Red Oak Local

07/27/2020

How does a small lodging property stand out in a saturated market? Here's how..

#1 Amazing On-Site Service
#2 A Full Reviews Plan

Here's how Glen Cove Inn & Suites did just that:
*Generated 967 Reviews in 2019
*Uses Their Reputation As a Competitive Advantage
*And, Dominates TripAdvisor

Read it here >

Getting quality reviews for your boutique lodging property is a must, and it's easier than you thought with Lodging Reviews Pro from Red Oak Local.

07/12/2020

Run a hotel, B&B, inn, retreat, or vacation rental?

The Relationship Booster Triangle is, I believe, the best marketing strategy for properties during this crazy year. I walk through it all in this article: https://redoaklocal.com/christopher-place-relationship-booster-triangle/

The Relationship Booster Triangle is a marketing method for property's that helps you reach and delight your past guests every single month.

Why past guests?

Because... Your property's past guests are your BEST future guests. Hands down.

It's been a rough year for travel & lodging.

Many things are unpredictable and out of our individual control in the lodging industry right now.

That's why, for our lodging clients, we're focusing on this marketing method that:

#1 Brings quick revenue
#2 Builds loyalty
#3 Gives them complete control
#4 Plants seeds for long-term revenue
#5 Gets bigger & better every month

And as I said it's all focused on their past guests.

Why?

Because a property's past guests are ALWAYS their best future guests.

If you focus on nothing else for your property's marketing in 2020 let it be this strategy.

It's all right here in our new in-depth article:
https://redoaklocal.com/christopher-place-relationship-booster-triangle/

Take a look at the article then let me know your TOP TAKEAWAY in the comments below.

-Matt Heffner, Founder Red Oak Local

As OTAs become more and more standard for travelers to book their accommodations, lodging properties are struggling to connect directly with their guests. Sites like Expedia and Booking(dot)com make it easy for travelers to find and book their lodging, but they don't allow lodging properties to comm...

07/08/2020

The Best Marketing Method for LODGING PROPERTIES in 2020???

It's called the Relationship Booster Triangle

Let me explain why...

It's been a rough year for travel & lodging. No doubt about it.

Many things are unpredictable and out of our individual control in the lodging industry right now.

That's why, for our lodging clients, we're focusing first on a marketing method that:

--Brings quick revenue
--Builds loyalty
--Gives them complete control
--Plants seeds for long-term revenue
--Gets bigger & better every month

And most importantly it's all focused on their past guests.

Why?

Because a property's past guests are ALWAYS their best future guests.

If you focus on nothing else for your property's marketing in 2020 let it be this strategy.

It's all right here in our new in-depth article:
https://redoaklocal.com/christopher-place-relationship-booster-triangle/

I would love to hear your thoughts on the article and the method. Just comment below.

-Matt Heffner, Founder & Managing Director

06/23/2020

A lodging property that's actually growing in 2020? That's right, as of today they are pacing 19.71% above last year for reservations through the end of the year.

All despite the pandemic wreaking havoc on the travel & lodging sector. Despite chain hotels laying off 25% or more of their work force.

How is it possible to grow in a year that started like this one did?

Every property is unique but here's a few of the big factors that I think are at play...

#1 -- They are focused on small weddings. Their diversification has helped tremendously. Wedding cancellations have been much less than lodging cancellations. Plus, deposits for future years have helped cash flow. And, couples with large weddings, weddings on cruises, etc... are knocking their doors down.

#2 -- They have been investing in their own marketing for over 5 years now. Most of their business is direct bookings. Together, we're leveraging those relational assets. Who's your best future guest in 2020? Without a doubt it's your thousands of past guests. We have marketing assets that generate thousands of visitors from Google every week so they can be found easily.

#3 -- They are emphasizing their unique attributes - intimate, rural, professional, and upscale. Emphasizing what's unique about your property has always been crucial to good marketing. But, ensuring that it's dialed into your strengths, especially as they relate to some of the new values and preferences, is really essential at this point.

Your property might be a little different. There might be unique angles that will help you survive and thrive this year.

But one thing is true... Keep investing in your own marketing. It's the only sustainable and secure path forward for travel & lodging this year.

As they say... "The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time? Today." Plant your marketing tree this year. You'll be glad you did.

-Matt Heffner, Founder
https://redoaklocal.com/lodging-business/

05/08/2020

What are the 2 BEST SOURCES of new guests for lodging properties?

It's NOT only Google Ads. It's NOT social media. And it's definitely NOT OTAs like Expedia & Bookingcom. These are all useful but they can't touch these two best sources.

