As the summer travel season kicks into high gear, the world’s largest airlines are using the power of social media to keep millions of travelers informed and in touch as they plan their summer getaways.

U.S. airlines will carry 206.2 million passengers from June through August, up by 3 million from the same period in 2010. This is great news for the industry, but can mean added challenges for travelers.

For airlines including airBaltic, easyJet, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue, Icelandair, Southwest Airlines, United and US Airways, customer loyalty and brand engagement are a top priority.

With more than 4 million combined followers on Twitter alone, these carriers have turned to global interactive marketing provider ExactTarget‘s CoTweet enterprise social media management platform to manage high volumes of customer interactions for flight delays, rebooking, seat assignments, frequent flier programs, luggage handling and more.

Here are five ways social media is helping airline customers make the most of their summer travel plans:

• Fare Deals – This summer, everyone is looking for hot deals. @SouthwestAir recently celebrated their 40^th anniversary by having a 72-hour fare sale and alerting fans and followers through social media channels. JetBlue found so much success through pushing fare deals through social channels they started a separate Twitter account @JetBlueCheeps to offer weekly and pop-up last minute deals to their customers.
• Reservations, Rebooking – Need to make a change to your travel plans? Often social media can produce quicker results than customer service lines. @airBaltic regularly connects with travelers to provide flight and schedule tips.
• Weather Alerts – When a storm blew through Chicago, @UnitedAirlines alerted their more than 200,000 followers of potential delays through Twitter and Facebook. Travelers can keep an eye on their feeds to get the latest on weather delays.
• Rewards Programs – Do you do lots of traveling? Airlines like @USAirways provide program updates, partner deals and last-minute rewards opportunities through social media.
• Baggage Handling – Having trouble finding your bag? Reach out to customer support through Facebook or Twitter and often you can get a quick resolution.

“Tech savvy travelers are increasingly using social media to provide real-time feedback to carriers and share their experiences with others. You need to stay sharp if you want to keep up and stay engaged,” said Morgan Johnston, JetBlue Airways. “CoTweet has helped us transition from a single listening post to a 24/7 monitoring hub with the ability to leverage multiple areas of expertise within our organization to provide a seamless flow of information between our operations, and our customers.”

Many airlines have also turned to CoTweet to engage with customers during travel disruptions or crises, such as the 2010 Icelandic volcanic eruption that resulted in the unprecedented closure of some of the world’s busiest airports.

“Over the last few years we’ve seen a significant uptick in conversations about air travel across social media, which has opened the door for airlines to say, ‘We’re here, we’re listening, and we care!’” said Jesse Engle, vice president of social media at ExactTarget. “These brands face some of the most challenging customer service situations around. By giving them the tools to capture, respond to, and even anticipate their travelers’ needs, we are helping the world’s biggest airlines drive greater customer loyalty and satisfaction ratings in a highly competitive market.”

ExactTarget’s Twitter X-Factors research report found that people active on Twitter are three times more likely to impact a brand’s online reputation through syndicated Tweets, blog posts, articles and product reviews than the average consumer. Twitter X-Factors was the fourth research brief in ExactTarget’s and CoTweet’s ongoing Subscribers, Fans & Followers research series.

AbilityCRM, a Gold Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM partner, based in Tempe, Arizona announced today it will partner with on-demand email and one-to-one marketing provider ExactTarget to help companies increase market share through integrated email marketing.

The partnership brings together AbilityCRM’s expertise in customer relationship management with ExactTarget’s one-to-one marketing platform through the industry’s only Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM and email service provider integration.

“As a Microsoft Gold Partner who specializes in CRM software and consulting services, we know the value of being able to use CRM to help us increase our exposure to our prospects”, says James Marzola, President and CEO of AbilityCRM. “Using ExactTarget’s integrated email marketing system with Microsoft Dynamics CRM enables us to increase our services to Dynamics CRM clients.”

The integration will allow AbilityCRM clients to manage and automate a wide variety of marketing campaigns without the hassle of data synchronization. The seamless ExactTarget – Microsoft integration provides Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM users email marketing automation capabilities to create workflows in Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM that automatically trigger ExactTarget emails based on events or dates.

