The Andiron
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- Jan 6, 2010
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I realize this is an old thread but I'm new and have been scouring the forum for interesting and useful threads.
We put up our fan page on Facebook in October, just after we launched our new web site with our inn's new name (we bought an operating inn and changed the name to its orig name). We've promoted our fan page in our enewsletter, on our web site, and through our own personal networks on Facebook and elsewhere.
We have 270 fans now, and it's growing daily. We post at least a few times a week, put up photos, offer special deals, thank particular people and guests, and other things like that. Our Facebook page is connected to our Twitter account - so when we tweet it posts to Facebook and vice versa.
The best thing we've done to help us grow our fan base is this: when we get close to a round number, we hold a fan contest. For example, when we hit 175 fans, we announced that when we got to 200 fans we would choose one fan to receive a free night at the inn. At first, nothing much happened...but then when we got to about 190, we posted the same thing again. And when I woke up the next day we were at 218 fans! That was a month ago - now we're at 270, so in one month, fifty new fans! Wow!
As for those who worry that you're only reaching people who would already book with you, well, maybe...but when we had a last minute cancellation last week and posted it on Facebook, one of our fans booked it about thirty minutes later. I'm SURE they wouldn't have booked if I hadn't posted to Facebook.
Second...I would also say that this follows the old business adage that it is easier to sell to someone a second time than it is to sell to someone the first time. These folks already like you! You just need to close the deal.
I'm a new innkeeper (since May 09) and have a lot to learn but luckily I also run an internet marketing company...the inn is my very expensive hobby, really, and my husband's job. So, that's why this internet stuff is old hat to me - at least something in this whole adventure is relatively easy!
Oh...and here's our facebook page:
www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Little-River-CA/The-Andiron-Seaside-Inn-Cabins/146498071261
We put up our fan page on Facebook in October, just after we launched our new web site with our inn's new name (we bought an operating inn and changed the name to its orig name). We've promoted our fan page in our enewsletter, on our web site, and through our own personal networks on Facebook and elsewhere.
We have 270 fans now, and it's growing daily. We post at least a few times a week, put up photos, offer special deals, thank particular people and guests, and other things like that. Our Facebook page is connected to our Twitter account - so when we tweet it posts to Facebook and vice versa.
The best thing we've done to help us grow our fan base is this: when we get close to a round number, we hold a fan contest. For example, when we hit 175 fans, we announced that when we got to 200 fans we would choose one fan to receive a free night at the inn. At first, nothing much happened...but then when we got to about 190, we posted the same thing again. And when I woke up the next day we were at 218 fans! That was a month ago - now we're at 270, so in one month, fifty new fans! Wow!
As for those who worry that you're only reaching people who would already book with you, well, maybe...but when we had a last minute cancellation last week and posted it on Facebook, one of our fans booked it about thirty minutes later. I'm SURE they wouldn't have booked if I hadn't posted to Facebook.
Second...I would also say that this follows the old business adage that it is easier to sell to someone a second time than it is to sell to someone the first time. These folks already like you! You just need to close the deal.
I'm a new innkeeper (since May 09) and have a lot to learn but luckily I also run an internet marketing company...the inn is my very expensive hobby, really, and my husband's job. So, that's why this internet stuff is old hat to me - at least something in this whole adventure is relatively easy!
Oh...and here's our facebook page:
www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Little-River-CA/The-Andiron-Seaside-Inn-Cabins/146498071261