If you had unlimited funds for marketing...

Where would you spend those dollars (Euros, Pounds)?
What do you find is the best bang for your buck? It could be a local group, an OTA, whatever you think would be the next big thing for you to join or is the best marketing you have done.
Talk amongst yourselves.

Photography including aerial/drone shots, and video, (check this out: https://youtu.be/zjhq8YdT1CE)
Because images will likely be the basis of all of your other marketing efforts.
And video is where the next generation is at...

So apparently Morticia has come into unlimited marketing money and needs to know what to do with it. ;-)
I'd give it to Joey Bloggs, who's now just a myth around here, and have her do her thing. Best in the business. All the creativity with which I was not blessed. And she'd make me much more than she costs me! Win-win.

Far and away, the best marketing is carefully crafted SEO.

I generally feel I've done better with online advertising/directories than with print ads.
Member of several area chambers and regional tourist promotion organization, not so much just for me, but the belief that if the area does well, I'll do well.
Banner ad on the website of the Tourist Parkway that passes our area, doesn't do as well as it did initially, still good exposure, but expensive.
Ad link on area ski slope sites bring traffic during the winter season.
T A, we have a business listing, makes it easier for a guest to find us, but the key is having good reviews and good or bad learning from them. Working to keep improving the facility and what we offer our guests.
Website, simple and homemade, yet guests comment regularly that it was easy for them to find the information they needed.

Generally speaking, we're having a terrible year. I need ideas for where to get us listed so we improve business. There's not an unlimited budget, of course! But I am going to have spend a few dollars over the next few months.

Morticia said:

Generally speaking, we're having a terrible year. I need ideas for where to get us listed so we improve business. There's not an unlimited budget, of course! But I am going to have spend a few dollars over the next few months..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

But I am going to have spend a few dollars over the next few months.

Click to expand...

I guess also need to discuss timing. When's the best time to spend those dollars to give the boost to next year?

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known.

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.

Arks said:

Morticia said:

Generally speaking, we're having a terrible year. I need ideas for where to get us listed so we improve business. There's not an unlimited budget, of course! But I am going to have spend a few dollars over the next few months..

Click to expand...

Morticia said:

But I am going to have spend a few dollars over the next few months.

Click to expand...

I guess also need to discuss timing. When's the best time to spend those dollars to give the boost to next year?
.

Click to expand...

Yesterday to boost this year. ;-)

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

It was obvious it could be improved. But even if I tripled her revenue, it would make more money renting out the two floors as two apartments. And not have all the work involved.

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?

Im doing pretty well with paid for facebook adds - VERY VERY targeted stuff
Trick is to sit and work out your target guests - which naturally gravitate to your property so are an easy sell.
Ie mine is 35-75, arts and crafts people, foodies, within say an hour and a half drive, North East,
or people interested in a specific event - quilting event
and so on can really make sure the money I spend pushes my property in front of the people I want - the more targeted it is the more likely they are to convert to bookings.

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?
.

Click to expand...

Based on our group calendar for the past few weeks and into the next few weeks they are holding steady or improving. We are languishing in the horse latitudes.
Several are complaining of the workload.
You know how it is - we have 7 more weeks to make the money that keeps us warm in the winter. Plus funds the projects we need to undertake to stay current.
I think I'm really bummed we are dead empty for our big foliage weekend. We've had every reservation for that weekend cancel. It's a stark hole in the calendar. Where we are usually 100% occ for those weeks in and around, now there's a huge gap.
Altho, reservations are very last minute this year.
We've been encouraging reservations into next year, especially for graduation.

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?
.

Click to expand...

Harborfields said:

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?

Click to expand...

This is a very important question to find out. Stalk their reservation calendars if need be. Is it you, or is it the climate of the area?
Mort, If your reviews are good and you're not getting complaints about the rooms or the property then don't spend your money making changes there.
A couple things to look at:

• Have your google rankings changed? (when checking, be sure to clear your cache and not be logged into your google account);
• have any other rankings changed;
• did you see an upswing or downswing in online reservations when you changed your reservation system (one of those things should have happened)
• what makes your place special. I know here on the forum you say nothing, but that can't be true.
• Is your target market the ones that actually book with you? If not, is your website geared toward them?

