Regular readers know that while I'm a huge fan of social media, I'm not a fan of wasted effort.
Case in point, Facebook. It's huge. Folks spend their lives on it, so to speak.
So what innkeeper wouldn't want to jump on that bandwagon?
The only problem is that when you actually look at the results the vast majority of innkeepers achieve from that time on Facebook, well, it's pretty dismal.
And the worst part? That's time taken away from marketing programs that are actually producing results.
What's the problem, as I see it?
Same ole same ole. Folks online have a very very limited attention span. You catch it now or you lose it. It's really that simple.
So it's great to give them a link to your site and all that but if no one is heading over there to book, what's the point?
Without direct booking via Facebook, I remain unconvinced that it is the most effective use of an innkeeper's time.
Enter the good folks from UK-based AvailPro who tell us that their Facebook booking engine is now up and working for over 200 hotels on Facebook.
I'll admit I have not worked with AvailPro myself so can't speak for its overall functionality although what I've seen looks good.
That said, I am not at all crazy about the $3 per booking expense. That may sound like small potatoes, but it adds up to substantially more than most small inns are paying now for their online reservations.
Will others jump on the bandwagon now that the water's been tested? Oh yes.
Will I jump on the bandwagon myself? The minute that bandwagon starts producing the revenue needed to justify the time and money spent on it, I'll be jumping backwards over myself to get aboard.
