InnSpeak Podcast

Odysys content creator Jordan Mitchell joins the podcast to give hospitality businesses a few key tips for upping their Instagram game. Did you know you could have an Instagram strategy and never take a picture or video yourself? Jordan tells us how!

Highlighting the most important post-pandemic summer travel trends for independent lodging professionals to know. Ben zeroes in on the top tips, takeaways and things that hotel marketers can do right now to rock this unprecedented post-pandemic summer travel season.

The Odysys Customer Success team joins the podcast for this marketing roundup. The team sounds off on: Booking Trends SEO Scams & Spam Emails Spring cleaning for your website Attracting "Work From Here" guests to your property Enjoy! The InnSpeak Podcast is sponsored by www.odysys.com - the solution to more direct bookings for the hospitality industry.

This week Odysys announced its new marketing campaign"Stay Local. Support Small. Book Direct." The campaign is available for any property or association to participate in. We cover How and why properties want to attract local travelers Our "Local Travel is Booming" article Creative examples of packages & promotions for attracting local travelers And what you can do to optimize your hotel or B&B's Google business listing right now.

  The Odysys customer success team joins the podcast to go over a few questions and topics we hear from customers. In this podcast the team sounds off on: The Impact of Vaccination News on Travel Marketing Your Destination TripAdvisor Badges Enjoy!    

Odysys designer Sarah Miller joins the podcast to talk about best practices for hotel website design. Website design for accommodations is about more than pretty pictures and colors, it also has to be functional and support your business goals. Sarah and I put together an infographic that highlights those tips and best practices and we discuss it on the podcast. Click here for the infographic and follow along!

The Odysys customer success team joins the podcast to go over a few questions and topics we hear from customers. In this podcast we go over Tips for Responding to Reviews Why there are no Keywords in Google Analytics Does changing your content ruin your rankings? These are just a few of the questions our team gets all the time. We thought we'd share our thoughts. Enjoy!

Samantha Irwin of Kaizen.Zone joins the podcast to talk about the "Trifecta" for an amazing customer experience that she and her staff focused on to grow the Historic Balch Hotel. The Balch Hotel, in the middle of nowhere, is now a destination unto itself for weddings, group events and quiet getaways. Samantha Irwin, former owner of the Historic Balch Hotel, is now an independent small business coach and passionate supporter of small business. Check out Samantha's coaching practice at Kaizen.Zone. Reach out to her directly to get her "8 Ways to Increase Your Email Open Rates"

Full-time content creator Jennifer Hansen joins the podcast to walk through why last minute getaway deals are hot for independent lodging properties during the pandemic. We talk about some of the research behind it and things properties can be doing right now to take advantage of the trend. https://bit.ly/promote-last-minute-getaways

Odysys CEO Kent Schnepp joins the podcast. We talk about the guide that Odysys put together "Covid Reality Check: 3 Challenges Your Hotel Website Must Overcome." We talk about the challenges that Odysys has faced since the onset of the Pandemic as well, which mirrors the experiences of many properties. And most importantly, the cautious optimism that is taking hold across the industry.

Steve Short, CEO & Founder of Frictionless Guest App (https://www.frictionlessguest.com/) joins the podcast to talk about the value of the guest experience and being connected with other businesses in your destination or community.

Diane Rogers joins the podcast to talk about what she's been doing to stay busy and do some marketing while waiting out Covid. She talks about PR opportunities she's uncovered and taken advantage of along with some thoughts about how the pandemic will change guests. Diane also started her own hashtag #quarinntine (get it? with the INN in the middle). Use it for pictures you take while you're treating yourself like a guest.

