Business Marketing Agency – Online Marketing Ideas Great and effective way to advertise your website with free internet marketing tools is by creating a podcast.
They are huge today with the surge in need for .mp3 and audio files as they provide a way for you to reach your customer base. People love to receive audio messages on their phones, in their email, and every other device they can. You can syndicate your audio files with iTunes, RSS, and others for free. It is an audio or video file you can create advertising your website and products. This gives a more interactive approach as many people like to listen to audio files and watch videos. You can add it to your website, email them out, and add them to others websites for free.Creating a one is simple. First you need to find a website that offers the recordable tools and there are many out there. Just do a search for pod casting. You will then write the script for your pod cast. This is the message you want to get out to the listeners about your site. Make sure it reads well when someone speaks it. The pod cast for your message should read about 45-60 seconds. Be sure that you speak with personality and excitement in your voice and catch the listener’s attention. In conveying your message, if the voice isn’t unique and the message is dull and boring, listeners won’t even listen to the message but close it out right away. Pod casting is a fun and creative advertising tool that is free for your website. You can find many places on line to download the recording tools to help you create the file. You can post your pod cast in many places online and generate more traffic to your website with pod casting.
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My comments are made on the basis that one is buying a timeshare for mainly trading purposes. All of the statements I will make are actual experiences not something someone said, or I heard somewhere. My family has been involved in timesharing since 1980. First my parents then my sisters and myself, now many of my extended family members own timeshare weeks. I am average income (work everyday), average intelligence. So since I did it anyone with patience, a minimum amount of time, and dedication can achieve the same results. Before even considering purchasing a timeshare, please talk to people who have had bad experiences first. This way you will be leery of everything going on. Better yet just follow my advice and have no problems at all (just kidding). After deciding to purchase, remember no matter what resale is better. My reasoning for this is, there are a lot of dissatisfied owners out there willing to take a loss just to get out.
So make their mistake your marvel. I have been and continue to take tours while on vacation just to stay intuned with the pricing of weeks. I have yet to find a resort that comes close to fitting into my price range of $2500.00 – $4000.00. If you are frugal then you will feel that $8000.00 - $2000.00 is way too much to pay. However if a buyer goes resale through broker or individual very low prices can be attained. I purchased my two bedroom, red week/40 at SouthShore Lake Resort, rated Gold Crown in the RCI exchange system, in HotSprings Arkansas for $2800.00 in 1990. With this week my wife and I have exchanged within the RCI exchange system without many problems. Always getting a nice Resort at the desired time. Put a little time in shopping for a honest broker. Next be sure to buy at a nice resort. This is simple to do just give RCI a call and ask about the demand for the resort and week you’re interested in purchasing. When I’ve done this for family members the counselors have always been happy to give the information I requested. You probably already know why, but just in case, better resorts and weeks give you better trading power. Also get a least a 2brm unit, since only a handful of resorts offer more than two bedroom anything more is a waste of money. Getting anything less limits one trading power depending on the resort, so two bedrooms are safe. Two more reasons many timeshare owners get disgusted with their week is banking and searching. First banking, with RCI which is the only exchange system I’m familiar with one must bank at least one year in advance to maximize his trading power. A simple matter, just pay your maintenance fees and call RCI to space bank your week. Simple, yes but a great deal of owners wait too late and that creates disappointment. Next is searching, this can and has been a small problem sometimes for working people trying to schedule a vacation. Again within the RCI system the earlier one starts a search the better the chance of getting the resort you want.
Usually I can schedule my New Years vacation one year in advance and get a match, other vacations I’m persistent with RCI on giving me the Resort I want. RCI says that it dosen’t do any good to call back after a search has been put in however, I’ve found this to be untrue on many occasions. There are many counselors answering the phone at RCI and some will work harder to get you what and when you want better than others so I call quite often when I know I have a difficult search in. A couple of examples are News Years week 1995 I called until I got the best Resort in Palm Springs, Ca. The Desert Springs Villas 2/brm. Then New Years 1996 we went to Hilton Grande Vacation Villas in Las Vegas, Nv another tough one to match but persistence paid off. Some people may say this is too much trouble but free phone calls and a bit of time beats paying hundreds of dollars per for these accomidations. Just a couple of other things I would like to cover. Owning in one place and living in another, dosen’t matter. That’s how I got my two bedroom week.. The people I purchased it from moved to Florida and didn’t feel comfortable being away from their home resort, their loss my gain. Just make sure you get a desirable Resort, remember a call to RCI will take care of that. Next I am living proof that you don’t have to own in Las Vegas, Hawaii, or Orlando to get outstanding trades. I’ve heard for many many years that «you won’t always be able to get trades like that». This may well come to truth some day but as for now it hasen’t. We just recently got confirmed into the Quarter House in New Orleans for New Years 1997 week on that cheap ole Arkansas week. Remember to consider these items when deciding to purchase maintenance fees, deeded property, and fixed or floating time. So ends my sermon on «KEYS TO SUCCESSFUL TIMESHARING».
Once again all my suggestions are based on the premise that one is buying mainly for trading purposes however, they are basic and should work in most situations.