#1 Your Property's Past Guests
Your past guests already know, like, and trust you. They have voted for your property with their dollars.

#2 Those Influenced by Your Past Guests
Your past guests tell others about you offline. AND they leave online feedback that can be shared with thousands of potential guests.

NOTHING can touch these two groups of potential guests - especially in a current/post-pandemic world.

How do you do everything within your control to keep the rest of 2020 from being a dumpster fire?

It's in the hands of consistently reaching and delighting these two groups.

Reach them, and you've got a head start on every other competitor in your area who's still hoping OTAs will save them.

We explore this and more in our free, detailed, and highly practical playbook for lodging properties here:
https://redoaklocal.com/covid-lodging-playbook/

-Matt Heffner
Founder, Red Oak Local

04/28/2020

Run a hotel, inn, retreat, or bed and breakfast?

Then our free in-depth lodging marketing playbook will give you practical ways to not only survive but actually thrive during this time: https://redoaklocal.com/covid-lodging-playbook/.

During this pandemic, times have become uncertain for most lodging properties. You have no doubt seen or heard of a lot of “magical marketing formulas” that will get you through this time.

This is NOT one of those.

This is a playbook of how to market during the 3 stages of the pandemic - crisis, trickle demand, and strong demand. This is our playbook in fact - the one we have been using with our own lodging clients to help them navigate this time.

And we’re giving it to you. Not a trick. No catch. Not a thinly veiled sales pitch. Just real, honest-to-goodness steps on how to survive and then thrive over the next several months.

Don’t miss this step-by-step guide to growing your marketing.
https://redoaklocal.com/covid-lodging-playbook/

-Matt Heffner, Red Oak Local

Our in-depth lodging marketing playbook detailing how to survive and THEN thrive during and after the COVID Pandemic. For hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns, vacation rentals, and all lodging properties.

04/03/2020

Let's support Jackson County small businesses!

👉🏽Jackson County Michiganders this is our time to take action (big or small) to support our favorite local businesses/non-profits during this time of crisis!

To help encourage us all we're hosting a GIVEAWAY!!! Enter for the chance to win from a growing list of prizes including gift cards to Fortress Cafe, City Crepes, Jackson School of the Arts, Coterie Jackson, and more!

Here’s How to Enter:
1️⃣ Challenge at least 3 friends to join by tagging them below.
2️⃣ Post a photo of how you have supported a Jackson Co. Business/Non-Profit during this crisis. Comment on this post OR post on your own account using hashtag and tag the business.
3️⃣ Enter your info here https://joininjackson.com/cv-giveaway/ so you’re notified when we announce the winners.

Here's Some Ideas of How to Support:
-Buy Gift Cards/Pre-Buy Services
-Shop/Donate Online
-Pickup/Takeout if Still Open
-Like & Share Posts on Social Media
-Rate on Google or Facebook

Get more ideas on how to support, who to support, giveaway rules, and more right here --> https://joininjackson.com/buy-in-jackson-mi/

Photo Courtesy Dale Fisher.

03/28/2020

Google and Facebook have both announced grants for credits for their advertising platforms. Links are below on both of their programs. If you're an advertising client of ours then we'll be applying/ensuring you receive these credits and can make the most from it.

https://www.facebook.com/business/boost/grants

https://support.google.com/google-ads/answer/9803410

We want to help alleviate some of the cost for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to stay in touch with their customers during this challenging time. That’s why we’re giving our SMBs worldwi

03/27/2020

Earlier this month we launched a project for our local community called Join in Jackson. Now in this time of crisis we're launching a movement called . Learn more and join in!

--> Join the Movement at https://joininjackson.com/buy-in-jackson-mi/ https://joininjackson.com/buy-in-jackson-mi/

P.S. Be sure to enter the giveaway too! https://joininjackson.com/buy-in-jackson-mi/

09/06/2019

Totally agree with this > https://seths.blog/2019/08/online-marketing-vs-marketing-online/. Most marketing firms are selling tactics but creating a strategy and letting that drive the tactics makes all the difference.

Online marketing has become a messy mix of direct marketing, seo, tricks, tips, code and guesswork. It’s an always-moving target and it’s mostly focused on tactics, not strategy, becaus…

08/13/2019

Big news for hotels! 🏨

We were one of the first to discover a massive upgrade for Hotels' Amenities & Services section on Google Local. This is another step in Google becoming a full featured OTA in the travel space.

And then our findings were featured by a major SEO publication here: https://www.seroundtable.com/google-my-business-hotel-services-amenities-28034.html

If you're a Hotel or Bed & Breakfast client of ours we've already fully optimized this new feature in your Google profile. More targeted searches and conversions coming your way!