Social Media trends for 2010

David Armano, well known social media guru, has announced today: Six Social Media trends for 2010. He is part of the founding team at Dachis Group, an Austin based consultancy delivering social business design services. He is both an active practitioner and thinker in the worlds of digital marketing, experience design, and the social web. You can follow him on Twitter at http://twitter.com/armano

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Tri-state Innkeeping Conference-Louisville KY-Jan 17-19, 2010: Seminar on Social Media for marketing your business

Social Media Pre-Conference SeminarJan 17,2010,1-4
Billiards Rm, Conrad-Caldwell House, Louisville, Ky

This seminar will concentrate on the latest uses of Internet marketing to increase exposure and customer base for participating bed and breakfast Innkeepers. In addition, by exploring the emerging world of social media, participants will come to understand the rationale behind using social media to engage and connect to an audience of potential customers. They will come to understand the importance of using the language and seeking out the social networking communities where their prospective customers are. And that this is where their outbound marketing messages should be. Participants will learn strategies for increasing their website presence, for deciding when and how to use social media platforms and tools, and for managing their time.

This seminar will be presented by Jason Falls, social media consultant. Jason is a nationally recognized expert on public relations, social media and online communications with 12 years of management experience and proven ability in public relations, social media, marketing, corporate communications, branding and advertising. His vision is for high-return media opportunities and communications strategies that strengthen organizational marketing positions and enhance growth. Jason is a father, husband and thinker, mostly on social media, public relations and communications for clients of his consultancy and readers of his popular industry website and blog, He resides in Louisville, is co-founder and president of Social Media Club of Louisville, and has recently established his own consultancy: Social Media Explorer.

Growing Your Business With Social Media Marketing
Seminar presented by Jason Falls of Social Media Explorer

Agenda
Solidifying Your Home Base: Put your website to work
Understanding Social Media philosophy
Listening & participating in Social Media & social networks
Making email marketing work smarter

Buoying your business through blogger outreach

Learning the tools and managing your time

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What's next for Social Media?

The next layer on the stack... from Social Media on Vimeo.

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How 5 women innkeepers saved their bed and breakfasts

A year five business women will never forget

Five women in Louisville Kentucky, who own bed and breakfasts, were faced with the same problem. It was 2008, an election year, and the media was bombarding the country with horror stories about the economy. The candidates were battling it out, trying to convince everyone that they knew how to save the sinking ship; each party blaming the other for the predicament we were in. The stock market was failing, banks were failing, large and small businesses were going under, and people were getting fired right and left. The country was scared about the economy, and even more scared about the upcoming election. No one knew what to expect.

Effects of the economy on the accommodation and travel industries

After the election took place in November, 2008 , everyone continued tightening their purse strings because of the economy. Many industries had been hit hard; two of which were the accommodation and the travel industry. The airlines were suffering, the hotels were suffering, and the bed and breakfasts were definitely suffering. Christmas was coming up and potential customers and guests were not about to take vacations at such a critical time. People had been waiting to see how the election played out and if any of the stimulus packages promised would do the trick. Well, of course nothing happened right away. A few large businesses and banks were saved, the stock market twisted and turned and people continued to lose their jobs.

The accommodation business nearly came to a stand still. Eventually, though, people got tired of depriving themselves and started taking week-end get-aways. Business people started traveling again. In the meantime, Nancy, Marsha, Linda, Mary, and Devona, all business women running their own bed and breakfasts in Louisville, had started coming up with survival tactics and creative ways to save their Inns. With determination and hard work, these five women, managed to hang in there through some tough times over the past year and a half and are on their way to having one of the best years ever. All passionate about their Inns, they have learned that it takes perseverance and ingenuity to make things work. At no time did they give up and throw in the towel; a mark of dedicated entrepreneurs.

