Without a strategy, Twitter is just typing. Does anyone really care that you are leaving for Costco or planting geraniums in the flower beds? Probably not.
The key to Twitter is “tweeting” things that people enjoy reading. An innkeeper has a wide variety of subjects to tweet about. Below are just a few suggestions:
- Create a mood. Some of the best tweets describe the inn experience for the guest. These can include a description of your gourmet breakfast, a well worded glimpse into the scenery in your area or a carefully crafted word picture describing your best suite complete with fireplace, soaking tub and king bed. Tweeting about the guest’s experience reminds them why they need to return.
- Offer deals. Twitter is a great way to offer last minute specials to loyal guests or followers. If you have an available room on a Friday night, offer it on Twitter with a discount for followers. This is not only a great way to target your marketing, but it makes those people who make the effort to follow you on Twitter feel special.
- Ask for an opinion. Tweets don’t always need to promote your business. Are you considering remodeling a suite? Is a king bed necessary? Do guests prefer soaking tubs in room or does the hot tub on the deck suffice? Tweet your followers and ask their opinion. This is a great way to gain guest input, create the inn your guests want and make your Twitter followers feel like a part of your inn family.
- Tweet to show your expertise. Describe your breakfasts. Let guests know you attended the PAII conference. Tell them about the newest trends in innkeeping. Take this opportunity to remind guests that you are the expert innkeeper.
- Share links about your area. Share local information with guests. This could include upcoming events, local attractions, restaurant/shopping specials or even a great weather forecast for the upcoming week. Use Twitter to tell your guests not only why they should choose you, but also why they should choose your locale.
Although there are a number of ways to use twitter to your advantage, poor tweets can quickly irritate guests and even cause them to avoid you…and your business.
Just a few warnings:
- Be Creative. People don’t want to read about your trip to the hardware store . Tweets need to be original.
- Timing is everything. Continual tweets quickly irritate guests. First they simply quit reading. Eventually they quit following. More tweets is not necessarily better.
- Respond. Most of your followers will tweet wonderful things about your BnB and their experience, but when they don’t, address the complaint or suggestion promptly.
- 140 Characters. Yep, that’s it. Don’t try to communicate one message over numerous tweets. That is not a tweet, that is a blog. You can tweet about your blog, but you cannot tweet your blog.
The new generation of guests are already using Twitter. Join the trend and make Twitter work for you.