Odysys CEO Kent Schnepp shares a solo podcast focused on 9 things properties can be working on during the pandemic to prepare for the return of guests. Check out the "Episodes" page on https://www.innspeakpodcast.com for the list of "9 things" along with links to resources to help you implement the 9 things. Understand your ideal guest - always true but because of the pandemic, your marketing can adapt by thinking about what those specific types of guests are going through during the pandemic and when they do decide to start traveling again, what are the things they’re going to be most concerned about? Cleanliness, social distance, etc Related resources: Identify Your Ideal Guests, Create Marketing Personas https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3553645-identify-your-ideal-guests-create-marketing-personas Continue to invest in your organic search strategy - maintaining your google business listing, evaluating your strategy for getting and replying to reviews, developing a content and link strategy Related resources: How to rank better in google hotel search map results: https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3780189-odysys-academy-march-2020-how-to-rank-better-in-google-s-hotel-search-map-results Ongoing SEO for traffic growth: https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3547430-odysys-academy-ongoing-seo-for-traffic-growth Comarketing - work with your complimentary local businesses to identify comarketing opportunities for your destination and complimentary businesses Build an audience with content - you have time to work on your content calendar and create valuable content for your ideal guests Related resources: Blogging & Creating Content for Direct Bookings https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3655153-odysys-academy-january-2020-blogging-content-for-direct-bookings Shift your mindset to providing value - what is going to set your property apart when your ideal guests are deciding which accommodations to choose. Related resources: Extras, Packages & Upsells https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3528352-odysys-academy-extras-packages-upsells Tell your story - focus on your brand and value proposition for your 2-3 ideal guest types and make sure that’s clear on your website. Analytics - take the time to look at and understand your analytics and what it means to your property. Or if you aren’t getting transaction and booking information, work with your booking engine partner and your marketing partner to properly implement google analytics Related resources: https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3300592-odysys-academy-september-2019-google-analytics-odysys-analytics https://www.odysys.com/learn/google-analytics-for-innkeepers/ Go on an information diet - there’s too much information and it keeps changing, so perhaps it’s better to limit your intake to authoritative resources and be prepared to take action when travel does start to pick up again. Learn a new skill - are there things you can implement to improve your business or your service or your value when guests do start coming back. Related resources: Setting your marketing goals and a realistic marketing budget  https://support.odysys.com/en/articles/3661392-odysys-academy-set-marketing-goals-and-a-realistic-marketing-budget  

Coronavirus is hitting hotel marketers, innkeepers & hoteliers hard. How do you cope? What can you do? It's time to take your brand by the horns.

Janice Hurley and Tim Wilson of bnbfinder join the podcast to talk about the refreshed bnbfinder website, directory and marketing program for bed & breakfasts. We also talk about changes in the industry and the importance of options like bnbfinder for driving direct bookings and for championing B&B's.

In this episode, Ben visits with multiple guests from various associations to find out what they're doing to stay relevant and be successful in today's climate. Guests include: Texas Bed & Breakfast Association, Michigan Bed & Breakfast Association, Washington Independent Inns Network, California Association of Boutique & Breakfast Inns, and Asheville Bed & Breakfast Association.

Rand Fishkin, CEO of SparkToro joins the podcast to talk about data that shows "Less than Half of Google Searches Now Result in a Click." This 'evolution' of Google search has been kind of a tough reality for a lot of businesses. Hotels and Inns have been hit by this pretty hard over the last year or two with more and more Google results dedicated to their 'own' content like hotel search, your Google business listing, travel guides and more.  Rand talks with me about the data, how innkeepers & hoteliers can adjust their marketing, and his own efforts to do something about it.

Ben meets with Janice DeLerno to talk about how she works with other local businesses and innkeepers to put together really great, targeted extras, upsells and packages for her guests. This is a great how-to episode! Janice DeLerno is the owner of The Stockade Bed & Breakfast in Baton Rouge Louisiana and Treasurer of the Louisiana Bed & Breakfast Association.

Ben talks about the importance of identifying our ideal guests by creating marketing personas. Those personas can be used to make all your marketing better from your website to your guest relations. This episode also features some bonus content - Ben gives you his seasonal recipe tip for "Tequila Por Mi Amante".

This podcast features renowned digital marketing luminary Rand Fishkin, CEO & Founder of SparkToro and Founder of Moz. We talk about reaching the right audience online, story telling as marketing strategy, and all things tech-startup and tech-startup finance. This episode is co-hosted by Matthew Brown & Tim Resnik from the never actually launched "Distracted" podcast.

Sandy White joins the podcast to pick Ben's brain about what innkeepers can do to prepare for getting a new Website. Sandy is the Marketing Director of Michigan's Bed & Breakfast Association

E Scot Fuller-Beaty joins the podcast to talk about overall room pricing and availability strategies as well as OTA (online travel agency) management strategies for your inn. Scot is Director of Sales & Education at ThinkReservations and Innkeeper Owner of The Chadwick Bed & Breakfast in Portland Maine.

In this episode we talk about what you need to do to market the wedding venue at your Inn, B&B or Small Hotel. These marketing tips also apply if you've got an event venue or meeting space or even a coffee shop or restaurant at your place. There's both online and offline tips here so give it a listen!

