At the end of our Club 60 Webinar yesterday, I asked the Innkeepers in attendance to share their thoughts and ideas about HOW and WHY they make the time to keep up with their online marketing.
What is Club 60? It’s a group of Acorn IS Innkeepers who are dedicated to spending an hour a day on their marketing. We meet once a month for a cutting edge Webinar session that includes the latest and greatest ideas out there on the Internet today. We call these Innkeepers “Club 60ers”. Named for the 60 minutes a day they set aside to maintain and grow their online presence.
Find Out What These Innkeepers KNOW!
Andon-Reid Inn Bed and Breakfast
Rachel Reid
Waynesville, NC
Acorn Customer Since 2006
In answer to your question about finding time:
- In between breakfast courses.
- Between 2-3pm before check- ins.
- After check-ins 7:30-9pm.
Of course everyday changes but I can grab one of the above 3 times at least everyday.
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Carriage Way Bed and Breakfast
Bill Johnson and family, Larry, John and Jeanie
St. Augustine, FL
Acorn Customer Since 2010
When do we find time? After Breakfast, Before Check-In, Before Dinner and Before Bed
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Garden Gate Get-A-Way Bed & Breakfast
Carol Steffey
Millersburg, OH
Acorn Customer Since 2009
nyone who wants to be a successful innkeeper shouldn’t think about “finding the time” to work on their web presence, but the need to “make the time” to work on their web presence. I used to Google ways to improve web presence. Today I save myself time by taking webinars from Acorn-IS and belonging to Club 60 and optimizing my choices of what I do. I have found better results using the methods that I learn from Acorn-IS.
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Grape Arbor B&B
Peggy Hauser
North East, PA
Acorn Customer Since 2008
You asked why I (try to) work on my website...goal is every day; but in reality in the busy season, a bit less. I think back to when I started in this business, 8 years ago. Many innkeepers still did not have websites! And I think of the changes that have happened from then until now. I always knew that the website was, outside of the building and myself, the most important asset of the business. We started out from scratch, and the vast majority of business is pulled in through the website.
We clean rooms everyday; we keep the building in good shape; why wouldn't you put effort on your other public face to make it as current and viable as possible? Knowledge is power, and although I haven't done everything that think I should or want to on the site---every little bit is more than there was before. Your webinars help me decide how I want to allocate the time that I have.
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Harvest Moon Bed and Breakfast
Carl and Marlies Kosko
Lancater County, PA
Acorn Customer Since 2004
I find it all too important to keep up with all forms of social media. Yes, I realize that we are all busy with the running of the inn however, I truly believe though that this is the direction that the world is (has been) moving. There is no doubt, that if I don't keep up, I will be left behind. I choose to be in the know. With the tangled mess of information we call the web, it has changed the way the world now markets. We need to keep in tune with those changes... on a daily basis! It must be one of the many hats I where.... I am no longer just a baker, gardener, bed maker or greeter... I am also an internet marketer!
When do I find the time to do my social media? I keep up with it during the day as I check email. Drop a post on Twitter, Write a quick blog, Find a friend on Facebook, or like something in the area to establish a connection. Each time I do this, the amount of time accumulated does total up. I am always researching new and exciting ways to become more involved. I figure, the more involved I am the better off I will be in understanding how to harness the powers of the internet. Next challenge... Mobile!!
Thank you Lisa and team for being a leader and educator in our industry!!!
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Lodge at Mark Twain Lake
Carol Wibbenmyer
Stoutsville, MO
Acorn Customer Since 2009
I want the B&B to go over so much I'll do what ever it takes. I listen to all of you at Acorn. All of you provide the missing key (internet info) that I have (make that had) no knowledge about.
I also knew that I had to promote the area. The lake chamber is just promoting the fishing.
I know it will take off, because I LOVE what I am doing, and I have a great place! Blogging, Facebook and Twitter makes it so easy to "tell the world"!
I know the day I don't have time to do blogging, Facebook or Twitter will be the day I have all the business I need or want, and I don't see that happening any time soon.
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Night Swan Intracoastal B&B
Martha Nighswonger
New Smyrna Beach, FL
Acorn Customer Since 2008
Here are my comments to people who say they don't have time for the "extra stuff" or the "new stuff".
If you don't try to keep up with the new stuff, you are falling behind. (This happened to us before we had our new website.)
When we had the opportunity to hire someone, we made sure that it was someone who knows more about Social Media than I do. It is working very well.
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Lisa Kolb
President and Co-Founder Acorn Marketing
Educating our Industry 1 Innkeeper at a Time!
