What do you do? What works--blogging.

Okay, so it seems that everyone who's anyone around here push the blogging thing. I'd love to do one but honestly, my eyes roll to the back of my head when I start reading all the instructions. WordPress.org seems to be the biggie around here. So I ask you--
Did you use a theme that was available or did you pay for a custom one?
How often do you blog/how often should you blog?
Are you good at the tech stuff or is your lesser half one? Do you need to be a techie? (I'm very self taught, so I can learn but I make a lot of mistakes along the way.)
Do you have ads on your blog?
Do you find new business this way? Retain old business (repeat guests)? Get better reviews?
There are tons of other questions but I'm sure you get what I'm trying to say. I've gotten so much insight and support on this forum that it's probably the best group I've ever joined. All your opinions and suggestions will be taken to heart.

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

If you don't hsvr s WP website just use blogger dot com
and just follow their instructions then put a link to it from your site,

Bayside, email me and I can add you as a writer to the http://innteractiveinns.blogspot.com/ and you can give it a go and then see how easy it is and then go on from there.
You can see how it works, then decide if it is something you may be interested. I think you will enjoy having a place to share "your voice" and I think you will find interesting things to write about, I have listened to you and pick up on that. Your POV is your own and you have interesting things to say, so say it in photos and content on your blog - and always add a link to your B&B with inn name.
It is open to everyone on this forum
Anyone else, including vendors who wish to do a guest blog post, shoot me an email. We're all in this together!

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.
Business - if you have a Facebook page or a G+ page you can send followers to your blog, where you can go into detail about something you're interested in sharing.
Old guests like to see what's happening when they're not with you. It may encourage the summer guest to try winter. Or keep them coming back when they see what fun you're having.
I use it mostly for that rather than trying to find new business. However, once you start blogging you'll find more people can find your website because your website suddenly has tons more pages, photos and information.

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.
Business - if you have a Facebook page or a G+ page you can send followers to your blog, where you can go into detail about something you're interested in sharing.
Old guests like to see what's happening when they're not with you. It may encourage the summer guest to try winter. Or keep them coming back when they see what fun you're having.
I use it mostly for that rather than trying to find new business. However, once you start blogging you'll find more people can find your website because your website suddenly has tons more pages, photos and information..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.

Click to expand...

YOU DON'T WANT ADS!!!!!! Its not worth the money. My uncle set it up for ads and we got our competitions advertised on our own website and facebook. Please learn from our mistake. We are working to have it removed.

Duff2014 said:

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.
Business - if you have a Facebook page or a G+ page you can send followers to your blog, where you can go into detail about something you're interested in sharing.
Old guests like to see what's happening when they're not with you. It may encourage the summer guest to try winter. Or keep them coming back when they see what fun you're having.
I use it mostly for that rather than trying to find new business. However, once you start blogging you'll find more people can find your website because your website suddenly has tons more pages, photos and information..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.

Click to expand...

YOU DON'T WANT ADS!!!!!! Its not worth the money. My uncle set it up for ads and we got our competitions advertised on our own website and facebook. Please learn from our mistake. We are working to have it removed.
.

Click to expand...

I really didn't want ads, but some of the blog building sites I was looking at charged more to be ad-less. I want to sell myself, not another B&B or insurance or pharmaceuticals.

My blog is WP (found out last week my web site is not) and the wonderful person (truth, not southern code) who did my web site added the blog to my web site. I have had a couple hiccups along the way but once I let him know about them, they were fixed. I do have to size my photos and I try to pre-load them to the media library but it is easy to do - and we all know I am a techie numbnutz. A couple years ago I did on I titled, Joe, What did you do for Thanksgiving? and all it was was a photo of him kissing a camel. Sometimes just a photo or 2 will say it all.

2cat_lady said:

Duff2014 said:

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.
Business - if you have a Facebook page or a G+ page you can send followers to your blog, where you can go into detail about something you're interested in sharing.
Old guests like to see what's happening when they're not with you. It may encourage the summer guest to try winter. Or keep them coming back when they see what fun you're having.
I use it mostly for that rather than trying to find new business. However, once you start blogging you'll find more people can find your website because your website suddenly has tons more pages, photos and information..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

Other questions I missed -
I don't have ads. You can, if you want, to make some money. I'm not sure how you keep unwanted ads from showing up, tho. You'll have to research that one.

Click to expand...

YOU DON'T WANT ADS!!!!!! Its not worth the money. My uncle set it up for ads and we got our competitions advertised on our own website and facebook. Please learn from our mistake. We are working to have it removed.
.

Click to expand...

I really didn't want ads, but some of the blog building sites I was looking at charged more to be ad-less. I want to sell myself, not another B&B or insurance or pharmaceuticals.
.

Click to expand...

2cat_lady said:

I really didn't want ads, but some of the blog building sites I was looking at charged more to be ad-less. I want to sell myself, not another B&B or insurance or pharmaceuticals.

Click to expand...

Blogger is free. No ads. No charge.
If you do decide to go with a paid site, pay extra for no ads.
But, why pay at all?

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.

Click to expand...

A blog is not a monthly post however, if you post once a month you better not be blogging. (Just to clarify, I know that is not what you meant Foxy)
If you can't blog at least every couple weeks, don't go there. But, having said that to anyone new please realize you can post date your blog articles so you can write 5 in a row and post them one per week and bobsyeruncle. Be sure to share them on all your social media platforms.
It is an extension of your website.
Do you want to post photos of you covered in dirt gardening or driving a NASCAR car around a track ON your website? Probably not, but it is a great opportunity to share more...more than rooms and amenities. The real people behind the inn. Those who share nothing personal about the innkeepers, the heart and soul of the business are making a grave mistake. We are not in this to only make money.
A business that makes only money is a poor business. Henry Ford
...and to the "SEO experts" if you write about your inn and location and sites of interest the SEO will be natural, not forced. Don't listen to the content pushers, write from your heart. That is what it is all about.