Stories of hope

Aleksander House Bed and Breakfast, in Old Louisville, and Woodhaven Bed and Breakfast, which is south east of downtown Louisville, are both owned by women who run their businesses on their own. With some housekeeping, gardening and maintenance help, both have successful businesses which have been operating for over 15 years. Each addressed the slump in the accommodation business is different ways.

Nancy Hinchliff, who owns the Aleksander House decided not to lower her prices, in fact she raised them for some rooms, as she had planned. "I did, however, construct a new website and cut back on food and supply costs. The new website is definitely bringing in more reservations. Cutting back on food and supply costs (without lowering the standards of my breakfast) has helped lower my overhead costs. I also designed some interesting and unique packages and increased my on line presence and marketing. All of this is paying off. I've sold more packages this year than ever. Except for January, I've had a good year so far."

At Woodhaven, Marsha Burton says that she has managed to stay at her normal 80% occupancy during the downturn. "I might have increased our rates this year but decided not to rock the boat. Many people and even my regular business travelers are trying to keep costs down so I wanted to give them a break and keep them coming. Guests tell me we offer a lot of value for their money [in the way of] complimentary fresh cookies, soft drinks, coffee, tea and [in room] snack stations. Breakfast is bountiful and full of choices and most ingredients are organic from local suppliers and Whole Foods. Our last minute 20% special discount and green special for guests within 45 miles are very popular this year as well."

Although Old Bridge Inn is in Indiana, the owner has been president of the Louisville Bed and Breakfast Association for the past three years.. Linda Williams, with a little help from her husband, does a great job of running her Inn on her own like Nancy and Marsha. Since the downturn in the economy, she says that "while everything else is rising in cost we have NOT raised prices." One thing she's done to survive this critical time is to start blogging and to utilize social networks in order to get her name out there on the internet. She has made cutbacks on food and supplies and dropped bed and breakfast directories that were not sending visitors to her website. " I'm not sure what the future will bring, but we're still here and plan on being here for quite some time to come."

After three years of steady growth since 2007, Tom and Mary Austin at Austin's Inn Place have seen the last eighteen months gradually flatten. Despite the decrease in sales, they have resisted discounting their packages and have kept the rates the same as when they opened in 2005. "We've also asked our guests to write reviews on line or send comment cards into review sites, resulting in some nice reviews, [which we] have posted to our own website." Tom says. They are also doing more events and cross pollinating their real estate business with their inn business to bolster awareness. "We held a seminar, at the Inn, for real estate first time buyers and hosted a fund raiser cocktail party for the Greg Page Foundation, a relationship that came from our real estate efforts." Ladies groups gatherings, and business meetings have added additional exposure. "Summer 2009 was slow, says Tom, but September and October give us hope that the hospitality business is picking up again."

Devona Porter at Tucker House Bed and Breakfast, a lovely historic inn in a bubcolic country setting, admits times have been tough, but they appear to be looking up somewhat. In an effort to maintain their Inn, they are offering more packages, lowering prices during out-of-season months, and emailing past guests with offers of specials. One successful idea was to offer a free night to a couple who brings three other couples with them for a weekend in January or February. Another idea was to accept more wedding and special event bookings. Devona, who runs the business with help from her husband Steve, actually "cold-called" businesses in her neighborhood. She passed out brochures and let them know that her Inn offered competitive rates for business travelers. "Things are looking up now and I think the changes we have implemented and the effort we have put into generating new business has paid off."

Image: courtesy Beth Clark

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Surviving Social Media

If you have more than one blog and also frequent more than one social networking site, you may have found that managing all of them can be a little tricky. They can be time consuming unless you stick to the ones that benefit you and your business or personal needs the most.

Blogs require a least one post a week or more to keep people coming back and social networks require postings, comments and conversations as you strive to build trust and relationships.

The following video identifies the various online social networking sites and makes some good suggestions for deciding which sites are the best for you and how to get the most return from each.






