Oct/Nov 2009 Gay Business Report

In This Issue

Spotlight on Destination Marketing
Utilizing Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Photos and Video to Market a Destination to both Gay & Lesbian Travelers and Locals as well
The formula commonly in use today incorporates a Facebook fan page, a blog, a Twitter account, a Flickr account, and occassionally a YouTube channel... all dedicated exclusively to featuring the best of a local destination....

Other Highlights

• Updates on our Social Network Marketing Webinars
  
• What Are Other Destinations Doing in Social Media
  
• HOW TO: Use Twitter Hashtags for Business
  
• Proud Out coverboy or dangerous stereotype?: Sacha Baron Cohen’s “Brüno” gives LGBT media much to report and ponder
  
• “CBS News on Logo” is LGBT media’s latest economic casualty
  
• A Bear’s Life Gold Card Program
  
• Appreciate Marketing: Sendout Cards
  
• Paranormal Activity - A Film & Social Network Marketing
  

Download PDF

Social Network Marketing for Hotels, Resorts and Guest Houses

At times, I like writing my replies to clients in this blog as well... it provides me, as well as you, the reader, with a contemporary snapshot of what our company sees as the best overall strategy and formula for social network marketing at this moment in time. In 6 months from now, perhaps this strategy will change a bit, but overall, we believe this strategy does better than the old 80/20 rule of reaching 80% of your audience with a minimum of effort... we believe it's getting closer to 90/10 now!

Hi Marti,

I reviewed your website at http://www.xxx.com and I believe that for your cottage, what you would want to do is:

1. Create a Facebook fan page
2. Create a Twitter account
3. Link these two up at www.facebook.com/twitter
4. Set up a blog and link this to the Facebook page using their “Notes” section and to Twitter using either TwitterFeed.com or HootSuite.com
5. Next, come up with unique content for your blog, written in first person, that keeps your content and your property’s “story” alive and well in the social networking world you’ve set up. Include any new seasonal promotions, specials, etc., as well as fun and unique stories related to life at your accommodation, the neighborhood, and the interesting guests you’ve had stay with you.
6. Set up a photo account on Flickr.com and begin uploading some photos there and on your Facebook fan page about your property. When you have guests, upload those photos and identify the guests on Flickr, as well as ask them to stop by your Facebook fan page and leave a positive testimonial and tag themselves in the Facebook photos.
7. Unique to hotels of all sizes, be sure to have a TripAdvisor.com profile and monitor the reviews. Ask your folks to leave reviews there as well. For the GLBT audience, there is also GayCities.com, OutAdvisor.com and PinkChoice.com for GLBT accommodation reviews.

I believe that with this formula, you’ll be hitting 90% of your potential audience with a minimum of effort, and that this effort will soon become your top marketing activity and your #1 source of new bookings. This formula/strategy will also significantly improve your website’s positioning in Google and Bing and will become a cornerstone in your search engine optimization (SEO) as well.

Attached is our rate card with more detailed information… please let me know if this might be of interest for you to pursue.

Thanks,
Matt Skallerud