We all need a little help to keep our goals on track

We all need a little help to keep our goats on track. This is especially true for the owners and managers of small inns and hotels who have so many varied operational duties. Often there is little time left to keep pulse on the market, review promotional opportunities, keep tabs on social media, or develop a plan for a new niche market.
The purpose of this blog is to share bite sized nuggets of information for my friends and associates working in and for hotels throughout the Out Islands of The Bahamas. Just hit the subscribe button, and stop in when a post piques your interest.
Sunny regards - Eliz

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Inbound Marketing vs. Outbound Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC]

Inbound Marketing vs. Outbound Marketing [INFOGRAPHIC]

Have you discovered infographics?
Wikipedia defines infographic: Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly,[1] such as in signs, maps, journalism, technical writing, and education. With an information graphic, computer scientists, mathematicians, and statisticians develop and communicate concepts using a single symbol to process information.

Okay, an image that helps us find our way - like a subway map when we are visiting a city for the first time, or in my case every time. So what's our take away from this Inbound Marketing vs. Outbound Marketing infographic? Just like following that subway map you need to where you are, where you want to end up, and how much you are willing to do to get there. Or, too many transfers or stations you don't want to visit on our imaginary subway ride? Maybe you're better off taking a taxi, hiring a guide, or visiting a few less places.

Successful Inbound Marketing is strategic. It is affordable in $$$. It is expensive in time. So we need to know our budgets for both, and whether we are willing to to use some of our $$$ to buy some time (think assigning tasks to employees, or hiring someone like me).

Key things to know about your commitment (strategy) to Inbound Marketing:
"Communication is interactive and two way", who will be holding up your end of the conversation and how much time or how many $$$ can you commit to communication?
"Customers have come to you: via search engines, referrals, social media", where are you now in terms of an optimized and content rich web site? Where are your referrals coming from? How active are your conversations on Facebook, TripAdvisor, Twitter, etc. (see Communication item above).
"Marketers provide value", we are all familiar with 'value-added', it has long been our preference over 'discount'. But what in your Inbound Marketing structure is of value to your current and prospective clients?
"Marketers seek to entertain and/or educate", yeah - we're in the hospitality business, we are a bundle of entertainment and education. --Side Note-- if your Outbound Marketing efforts have not been entertaining and educational they need a major overhaul. If you haven't identified your primary niche, stop everything and do it now. After all we're taking about marketing that entertains and/or educates so we have to know what we are focusing on...and measuring.