Helping a Self Catering Property Get More Visible

Episode number three of mini marketing reviews. And for those of you that have tuned in the last few days, we will have started in Australia, then we went to Portugal and now on number three, we're coming to the uk. We're going to the lovely little city of Ipswich and we're going to be helping Mel Guyver. So Mel, you filled in the form, you said that you wanted to have a market review and here, here we are. So if you're tuning in for the first time, welcome to the Boostly podcast. Every day in 2021 I'm going to be uploading a podcast video audio blog post to the Boostly network to help hosts just like you not only survive what has happened over the past 14 months, but thrive on the other end. It's a challenge that I have set. We are now into August. We have well past the 300 podcast mark on Boostly overall, which is insane. And for the round of inspiration I'm doing mini marketing reviews. As I explained in the first episode, normally when I do a marketing review it's a full live episode. We get the host on, on a zoom call, we share the screen, we get everybody into a room and we just bounce ideas. It's a lot of fun, but it's a lot of work. And with these daily podcasts I want it to be short, sharp, sweet, to the point, under 10 minutes. So that host, doesn't matter how busy you are, can tune in at any point, anytime, in the car, walk in, breakfast, whenever you can tune in. So this is where the idea of mini marketing reviews came from. And just like with Sandy, just like with Carolina and today with Mel, I wanted to do a mini marketing review. So what I love is that we're having a real nice mix up every single day. So we're nice and diverse on the different types of properties, nice and diverse in the locations around the world. And this is obviously going to be in Ipswich. So Mel has got one apartment, one property, it's called Stone Lodge Apartments based in Ipswich and Mel started the business up just before March 2020 obviously when Covid hit hasn't had a lot of bookings mainly being is that and again Mel has said that truly and honestly time, time aspect, knowing what tasks to do, how to put much time time to it in a previous life used to do this in Spain with other listings a long time ago but obviously back well obviously in Ipswich and doing this. So majority of the guests have been leisure, those have come from VRBO and this is all Mel's word took part in One of my five day challenges. So he's now on mailchimp, which is, which is good, but it's just all about making sure that the property Stone Lodge is visible, bookable and referable. So let's, let's delve in. Let's go first and foremost to the website. This is Stone Lodge Apartments. Now I'm not sure on what platform this is built on. I do know that the PMS is free to book, which is good. We love free to book. Really simple, easy to use, cost effective for one property, et cetera, et cetera. But what I would be looking at here is where everything is okay. And again it's really important that when you have a website you want to make sure that everything is really easy to use and understand as soon as somebody hits that website, not only on desktop, but also mobile and tablet as well. And for those of you that have been following me for a while, you will know that I prefer to have all of this down in what's called the junk draw here. So I think this should be more incentive. Get rid of this on the side, have Stone Lodge apartments up here and then have that book. Now check prices right here in the top right hand corner because that's where our nice eyes naturally divert to. One thing I do notice is the why hashtag Book Direct. I do love that. Well done, Mel. The more people can talk about direct bookings the better. But in all honesty, 80 of your information, like I said, needs to be on that first page of Google. People don't read big blocks of text like this. So I would be definitely looking to get 80 of the information on that first page of Google. And if you're looking for examples, Mel, go to Booster Codk Portfolio, check out the websites that we're designing. Feel free if you've got the ability to edit this to amend it slightly. I do love how you are using Repurso RIP uso. There's Repurso or there's reviews. Two very cool real time review people. And these are obviously coming through from the verbo, which is which, which is, which is cool as well. Book Direct to get the best prices and save money, outstanding self care in holiday rentals for over 40s. So I would definitely look to amend the title a little bit. Again, a lot of people don't know what Book Direct actually means. So what I would be looking to do is how can you make that a little bit better? But I won't be putting it straight away at the top here, Mel. I'll be definitely mentioning it as in you could do some cool little icons here, benefits of booking directly with us as I eat earlier, check in time, best rates, you know, more money into the local community etc people do care and love about that but I won't be putting it straight away at the very end top. But in all honesty again I think your problem isn't so much the website, the PMS is fine etc it would be how are people finding you? So obviously we know from what you've told me that you are listed on Verbo but we don't know where else you are listed as well. So what I would be doing again this is something that I recommended to Carolina. I want to make sure that you're on all the best listing sites for you. So if you head to booster.co.uk forward/listingsites it will forward you on to this unlisted video here. Do go check it out 40 minutes long. It will show you exactly what you need to do to make sure that you are everywhere social media content wise. Well done for for using boosted content creator. Do keep sticking at it. Definitely do keep sticking at it. Last one was three days ago which is lovely. Then before that July 9th so you know, nice and consistent which is, which is fantastic. Do do do please keep at it. And again just do a little bit more of you know, behind the scenes, a little bit more about you, a little bit more about the business owners, a little bit more about why you, what you offer etc. I know you've only got one follower but if you keep doing that then more and more people will come and, and stick around. So again I just did a little search for Stone Lodge Apartments Ipswich which is here and again I've got the Facebook page which is obviously doubling up from Instagram which is, which is good but again I think the win for yourself if we've had a lot of people that are staying with you at the present moment in time for leisure, I definitely really would be looking. Seeing that we've got quite a lot of space here in the calendar. How can you be tapping into maybe contractors, business people in and around the Ipswich area and what can you be doing there? Have you had any guests over the course, you know since COVID began? Who stayed you who were maybe key workers, business people etc can you reach out to them and ask if they know anybody who's going to be coming back to the area Also as well use that that Google YouTube video on how to make sure that you're listed on all the right places because free to book is good you know, a very good channel manager. It will connect you to all the places to make sure that you are vis. And then what can you be doing? Maybe pricing software wise to make sure that you're not either underpriced or not overpricing yourself. So again, Price Labs Wheelhouse, which is recommended and it's available in Ipswich I believe, and it's free. Can you plug that in number one, which would be really fascinating. And again, tap into the people that have already been staying with you because we know. I can see that we've had at least five people because I've left the reviews and they've synced in from Verbo. Can you get in contact with them? A couple of things. Ask for a referral or even maybe do a survey. So do a quick survey to find out why they stayed with you, et cetera, et cetera. So again, all that content that you need, Mel, is available in Boostly Content Creator. I know you have access to it, those email templates are there and please do go and put them into action as soon as possible. If you need any help or guidance, you know you know where to find us. But hopefully that you do get to see this and I hope that all is well and I shall speak to you very soon. And for everybody else that has tuned in again, what can you take away from this? What could Mel be doing better? Whether it's website, what have I missed in this mini marketing review? And again, full context. This is the first time that I've seen this. I've literally come in, give advice straight away. There's no context, there's no melon over line saying X, Y, Z. So if I've missed anything and you could give any further advice to Meltdown, then please do leave it in the comments, wherever you may be watching or listening to this. Thank you so much for stopping by. I'll be back tomorrow with another podcast as always. And if this is the first time you've checked this out, then you've got a full catalog, over 300 episodes to go back on booster.co.uk forward slash podcast. I'll be back tomorrow as awesome as always. Please stay proactive, don't be reactive and let's go get some diary bookings.