Hotellook and YouTube Marketing

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GoodScout

GoodScout

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Here's the latest trying to glom off our hard work and make a buck:
Found a YouTube video for my B&B that went up June 4 and basically stripped all of the photos off our website and turned them into a slideshow, with a banner chick that tells people to click the link in the comments to save 20% off their rooms.
Link takes you to a page on Hotelzbox.com, which immediately redirects you to a custom page for my B&B they've created on a site called Hotellook.com with my photos and Boo.com's comments. To add more shadiness to the deal, the site is owned by a company called jetradar, an "internet travel site" owned by Russians.
I filed a DMDA copyright complaint with YouTube, who hopefully will take the video down. The site probably can't be touched.
Every time I delve into our online marketing, I feel like I need to take a shower....
 
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?
 
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?.
Click to expand...
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?
Click to expand...
If you change anything on your website, drop booking, things like that, the site still keeps your info and returns errors when guests try to book. (If anyone even finds them.) It makes it look like YOU are shady, or closed, or whatever because everyone knows one of those big sites with all those hotels is completely legit.
And it's annoying that ANYONE can strip your info off the web and create a page that pretends to be you, gets your guests to book thru them and costs you 15%. IF it's even legit. Maybe they're just scamming credit card numbers.
 
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?.
Click to expand...
Not to mention they jacked up the price on my place! So, I pay booking 15% on the jacked up rate??? Or these guys send me the standard rate and keep they extra for themselves? Oh, cute. Booking has jacked up my rate to pretend to give the guest a discount. Yeesh. This is too much.
 
BTW, I like your rooms! And good that you put that comment in.
 
BTDT. The person who posted it last time sent me messages begging me to not get her banned from Youtube and all her videos taken down. I also had their affiliate ID removed since it's a violation of the affiliate plans. Cut off that source of income.
 
Morticia said:
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?.
Click to expand...
Not to mention they jacked up the price on my place! So, I pay booking 15% on the jacked up rate??? Or these guys send me the standard rate and keep they extra for themselves? Oh, cute. Booking has jacked up my rate to pretend to give the guest a discount. Yeesh. This is too much.
.
Click to expand...
Yes I saw a higher rate for the local inn that went with bkg, then of course the advertised 'discount' - ugh. I hope it's working for them.
 
"This video is no longer available due to a copyright claim"
:)
 
gillumhouse said:
Alex John said:
When I searched the blogs suddenly I saw this one and when I read it, amazing stuff out there that compelled me to comment. digital marketing agency.
Click to expand...
I had to look. Did not go beyond the home page but now I wonder how many e-mails I will be getting from them touting their services.
.
Click to expand...
If you get unwanted emails just send about 50 replies to each, sometimes that gets folks attention, legitimate businesses anyway.
 
Morticia said:
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?.
Click to expand...
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?
Click to expand...
If you change anything on your website, drop booking, things like that, the site still keeps your info and returns errors when guests try to book. (If anyone even finds them.) It makes it look like YOU are shady, or closed, or whatever because everyone knows one of those big sites with all those hotels is completely legit.
And it's annoying that ANYONE can strip your info off the web and create a page that pretends to be you, gets your guests to book thru them and costs you 15%. IF it's even legit. Maybe they're just scamming credit card numbers.
.
Click to expand...
All of this OTA nonsense makes me so glad we have been able to maintain our brand by not jumping on the OTA bandwagon. Although it would be a struggle to be found because of all the air, bk-ing, x competition, at least we are not losing guests because we have discontinued OTAs who continue to list without being able to book us and not losing $$$ to their fees by trying to race to the bottom to compete. We have been steadfast in keeping our brand and staying true to it through our personal touch an a lot of hard work. I know this is not the "modern" way of doing business and am not advocating that others who are just starting out follow suit, but developing your own brand and representing yourself does have some advantages.
 
Silverspoon said:
Morticia said:
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?.
Click to expand...
Arks said:
Yep, I see they have me on there too. Explain to me, what's the harm to me?
Click to expand...
If you change anything on your website, drop booking, things like that, the site still keeps your info and returns errors when guests try to book. (If anyone even finds them.) It makes it look like YOU are shady, or closed, or whatever because everyone knows one of those big sites with all those hotels is completely legit.
And it's annoying that ANYONE can strip your info off the web and create a page that pretends to be you, gets your guests to book thru them and costs you 15%. IF it's even legit. Maybe they're just scamming credit card numbers.
.
Click to expand...
All of this OTA nonsense makes me so glad we have been able to maintain our brand by not jumping on the OTA bandwagon. Although it would be a struggle to be found because of all the air, bk-ing, x competition, at least we are not losing guests because we have discontinued OTAs who continue to list without being able to book us and not losing $$$ to their fees by trying to race to the bottom to compete. We have been steadfast in keeping our brand and staying true to it through our personal touch an a lot of hard work. I know this is not the "modern" way of doing business and am not advocating that others who are just starting out follow suit, but developing your own brand and representing yourself does have some advantages.
.
Click to expand...
Silverspoon said:
All of this OTA nonsense makes me so glad we have been able to maintain our brand by not jumping on the OTA bandwagon. Although it would be a struggle to be found because of all the air, bk-ing, x competition, at least we are not losing guests because we have discontinued OTAs who continue to list without being able to book us and not losing $$$ to their fees by trying to race to the bottom to compete. We have been steadfast in keeping our brand and staying true to it through our personal touch an a lot of hard work. I know this is not the "modern" way of doing business and am not advocating that others who are just starting out follow suit, but developing your own brand and representing yourself does have some advantages.
Click to expand...
thumbs_up.gif
I agree. Though those starting out can start with OTAs and slowly close their accounts with them as they get well known. This works best for those in tourist traps locations.
 

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