Online Tools To Improve Hotel Management

10 Aug, 2015 |

Time is a valuable commodity in today’s fast-paced world. Unfortunately, the tasks that fill up the day of a hotel manager or employee are time-consuming with little room for any additional activities. When feeling overwhelmed, it’s important to remember the virtual tools designed to make these jobs simpler than ever. With these simple, but effective tools, hotels can be more effective at their daily operations. These tips provide effective ways to manage time and tasks efficiently. 


Online Reputation Management Systems


Each hotel’s reputation has a significant effect on their reservations. Additionally, one of the primary ways that hotels develop a reputation is through online reviews. Many managers are tasked with protecting the hotel’s online reputation, a job that may seem overwhelming. However, there are several excellent tools that make it easy to monitor an online presence. Google Alerts, for example, is a free tool that can be used to track where the hotel is mentioned across the internet. Social Mention and Who’s Talkin are also effective tools to manage online reputations and track what people are saying. Take advantage of these tools to streamline part of the day. 


From booking to sales, a hospitality property management software system is the key to avoiding problems on a daily basis. There are hundreds of systems available today so look through each one available to find the best option for the property. Examples of what these systems do include managing reservations, tracking costs, and training employees. Larger hotels may need an all-inclusive suite that covers all areas of hospitality whereas small hotels can get by with smaller systems. However, be sure to find a system that covers all areas needed for effective daily operations. This system takes some time to set up and learn. However, it can save hours of time and help increase staff efficiency and productivity as well, helping managers to keep costs low. 


Hotel Scheduling Software


Trying to schedule employees is a challenge, but today’s managers can streamline the process with hotel scheduling software readily available. This software can be used to track number of employees needed and how to schedule employees for the maximum productivity. It can be used to plan for vacation coverage as well and takes much of the guesswork out of scheduling. These software programs are used by managers in almost every area and with good reason. For hotels that have even small hotel staffing needs, these programs reduce employee mistakes and increase productivity significantly. Even the most organized of managers is going to make some mistakes which can be harmful for the hotel and its reputation. Keep the process simple by investing in this scheduling software. They’re an inexpensive way to run daily operations and employees. 


Online Inventory Systems


Hotels go through a huge amount of inventory each year. From the complementary soaps to the towels that guests keep taking, it’s not always easy to know when to reorder products. While each hotel uses a different system of ordering, hotel inventory systems are a good way to track and re-order products as needed. Use a complete hotel inventory system to simplify the complexities of hotel room stocking. Even regular employees can be involved in the process by inputting how much stock they use each day to make the process as easy as possible. Having a virtual inventory system also takes the guesswork out of the process and some even automatically place orders as needed. While this system provides benefits for almost every hotel, it is an essential part of larger hotels. 


Clocking In/Out Programs


This is a small aspect of productivity, but can make a difference in most hotels, especially larger ones. Many managers are frustrated with having to deal with employee clocking in and out. One of the best ways to monitor which employees clock in and out on time is to have a time clock which collects the data and sends it to an online system where it can be tracked. This allows management to see which employees constantly show up late or leave early. While simple, it can help to catch smaller problems in the hotel system.
These tools offer significant methods to prevent error and increase productivity. Consider adding these tools to the hotel system to improve workflow on a daily basis.

Suggested Reading: The Art of Promoting Content

30 Jul, 2015 | Tags: ,

The Art of Promoting Content – Tips from @MarkWSchaefer

Promoting your online content can be frustrating. You’ve got content on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google+, Instagram, and you’re there trying to keep everything together while also sharing the reason you’re there in the first place: your business. You want to be fun, relevant, and humorous, sure. But it’s so easy to slip into a realm of trying to promote your content, and then just turning into a spam account. You know what we’re talking about. Just like “that guy” that keeps trying to sell the world his pyramid scheme vitamins and oils.

Every business owner who is online has to come to understand the line of promotion and spam (so you don’t cross it), because no one wants to be “that guy”. No one wants constant “YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW” constantly in their newsfeed. Thankfully, Mike Schaefer has given you a totally free online e-book presentation talking about just this. His e-book is titled “How To Promote Your Content Without Being Spammy”, and he gives the best non-spam advice in quick, easy-to-understand tips.

