wouldn’t fly with me anymore because I fell asleep once on a plane and talked actually screamed – in my sleep. Very embarrassing. So, we would drive to New York City for long weekends. But the real reason is that Barry Tenenbaum, the company’s President and a New Yorker, saw an opportunity to market the City to travel agents because there were no other tour companies who specialized in the destination, which is one of the top 3 most visited destinations in the US.
TAS: You founded a Facebook page in 2010 and have gained over eleven thousand page ‘likes’ since then. What has been one of the most successful marketing tactics NYCVP has used to establish calculate travel distances between cities itself on social media?
TAS: Some businesses in this industry have a tough time getting noticed on Twitter, but NYCVP has had a healthy following since your page’s introduction in 2009. Your posting features a number of news articles from a variety of sources, including Yahoo!, AM New York, and of course the New York Times. Do you consider keeping your followers informed about the city’s events a valuable marketing strategy?
JC: We learned early on that if we used our social media presence to sell our products, we’d be abandoned calculate travel distances between cities by our audience immediately. Tweets need to be compelling and fresh. They need to engage and interest the reader. They shouldn’t be commercials. By offering links to interesting articles about New York City we hope to forge a connection between our brand and our destination. Social media is just about keeping communication open with people and building a kind of trust before they even buy anything from us. The old principles of marketing still apply to the new media. Create relationships and nurture those relationships.
TAS: Since 2008, NYCVP has maintained calculate travel distances between cities a blog that features topics from restaurants to museum exhibits. How has blogging positively impacted your business, and would you recommend blogging to other companies?
JC: I had written a weekly article on travel in the local newspaper when I first got into the business. I was proud of what I wrote. I thought I was a good writer. calculate travel distances between cities Then the paper’s editor told me the mark of a good writer is what he does when he runs out of ideas. When I ran out of ideas I quit writing the article.
I wrote our blogs for the first few years. Then I ran out of ideas. Blogging is time consuming and frustrating. It can be positive for a business or, if grammatically poor, negative for business. Fortunately we have Nicole, Bill, and Zoe who contribute daily blogs that keep our brand in front of readers. I would strongly calculate travel distances between cities urge potential bloggers to be creative and engaging, and to read Elements of Style by William Strunk.
JC: I think the most important advice I could give for online marketing is to develop calculate travel distances between cities a following whether on Facebook, Twitter, calculate travel distances between cities Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, whatever by giving people a reason to follow you on that platform. Social media is not about direct selling. You’ll never develop an audience if all you do is play commercials. Convince people you’re the expert calculate travel distances between cities in whatever you’re calculate travel distances between cities selling, but don’t sell.
JC: I love what’s happening to Lower Manhattan. I worked near Wall Street in the early 70s. It was desolate after 5pm and on weekends. Now, it’s a micro-destination that’s ready to flourish. The 9/11 Memorial Museum has already attracted a million calculate travel distances between cities visitors in less than 6 months. #1 World Trade Center and One World Trade Observatory will open soon. The Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, calculate travel distances between cities and coming in a year or so, a revamped South Street Seaport. There’s a lot going on to attract tourists away from the traditional NYC visit. Then there’s Brooklyn – but we’ll save that for another time!
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