NB: This is a guest post by Yunna Takeuchi, director of e-distribution at Evolution, a reservation system provider to hotels.

Social media, distribution channels, web investment, discounting, being risky and target-setting – it couldn’t be easier as an independent hotel owner, right?

1. Everyone’s listening.

Social media, what exactly is it? Ignore the myth that social media is just Facebook and Twitter, these days the internet is social media and a strategy for managing it has never been more important. Facebook and Twitter are important, but don’t forget the numerous other channels including TripAdvisor, Foursquare, YouTube and local websites and blogs.

Communication on the internet takes place everywhere; make sure someone is monitoring it. Revenue managers often don’t have time to monitor social media and over the next few years, the position of social media manager will become an important role. Don’t get left behind and ensure you implement an effective social media strategy. There are many partners available who can help you build an effective strategy if your resources don’t allow it.

Read the full story at:http://www.tnooz.com/2010/09/03/how-to/ten-tips-for-better-revenue-management-in-independent-hotels/