Recreating or revamping the inn image etc

[MtnKeeper]

We have a fire pit and here are a few things to consider (from our experience):
1 - Guests will want to come back after the music ends and sit out there; what time does that concert get over? Will the guests out there affect the sleep of others by being noisy after a concert and drinking? We close the fire pit down at 10pm because of this (not everyone wants to stay up late).
2 - It will be more work and expense for you whether it's wood (ours is). Wood is cheaper and fits with the mountain location while those smaller propane tanks are typically only 1-2 gallons that sit inside the fire pit. Is there a close place to fill them? How much does it cost and how long will each last? We were going to change over from wood and figured out the expense for propane and our driving to and from the filling station and realized it was too expensive/too time consuming?
3 - Have enough sitting for everyone or people will feel left out. We can have 18 guests and have permanent seating for 10 and you can bring over chairs to add more. Someone who didn't want to carry a chair over 15' from the patio left a review that they had to go back to their room because all the seats were taken and they had envisioned the fire pit experience and were disappointed. So is your space large enough for enough chairs around the fire pit?
Good luck, it can be fun but do figure out if the work/cost is going to bring you any more money before you take it on.

 

[gillumhouse]

How about a Pickin' & Grinnin' Night? You have a host of local performers around - maybe hire one to come to your venue (IF you can get one reasonably cheap) for the night before or after a bluegrass or country performance. Post a special BYOI (Bring your own instruments) and pick & grin session. I also plan to eventually have the fire pit - I am thinking one of the free-standing varieties - some day after I get my fence. Again, some day.
There is a thing that has been out there for years now - I was thinking of trying it but never got it off the ground. I will have to ask my son what it is called again. It is like Open Mike but is done in someone's barn or living room..... Everyone pays something like $5 or $10 and take turns at the mike. When he was a teen, he used to go to these in people's houses.
Most of the things I would have suggested have already been said. I do try to do a Share on each of the posts you do on FB with a notation about how close you are to the venue, the walking distance and what a great place to stay. One thing I always try to remember to do is to say WHERE this is. Give your name folks, but also say where you are because Internet has no map. There may be inns in other States with your name - LOCATION. Do shares on FB saying this is in ________, __ near ____________ or some such thing.
For instance I used to share Mark Twain House posts saying stay at the Lodge at Mark Twain Lake - until I realized one is in CT and the other in MO. DUH! What did I know..........

 

[happykeeper]

We have a fire pit and here are a few things to consider (from our experience):
1 - Guests will want to come back after the music ends and sit out there; what time does that concert get over? Will the guests out there affect the sleep of others by being noisy after a concert and drinking? We close the fire pit down at 10pm because of this (not everyone wants to stay up late).
2 - It will be more work and expense for you whether it's wood (ours is). Wood is cheaper and fits with the mountain location while those smaller propane tanks are typically only 1-2 gallons that sit inside the fire pit. Is there a close place to fill them? How much does it cost and how long will each last? We were going to change over from wood and figured out the expense for propane and our driving to and from the filling station and realized it was too expensive/too time consuming?
3 - Have enough sitting for everyone or people will feel left out. We can have 18 guests and have permanent seating for 10 and you can bring over chairs to add more. Someone who didn't want to carry a chair over 15' from the patio left a review that they had to go back to their room because all the seats were taken and they had envisioned the fire pit experience and were disappointed. So is your space large enough for enough chairs around the fire pit?
Good luck, it can be fun but do figure out if the work/cost is going to bring you any more money before you take it on..

Well said.

 

[happykeeper]

So ideas of how to gear this more toward them is what I am asking.
any NEW IDEAS or WAYS to attract those who would typically choose a hotel for a music show): Thanks!

Okay, I went and took a look and there is one thing that you can do ASAP. Replace your ad box on their site with something quick and easy to read. I stared at the boxes for a while thinking you must be on there, how could you not be on there. Then, with a bit of squinting, I saw your name under some graphic I didn't understand. Others might be better suited to suggest this, but block letters that say
THE PLACE WHERE V.I.P. GROUPIES STAY
YOU KNOW YOUR NAME B&B
almost as important- the venue site needs to list it's sponsors on page one under quick links. If they value their sponsors, they need to do this. These two things will do more to gear you to this audience than anything else and I would start there before spending any time and money on changes to room names, etc.

 

[happykeeper]

So ideas of how to gear this more toward them is what I am asking.
any NEW IDEAS or WAYS to attract those who would typically choose a hotel for a music show): Thanks!

Okay, I went and took a look and there is one thing that you can do ASAP. Replace your ad box on their site with something quick and easy to read. I stared at the boxes for a while thinking you must be on there, how could you not be on there. Then, with a bit of squinting, I saw your name under some graphic I didn't understand. Others might be better suited to suggest this, but block letters that say
THE PLACE WHERE V.I.P. GROUPIES STAY
YOU KNOW YOUR NAME B&B
almost as important- the venue site needs to list it's sponsors on page one under quick links. If they value their sponsors, they need to do this. These two things will do more to gear you to this audience than anything else and I would start there before spending any time and money on changes to room names, etc..

Went back again and saw your link under the ad box. Didn't even see that the first time. Just looked at the box. I was looking for links under the links box on page one.

