"Wikitravel has a speed and convenience the books' publishers can only envy." Time Europe

Difference between revisions of "Tech:Add booking tool to WT"

From Wikitravel Shared
Jump to: navigation, search
(I'm puzzled by this strategy.. A WT logo on a commercial booking tool? That's the end of this websites reputation and will put it in direct competition with all the other booking tools.)
Line 44: Line 44:
  
 
:::::::It's your site, I don't see what could stop you from removing your own logo or putting a disclaimer. That "narrow set of criteria" is really not so narrow at all -- all they have to do is be looking for a hotel : 1. a first-time user has advertising turned on by default; it's not some conscious decision unless you've dug into the preferences settings, 2. how could they not see it if you guys are going to smack it at the top of every page, 3. that's the search they'll likely try first, since it's 10 times bigger than our WT content search box. I don't think it even close to reasonable to assume that new users are going to automatically recognize that hotels listed on a WT content page are those recommended by wiki-travellers while those on the booking search results page are basically advertisements. It ''needs'' to be made plainly clear somehow. [[User:Texugo|texugo]] 21:06, 21 September 2011 (EDT)
 
:::::::It's your site, I don't see what could stop you from removing your own logo or putting a disclaimer. That "narrow set of criteria" is really not so narrow at all -- all they have to do is be looking for a hotel : 1. a first-time user has advertising turned on by default; it's not some conscious decision unless you've dug into the preferences settings, 2. how could they not see it if you guys are going to smack it at the top of every page, 3. that's the search they'll likely try first, since it's 10 times bigger than our WT content search box. I don't think it even close to reasonable to assume that new users are going to automatically recognize that hotels listed on a WT content page are those recommended by wiki-travellers while those on the booking search results page are basically advertisements. It ''needs'' to be made plainly clear somehow. [[User:Texugo|texugo]] 21:06, 21 September 2011 (EDT)
 +
 +
::::::::One could argue long and hard about the effects of /any/ content related adds on the independence and objectiveness of this website. I'm certain it damages the objective image of Wikitravel, but I've concluded it is (so far) to an acceptable degree, considering the obvious need to make money. However, if a purely commercial booking tool like this will operate ''under the Wikitravel logo'', that will be the end of Wikitravel's reputation of objectivity and volunteer base. Surely it will take enthusiasm away for many users now (it would for me), and it will not encourage many new ones to spend a lot of time editing. In time, Wikitravel would lose the huge advantage it has over other websites with booking options and is likely to produce less instead of more income.
 +
 +
::::::::I'm convinced that the prospects of any booking tool or other commercial side-effects of this website simply depend on the quality and thus usefulness of the content. The better Wikitravel is, the more people will use it and the more will click on to commercial adds. Damaging its image just seems... unwise, from a community ánd a commercial perspective. [[User:Justme2|Justme2]] 07:51, 22 September 2011 (EDT)

Revision as of 11:55, 22 September 2011

This will serve as the new home for future discussion of the Booking Tool, as well as discussions of how the community would prefer the look and feel of the tool once we are in Beta.

This page is redirected from http://wikitravel.org/shared/Talk:Advertising_policy --IBobi 18:22, 24 August 2011 (EDT)

Hi all. I promised to keep everyone in the loop on the implementation of the booking tool, and now there may be an early opportunity for input. I've tried to think about what the best implementation would act like, but I have not been able to predict what may work best from a community perspective.
Essentially, after a user inputs travel info (say, airport codes to & from) and hits "FIND" or "SEND" or whatever the button will say, a new page will open. This page will most likely be branded with the booking partner's logo, but may also just say something like "Wikitravel booking engine" or something along those lines. In addition, there will be on-call travel advisors at an 800 number who can assist with booking and changes; they can answer the phone in many different ways, including "[name of booking partner]," or "Wikitravel booking...".
My question is, how does the community feel this ought to be handled, ideally? Once the booking button is clicked, should the Wikitravel brand be preserved throughout the process or part of the process, or would it be better to then see/hear only the partner's brand? Obviously this revolves around WT not explicitly endorsing any particular companies, but this is a type of consideration we have not yet had to deal with as far as I know.
I am meeting with our proposed partner soon; any input would be appreciated.--IBobi 20:32, 9 September 2011 (EDT)
The less this advertising is associated with Wikitravel the better, in my opinion. I think it's fair to say that all regular contributors would rather not see this feature added to the site, but since it's going to happen then please make it as clear as possible that it is not in any way associated with the content in the travel guides. -- Ryan 23:15, 12 September 2011 (EDT)
I agree with Ryan. I'd prefer to see as little of this booking tool as possible, and for it to bear no endorsement by or icon from Wikitravel.texugo 03:05, 13 September 2011 (EDT)
I agree. It's bad enough to associate our site with a particular booking agent; worse would be appearing as if that association is more than just an advertising expedient. LtPowers 10:22, 13 September 2011 (EDT)
OK, so I think what we're going to be looking at is a very stripped-down version of the page, then. Maybe pulling off the upper and left navigation boxes? Preserving WT logo but taking *all actual WT content* off the page -- all you will see in the center column will be the search results (air and/or hotel). I'll try to get a mockup up here soon. And we will clearly label the results "powered by [booking partner name & logo]". There will be no question that the results are *not content*.--IBobi 18:33, 13 September 2011 (EDT)

Please take a peek at the mockup of what the search results page looks like: Image:WT booking engine mockup, 1st page nav.PNG --IBobi 19:43, 16 September 2011 (EDT)

