INNtelligent Tidbits Newsletter - April 2005 - Issue 1

  • Exciting New B&B Directory
    For the first time in a long while we're excited about a new B&B directory! While new B&B directories from unknown companies seem to pop up every day, few are worth your time. So why is this one different? Because it was created by Marcus Collins formerly the voice and talent behind the B&B directory TheInnkeeper.com. With years of experience in the industry and a heart for helping innkeepers, Marcus knows how to promote Bed and Breakfast Inns.

    Visit www.MyInns.com for more information

  • Bed and Breakfast Lodging Guide Shootout
    We put 67 online lodging guides through a grueling series of search engine tests to see who ranked. Come check our list to ensure you're listed with the best and questioning the rest before you spend your next dollar on marketing. Read the full article here: http://www.inntelligent.com/learning-guide-ranking-report.html

    For California Innkeepers, be sure to check out the California B&B Lodging Guide Shootout where we tested a whopping 185 online lodging guides in the Golden State.

  • Internet Marketing Q&A -- Pay Per Click Confusion!
    Is it true Microsoft is creating their own pay-per-click search engine to compete with Overture and Google? If so, how does this affect me and which service should I use?

    Gives us five minutes and we'll give you the skinny on all the latest in the pay-per-click search engines.

    There has been a lot of action on the Pay-Per-Click side of things recently! Overture has changed its name to reflect its parent company (Yahoo), Google is adding CPM advertising options, and, yes, MSN is building a Pay-Per-Click search engine to be released in the next year.
  • BBExplorer.com Partners with State Associations
    The online directory Bed and Breakfast Explorer (BBExplorer.com) has partnered with state associations to provide complimentary listings to all their members. However, many state association officers have yet to respond on behalf of their members.

    If you'd like to see the members of your association receive a free listing on BBExplorer.com, be sure to have your association president or webmaster email support@bbexplorer.com


     
  • Marketing Tip -- TripAdvisor, the 900 Pound Gorilla

    TripAdvisor.com has become the new 900 lb gorilla in lodging guides. If you're not on friendly terms with this beast yet, read our quick tips on how you can improve your placement in this most important of lodging guides!

    TripAdvisor.com came out of nowhere last year and is quickly becoming the 900 lb gorilla of the lodging industry. Guests love the independent reviews, especially since this is one of the few lodging guides boldly presenting both negative and positive comments. While innkeepers are struggling to figure out how to tame this beast, many inns are suffering from very low placement on this important site.

    If you want to tame this beast, throw it a few bananas! How? It is really quite simple. TripAdvisor succeeds as a guide because potential guests come looking for reviews whether good or bad. In this case, reviews are the bananas this gorilla feeds on so if you want to make them happy, give them lots of reviews of your property. Instead of faking them (as many innkeepers have), simply ask your contented guests to submit reviews for you. With each positive review, your listing will rise higher in the standings and you'll receive the attention you crave.

    One last thing: Every once in a while a dissatisfied guest will leave a nasty review that will hurt your standing. To respond, don't shout at the darkness, turn on a light! Simply ignore the bad review and overwhelm them with so many more good reviews that the bad is buried forever. With these tips in hand you can safely tame this beast!

     

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