Give Your Hotel A Beautiful Social Presence

Social media success is harder than most people think, but making your page at least look professional is easy if you follow a few basic rules. Resolve to make your hotel’s social media pages look great in 2017 with these best practices. 

1. Size your cover images correctly

Cover photos are the largest image on your social media profile on Facebook and Twitter, so they’d better look good. Posting a cover image with the wrong size will lead to pixelization, weird stretching and even having parts of the image cut off.

Use these cover image sizing guidelines to avoid problems: 

Facebook: 828 x 315 pixels

Twitter: 1500 x 500 pixels

Besides cover images, correct sizing is a must for all your page’s visual assets. Check out this cheat sheet from make a websitehub.com for correct image sizing for all social media platforms.

2. Don’t use an external shot of your hotel for your cover image

It’s nice to give guests  a “wow” feeling when they first pull up to your hotel, but what’s more important is what they can see from inside the hotel. Use your cover image real-estate to help guests imagine what their stay will look like. Highlighting cool views of the city or interesting locations inside the hotel are great ways to do that.

3. Use a graphic to make text less boring (and get around Twitter’s 140 character rule)

The Westin Princeton surrounded a guest’s testimonial with an eye catching graphic, which not only made their timeline more appealing it also let them  bypass Twitter’s 140 character limit, since some of the text was part of the image.

4. Use your logo as your profile picture

There’s a time and a place for creativity and it’s NOT in your profile picture. Just use your hotel’s logo (preferably the version that references your property’s location). As you can tell by the example below, things get a little cluttered when you try to fit a more detailed image in the small profile photo area. Notice how the Westin Princeton’s profile looks cleaner than that of the Westin Chicago North West.

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5. Feel free to use text in your cover photo

Using text in your cover photo is a great way to catch people’s attention.  The Westin Georgetown used text to in their cover to spread their brand messaging in a visual way. The Rittenhouse’s use of text in their Twitter cover image is especially well done, it gives an at-a-glance explanation of the hotel.

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6. Resize your Instagram profile picture to avoid cutting off text

Since Instagram uses a circular profile image it’s easy for text to get cut off. Be sure to resize or reposition your image to avoid this issue.

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7. Let guests do the work for you

High quality images submitted by guests are a great way to make your social media page prettier while showcasing real-life guest enjoyment. Kudos to Ritz-Carlton for this awesome example.

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This week’s blog post was fueled by 2017 coffee, it’s like 2016 coffee but more futuristic. Until next time be well, and check back next week for the start of our McConnell Moves social media campaign.

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Marketing Trends Hoteliers Should Take Advantage of in 2017

Where are we headed?

It’s a common but tough-to-answer question this time of year. In the hotel marketing world we’re headed for a year that will be defined by a few major trends. Here are the marketing trends we think will have the biggest impact in 2017:

Mobile

According to statcounter.com mobile and tablet internet usage surpassed desktop usage for the first time ever in 2016. Mobile is no longer an important piece of digital marketing… it’s the most important piece!

How to take advantage of this trend: 

1.  Make sure all your digital content is optimized and formatted for mobile devices before thinking about how it looks on a desktop platform.

2. Use texting services to reach guests. Mobile has surpasses desktop because people have their mobile devices on them all the time. That makes texting a surefire way to get your target audiences attention. You can using texting to tell guests when they can check in, what time happy hour is starting or alert them to another time sensitive special.

Print 

The Content Marketing Institute’s Joe Pulizzi thinks that print might be on the rebound in 2017. After a long and seemingly inevitable decline, there’s evidence, like the fact that Airbnb recently released a printed magazine, that print might become a more prominent marketing tool in the upcoming year.

printing press marketing trends

How to take advantage of this trend: 

1) Decide what makes the most sense to promote through print media. Many of our clients at McConnell Marketing use printed pieces to promote their high-end  services like suites or spas.

2) Create a printed piece too interesting to throw away. We did some die-cut maps for Ritz Carlton (shown below) that were the outline of a famous icon on one side with a local area map on the other. These pieces ended up being an eye-catching but useful way to promote the hotel.

Ritz Map Printed Marketing Example

 

Live Video Streaming

In November of 2016 Instagram integrated live video into its app. It’s just one of many social media sites that offers a live video service and for good reason, Facebook users spend 3 times as long watching live videos as they do watching the non-live versions. Live video is definitely on the upswing in 2017.

live streaming video marketing

How to take advantage of this trend: 

Add live video to your content marketing mix. For hoteliers this can be as simple as regularly scheduled property tour videos. “Thinking about staying with us? Tune in Thursday for a live tour” the real value of this type of video is that the audience has the ability to type questions while watching, so you can give answers to your potential guests questions in real time.