 

[JBloggs]

Last year or two I was also working toward getting younger guests, hiking, biking, outdoor recreation minded.
I think we can make a mistake by trying to be a one size fits all bed and breakfast.
I also think we can evolve with our area as it evolves. Until this last April we had no firm reason to visit this town proper. Everyone that arrived here was due to my marketing of "the area" not the town specific. So this is a game changer, but I don't want to be overly one way or another for one reason or another.
Have you seen B&B's that gear all of their marketing toward one event? I have and I don't like it. We will still have majority of guests here for "other" reasons, but I did want to make a stab at the traditional non B&B goers.

 

[Morticia]

Last year or two I was also working toward getting younger guests, hiking, biking, outdoor recreation minded.
I think we can make a mistake by trying to be a one size fits all bed and breakfast.
I also think we can evolve with our area as it evolves. Until this last April we had no firm reason to visit this town proper. Everyone that arrived here was due to my marketing of "the area" not the town specific. So this is a game changer, but I don't want to be overly one way or another for one reason or another.
Have you seen B&B's that gear all of their marketing toward one event? I have and I don't like it. We will still have majority of guests here for "other" reasons, but I did want to make a stab at the traditional non B&B goers..

I think we can make a mistake by trying to be a one size fits all bed and breakfast.

It helps if we're nimble enough to change gears if the area changes. In my case, I don't promote what the area is already known for, l promote everything else. Just in case.
Mostly because guests who are specifically coming for the 'draw' already know about it and those who don't know are mostly pleasantly surprised there's something else to do. And those target guests sometimes want something else to do.
We know what we're not.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

 

[Arks]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.

 

[Morticia]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.

 

[Arks]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.

 

[Morticia]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.

They also look to see if your website is relevant to your ad. If you're putting an ad for an attraction, then you better have that attraction listed on your website and I would say it should be on your home page. At least that's the way it used to be.

 

[Generic]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

I have a bunch of NEGATIVE keywords, too. No one wants to be the paying PPC to be shown up as
cheap lodging mytown or budget lodging mytown
Or do you?

 

[Innkeep]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.

I had an out loud chuckle over that one. Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha

 

[Arks]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.

I had an out loud chuckle over that one. Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha
.

Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha

I'll have you know, the folks over in Dumbo take offense at your Hahaha.

 

[happykeeper]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.

I had an out loud chuckle over that one. Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha
.

Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha

I'll have you know, the folks over in Dumbo take offense at your Hahaha.
.

It was just a mini hahaha

 

[Innkeep]

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help..

Try a PPC campaign using keywords about the venue. Try adwords express. Very easy to set up. I think this really could help.

YES! I think it was Morticia the other day who mentioned buying adwords on local attractions. Never even thought of that (because we have no local attractions?). But it just makes sense to advertise your inn to people who are googling your whole area, not just lodging in your area.
Really, I get a lot of people coming here for funerals. I need to adword (yes, it's now a verb) the local funeral homes! (Now that I think about it, wonder what genius started calling them "homes". Probably related to how the departed used to "lie in state" in their own homes.)
All my keywords are like

• lodging mytown
• accommodations mytown
• hotels mytown
• b&b mytown
• etc.

I'm somewhat upset that I never even considered adwording attractions. Morticia rules. For one week. Then I pass the crown to the next brilliant innspiring innkeeper.
.

Ha. I tried AdWords using the name of a big company. My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.
Probably not the same with a small funeral home.
.

My ad was 'reviewed' before it went live. It might be the same with the names of the performers.

Yeah, I've run into the same. Tried to set up a FB page for nice photos from around my town, but since my town's name is the same as a Disney movie, FB wouldn't let me use my town's name in a page name! I worked around it, but didn't get to use the name I wanted.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.
.

Mulan? Frozen? Aladdin? Cinderella? Nemo? Dumbo?
J/k. I know the name of your town.

I had an out loud chuckle over that one. Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha
.

Dumbo, Arkansas. Hahaha

I'll have you know, the folks over in Dumbo take offense at your Hahaha.
.

It was just a mini hahaha
.

It was just a mini hahaha

I really love my Innmate buddies

 

[Ice]

How about a Pickin' & Grinnin' Night? You have a host of local performers around - maybe hire one to come to your venue (IF you can get one reasonably cheap) for the night before or after a bluegrass or country performance. Post a special BYOI (Bring your own instruments) and pick & grin session. I also plan to eventually have the fire pit - I am thinking one of the free-standing varieties - some day after I get my fence. Again, some day.
There is a thing that has been out there for years now - I was thinking of trying it but never got it off the ground. I will have to ask my son what it is called again. It is like Open Mike but is done in someone's barn or living room..... Everyone pays something like $5 or $10 and take turns at the mike. When he was a teen, he used to go to these in people's houses.
Most of the things I would have suggested have already been said. I do try to do a Share on each of the posts you do on FB with a notation about how close you are to the venue, the walking distance and what a great place to stay. One thing I always try to remember to do is to say WHERE this is. Give your name folks, but also say where you are because Internet has no map. There may be inns in other States with your name - LOCATION. Do shares on FB saying this is in ________, __ near ____________ or some such thing.
For instance I used to share Mark Twain House posts saying stay at the Lodge at Mark Twain Lake - until I realized one is in CT and the other in MO. DUH! What did I know...........

For instance I used to share Mark Twain House posts saying stay at the Lodge at Mark Twain Lake - until I realized one is in CT and the other in MO. DUH! What did I know..........

And people still think he was born in Hannibal.