His e-book has 64 slides and will probably take you no more than 10 minutes to read. You’ll probably find it hard however, to not stop several times during the book and try out some of his ideas. Early on in his e-book he shows an infograph (based on a survey he entirely made up) basically poking fun at what people do with their time on the internet: 48% playing Farmville and 2% interacting with brand messages. The message he quickly gets across is that people of the interweb do not wish to be sold to, marketed to, or advertised to. Then he goes into ten non-spam ideas that you can try while sitting at your computer reading. One of our favorite tips is to join Triberr, a social network for bloggers. Mark Schaefer actually reveals that 8% of his blog traffic comes from Triberr. With that said, we will leave you to read the rest of his awesome content promoting tips in his e-book. After you read his e-book, we totally recommend following him on twitter: @MarkWSchaefer.

7 Tips to Set Up Hosting For Your Web Site

29 Jul, 2015 | Tags:

Setting up a professional website is the most logical step as soon as your business begins to establish or grow. Whether you’re in an international market or just trying to connect with your clientele, a well made website can ensure that your business is seen by the people you are targeting. The following tips will help get you going in the right direction.

Domain Name

Your site is an extension of your marketing strategy since you will want to keep your business in the minds of your potential customers. Purchasing and buying the right domain is the first step to establishing your online presence. Make sure your domain name is both easy to remember and relevant to your business.

Choosing an SEO Friendly Domain Name

People are more likely to find your website if you have a high ranking in a popular search engine like Google. A simple way to do this is to have one of your keywords as part of your domain name (If your keyword is “plumbing”, adding plumbing to your domain name will not hurt). There is no need to stuff your domain with as many keywords as possible. For proper SEO, it is only necessary to include your main keyword.

Buying Enough Space

When looking for hosting, you’ll have to chose much space your website will need. The amountyou should buy varies depending on the size of your website and the number of images that you will have on it. It also doesn’t hurt to have extra space to expand your website if needed.

Multiple Domains

Snatching up domain names similar to your own can prevent competitors from benefiting from your branding efforts. It will also bring in additional traffic from people who type keywords in the address bar instead of using a search engine. Another trick to boost traffic is to buy common misspellings of your website address. This way, people who make a typing error will still be able to find your website. If you decide to buy multiple domain names, each webpage should automatically redirect users to your main URL.

Dedicated Server

A dedicated server is an option for sites that will get a lot of traffic. If this is the case, you will rent a server dedicated to your website alone. It costs much more than to share a number of other websites, but will ensure that your site is able to handle the amount of traffic it will receive.

Virtual Server Advantages

If you are looking for the reliability of a dedicated server, but need something that is more affordable, a virtual server may be what you need. By choosing a virtual server, you will be sharing it with other websites but difference however, is that the traffic from these websites will not affect the performance of your own. This is a cheaper way to host a website while eliminating the problems of a shared server.

Your Email Needs

Always consider your email needs when choosing where to hosting. Some may only need a few email accounts while others will need many more. There are two things to consider in choosing your email hosting: the security provided and the reliability of your clients’ email accounts. Most companies will offer the most basic email hosting package at no additional charge. If your needs are more complicated, email hosting and storage may be an additional cost to factor into your budget.

Finding the right place to host your website is pivotal in marketing your business online. It can be the deciding factor in whether your website attracts potential customers or just becomes another site collecting dust on the internet. Making sure you have the right web hosting is as easy as knowing your email needs and the amount of traffic your website is likely to receive. Once these steps are covered, it won’t be long before your site is ready to be unveiled to the public.

5 Helpful Twitter Users Your Business Should Follow

14 Jul, 2015 | Tags: , , , , ,

Vanessa O’Connell: @VanessaOConnell

Vanessa is a journalist at Wall Street Journal; that should be reason enough to be interested in following her Twitter feed, but there’s a lot more to tell. She is the entrepreneurship editor for WSJ, the creator of “The Accelerators” (a blog dedicated to start-ups), and was part of the small team of journal editors who launched the “Wall Street Journal Startup of the Year”. She coauthored the nonfiction book Wheelmen about Lance Armstrong, and lastly is a monitor for the WSJ panel “How I Built It” featuring well-known American entrepreneurs. 