Interactive Content

According to Forbes, interactive content will be a big trend in marketing this year. Quizzes, clickable graphics, and anything that requires input from the audience falls under this category.

Interactive Markeitng

How to take advantage of this trend: 

One example Forbes pointed to was a quiz entitled “Which City should you live in” by Buzz-feed. Your hotel could create a similar quiz using categories such as, “what meeting space should you book?”, “what local restaurant should you try?” etc. These types of tools provide valuable information to guests in a unique and fun way.

Email Marketing 

The Content Marketing Institute has long advocated for the importance of email marketing as a key for success. In Joe Pulizzi’s book Content Inc.  he says email subscribers should be the number 1 metric for measuring content marketing success.

Followers and subscribers on social media are nice, but they are out ultimately out of your control. Facebook can change their algorithm without notice or Twitter can change which content it allows to be posted. Email is the most sustainable content channel in the long term.

How to take advantage of this trend:  

Make sure you’re capturing email addresses at check-in or during online booking if possible. For non-guests, you’ll have to offer some type of incentive for them to offer up their email address, here are some ideas.

1) Create a PDF ebook with info on local attractions, bars, restaurants etc. Ex: “Get a free PDF guide to New York when you sign up for our email list.”

2) Offer ongoing value. Ex: “Sign up to get monthly emails with the top events happening in Pittsburgh.”

3) Do a contest or give away. Ex: “Sign up for a chance to win two free nights at our hotel!”

Once the emails are captured you can continue to deliver valuable content to your guests’ inbox which will keep your hotel at the top of their mind the next time they plan to book a trip or recommend a place to stay.

What marketing trends do you think will have the biggest impact in 2017? Let us know in our comments section below. 

Holiday Help: Welcoming International Guests

Happy Holidays from McConnell Marketing

Waiting for a guy in a red suit to deliver presents,  displaying a pine tree in your living room and kissing beneath a plant hanging from the ceiling… out of context our holiday traditions can be down right weird.

Keep that in mind when dealing with international guests. They’re away from home, in a different culture and not enjoying the holiday rituals they are used to.

Since there really is no place like home for the holidays here are some tips to helping international guests feel more at home this holiday season.

 

Get the Greeting Right

Sure, your pronunciation might be wrong, but if you’ve ever traveled abroad you know it’s the thought that counts when trying to greet someone in their foreign tongue, not the execution.

Holiday Greetings

Here are some holiday greetings from around the globe, with links to videos on how to pronounce them.

Merry Christmas

Spanish: Feliz Navidad

German: Frohe Weihnachten

U.K. British: Happy Christmas

Italian: Buon Natale

French: Joyeux Noel

Happy New Year

Spanish: Feliz año nuevo 

German: Frohes neues Jahr

Italian:  felice anno nuovo

French: bonne année

Chinese: kuai le xiin nian 

Japanese: Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.

 

Know When “The Holidays” Are 

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“The Holidays” can include a handful of special days that don’t always fall on the same date each year. Here are a few of this year’s key dates you may have missed:

December 24th through January 1st: Hanukkah (An 8 day Jewish celebration in remembrance of an ancient miracle)

December 26th: Boxing Day (observed in the U.K. and other commonwealth countries, is a non-religious holiday that involves shopping and gift giving)

December 26th through January 1st: Kwanzaa (a celebration of African heritage first started in 1966)

January 28th: Chinese New Year (Also known as Spring Festival, it’s a celebration of the beginning of the lunisolar Chinese calendar.)

 

Offer A Multicultural Menu

Open MenuNothing makes people feel at home more than familiar food. You’re never going to be able to replicate a guest’s favorite home cooked meal but you can at least offer them a taste of nostalgia with some of these traditional holiday items

Latke – These simple potato cakes are a Hanukkah staple.  

Oysters – in France 70% of all Oysters are eaten during the week between Christmas and New Years.

Long Noodles – in Japan eating long noodles is a common tradition on New Year’s Eve. Specifically “Toshikoshki soba” or year-crossing noodle.” On a different note KFC has become a very popular Christmas dish in Japan since the 1970s, maybe leave that item off the menu though.

Gluhwein – is a German Christmas beverage made with red wine, sugar and spices served hot, otherwise known as a hot spiced mulled wine.

Bacalao – is a dried and salted codfish that is a major holiday staple in Mexico and other Latin countries. There are plenty of variations on the recipe, but most include peppers, onions and garlic.

 

If you have any more holiday tips from around the world, please let us know in our comments section below! Lastly, we want to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season from everyone here at McConnell Marketing!

Today’s article was brought to you by the Starbucks Christmas blend, which has become a seasonal tradition here at the office.

Until next week, stay well and Happy Holidays!