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.

Click to expand...

I have 2 blogs running simultaneously. Ouch. One is in depth. One is down and dirty. One is thru blogger (the long one); one is on my website (the short one).
I'm doing the short one because the majority of my guests don't use Facebook for keeping track of anything other than family. I'm slowly getting guests used to checking my website for info instead of fb.

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?
.

Click to expand...

If a tree falls in the forest, does Google hear it?

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?
.

Click to expand...

Just a link, tho? That's like saying you can't cross link to other pages on your own website.
Sure, not the entire content, but just a link.

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?
.

Click to expand...

If you're going to use the same post in multiple places, you write your post then on fb, twitter, another blog, etc. you just do maybe a picture and a short paragraph then include the link to your main source (blog). That is not considered duplicate content in the eyes of google.
For instance, I do a blog post then in my monthly newsletter I have a picture, short paragraph, then link to the blog post. That way you get a lot more traffic on your blog which makes google very happy.

happykeeper said:

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?
.

Click to expand...

If a tree falls in the forest, does Google hear it?
.

Click to expand...

happykeeper said:

If a tree falls in the forest, does Google hear it?

Click to expand...

no but they see it.
i laugh as one of us was caught on google street view and another had her place caught and the fall decor - a scarecrow - face blurred so there would be no recognition.

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Morticia said:

Was your website created with WP? If so, it's built in.
If not, I still find Google's blogger to be much easier to use. Plus, you can put huge photos on there and it doesn't slow it down.
Blogger has been around long enough that tons of really sharp formats exist to make the page look how you want.
There are really easy tutorials you can watch that explain how to do each step.
Blogging isn't hard, it just takes time.
If you regularly schedule things to do, schedule blogging. Start off with once/week.
Blog about stuff your guests always ask about.

• What do you serve for breakfast?
• Where can we go to see...?
• Where can we hike, bike, kayak?

.

Click to expand...

I agree with Morticia, blogging isn't hard, it just takes time. It's good to have at least 250 words, have a couple of pictures, and two or three links. Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.
From an SEO stand point, it's good to have new content every month that Google can crawl.
.

Click to expand...

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?
.

Click to expand...

Arks said:

whitefoxkyle said:

Once the blog is up, you need to post a link to it on all your social media accounts.

Click to expand...

Seems like I remember hearing that Google doesn't like it if you post the same text several places. They reward you for making a few changes each place you post it.
But does Google even look at Twitter and Facebook? If you put the same blog link and info about the blog post on Twitter, FB, and Google+, does Google even care?

Click to expand...

Dupe content is not good. In fact if you post the same image on FB you will get dinged, but links are links.

Coming clean - I have a blog, I seem to write a few then get stuck about what to write about. - I can talk someone's ears off but putting it to pen/paper online blogging just makes me freeze.
BUT - Speaking with 2 couples this am, my blog is THE main reason they are staying with us for 5 nights. It pays off people, it pays off even when you don't write every day, week or month!
Another note: in a recent webinar the speaker stated that it is important to write between 500-700 words per post as it seems this is what Google deems to be worthwhile searching.

Copperhead said:

Coming clean - I have a blog, I seem to write a few then get stuck about what to write about. - I can talk someone's ears off but putting it to pen/paper online blogging just makes me freeze.
BUT - Speaking with 2 couples this am, my blog is THE main reason they are staying with us for 5 nights. It pays off people, it pays off even when you don't write every day, week or month!
Another note: in a recent webinar the speaker stated that it is important to write between 500-700 words per post as it seems this is what Google deems to be worthwhile searching..

Click to expand...

Copperhead said:

Coming clean - I have a blog, I seem to write a few then get stuck about what to write about. - I can talk someone's ears off but putting it to pen/paper online blogging just makes me freeze.
BUT - Speaking with 2 couples this am, my blog is THE main reason they are staying with us for 5 nights. It pays off people, it pays off even when you don't write every day, week or month!
Another note: in a recent webinar the speaker stated that it is important to write between 500-700 words per post as it seems this is what Google deems to be worthwhile searching.

Click to expand...

What you wrote is 108 words 570 characters http://www.wordcounter.net/
So it isn't difficult to reach 250-500 words, or even 700. if you put the B&B info on there, and where to reserve online you can hit the mark easily enough.
I am so glad to hear that Copperhead. I think what you write makes you one in a million in your touristy area. It really does stand out. Don't over-think your blog articles, make them just like you are speaking to someone, that is your voice CH.
After meeting you I could easily see "your voice" as a down-home, welcoming, shining star of hospitality! Stick that on your blog, that is what people can feel about you from your words and what they will have staying there. That is the "casual" I speak of, and there ya have it some great examples right in front of me! Casual - as I said, not lackadaisical and yard sale - I never said that was casual. Casual meaning ...
HEY! I googled 'define casual' and it said "INN!" :
ca·su·al
ˈkaZHo͞oəl/Submit
adjective
1.
relaxed and unconcerned.
"she regarded his affairs with a casual indulgence"
synonyms: relaxed, friendly, informal, unceremonious, easygoing, free and easy; informal laid-back
"the inn's casual atmosphere"