Writer/blogger Marly Williams joins the podcast to talk about a property who has done a great job of telling their story online and setting themselves apart from their competition. We discuss some findings, themes and takeaways that any property can use.

In this "mini-episode" of the InnSpeak Podcast, Ben talks about best practices for reviews and managing your Google Business Listing, which is critical to your property's success online.

Nicolette Johnston joins the podcast again to talk about the spring issue of Bed & Breakfast Magazine. We talk about some of the recipes, Inns and trends featured in the issue. Nicolette also tells listeners how to get their property featured in an upcoming issue.

Innkeeper Wendy Kelley joins the podcast. Wendy owns two completely different properties in Oregon - Agate Beach Motel in Newport and Wall Street Suites in Bend. Each property is ranked #1 on TripAdvisor in its respective market. Wendy shares a little about her story and her approach to the business including her secret to success (hiring the right people).

Ben is joined by Marly & Tyler, the content team from Odysys, to talk about the insights they gained from running an innkeeper survey about Extras, Special Offers, Upsells and Packages. Turns out - so many innkeepers could be more profitable if they'd just offer some simple extras to their guests!

In this "mini-episode" of the InnSpeak Podcast, Ben points out a really simple couple of tips for helping your property find more potential guests in search engines. He covers how to do a little simple keyword research using Google and how to update your website and listings to highlight your property's key attribute or amenities.

"If a picture is worth 1,000 words then a video has to be worth at least 10,000 right?" Videographers James & Jennifer from Kingdom House Media join the podcast to help me understand video for B&B's and hotels. We talk about how to hire videographers, what makes for good video, how to create do-it-yourself video for your social media, how to incorporate video into your website and tell your property's story in a way that the written word and photos cannot.

Nicolette Johnston of Colette Publications joins the pod to talk about creating great content for your property. Nicolette is the publisher of Bed & Breakfast Magazine and Chateaux & Castles Quarterly, but she's also spent quite a bit of time being a travel blogger. Nicolette shares her tips for innkeepers to create great content for their blog and for their social channels and we also learn a little about Bed & Breakfast magazine and how to pitch your inn for a story!

Rob Fulton, CEO of AIHP (Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals) joins the pod again. This time we talk about a hot topic in the industry right now - ADA compliance & website accessibility for B&B's. There's been a lot of predatory lawsuits, or at least threats of lawsuits, going around over the last several months for websites that aren't accessible. We talk about what's happening and how to protect yourself.

Ben shares a few thoughts after attending an industry conference and issues a challenge to vendors in the marketing & technology space selling to innkeepers & independent hoteliers.

Diane Rogers of the Pinecrest Bed & Breakfast in Asheville NC joins the podcast to talk about her tips for managing OTA listings on Expedia. Diane gives practical advice for managing your OTA listings for higher yield (ie - more profit) and direct bookings. Hint: it's about actively managing availability.  

Instagram "micro-influencer" Kourtney Barish joins the podcast to talk about her advice, tips and tricks for getting more engagement on your Instagram posts. She gives advice for how to quickly and easily manage & add hashtags to your posts, re-share other people's posts, manage Instagram posts that people take at your place, etc. Kourtney is on Instagram.com/TasteOfBend a local foodie Instagram account. In addition to her own posts, she is compensated to visit local restaurants and share pics of their food. Kourtney also runs the Instagram accounts for Odysys and the InnSpeak Podcast 

Rob Fulton, CEO of AIHP (Association of Independent Hospitality Professionals) joins the podcast to talk about "The State of B&B's in the U.S." and the findings of a recent study. We talk about what innkeepers can take away from the study and use as they think about their business in 2019 and beyond. We talk about the growth of the industry overall, what guests expect from B&B's, the competition that B&B's face, and other opportunities for guest satisfaction and increased profits.

Heather Turner, social media expert and marketing director for PAII joins the podcast to talk about some of the things she teaches to innkeepers about social media. Learn how to match the social media channel to your audience, how to be more effective at managing your social media presence and a couple of rules of thumb. And of course, we ask the awkward and unusual getting to know you questions at the end. 

This "mini-episode" of the Innspeak podcast is a breakdown of Moz's 2018 Local Ranking Factors survey. Ben covers the key things that will help your property rank in Google's "3-pack" map results. 

