Tnooz has a great post up illustrating some of the problems that can be created with overzealous use of social media by innkeepers. Do go on over and read the whole thing.
I don't always agree with the folks at Priceline on the many marketing choices available to innkeepers. But in this case I do have to agree that there are an awful lot of charlatans out there when it comes to consultants pushing innkeepers into social media.
And as most innkeepers who have attended any conferences lately have seen, go to 3 workshops and you'll learn 3 contradicting methods for making it all work. One says do this, the next says do that. The next one says don't do any of this or that.
What's an innkeeper to do? Pay attention, follow your instincts, and don't stretch yourself too thin.
Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean you have to do it. And it doesn't mean they're getting more guests from it either.
Facebook offers many possibilities for friends to stay in touch. But it is my personal opinion that what it offers to innkeepers in terms of marketing to guests is much more limited.
In fact, if it goes bad, it just might go the other way.
