Yesterday, we highlighted TripAdvisor's move to make its reviews more believable by offering users the chance to create social networks among friends. Bottom line is that consumers should believe their friends more than the complete and utter strangers they have been depending on.
No sooner had I completed (but not yet uploaded) that post than Adam Healey, CEO of VibeAgent (and, we are honored to say, a fan of this blog) touched base to invite me to check out their peer review travel site that has just gone into beta-testing.
If TripAdvisor is an example of Web 2.0, VibeAgent is Web 2.1. The limitation we noted with the TripAdvisor format is that, while it helps you create groups of people you trust, if you don't know their screen name, you're SOL. With VibeAgent, you can invite your friends AND create social networks with fellow travelers that share your interests and/or tastes.
Not that my friends aren't well traveled...but, what if they weren't? AgentVibe provides the solution by creating a true social network that brings me a world of expertise that my friends might not.
And then, based on these reviews, VibeAgent offers up the opportunity to book the hotels that match up best with your desires.
Very, very Smart.
The Beta version of VibeAgent is available by special invite only...and Adam was kind enough to offer ten invites to readers of this blog. You wanna try it out? E-mail me.
I am a beta user as well and I have to say I love it.
Posted by: Goldy | June 21, 2007 at 22:05
Definitely along the right lines - keen to watch how this evolves as Crowdstorm does the same kind of thing but for consumer electronics
Posted by: Philip Wilkinson | August 21, 2007 at 10:52