We went through a slump also. This is our second year we've pulled out of it. And now we're soaring. For us, the major difference is that we're offering other things besides just rooms. I had our marketing and website analyzed by professionals in the industry and their consensus was it was our area. That was good and bad news. I can't change the area's marketing, but I could make us even more special.
Change is difficult. Just yesterday I posted this quote for myself from Jim Connolly - Never complain about the economy or any other outside factors. Adapt. Put your success in your own hands

Morticia said:

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?
.

Click to expand...

Based on our group calendar for the past few weeks and into the next few weeks they are holding steady or improving. We are languishing in the horse latitudes.
Several are complaining of the workload.
You know how it is - we have 7 more weeks to make the money that keeps us warm in the winter. Plus funds the projects we need to undertake to stay current.
I think I'm really bummed we are dead empty for our big foliage weekend. We've had every reservation for that weekend cancel. It's a stark hole in the calendar. Where we are usually 100% occ for those weeks in and around, now there's a huge gap.
Altho, reservations are very last minute this year.
We've been encouraging reservations into next year, especially for graduation.
.

Click to expand...

Well if the weather is good, you most likely will fill back up, as I think there are often leaf peepers who didn't plan ahead looking for a place to stay. Consistent with your "last minute" observation...
I think it might be worth spending some time on your Air listing(s), for example getting a higher-resolution image for the main photo, and maybe think about the rate (if you dropped by 10%, would your net still be greater than the same booking from B.c, for example?)
(I over-heard a lot of my colleagues -- younger and older -- at the college talking about Air at our opening meetings earlier this week...)

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?
.

Click to expand...

Based on our group calendar for the past few weeks and into the next few weeks they are holding steady or improving. We are languishing in the horse latitudes.
Several are complaining of the workload.
You know how it is - we have 7 more weeks to make the money that keeps us warm in the winter. Plus funds the projects we need to undertake to stay current.
I think I'm really bummed we are dead empty for our big foliage weekend. We've had every reservation for that weekend cancel. It's a stark hole in the calendar. Where we are usually 100% occ for those weeks in and around, now there's a huge gap.
Altho, reservations are very last minute this year.
We've been encouraging reservations into next year, especially for graduation.
.

Click to expand...

Well if the weather is good, you most likely will fill back up, as I think there are often leaf peepers who didn't plan ahead looking for a place to stay. Consistent with your "last minute" observation...
I think it might be worth spending some time on your Air listing(s), for example getting a higher-resolution image for the main photo, and maybe think about the rate (if you dropped by 10%, would your net still be greater than the same booking from B.c, for example?)
(I over-heard a lot of my colleagues -- younger and older -- at the college talking about Air at our opening meetings earlier this week...)
.

Click to expand...

Dang yes! I keep forgetting that photo is crap. Thanks for the reminder.

Breakfast Diva said:

Harborfields said:

Morticia said:

TheBeachHouse said:

undersea said:

Other than carefully spent money on a few items and being on all the OTAs (annoying or not). It offends people, but the world of B&Bs is under threat. Major cities are hemorrhaging B&Bs; I believe I read the last one closed in Raleigh recently, due to AirBnB and regulatory responses to them. NYC B&Bs are also disappearing.
I would listen very carefully to what Happykeeper has said in the past. I think HK gets it more than most. In many areas, not good enough any more to have a room. I am not targeting a B&B - it is half of a tiny destination spa - with classes, spa services and other things. I have kept very mum, but I know that a B&B component is important, but not by itself.
The B&B I looked at 60 miles north has been around over 20 years - I discussed it a couple weeks ago. Finally received a tax statement (2012). 3 rooms - she had $6700 in revenue for the year and lost over $2000 in total. Two other B&Bs I looked at trying to sell - about $20-25,000 revenue each. And both fairly well known..