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Aspiring & seasoned innkeepers: Learn about social media, branding, & marketing at TriState Innkeeping Conference in Louisville, KY. Jan 17-19, 2010

The 2010 Tri-state bed and breakfast conference will be held in Louisville, Kentucky this year. Aspiring and seasoned innkeepers can expect presentations and workshops on important topics relating to the industry. Pre-conference marketing and social media workshops will incorporate strategies for branding, blogging and using facebook and Twitter for business. (image: a bed and breakfast in Old Louisville, KY,)

Louisville, Kentucky has some of the finest bed and breakfasts in the country; most of them belonging to the Bed and Breakfast Association of Kentucky (BBAK). BBAK has helped and supported innkeepers since its inception, in addition to upholding the highest of standards among its members.

Opportunity for enterprising entreprenuers

Even with the economy in flux, many enterprising entrepreneurs are actually leaving their long-held jobs and searching for new directions and more satisfying ways to earn a living, believing that now is a good time to make a change.

Geoff Williams of Aol, Small Business, recently pointed out that "The recession can actually be an opportunity for an enterprising entrepreneur to open a new business. Contractors, vendors, or just about anyone you'd want to do business with, are available now, eagar and wiling to work out good deals, and the startup costs for a business during the recession are more reasonable than ever." (Aug.,2009).

The state of the B&B industry

One avenue that might be inticing for someone looking to go in a new direction is a small business Bed and Breakfast. These unique inns are flourishing all over the country, as they rapidly change with the times. Once low-keyed, off-beat mom and pop organizations, they are becoming more sophisticated. Although they are now embracing operational and marketing ideas from their cousins the "hotel", they continue to retain their original charm, intimacy, personal service, comfortable surroundings and fabulous gourmet breakfasts. This has kept them apart from the impersonal hustle and bustle of major hotels.

Focus on Innkeeping

The Tri-State Conference, which brings together the state Innkeeping organizations of Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, will be held at the Conrad Caldwell House and the Louisville Women's Club in Old Louisville. Local bed and breakfasts will accommodate out-of town attendees. The Conference, entitled "Inncredible Innkeeping", is the perfect place for any one interested in the industry to find out what it's all about. A wide variety of workshops, expert speakers and activities covering important topics related to Innkeeping will be presented. Topics will vary from marketing and social media to cooking ideas, going green, and starting up and operating your own bed and breakfast.

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Thinking of a Career as an Innkeeper? Become a PAII Aspiring Member Today

Innkeeping is a rewarding profession

Being part of a network of B&Bs that provide the traveling public with a special brand of accommodation and enjoyment is something that can and should bring one great satisfaction. Where as a stay at a hotel chain is roughly the same “cookie-cutter” experience wherever a traveler rooms, no two B&Bs are exactly alike.

But this unique feature wouldn't matter if it weren't for the real reason B&Bs are held in the highest of esteem by the public: the actions and personal touch of every innkeeper that ensures that while the physical location may be different, the personal attention and touch that makes staying at a B&B rewarding will always be present.

That's where the Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) serves a major role: helping aspiring innkeepers know and understand the myriad of factors and resources needed that go into purchasing, hosting and providing the positive and memorable experiences that ensure B&B's remain a preferred choice for the travelling public.

PAII has a host of benefits for Aspiring Members:

PAII Publications- PAII members get significant discounts on all PAII publications. A specially prepared Aspiring Innkeepers Startup Kit includes The PAII Study of B&B Marketing Practices, The Innkeepers Guide to My Own Inn, two (2) focused recorded Webinars (Converting Inquiries into Loyalists with Don Farrell and Credit Card Security Compliance) and the Innkeeping Study of Operations & Finance, the definitive financial and operational report that is essential for every aspiring innkeeper to understand the industry. ($99 for members, retail value $224).


