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TripAdvisor asks... forum: Feedback on auto-linking to other TripAdvisor pages


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   Joined: Oct 2004
   Forum posts: 9,415
   Travel map pins: 0 

TripAdvisor
Staff
Posted on: 8:07 am, March 03, 2008

We're looking for your feedback on some changes to the forums that will generate links to relevant TripAdvisor pages when you post on the forums.

Destinations, attractions, hotels, and restaurants mentioned in the forums may get a link to their page on TripAdvisor. These links happen automatically when you mention a place. For example: I went to London last year.

Linking only happens when the name matches TripAdvisor's official name very closely, and only when correct capitalization is used. There is currently no way to turn off this functionality or to control which

words get linked or where those links point. We are currently testing this out only in the London, Punta Cana and Orlando forums, as well as any forums that are not associated with a specific destination.

Let us know what you think!

   Timisoara, Romania
   Joined: Jul 2007
   Forum posts: 2
   Travel map pins: 19 

Posted on: 10:42 am, March 03, 2008

I think it would be great to do that!

   london
   Joined: Aug 2007
   Forum posts: 2,413
   Travel map pins: 9 

ilovedisneyLondon
Posted on: 12:41 pm, March 03, 2008

just used one of the links and it is really useful. definately a good addition to trip advisor!!! really easy, and useful way of accessing reviews etc.

   Watford
   Joined: Oct 2004
   Forum posts: 15,563
   Travel map pins: 52 

destination expert  What's this?
for London
Posted on: 2:29 pm, March 03, 2008

One problem is that some of the words underscored aren't meant to be referred to. For instance if you type hope in a reply it links to a small village in Derbyshire.

Too many and the underscoring will become a distraction. This could happen with a post suggesting several hotels.

   Boston, Massachusetts
   Joined: Dec 2004
   Forum posts: 2,967
   Travel map pins: 52 

Posted on: 2:31 pm, March 03, 2008

I find it very annoying. It disrupts the flow of the conversation. Most folks would be able to navigate to those sites without the "help"

   Watford
   Joined: Oct 2004
   Forum posts: 15,563
   Travel map pins: 52 

destination expert  What's this?
for London
Posted on: 2:34 pm, March 03, 2008

Another more worrying example: A poster asked for a musical suitable for her 10 year old daughter and someone suggested the Sound of Music. Sound was underscored and the link took you to a gay nightclub in central London called Sound.

I think that you need to stick to hotels and towns and get someone to delete those links that are not relevant.

   Ridgewood, New Jersey
   Joined: Aug 2005
   Forum posts: 2,698
   Travel map pins: 181 

kiawahvilla
Posted on: 2:41 pm, March 03, 2008

I find the links annoying and disruptive. There are too many links; and many of them make no sense, as adamhornets has pointed out.

   scotland
   Joined: Mar 2005
   Forum posts: 2,602
   Travel map pins: 28 

destination expert  What's this?
for Scotland
thegoodwitch
Posted on: 2:45 pm, March 03, 2008

I can see what you are trying to achieve here, but I find it distracting and annoying.

If there was a way to make it very selective it might work better. Sorry - I can't think how you would do that.

   London
   Joined: Nov 2005
   Forum posts: 3,406
   Travel map pins: 170 

destination expert  What's this?
for Switzerland
NorthWestLondoner
Posted on: 2:53 pm, March 03, 2008

Very, very annoying. Please make them go away.

   Lancs
   Joined: Jun 2007
   Forum posts: 2,541
   Travel map pins: 41 

Posted on: 3:08 pm, March 03, 2008

Thanks for trying something but it doesn't work; sorry!

   London
   Joined: Apr 2007
   Forum posts: 1,170
   Travel map pins: 29 

Posted on: 3:38 pm, March 03, 2008

The idea is really good but can be annoying and sometimes doesn't quite work.

Perhaps there could be a way for advisers to highlight a link themselves rather than you automatically picking out words?

It would be even more useful if (as someone just suggested)links that advisers copy into their posts could be automatically highlighted.

If MSN/hotmail can do it, surely you could?