WT booking engine mockup, 1st page nav.PNG
IS this envisioned as opening up a new page or tab in the browser? If not, I'd like to see a link back to the Wikitravel article somewhere. LtPowers 11:53, 17 September 2011 (EDT)
That's a good question -- I asked the same thing, and my understanding is we can do whatever we want; my preference is for a new tab so that the actual WT page never leaves. Thoughts on this? New tab vs. new page vs link back?--IBobi 19:50, 21 September 2011 (EDT)
It should probably go without saying that I oppose the introduction of this tool. The more our site looks like a cynical tool for revenue, the less people will be enthusiastic about volunteering their own time and effort towards improving the site, and the less savvy readers will be inclined to trust our information as impartial and sincere.
IB has plenty of different websites under its umbrella—why not simply make a separate hotel booking website and link to it from the right adbar? I really hate seeing the Wikitravel icon affixed to an unabashed booking site. That's just not Wikitravel—Wikitravel is a project to create a free, complete, up-to-date, and reliable worldwide travel guide. This muddies our purpose in a way that actively harms our site's development. --Peter Talk 14:29, 19 September 2011 (EDT)
I agree. I would not like to see the WT logo anywhere on the page at all because it's not part of Wikitravel, but rather some grotesque money-grabbing appendage that IB is forcefully grafting on. It circumvents the whole point of our objectively selecting and recommending lodging from the reader's point of view, defying the whole definition of "wiki" in the first place.texugo 18:00, 19 September 2011 (EDT)
Really, looking at it again, it's so blatantly commercial that not only do I not want the Wikitravel logo on it, I'd really like to see a disclaimer at the top stating that booking engine search results do not necessarily correspond to the recommendations of Wikitravel.texugo 01:20, 20 September 2011 (EDT)
By way of adding some perspective, this results page will only be seen when a narrow set of criteria are met:
1. A user has elected not to turn off advertising, which is optional and free without purchasing or indicating any sort of subscription or premium service;
AND
2. A user has viewed a destination page, seen the booking tool display, and desires to book or research airfares & accommodations for their trip;
AND
3. A user has plugged his/her travel information (to/from city, dates of travel, etc.) into the booking tool and clicked SEARCH, bringing him/her to a new page containing search results, with the original WT content page still open in his/her browser.
So, a page like the one displayed above will appear only if it is very specifically desired by the user (and in all likelihood never seen by anyone involved in this discussion).
As to the logo, I am not certain whether we could remove that from a WT page. I’m also unsure if there’s a way to implement texugo’s “disclaimer” idea in a way that would please everyone, though I understand where the desire for that kind of distinction comes from. As we continue to discuss implementation I’m sure we can come up with a reasonable way to accomplish the same effect, if the "Orbitz" branding, separate results page, etc. does not already accomplish that. I'll look into it.--IBobi 19:50, 21 September 2011 (EDT)
It's your site, I don't see what could stop you from removing your own logo or putting a disclaimer. That "narrow set of criteria" is really not so narrow at all -- all they have to do is be looking for a hotel : 1. a first-time user has advertising turned on by default; it's not some conscious decision unless you've dug into the preferences settings, 2. how could they not see it if you guys are going to smack it at the top of every page, 3. that's the search they'll likely try first, since it's 10 times bigger than our WT content search box. I don't think it even close to reasonable to assume that new users are going to automatically recognize that hotels listed on a WT content page are those recommended by wiki-travellers while those on the booking search results page are basically advertisements. It needs to be made plainly clear somehow. texugo 21:06, 21 September 2011 (EDT)
One could argue long and hard about the effects of /any/ content related adds on the independence and objectiveness of this website. I'm certain it damages the objective image of Wikitravel, but I've concluded it is (so far) to an acceptable degree, considering the obvious need to make money. However, if a purely commercial booking tool like this will operate under the Wikitravel logo, that will be the end of Wikitravel's reputation of objectivity and volunteer base. Surely it will take enthusiasm away for many users now (it would for me), and it will not encourage many new ones to spend a lot of time editing. In time, Wikitravel would lose the huge advantage it has over other websites with booking options and is likely to produce less instead of more income.
I'm convinced that the prospects of any booking tool or other commercial side-effects of this website simply depend on the quality and thus usefulness of the content. The better Wikitravel is, the more people will use it and the more will click on to commercial adds. Damaging its image just seems... unwise, from a community ánd a commercial perspective. Justme2 07:51, 22 September 2011 (EDT)
Personal tools
Namespaces

Variants
Actions
Navigation
RSS
Toolbox
In other languages
http://wikitravel.org/wiki/shared/index.php?title=Tech:Add_booking_tool_to_WT&diff=145900&oldid=145888
wikitravel.org
crawl=CC-MAIN-2013-48
38585
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:JLPFZT3GJWRLUI3GABYDGZ42YSYLOR5W
<urn:uuid:3a848b90-3cbc-4032-88eb-7e8017a28f28>
2013-12-18T12:21:28Z
98.158.195.136
sha1:HRIIAWIXDSDQKNJB7C4MB6YQA3WLREFO
<urn:uuid:f3d2c34d-c549-4a16-89f9-c9c04feab170>
http://wikitravel.org/wiki/shared/index.php?title=Tech:Add_booking_tool_to_WT&diff=145900&oldid=145888
response
<urn:uuid:1897bcc5-616c-4b45-9f80-c17d6e47f31c>
robots: classic
hostname: ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal
software: Nutch 1.6 (CC)/CC WarcExport 1.0
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2013-48
operator: CommonCrawl Admin
description: Wide crawl of the web with URLs provided by Blekko for Winter 2013
publisher: CommonCrawl
format: WARC File Format 1.0
conformsTo: http://bibnum.bnf.fr/WARC/WARC_ISO_28500_version1_latestdraft.pdf