“Email marketing, as part of an overall business growth and customer retention strategy, is center stage in this market condition,” Marzola said. “Knowing that your email campaigns are effective so your sales team can qualify opportunities quickly and identify who is truly interested is crucial today. We are thrilled with our relationship with ExactTarget and look forward to helping as many companies as we can.”

AbilityCRM is a member of the ExactTarget CRM Partner Network, a subset of ExactTarget’s Referral Partner program designed to leverage the Customer Relationship Management expertise of Microsoft Dynamics™ CRM value-added resellers.

Promise Technology, a supplier of RAID storage solutions, recently announced the release of the Acronis Backup & Recovery Server OEM software bundle program with the VessRAID 1000 Series storage systems.

Designed to increase data services coverage for the small to medium-size business storage product line, the program features a single, free-of-charge license for use of the software when the license server is installed on the host machine to which the VessRAID storage system is attached via FC, iSCSI or SAS connection. The bundle also provides an upgrade kit for users to purchase additional unlimited licenses to allow an unlimited number of backup client installations.

The Acronis Backup and Recovery Server (ABRS) OEM for VessRAID 1000 Series is a customized third-party software solution that provides disaster recovery and data protection for physical, virtual and cloud environments. The software build is designed to detect the VessRAID device presence during the installation process and provides limited data backup and recovery functions compared with Acronis’ standard ABR10 Advance Server software.

“For SMBs today, backing up and protecting data is still not an easy task. Technology can be complex and daunting. With the OEM bundle, both Acronis and Promise are committed to provide SMB users an easy-to-use and affordable solution for the protection of their digital assets,” said Acronis APAC President Bill Taylor-Mountford.

Core features delivered in the OEM build include Acronis drive snapshot, multi-volume snapshots, Microsoft volume shadow copy service (VSS) support, backup scheduling bootable backup media, and individual files restoring from image or bare-metal restoring. For businesses that had already purchased, just purchased or are about to purchase the VessRAID 1000 Series storage systems, the Acronis single-license software is available through distribution in the form of a physical CD bundle or Web download for implementation. The upgrade kit is available only through the Promise global network of authorized distributors and resellers.

For customers who want more advanced features of the software, the ABRS OEM for VessRAID 1000 Series can be upgraded to the regular version ABR10 Advance Server with fully enabled capabilities. The ABRS OEM build provides an upgrade in the graphic user interface where users learn upgrade details from Acronis or visit the direct Web upgrade link for purchase.

“The bundle makes client application backup and restore easy for SMB users when used with our VessRAID 1000 Series, providing improved user convenience and enhanced data protection features that greatly benefit all our VessRAID users,” said Alice Chang, CMO of Promise Technology. “The strategy of our storage business is to deliver storage products that help customers run mission-critical business applications better, and this is what we are doing now.”

Exinda, a leading global provider of WAN optimization and application performance management solutions, today launched the Exinda Support Portal, its new interactive customer support resource, available at support.exinda.com. The new Exinda Support Portal has revealed the impact Exinda’s WAN Optimization technologies on network performance, based on live deployments by Exinda customers.

The in-field results delivered by Exinda’s WAN Optimization solutions are highlighted on the Exinda Support Portal “Hall of Fame”, and include:

--  Exinda Edge Cache delivered a 42% reduction in WAN traffic due to
    video and software updates for a school district in South Carolina
--  Deployment of Exinda's WAN Optimization solutions resulted in a 93%
    reduction in WAN traffic for an American architecture/engineering firm
--  Exinda Edge Cache helped a United States based local government save
    over 100GB in WAN traffic per week
--  Exinda's Acceleration provided 90% reduction of Network Appliance's
    SnapMirror data for a customer in the Netherlands

“The Exinda Support Portal was developed to provide our customers a real-time forum to share their experiences, and ask questions, and to serve as a one-stop source for all of the information they need to maximize the results of their Exinda deployment,” said Kevin Suitor, VP of Marketing at Exinda. “Our customers’ success is our first priority, as we expand our global presence, we are pleased to offer this interactive tool that will help us to maintain the close relationships we have developed with our customers and partners, and make it easy for our new customers to communicate with us.”

