We had a wonderful time in Granbury Texas for the Texas Bed and Breakfast Association Convention. Steven Dunston gave a “kick-off” keynote session to a packed, standing-room only audience, covering the success we had seen with the last year on the new TBBA web site. He also covered some important metrics for innkeepers to be able to evaluate where they actually need to focus their marketing efforts, like shoulder versus primary seasons. “15-minute Marketing Boot Camp” gave innkeepers effective tools to capture more of the travel market in their area.

On Monday, Katie Pate presented on “Internet Marketing with Facebook”. It was wonderful to see such interest in this new marketing platform, and we had another full audience. There were lots of good questions, like from our client Grover McMains, who owns a North Texas Bed and Breakfast in Fort Worth. He asked us about the important steps to having a modern web site before starting to focus time and energy into Facebook Marketing.

On Tuesday Steven spoke again on using a blog as a powerful marketing tool for your Bed and Breakfast web site. Referencing some of the tips and advice he covered in this Marketing Boot Camp, he explained how a blog can allow you to capture additional traffic for attractions and activities searches by creating content about these on a blog, and expanding what your site can be about, and therefore attract new potential clientele to your site.

Pat generously donated an ipod nano for the giveaway to the innkeepers. Many of the other vendors and speakers have known Pat for years, and as always, they were thrilled to see her again and get an update from her on all the new news from InsideOut.

Along with all of the education, we also got to see some of our current clients, like Carol Davis, the current president of the TBBA, and owner of Blisswood Bed and Breakfast, a stunning Wedding Destinationin Texas; and Jerry & Laurie Pinnix from the Mt. Gainor Inn, a Dripping Springs TX bed and breakfast. It is wonderful to check in with them, and give them some more tools to add to their marketing toolbox.

We also saw Jay Karen from PAII, and discussed with anticipation the next annual PAII convention to be held in Austin, and what the TBBA will be doing to help with PAII be gracious Texans hosts.

We want to thank all of the innkeepers and TBBA staff that made the event a success, and treated us so well as our thoughtful Texan hosts. See you in March!