Promoting Each Other

[JimBoone]

Your opinion please:
In another group some internet friends and I spoke of placing links and/or information on our websites to promote each other, would it generate enough interest to replace OTA's if you go that route, probably not, would it make our websites visible to some who might not otherwise find us, yeah maybe.
So, if by plan or accident I listed a link to your website suggesting to my site visitors that they look/book direct when travelling to your area, would you:
[1] consider it offensive or [2] consider it useful/desirable
I don't want to offend anyone so in a post, PM or email tell me what you think, same if you want to know more about what I'm thinking
A sample, not finished by a long shot https://hiddenvalleymotel.com/t/
Thanks, Jim & family

 

[gillumhouse]

Thank you for listing me.

 

[Morticia]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

 

[AMBER HOUSE - at the centre]

... I spoke of placing links and/or information on our websites to promote each other...

Tell me what you would like inserted on our links page here, Jim:
http://www.amberhouse.co.nz/links.html#Accommodation
What's the URL of your own webpage of links please, Jim?
Best wishes for a very prosperous 2019 from all down under !

 

[AMBER HOUSE - at the centre]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

That would be the way to go, Morticia, for convenience for guests (for Google's robots, the link page is necessary too...)

 

[JimBoone]

... I spoke of placing links and/or information on our websites to promote each other...

Tell me what you would like inserted on our links page here, Jim:
http://www.amberhouse.co.nz/links.html#Accommodation
What's the URL of your own webpage of links please, Jim?
Best wishes for a very prosperous 2019 from all down under !.

Morning George, I edited my post and added a link. At this point the page doesn't show up in my main menu as I consider I'm just feeling out ideas, getting the thoughts of others, I hope to get it looking better before adding to menu. My plan is to add the page link to the sub menu under Our Rooms where we list, view rooms, policies, book, and a title something like Book with Friends

 

[JimBoone]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.

 

[dumitru]

I would try and make these pages look a bit less "spammy".
Maybe add a quick description to each property and explain why you recommend them? Like "the best house-made marmelade" or "our friends from childhood". Then the looks will be personal, and not just a collection of links meant to inflate the rankings
Generally the big G is not too excited about cross linking

 

[Morticia]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.

I haven't set up a Google map in a long time. I'm not sure I would be much help. Right now I'm doing a ton of website stuff.
I might be able to try to set one up in Feb. Then whoever wanted to share the link to the map on their own site could add the code on their site.
I don't know if empty nest is still taking care of your site or not or if you can edit it to add code.
If you look at my site, it would be like the page where I have the map of quilt stores. You'd need a place to add the code.
Let me think about it.

 

[Northern Dreamer]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!

 

[Morticia]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!
.

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!

I do better with a visual like that, too!

 

[gillumhouse]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!
.

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!

I do better with a visual like that, too!
.

Wouldn't that be difficult to do?

 

[Northern Dreamer]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

You can create a map in Google and add locations to the map and then copy a link to embed it on your site page:
https://www.create.net/support/how-to-pin-point-multiple-locations-on-google-maps

 

[Northern Dreamer]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

You can create a map in Google and add locations to the map and then copy a link to embed it on your site page:
https://www.create.net/support/how-to-pin-point-multiple-locations-on-google-maps

.

Here's an entire page of helps!
https://www.google.com/search?q=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&oq=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&aqs=chrome..69i57.143147j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

 

[Northern Dreamer]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

You can create a map in Google and add locations to the map and then copy a link to embed it on your site page:
https://www.create.net/support/how-to-pin-point-multiple-locations-on-google-maps

.

Here's an entire page of helps!
https://www.google.com/search?q=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&oq=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&aqs=chrome..69i57.143147j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
.

...although I still don't know where most of you are located...nor where to find the info...*sigh*
*help*

 

[JimBoone]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.

I haven't set up a Google map in a long time. I'm not sure I would be much help. Right now I'm doing a ton of website stuff.
I might be able to try to set one up in Feb. Then whoever wanted to share the link to the map on their own site could add the code on their site.
I don't know if empty nest is still taking care of your site or not or if you can edit it to add code.
If you look at my site, it would be like the page where I have the map of quilt stores. You'd need a place to add the code.
Let me think about it.
.

I don't know if empty nest is still taking care of your site or not or if you can edit it to add code.

Empty Nest was a blessing and waved her magic wand to make my initial layout look as I desired and I expect I've been a pain asking other questions along the way, but I never want to abuse that kindness. I change and add to our site, yet honest answer, much is trial, error and luck if I get my desired look.

 

[JimBoone]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is.

I like the idea, of course you might be giving me too much credit as a web person. I miss seeing Empty Nest on here, I wouldn't have my present site without her guiding me.
.

You can create a map in Google and add locations to the map and then copy a link to embed it on your site page:
https://www.create.net/support/how-to-pin-point-multiple-locations-on-google-maps

.

Here's an entire page of helps!
https://www.google.com/search?q=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&oq=create+a+embedded+map+link+with+multiple+locations&aqs=chrome..69i57.143147j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
.

...although I still don't know where most of you are located...nor where to find the info...*sigh*
*help*
.