The Exinda Support Portal offers direct links to all Exinda product guides and documents, live forums that cover a range of topics associated with Exinda’s WAN Optimization solutions, a new tool to request and track requests for product support and feature requests, “Tips and Tricks” for using Exinda’s solutions, a Hall of Fame that highlights success stories, easy-to-access software downloads and a help section that offers rapid assistance from Exinda’s support team.

Exinda’s Continuous Improvement

In addition to launching the Exinda Support Portal, Exinda has expanded its technology leadership and market presence during the second quarter of 2011. The company enhanced the capabilities of its WAN Optimization technologies with the introduction of the Exinda Edge Cache™, Network Reporting Centre, and its ExOS 6.1 software. The ExOS 6.1 release includes several innovative features and enhancements including the Exinda Edge Cache™, increased Optimization Scalability, and support for IPv6. These features address network issues including the increase in rich media such as video traffic on the WAN, the growing number and complexity of users and devices, and the rising demand for a better user experience.

About Exinda

Exinda is a proven global supplier of WAN Optimization and Application Acceleration products. The company has helped over 2,000 organizations in over 80 countries worldwide improve the end user experience, manage application performance, manage congestion over the WAN and reduce network operating costs for the IT executive. For more information, please visit http://www.exinda.com.

Autotask Corporation, the world’s leading provider of hosted IT business management software, and Intronis the leading online backup + recovery solution, have teamed up to offer the IT channel a seamless integrated solution to better support and manage their end-clients’ IT infrastructure. The industry-leading integration allows partners to use the Autotask platform to more easily manage and resolve Intronis alerts and notifications while streamlining and automating managed services providers’ online backup business.

Key features of the Autotask-Intronis integration include:

• Quick and simple set-up
• Effortless monitoring of backup and recovery processes
• Automatic creation of service tickets from Intronis notifications
• Detailed ticket and billing logs
• Automatic billing and subscription adjustments by contract types and service bundles
• Integrated client invoices and reporting

“Autotask is committed to helping IT and managed services providers run their businesses more efficiently and more profitably,” said Len DiCostanzo, Autotask senior vice-president of business development. “Building deep integrations with best-in-class solutions like Intronis makes it easier for users to manage and deliver a broader range of services, and increases their value to their end customers.”

Kent Plunkett, Intronis CEO, states “The Intronis team is thrilled about 5337the deep integration with Autotask as a channel partner because Intronis fully believes this will provide our partners even more success in their businesses by optimizing key backup processes.”

A complimentary educational webinar demonstrating the Autotask-Intronis integration will be offered on Thursday, July 26, 2011 at 1pm, US EDT. To register for this event, click here.

Readers interested in learning more about the integration, and how they can build their own managed services business, are encouraged to register to attend one of Autotask’s 15-city Community on Tour events, sponsored by Intronis.

About Intronis

Intronis is a cloud provider of backup and disaster recovery services for the IT channel. Intronis utilizes 256-bit AES security and multiple data centers located on opposite coasts to ensure data protection and availability. Intronis offers IT service providers a secure data solution combined with a robust partner program, the efficiencies of full web-based account management, and an industry leading technical support team. http://www.intronis.com

About Autotask Corporation

Autotask Corporation provides the world’s leading hosted IT Business Management software built specifically for VARs, MSPs, and other technology solution providers to help them run their businesses better. The software is available on demand to help IT solution providers to sell, implement, deliver and bill their technology products & services. http://www.autotask.com

Autotask® is a registered trademark of Autotask Corporation. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners.

Forrester Research Inc. Vice President and Practice Leader Suresh Vittal will join ExactTarget Chief Marketing Officer Tim Kopp as guest speaker during a Webinar July 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern to share the results of an exclusive new cross-channel marketing study.

