“Chats for Business Brilliance – Episode 1: Google Analytics with Byron Cain”
Hosted by Ken Andrus, Leonard at Logan B&B, presented by MichBnB.com
Why Analytics Matter
Understanding Demographics
Booking Funnel
Bank Account Analogy
Traffic Drops as Red Flags
Seasonality in Bookings
Google Analytics Dashboard UI
Explore + Path Exploration Tool
Simple Setup for Small Inns
Using Business Email for Analytics
Community Support – Fellow Innkeepers, monthly off-season coffee hour, facebook forum.
“Chats for Business Brilliance – Episode 2: Meta Business with Elizabeth Furtaw”
Hosted by Ken Andrus, Leonard at Logan B&B, presented by MichBnB.com
“Meet Elizabeth Furtaw: Digital Marketing Guru
What Is Meta Business Suite? “Centralize Your Social Media: What Meta Business Suite Does”
Security & Access Management
“Secure Team Roles for Social Media Success”
Content Scheduling Efficiency”Plan Once, Post Everywhere”
Unified Customer Communication “All Your DMs, One Inbox” merged chat interface for Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
In-Depth Analytics & Insights “Understand What Works: Track & Optimize”
Comparing Google Analytics vs Meta Insights “Different Tools, Different Goals”
Boosting vs. Creating Ads “Boost or Build? Smart Meta Ad Choices”
Targeting Ads Strategically “Reach the Right Guests at the Right Time”
Wrapping Up: Where to Start & How to Connect “Get Started with Meta Business — Today!”
“Chats for Business Brilliance – Episode 3: Photography & Branding : Amanda Bergeron”
Hosted by Ken Andrus, Leonard at Logan B&B, presented by MichBnB.com
Meet Amanda Bergeron** Branding, real estate, commercial, and portrait photography. * Marketing support:
social media, campaigns, graphic design, strategy. * Work with Sweetwater Sea Bed & Breakfast.
Smartphone Photography Tips** How innkeepers can take professional-looking photos using smartphones. * Use food mode or portrait mode to blur background. * Natural light is critical—avoid flash. & Avoid artificial light reflections in room shots.
Visual Content That Works – What kinds of photos resonate on social media, Sunrises, northern lights, living room with lake views. * Highlight full spaces + intimate features (e.g., fireplace). * Capture emotional appeal and atmosphere.
Spotlight the Innkeeper** Importance of personal connection with guests. * Feature yourself in photos/videos. * Introduce yourself on your website/social. * Share stories about why you host and what makes your inn special.
Video Content Strategy ** Why and how to use video. * **Ideas:** Walkthrough tours of rooms and property. * Beach or town strolls. * Breakfast prep demos. * **Gear:** Tripod + smartphone is enough—no need for fancy equipment
Storage and Sharing Tips** Managing media files and easy sharing. **Suggestions:** * Use Google Photos for organization and access. * Share albums with developers or for social use. * Use folders like: “Rooms”, “Food”, “Tours”
Building a Strategic Plan** How to create a simple, effective content plan. * **Steps:** * Review past year: wins & pain points. * Set quarterly goals (e.g., post 2 videos/month). * Track progress and adjust. * Consider seasonal tactics (e.g., promtions for slow months).
Human-Centered Imagery** Use real people to boost emotional engagement. * **Ideas:** * Invite returning guests to appear in photos. * Show people enjoying the space. * Use storytelling to bring the inn to life visually.
“Chats for Business Brilliance – Episode 4: Successful Blog : Liz Hamilton, Maia Consulting”
Hosted by Ken Andrus, Leonard at Logan B&B, presented by MichBnB.com
Why Blogging Matters * Drives traffic to your site. * Builds authority & visibility in local search. * Perform well in search engines, AI tools, and ChatGPT prompts.
Low-hanging SEO fruit — even one blog can bring 300–500 visits/month
How Often Should I Blog? * Ideal: 1–2 blogs per month. * Do what’s sustainable and consistent. * Avoid long gaps (e.g., May to September).
Think of it like a habit — it’s never too late to start!
What Should I Blog About? * Frequent guest questions: * Best places to eat, park, visit museums, etc.
Topics that perform well * Seasonal activities (e.g., summer swimming holes) * Romantic getaways, anniversaries * Restaurant guides (high-end, vegetarian, etc.) * Area attractions: theaters, museums, beach walks
Blog Strategy Tips Create content for both kinds of searchers: * Those who already chose a destination * Those still exploring ideas (top of funnel)
Blog can influence decisions before travelers even choose a town
Where to Blog Use your own website — most platforms (e.g., WordPress, ThinkReservations, ResNexus) support blogging.
Make sure your blog functionality is turned on.
Using AI as Your Blogging Assistant Tools: ChatGPT, Gemini, etc. * Teach AI about your property & goals. * Start with: “What questions do you need to write this blog post for me?” * Train it over time — it will learn your tone and needs.
AI Workflow Example * Prompt AI to act as your content assistant. * Feed it guest demographics, trip types, seasonality. * Edit output for accuracy (e.g., verify businesses still exist). * Refine and re-train it with your final version for better future results.
Keyword Tips : Use keywords your guests are actually searching. E.g., “Michigan bed and breakfast” instead of your property name.
Insert keywords naturally in your content.
Use Google Search Console or paid ads data to guide keywords.
Connect with Liz Hamilton Message: “Let’s make your content strategy shine!”
“Chats for Business Brilliance – Episode 5: Digital Concierge : Steve Short – Frictionless Guest App”
Hosted by Ken Andrus, Leonard at Logan B&B, presented by MichBnB.com
What is a Digital
Concierge? * A mobile app curated by innkeepers for guests. * Recommends local places to eat, play, and shop. * Also includes key property info (Wi-Fi, policies, etc.). * Empowers guests with off-site experiences curated by the host.
Why Do Inns Need It? * Enhances the guest experience beyond the property. * Innkeepers are local experts; guests trust your recommendations. * Poor experiences elsewhere can overshadow your great hospitality. * It saves time answering repeat questions (e.g., dining, attractions).
How Guests Access the App * Shared privately via confirmation or pre-arrival emails. * Not publicly available on the inn’s website. * Optimized for mobile, tablet, and desktop. * May include QR codes placed in guest rooms or shared by text.
Easy Setup and Customization * Gather your top recommendations (e.g., restaurants, shops). * Frictionless pulls accurate business data from Google Maps. * Content is organized into customizable tiles and categories. * Minimal write-up needed; includes staff support during onboarding.
Customization & Organization * Customize categories: e.g., “Restaurants,” “Shops,” “Museums,” “Wine Trails.” * Add short descriptions or curated tips. * Flexible grouping helps guests navigate easily. * Support team helps configure layout and logic.
Marketing & Guest Loyalty * Builds guest satisfaction = better reviews & repeat bookings. * Encourages social media sharing and word-of-mouth. * Can include special perks from partner businesses (e.g., free drinks). * Promotes local ecosystem: win for guests, inns, and nearby businesses.
Partnership Opportunities * Collaborate with local businesses (restaurants, shops). * Highlight them in the app and request reciprocal value:
Example: “Guests get a free appetizer when mentioning [Inn Name].”
Create memorable, exclusive guest experiences.
Measuring Engagement * Built-in metrics to track usage and engagement. * See how guests access the app (QR code, email, etc.). * Evaluate which tiles or businesses are most clicked. * Adjust visibility and placement as needed to improve usage.