Kris Ullmer, President & CEO of PAII walks through educational & networking opportunities available to innkeepers. We also talk about PAII's advocacy efforts for the industry including a class action suit against OTAs like Expedia, arming innkeepers with information on fighting for equal footing with short term rentals in their area and also ADA compliance issues.

Stephen Fofanoff joins the podcast to talk about creating and marketing content to connect with potential guests. Stephen talks about the plans of the Washington B&B Guild to turn their association site into a content marketing machine. Stephen talks about how they're going to focus on creating content and partner with video content creators to do a better job of marketing that gets people interested in traveling to and staying at one of their inns. Stephen serves as Innkeeper at Domaine Madeleine and VP of Guest Connection for Washington Bed & Breakfast Guild, soon to be Washington Independent Inns Network.  

Innkeeper Brett Rauber of The Campbell House Inn, a historic 20-room boutique hotel in Eugene, Oregon. Brett really focuses on return on investment (ROI) when it comes to marketing his Inn, and for guest services. He shares insights on managing occupancy and average daily rates (ADR), staff training and upsells to drive his property's success. Intro - 0:00 About Campbell House Inn, their guests, and social media - 1:40 Approach to using OTAs - 10:35 Using ADR and occupancy to drive success - 14:05 Training staff and upsells - 16:58 Return on investment (ROI) for marketing & guest services, more ADR & occupancy - 22:00 About Eugene - 36:20 One piece of advice for other Innkeepers - 41:33  

Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography joins the podcast to share some wisdom about how important photography is to the hospitality industry. Marcus and Unique Angles Photography has focused exclusively on hospitality photography since 2008. Marcus shares some tips like how to know if you need new photography, how to shoot your own photos with your smartphone, and what to look for when hiring a photographer. Intro: 0:00 How to Tell Good Photography from Bad - 3:00 Should I Have People in My Inn's Photos? - 6:30 Shooting rooms: 10:00 Taking Pictures with Your Phone: 12:30 Take Your Own Photos of Your Destination 17:00 Instagram 20:15 Marcus' Favorite Experiences: 21:55 How to be a Good B&B Photography Client: 23:15 How Marcus Works with Innkeepers: 28:30 Hiring a Photographer, and Why Real Estate Photography is Different: 30:20  

Kent Schnepp, CEO of Odysys joins the podcast to get insight into how a marketer and a marketing technology company view the issues facing the industry. We talk about Kent's journey and what let him to create Odysys. Intro - 0:00 Inspiration for Participating in the B&B Industry - 5:10 Major Issues Facing Innkeepers - 12:40 Innkeepers' Greatest Digital Marketing Assets - 16:30 What Kent Has Learned So Far - 20:30

Innkeeper Laurie Bunker of the Raton Pass Motor Inn, a revitalized mid-century "vintage lifestyle" themed motel in Raton New Mexico. The Raton Pass Motor Inn has a really strong brand identity and a really well-defined ideal guest that they reach through Instagram & events. Intro: 0:00 About Raton Pass Motor Inn & Cultivating a Brand: 2:35 Tapping Into the "Classic Motels" Movement: 7:20 Defining Her Ideal Guests: 9:30 Laurie's Social Media Strategy: 11:25 Events to Attract & Connect with Guests: 18:00 Laurie's Top Piece of Advice: 24:15  

Julie McAferty joins the podcast. Julie is owner of Greenlake Guest House, a B&B located near downtown Seattle. Julie is also currently President of the Washington Bed & Breakfast Guild. I talk with Julie about connecting with fellow innkeepers via the Washington Bed & Breakfast guild has played a pivotal role in her success. We talk about her marketing, her ideal guests and even brainstorm ideas for her blog. Intro: 0:00 Getting her start: 1:30 Washington Bed & Breakfast Guild: 5:15 Dealing with changes in the market: 11:50 Identifying her ideal guests: 17:25 Marketing ideas: 24:30 Advice for innkeepers: 26:15  

Innkeeper Laura Yepez of Chicago's Wicker Park Inn, an 11 room bed & breakfast. We talk about building her business, working with other innkeepers, and marketing challenges and tips. Intro -- 0:00 Expanding from 3 rooms to 11 rooms -- 1:15 Attracting & Interacting with Guests -- 5:55 One Piece of Advice to Innkeepers -- 10:00 Chicago B&B Association Fights Property Taxes -- 13:15 Competing with AirBnB/Vacation Rentals -- 19:12 Marketing Challenges & Lessons Learned -- 22:30 Win/Place/Show + Worst Guest Horror Story -- 29:00