Click to expand...

the revenue is only half the story. how has the place been run?
our first year, we did nearly twice the revenue of the PO.
Our next door neighbor approached us to let us know they were putting up a fence so they wouldn't have to look at our driveway. His words, "She didn't have much traffic. It's clear you intend to manage it like a business." Yep.
.

Click to expand...

We are looking at several improvements for the fall that can't be done when we have guests in the house. We're getting our repeats. Getting good reviews. Guests we're getting are happy with their stay. 2 new guests in the past month have already come back, one couple has been back twice.
We've had a travel writer in who gave us good marks in the article.
We're just in a slump right now.
.

Click to expand...

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?
.

Click to expand...

Harborfields said:

I know that many businesses generally don't want to to reveal much, but how is everybody else in town doing? Is visitation overall up, down, or steady?

Click to expand...

This is a very important question to find out. Stalk their reservation calendars if need be. Is it you, or is it the climate of the area?
Mort, If your reviews are good and you're not getting complaints about the rooms or the property then don't spend your money making changes there.
A couple things to look at:

• Have your google rankings changed? (when checking, be sure to clear your cache and not be logged into your google account);
• have any other rankings changed;
• did you see an upswing or downswing in online reservations when you changed your reservation system (one of those things should have happened)
• what makes your place special. I know here on the forum you say nothing, but that can't be true.
• Is your target market the ones that actually book with you? If not, is your website geared toward them?

We went through a slump also. This is our second year we've pulled out of it. And now we're soaring. For us, the major difference is that we're offering other things besides just rooms. I had our marketing and website analyzed by professionals in the industry and their consensus was it was our area. That was good and bad news. I can't change the area's marketing, but I could make us even more special.
Change is difficult. Just yesterday I posted this quote for myself from Jim Connolly - Never complain about the economy or any other outside factors. Adapt. Put your success in your own hands
.

Click to expand...

Rankings are all the same. I just checked yesterday to see if we displeased the Google gods. Ta position is the same.
No real difference in online bookings, we're still about 50-60%. I think we're getting a slight uptick because you can put multiple rooms in the cart so guests are not calling because they don't want to enter their info twice.
If everyone else is doing better (by a lot) then Jim is right, it's not the economy! I'll have to think some more on this.
I do know we're not getting the million question emails and calls, guests are just booking. That seems to imply the message speaks to them.
This can be a bit of a slump right now in any year. But the whole month was off by 50% which is a big hit. And it was just us. I can track that easily. Not sure if the fix is more rooms on the OTA sites or what.

This doesn't speak to requests about a marketing budget and isn't quite what you're asking.
But ...
If I were you, today, I'd be pushing the coming Foliage Season with big foliage pictures on the website. Biggest, brightest foliage pics of the area on the opening page with a lead in to booking now to enjoy the spectacular colors to come.
This speaks to having a slump and needing 'heads in beds' which to me means SPECIALS. End of Summer Lemonade Cooler (did you know avg temp here is xyz ?) something along those lines. Pre-Season Special, Blueberry Pie Special ... and least favorite of many, the last minute booking special.
If you need income right now, I'd be pushing specials. And I'd email everyone who gave me their email address about the specials.
First year when so few people knew we existed, I noticed rooms sold out at a nearby place - they had slashed their rates to 1/2 price - mostly weekends. I followed suit selectively. And we booked up. It has to make financially and I was nervous about doing it, so I considered carefully, then I held my breath and did it. I also put in the 1/2 price for last minute booking subject to availability - the room had to be booked by 2 pm the day of. (If unbooked ahead of time, the most difficult to clean, largest room was pulled from availability because it took so long to clean and prep and I couldn't justify it at half price). I scaled back the breakfasts to three economical ones - including the blueberry pancakes. Berries, basic batter (you know my secret) and bacon. The other was waffles with sausage - berries on the side - same deal - or eggs w bacon or sausage. All were happy with these breakfasts.
Maybe I'd do a groupon type thing if you're willing to cut the rates as I describe above ... so they'd get that groupon mailing with your place in it.
I even held a contest or two.
Good luck!