PLANETA

Workshop 21: Planeta.com's Online Workshop for World Travel Operators

WORKSHOP 21 WIKI

Unusual travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.
- Travel Notebook

www.flickr.com

FLICKR ALBUM: 21

Workshop 21 provides timely tips for tour guides and operators featured in our World Travel Directory.

CRITERIA

To be featured in our World Travel Directory, operators need to show they offer eco-friendly, people-friendly tours. Operators must have a website to facilitate direct contact with potential clients.

Planeta.com does not list operations that keep caged animals or offer hunting. We give preference to those who are proactive and contribute articles, editorial advice or engage with Ron using social media.

If you run an eco-friendly, people-friendly, place-friendly conscious travel service and are keen to be featured on our site, here is our criteria. Premium coverage includes a directory listing and a link on the relevant country guide. We feature your photos and tweets and add links to your Web 2.0 channels including blogs, Facebook, Flickr, Foursquare, Google, LinkedIn, SlideShare,TripAdvisor, Twitter, wikis and YouTube.

The cost for a premier listing is $250/year. A listing in the directory alone is $100/year. Here's the application!

RENEWALS

Renewal payments need to be made two months before expiration. We do not accept multiple-year payment.

We review the operators on the basis of the following factors:

Are any criticisms received and unanswered? (If so, the operator will not be asked to renew the listing)
Does the operator suggest helpful editorial corrections or contribute new articles?
Does the operator add the Planeta.com logo and add a link from their website?

OUR COMMITMENT

Directory listings are updated on a regular basis. Let us know if your phone number, email, address or website changes. If you create a gallery on Flickr or upload videos on YouTube, let us know so those will be included. If you would like, we also will establish links to your Web 2.0 channels.

TIPS FOR MEMBERS

Potential clients are looking for proof that you are a credible operator. We recommend that your website feature the Planeta.com logo and any other organizations of which you are a member. Make sure the logos have active links. It gives your work credibility if the link goes directly to an external site that recommends you.

Please review the relevant city guide on Planeta.com. Your operation will be mentioned at no additional charge.

PHOTO GALLERY

Operators are invited to share photos of their operation, tourists and guides, local wildlife or fauna. These pictures are archived in an online gallery and randomly displayed in our directory. Give it a go!

www.flickr.com

MEDIA RELEASES

Please note that the general policy of Planeta.com is that we prefer NOT to receive traditional media releases. Let us know via Twitter, Delicious or Facebook.

NETWORKING AND ANNOUNCING EVENTS

Post announcements about upcoming events in which you are attending in the Networking topic. We do ask that after the event you post a summary within two weeks. You can also fill out an Event Survey evaluation.

Event organizers who invite Planeta.com to give a presentation are notified that we will feature the event in our calendar. Please review the conditions for speaking engagements.

KUDOS

We applaud tour operators who go above and beyond a listing on Planeta and contribute articles and editing suggestions for our site and engage with Ron via social media channels. We also pay respect to operators who educate travelers about cultural protocols, green technology and science.

AUCTION

Generous operators contribute tours for auction. Proceeds help maintain our award-winning, content-rich website.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)

How popular is Planeta.com?

Our award-winning site consistently receives kudos in guidebooks, newspapers and other media.

For stats, consult website popularity. If you are a travel business featured on our site, be sure to install a web analytics program on your own site to track incoming traffic. One recommendation: Google Analytics (explained)

When do operators renew listings?

Payments are accepted for one year. Renewal payments need to be made the month or two before expiration. We do not accept multiple-year payment as listings are reviewed on an annual basis.