...although I still don't know where most of you are located...nor where to find the info...*sigh*
*help*

I think many prefer to remain anonymous although I hope I never say anything that would offend anyone. If you looked at the link I posted then you know where we are located and I've followed and shared some of your FB posts.
I probably look at business strange, but I can't be all things to all people, potential guest thinks my price is high, no problem, let me suggest somewhere cheaper, another possible guest wants something fancy, happy to suggest that as well, yep, sometimes a few more guests would be helpful to the pocketbook, but it makes for a good life that nearly all of our guests are good happy people, lot less stress that way.

 

[Morticia]

I think it's a great idea. For a long time I was asking guests what was the one thing I had to see if I visited their area. I wrote them all up as blogs.
I think I would set it up as a Google map. Give a visual of where everybody is..

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!
.

I like that idea! Seeing locations on a map is a great graphic to use for (potential) visitors!

I do better with a visual like that, too!
.

Wouldn't that be difficult to do?
.

Wouldn't that be difficult to do?

The actual creation of the map should be simple. It's the gatekeeping part that's hard. Can everyone have access to update it? A couple of people? Etc.

 

[JimBoone]

I would try and make these pages look a bit less "spammy".
Maybe add a quick description to each property and explain why you recommend them? Like "the best house-made marmelade" or "our friends from childhood". Then the looks will be personal, and not just a collection of links meant to inflate the rankings
Generally the big G is not too excited about cross linking .

Maybe add a quick description to each property and explain why you recommend them? Like "the best house-made marmelade" or "our friends from childhood". Then the looks will be personal, and not just a collection of links meant to inflate the rankings. Generally the big G is not too excited about cross linking.

dumitru I defer to you as the expert so not arguing your points, wouldn't want to upset big G either, but I have no particular goal to inflate rankings either. Truth is I've met one innkeeper on this forum face to face, once, and others I'll probably never travel the distance, our bond is that we are all small innkeepers, I really don't know them on a personal level.
I'm not sure I know how to best explain my thoughts so forgive me if this isn't the best explanation. All of us probably are or have been members of some directory that we paid to join, yet those directories are many, the costs were low and they are just lost out there on the internet. The other side of the coin are the OTA's, if we are a member we pay dearly for the privilege, but they have the budget to be seen and it is convenient for the public to go to that one stop and book rooms.
Guess what I'd like to see/suggest is a balance between the two sides of the coin. It could be each of us putting a prominent link in our main menu to a common directory, strength in numbers, that may be more efficient than each of us creating our own page of links. I'm not saying it should be me doing this, but it should be folks (innkeepers) working together rather than a large organization that just sees $$$, but a good start is the idea that we all make an effort to make the public aware of similar smaller properties around the world.

 

[dumitru]

I would try and make these pages look a bit less "spammy".
Maybe add a quick description to each property and explain why you recommend them? Like "the best house-made marmelade" or "our friends from childhood". Then the looks will be personal, and not just a collection of links meant to inflate the rankings
Generally the big G is not too excited about cross linking .

Maybe add a quick description to each property and explain why you recommend them? Like "the best house-made marmelade" or "our friends from childhood". Then the looks will be personal, and not just a collection of links meant to inflate the rankings. Generally the big G is not too excited about cross linking.

dumitru I defer to you as the expert so not arguing your points, wouldn't want to upset big G either, but I have no particular goal to inflate rankings either. Truth is I've met one innkeeper on this forum face to face, once, and others I'll probably never travel the distance, our bond is that we are all small innkeepers, I really don't know them on a personal level.
I'm not sure I know how to best explain my thoughts so forgive me if this isn't the best explanation. All of us probably are or have been members of some directory that we paid to join, yet those directories are many, the costs were low and they are just lost out there on the internet. The other side of the coin are the OTA's, if we are a member we pay dearly for the privilege, but they have the budget to be seen and it is convenient for the public to go to that one stop and book rooms.
Guess what I'd like to see/suggest is a balance between the two sides of the coin. It could be each of us putting a prominent link in our main menu to a common directory, strength in numbers, that may be more efficient than each of us creating our own page of links. I'm not saying it should be me doing this, but it should be folks (innkeepers) working together rather than a large organization that just sees $$$, but a good start is the idea that we all make an effort to make the public aware of similar smaller properties around the world.
.

I wouldn't call myself an "expert", maybe with just a tad more web experience than some other people around here.
So what you want is yet another directory of inns from all around the world, but a directory that is supported by those that are listed? In theory it can work, but there are some common pitfalls.
One of them is competition: you don't care that you link to an external website, as long as that website doesn't have another competitor in a radius of 50 km. But once there's someone from the nearby town, then you might have second thoughts.
Why should you send 20 visitors to the directory each month, if all you get is 5 in return? And so on...
And unless you have a strong content and marketing strategy, this new directory won't bring a lot of travelers that were planning to use Book!ng instead.
Sure, it could have some long-term SEO benefits for all participants, but knowing what I know, I think this would be a difficult battle against doubting innkeepers.
If you're open to experimentation it doesn't mean that a lot of other people think the same way