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The Art of Minimalism

An average person looks at their phone 85 times per day. Researchers also found smartphone use is typically confined to short bursts, lasting 30 seconds or less. Is your content being seen? Is your design interface standing out?

User interfaces for mobile apps and websites are now shifting toward a flat, simple, minimal design solution. Minimalism is a key component to good design, as it follows the “less is more” principle. The art of minimalism can be achieved in some of these design techniques mentioned below.

Color

Simplifying your color scheme is a great place to start. Using a monochromatic technique can benefit the overall aesthetic. Monochromatic hues are more pleasant to the eye and therefore easier to look at.

Minimalism-MonochromaticAnother creative use of color is the spotlight technique. Using one bright color in a pallet of neutral colors creates contrast and draws attention to important information. An example can be seen below.

Minimalism-Spotlight

Whitespace

Whitespace has become a common occurrence in minimal design. Francine Jay, the developer of MissMinimalist.com and author of The Joy of Less once said, “The problem: we put more value on our stuff than our space.” Though her quote focuses on all aspects of living, it can certainly be applied to design.

Minimalism-Whitespace

Whitespace helps elements within the design stand out. It creates an inviting, clean space which allows the user to easily digest information quickly. Whitespace is a perfect example of everything minimalism stands for using a “less is more” technique.

Typography

Typography plays a vital role when communicating your brand message. You can never go wrong with Helvetica, which is used in countless applications, print ads and company logos. A few other easy-reading fonts include Hind, Arial and San Francisco. Don’t be afraid to play with weight, style, size and color to highlight your most important information. Typography if used correctly can be powerful and influential.

Minimalism-Typography

Minimalism is taking over and it is beneficial to know the basics. Using these techniques can improve the look of your website, newsletter and more. Do you need help with a minimal design? We’d love to help you. Thanks for reading, and be sure to stop back next week for a new blog!

Today’s blog writing rendezvous was powered by Dunkin’ Donuts. The new Crème Brûlée Swirl is delicious, and highly recommended.

Until next week, stay well.

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The Secret To Great Promotional Items

McConnell Marketing Promotional Items

Big meeting. Pen runs out of ink. “I need a pen for this meeting. What am I going to do?”

You frantically dig through your bag hoping to find the proverbial needle in the haystack. Then……. voila! A Hilton pen from your last trip to Dallas, your saving grace.

In the following seconds you reflect on that trip. You remember how much you enjoyed it and how you’d love to go back. You remember the great hospitality you received at the Hilton Garden Inn and the wheels begin turning to plan your next getaway. Ok, time to focus. Back to the meeting.

That right there is why you give your guests promotional items. A nice pen is always my favorite, but items that represent your brand and tell a story can also resonate deeply with your clientele.

Here’s a look at three of the more interesting promotional items we’ve produced for clients and the stories behind them. Hopefully they will inspire you to think creatively about your next promotional item order.

 

Aloft Phoenix-Airport – Bottle Opener Magnet

The Aloft Phoenix-Airport has a tremendous bar. The W XYZ bar offers small plates, craft beer and signature cocktails. Patrons can shoot a game of pool while listening to a DJ spin the best tunes. Aloft needed an item that represented this exciting, unique atmosphere. We produced a pool ball bottle-opener for them, blending the themes of pool and craft beer into a practical giveaway. Guests will undoubtedly think of the great time they had at the W XYZ bar the next time they open a beer.

Aloft Promotional Bottle Opener

 

Mandarin Oriental New York – Bookmarks

Known as one of New York’s best, Mandarin Oriental New York offers guests an inspired Bedside Reading Program. Books, hand-selected by esteemed designer and avid reader Joseph Altuzzara are available to read in each suite. Taking their superior hospitality a step further, they wanted bookmarks for the readers. Below is a look at a few of the designs. One side features a famous quote from Robert Half while the other has a gorgeous shot of Central Park in the winter.

Mandarin Oriental New York Bookmarks

 

St. Regis New York – Cigars

St. Regis and luxury go hand-in-hand. The St. Regis New York, the brand’s flagship property, wanted a fitting way to give back to preferred guests. The solution was a custom cigar box filled with five premium cigars. Cigars are often perceived as a sign of affluence and celebration and therefore fit the St. Regis brand exceptionally well.

St. Regis New York – Cigars

So there you have it. Three promotional items with a few things in common.

1. Brand representation.

2. Memorable and unique.

3. Utility.

Are you looking to create a unique promotional item for your hotel? We’d be happy to help you!  Thanks for reading, and be sure to stop back next week for a new blog!

Today’s article was fueled by local shop Branch Street Coffee Roasters. Their Ethiopian sourced Yirgacheffe coffee is fantastic for writing (with a great pen) about promotional items.

Until next week, stay well.

 

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