Sponsored by ExactTarget, the webinar will feature findings and actionable advice from an exclusive Forrester Consulting study commissioned by ExactTarget on how to evolve channel-specific marketing campaigns into real-time cross-channel interactions.

“Marketers have long relied on multiple channels to drive engagement, but today marketing requires a new approach — one built on a single view of the customer that values real-time interaction over static channel-focused campaigns,” said Kopp. “Suresh’s research and actionable takeaways will provide marketers the data and best practices they need to evolve their efforts and develop powerful customer-focused campaigns that incorporate the best of email, mobile, social and the Web.”

Kopp, who will host the webinar featuring Vittal, will also be joined by Kip Edwardson of Scott’s Miracle-Gro who will share real-world examples of how the global brand has integrated email, SMS, social media and mobile apps to create a seamless interactive brand experience.

Marketers may register for the free webinar here.

The webinar follows the launch of the Forrester Consulting study commissioned by ExactTarget that found 48 percent of interactive marketing executives rank understanding customers’ cross-channel interactions as one of the top challenges facing marketing today. Entitled “The New Campaign Management Mandate,” the June 2011 study found marketers’ lack of cross-channel insights result in brands interacting through disconnected channels that fail to deliver seamless brand experiences and the real-time, relevant dialog consumers expect.

Based on a survey of nearly 160 marketers, the study identified key challenges marketers face to meet the new reality of cross-channel engagement and offered persona-based recommendations to help marketers evolve their interactive campaign management capabilities.

About ExactTarget

ExactTarget is a leading global provider of on-demand email marketing and interactive marketing solutions. The company’s Interactive Marketing Hub(TM) technology provides organizations a single solution to connect with customers via email, integrated text messaging, landing pages and social media. Supported by collaborative global services teams, ExactTarget’s technology integrates with more sales and marketing information systems than any other in the industry, including Salesforce.com, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Omniture and Webtrends among many others. ExactTarget powers permission-based multichannel communications for thousands of organizations around the world including Expedia.com, Best Buy, Aurora Fashions, Papa John’s, CareerBuilder.com, Gannett Co., Inc., The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Home Depot and Wellpoint, Inc. For more information, visit www.exacttarget.com .

Backup specialist Acronis has compiled seven tips on backup and recovery to highlight the key points for comprehensive protection of home users’ laptops and PCs. As people store increasingly more photos, music, videos, e-mails and documents on their machines, it’s essential that they protect them properly. And with many people soon going on their holidays, they need to know how to keep their memories safe.

“Summer time is the peak season for photographs. People capture memories that are then stored in digital format on PCs and notebooks. Accidental deletion, hardware failure, or a sudden loss or theft of the entire device are just some examples of why it pays to protect your good memories,” said David Blackman, general manager of Acronis North Europe, Middle East and Africa. “When you’re picking up your suntan lotion, bucket and spade and trashy holiday novel, don’t forget to throw in some backup software too!”

The top tips are:

1.    Regularly backup: Backups should be made regularly. After an initial full backup of the entire system, make sure you set up automatic, incremental backups. Incremental backups only store what has been changed or added since the full backup, allowing you to save disk space.

2.    Invest in a good external disk: The backups should be stored on removable media or removable drives. This means that your backup is safe, even if your machine is lost or stolen.

3.    Double protection: Provide double security for your most important data by backing it up to the cloud. With the right software, you can encrypt the data so it’s safe and secure and also protect it against physical damage, such as a fire.

4.    Recovery test: Try testing your backup, so if your system fails you can quickly recover it. There’s nothing worse than discovering your backup hasn’t worked!

5.    Check backups automatically: The backed up data should be validated automatically by the software used for each backup. This ensures that the data can be restored properly.

6.    Shorten your backups: A full backup of the entire system can be completed much faster under certain circumstances. Delete as much unnecessary information as possible before the backup. For example, empty the Recycle Bin and delete your temporary files. With an appropriate backup software you can also chose to exclude some file formats such as video or music files.

7.    Before you install: Before installing new programmes, updates or drivers, taking a full backup of the system makes sense. Changes that go wrong can be reversed by installing the initial backup.

Enjoy your holidays!