Rick Wartzman: @RWartzman

Rick Wartzman is a must follow. He is a contributor to @FortuneMagazine writing a colum titled Work 3.0, and he is the author of “The King of California” and “Obscene to the Extreme.” He is currently the Executive Director of Drucker Institute–Strengthening organizations to strengthen society. Rick’s Twitter feed is funny, honest, and full of helpful information for business owners.

Jeff Hoffman: @SpeakerJeff

Jeff is considered a business expert and has been on Fox News, CNN International, Bloomberg News, ABC and in publications including Forbes, Inc, Time, Fast Company, Wall Street Journal and many more. He has been the CEO and senior executive of many well-known startups, including Priceline.com. He serves on many charity and nonprofit boards, travels often as a keynote speaker at entrepreneurial and business leadership conventions. But there’s also the simple fact that his Twitter feed is probably the most lighthearted listed here. One of his most recent tweets is of him holding hands with the Dalai Llama in New York as he judged the Tibetan Innovation Challenge.

Rakia Reynolds: @RakiaReynolds

Rakia is the Twitter account you can’t miss. Her feed is personal, successful, and imaginative.  While we’re talking about social feed, we’re also going to throw in that you’re missing out if you’re not also following her on Instagram. Rakia is the owner of SkaiBlue Media, a marketing agency for lifestyle, technology, and non-profit brands. Rakia is a very successful small business owner, and she’s worth a follow if you’re looking for more upbeat success stories in your feed.

Howard Lewinter: @HowardLewinter

CEO’s, Presidents, and business owners have called on Howard for over 25 years.  He gives advice on business survival, stability, and profit turnaround. Howard’s motto on his Linkedin profile states, “If you’d like more success – more profit – less stress, then let’s talk.” He also hosts his own radio show called “Talk Business With Howard.” He has also been a contributing writer for the Linkedin Business and Selling Fearlessly blog. His Twitter feed has personal and motivational quotes, and many useful links to articles pertaining to running a successful business.

Four Ways Your Business Can Capitalize on National Holidays

23 Jun, 2015 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Our Nation celebrates many national holidays throughout the year, and the Fourth of July is right around the corner. While the holidays themselves stand as reminders of our nation’s history, let’s be honest, most of us are just excited to have a three-day weekend.

During those holiday weekends, how can you help your small business stand out of the crowd? Here’s four ideas to help get your business out of your four walls and into the public eye during this upcoming Fourth of July weekend, and any other upcoming national holidays.

1. Sidewalk Sales

You might think the sidewalk in front of your business is there for pedestrians, but during holiday weekends, that sidewalk is there for you to make sure every pedestrian knows your small business exists. Get some of your products together and set up a small table outside. Have a staff member stand outside with your products. Every person who walks by your small business should receive a smile, as well as a quick idea of what you sell.

2. Holiday Related Products

Holidays are all about getting creative; so let your creative self out of the bag. The Fourth of July is all about celebrating the rich heritage of this great nation. How can your small business represent the red, white, and blue for a weekend? Specialty cocktails on your patio, small flags surrounding your windows and sidewalks: whatever you decide to offer, give your customers an opportunity to celebrate the national holiday with you!

3. Community Events

Sometimes national holidays are all about getting away from your building and into your community. Community events are a great way to get exposure to potential new customers who otherwise might not get the opportunity to know your small business. Take your product into the community. There are always many options for community events during holiday weekends, and many of those events are held in public areas like schools, parks, farmer’s markets, or block parties. Find a holiday event that your small business can participate in, and take your staff and products to them!

4. Holiday Social Media Campaign

Stand strong, and stand proud; let it be known that your small business celebrates national holidays! Your small business’ social media accounts are the best way to ensure your customers know how they can participate in your holiday festivities. Use creative graphics, show teasers of specials, and give a heads up for any discounts or markdowns you’ll be offering. Your social media accounts are a paramount tool during holiday weekends; without communication, your customers won’t know to come and take part in your holiday specials.

Sidewalk sales, holiday related products and sales, community events, and using social media skillfully, are all easy ways to start capitalizing on national holiday weekends. Utilize your staff members to put your best foot forward on these weekends. Use What Time Do I Work to schedule your staff appropriately throughout the weekend to make sure you’re ready to pick up on all that new holiday weekend business! What are some ways your small business capitalizes on holiday weekends? Let us know in the comments, and don’t forget, holiday employee scheduling doesn’t need to be a source of stress, try What Time Do I Work today!