tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post2230694752875528002..comments2024-03-09T20:40:14.660+11:00Comments on The BOOT - The Business of Online Travel: Localyte: start up surprise #1 from PhoCusWright 2009Tim Hugheshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05383381229302650553noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-54703945232725443262010-05-12T15:36:31.751+10:002010-05-12T15:36:31.751+10:00Hi Tim, it is an interesting question you pose abo...Hi Tim, it is an interesting question you pose about what really is defining the term "local expert".<br />Localyte started off trying to build a community of licenced private tour guides as their "local experts" and did not have any success. Therefore to allow quicker growth they diluted the quality with quantity allowing any local to join and answer questions.<br />http://www.ourexplorer.com/ have , rightly or wrongly, stuck to quality and now have over 2,000 private tour guides on our site who also get reviewed by clients. Amazing growth by Localyte non the less!!OurExplorer.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05336828235466470303noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-41084659650827001292009-12-16T10:14:00.191+11:002009-12-16T10:14:00.191+11:00I think ultimately if they achieve a lot of volume...I think ultimately if they achieve a lot of volume, (which they are), the content will balance itself it out. Even if several "localytes" have commercial self-interests, they will end up competing which is still good for the user.<br /><br />I think it would be cool if they released an API - a lot of travel sites offer travel products, it would be great to have an "ask a localyte" button there.Michael Raybmanhttp://www.michaelraybman.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-26746889366038913442009-12-16T09:15:18.986+11:002009-12-16T09:15:18.986+11:00I thought they do some things well and some not so...I thought they do some things well and some not so well but as we are also attempting to build community I applaud their guts to try and crack this nut.<br /><br />My biggest concern when I saw their demo, apart from dropping a stat about things they might have in 2 years time, was the transparency issue too.<br /><br />But that being said I think they have done well if they have 40,000 active members.<br /><br />@anon it's not your blog, why worry what others write? Good to see you here commenting but don't you have the ..... to do it in the open?Carl Jacksonhttp://www.tourabout.com/corpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-81336355568220034992009-12-16T07:14:28.847+11:002009-12-16T07:14:28.847+11:00@Anon - thanks for the maths. They make the claim...@Anon - thanks for the maths. They make the claim at the 4:28 mark in the video. Why not tell us you name and why this makes you angry enough to insult meTim Hugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05383381229302650553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29875741.post-21727167007407346452009-12-15T22:23:27.262+11:002009-12-15T22:23:27.262+11:00Shouldn't that be "They CLAIM this has ge...Shouldn't that be "They CLAIM this has generated an SEO content well with a depth of 700,000 reviews and a mind boggling 20 million words per month."<br /><br />315 responses in past 7 days x (let's be kind) 50 words = around 70 000 words per month.<br /><br />I'm being very kind, most replies are hardly that. <br /><br />In my view, 20 million is more than just a little exaggeration. If they used numbers like this to get on Phocuswright roster, it's a disgrace. When no one has heard of a company, there's usually a very very good reason. I'm also a little shocked people are writing about this company and not even doing basic checks on it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com