Annual Aspiring Innkeepers Workshop – once a year in conjunction with the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, PAII hosts a comprehensive, full-day event just for aspiring innkeepers right before the formal start of the Conference. Taught by the best in the industry, this once-a-year opportunity is a virtual “insider information” education and networking event. Best of all, those aspiring attendees who stay can take full advantage of all the educational events being presented to innkeeping attendees. Member pricing saves you significantly. For those who cannot attend in person, a recorded CD-ROM is available and highly recommended.

Annual Conference and Trade Show- PAII hosts the industry's premier networking opportunity—the Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show — attracting the largest gathering of innkeepers in the US annually. World class speakers, workshops, panels on topics crucial to the industry and one-on-one and exhibitor sessions combine for an unsurpassed educational value. The Trade Show provides a first-hand, eye-opening look at the spectrum of products and services that are part of hosting an inn. Asking questions and learning about them is an educational process in itself. Plus, participating vendors provided Show Special offers on products and services, so if you are close to opening your inn, you may want to take advantage of what's there for you.

Interaction with Real Estate Professionals – PAII provides you with interaction with real estate professionals who specialize in the B&B marketplace and understand the needs you specifically have as an aspiring innkeeper

Webinars – PAII provides a host of educational offerings via Webinar format and with a monthly schedule of events, there's sure to be many that will suit your knowledge needs – all at member-only fees.

News & Information – PAII keeps you fully in the loop with news and information of importance to the innkeeping community.

PAII Website – keep in touch with PAII on a daily basis through our progressive Website, with a host of resources for you

Innkeeping- PAII's monthly electronic newsletter keeps you current with articles written by the experts on marketing, technology, safety, food, amenities, finance, and much more.

INNfo - Stay on top of industry news, industry announcements, media opportunities, Forum discussion topics, benefit program updates, and PAII's activities through our weekly email.

Innkeeping Quarterly (IQ) - PAII's full-color quarterly periodical, the only industry magazine devoted exclusively to innkeeping. Each issue of IQ features a profile on a member of the innkeeping community and covers topics that are important to those in the innkeeping industry: real estate, food, finances, customer relations, operations, marketing, and more! Now included as a membership benefit as an Aspiring Member.

Networking

• Use of the PAII Online Forums - Here you can interact online with other aspiring and veteran innkeepers and gain valuable insight from their collective expertise, with just a few clicks of your keyboard. If you're too shy to post, you can still participate by viewing and searching the threads.
  
• Understanding and Participating in Social Networks– The new PAII Website is built upon networking with other PAII members and you'll have endless options to participate in any number of online communities. In addition, we'll connect you with PAII's participation in Facebook, Twitter and our own Innkeeping Blog, as well as help guide you in how to get the most from your participation with these and other major networking sites.
  Mentor Program- Let us put you in touch with one of over sixty industry veterans who can provide insight, give advice, share past personal experiences, or just lend an ear. PAII staff can match you with a mentor based on your specific needs.
  
• Research for Loan Presentation and Business Plan - PAII's annual Industry Study of Operations and Finance is a “must have” for any loan presentation and business plan. The data lets you compare the revenue and expenses of small properties to large, urban properties to rural, North East properties to South West properties, etc. No aspiring innkeeper should be without this, and it's available individually or as part of the Aspiring Innkeepers Start-Up Kit.
  
• Vendor Marketplace- When you are ready to purchase an inn, you can find the products and services you need from real estate brokers to lending institutions, from linens and robes, to gift shop items and vacuum cleaners, from online directories to reservation software. PAII vendors understand innkeeping. In addition, with PAII's Key Value Program — a dedicated section of PAII's Website devoted to exclusive member-only specials form PAII vendor members. Discounts- When you're ready to open, many PAII vendors give discounts on everything from credit card processing to reservation software, mattresses and mugs. PAII has a program with EBSCO Reception Room Subscription Services that gives PAII members 30-50% off on over 200 magazine subscriptions. You can view the list by clicking here.

Member Hotline- Call us toll-free whenever you have a question, concern or require assistance at 1-800-468-7244.

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