TACKLES TIMESHARING With lower occupancy rates, a sagging economy, and the changing demographics of travelers, hotel industry officials are constantly searching for ways to fill rooms. One hot topic is timesharing. Long considered the bad boy of the hospitality business, timesharing is coming of age in both size and stature. The entrance of companies like Disney, Marriott, and Hilton has served notice that timesharing is a viable occupancy option for the hotel industry. THE BASICS Timesharing’s image of past decades is quickly changing. Many vacationers now view it as a viable and economical option for future vacations. The timeshare market is exploding. In the past two years, almost 500,000 households have purchased a total of more than 700,000 timeshare intervals. That means there are more than 3 million owners at more than 3,000 resorts worldwide. Contrary to popular belief, a recent survey showed that most of these owners are happy with their purchase. «It is clear that timesharing is gaining in popularity, not only here in the United States, but also across Europe, Mexico, and in South America,» says Tom Franks, president of the American Resort and Residential Development Association, the timeshare industry body. «We expect the industry to double in the next 10 years and the hotel industry will definitely be involved in a big way.» Timesharing is the most prevalent form of vacation ownership. Consumers typically buy one or more weeks at a specific resort and can return to that resort every year or exchange it for a week at another resort. Prices currently average around $9,000, with annual maintenance fees of around $300. Vacation timesharing generally takes one of two forms: «Fee» timesharing gives the purchaser permanent rights–in the form of a deed–to the property.
About 85% of timeshare resorts sell under fee-ownership agreements. «Right-to-use» timesharing grants the purchaser the rights to the use of the property for an established period of time, such as 30 years. Under this type of timesharing, the purchaser does not receive a deed. Rather than return to their home resort every year, many owners opt to exchange to one of thousands of other timeshare properties worldwide. For a small fee, companies like Resorts Condominiums International or Interval International perform these exchange services for member resorts and owners. Many owners say this exchange privilege was a key reason for buying. Many hotel chains in the timeshare industry form their own internal exchange system to complement the exchange company services. Hotel companies have found that the basics of timesharing are an ideal fit for filling rooms. They have accomplished this by using existing facilities and services, as well as developing new properties and support structures. Their success stories tell the tale of why and how the hotel industry is tackling timesharing. THE MARRIOTT STORY While timesharing has been in the United States for just twenty years, Marriott has been around for more than six decades. In 1984, however, it entered the timesharing business and has turned the move into a very successful venture. «We looked into it and in theory it was a sound idea,» says Bill Marriott. «But, timesharing in practice was often not up to our standards. If we weren’t able to effect rigid controls on the quality of timesharing that Marriott offered, we weren’t interested in doing it.» That opportunity came in 1984, when American Resorts–which had recently opened a top-of-the-line timeshare project on Hilton Head Island called Monarch–initiated talks with Marriott. American Resorts’ concept of timesharing matched Marriott’s, but the company’s ability to carry that vision forward required major capital.
Marriott had the capital. Monarch’s success was an encouraging barometer and Marriott looked to new markets. Orlando was a very logical choice, because Marriott was already constructing a 192-acre resort complex: Mariott’s Orlando World Center. Construction of Sabal Palms, the first of two timeshare resorts adjoining Marriott’s Orlando World Center, began in February 1986. The resort offered Marriott’s customarily luxurious surroundings and by the summer of 1987 the resort had sold all available weeks. Construction of Sabal Palms’ sister resort, Royal Palms, began a year later and recently sold out ahead of schedule. Marriott’s fourth timeshare project was at Hilton Head Island’s signature location: Harbour Town. Construction began in 1987 and was completed in less than a year. Marriott’s Heritage Club at Harbour Town is keyed to the island’s exceptional sports facilities. Ownership includes special privileges at three golf courses and the Sea Pines Racquet Club. The 30-villa resort’s 1,500-week inventory sold out in July 1988, just nine months after its initial offering. On the heels of this success, Marriott decided to build its third Hilton Head Island timeshare resort, Harbour Club at Harbour Town.
Marriott’s newest resort on Hilton Head Island is Sunset Pointe at Shelter Cove Harbour, which has already sold out.
The resort features 25 timeshare residences, in addition to 86 existing luxury villas. Marriott is also developing a 25-acre oceanfront site for a new timeshare property, which is currently the Hilton Head Inn. The 288-unit property is called Grande Ocean Resort and started with brisk sales in April. Marriott’s third Orlando timeshare resort, Cypress Harbour, is a 500-villa property near Sea World. It has carried forward Marriott’s successful Orlando timeshare vision and is experiencing brisk sales. Marriott’s first resort in the west was Desert Springs Villas at Palm Desert, Arizona. The 236-villa resort is adjacent to Marriott’s Desert Springs Resort Spa. Streamside at Vail in Colorado features 150 villas within two miles of Vail Village and North America’s largest ski mountain. Its Paradise Island Beach Club in the Bahamas was Marriott’s first venture outside the U.S. The property offers 44 two-bedroom villas with an oceanfront location. Additional villas are planned. Marriott also recently announced that it plans a new timeshare resort on Barbados, next to Marriott’s Sam Lord’s Castle. It is called the Barbados Beach Club and started sales in February. With so many successful timeshare properties, Marriott serves as an ideal example of hoteliers involved in timesharing. Marriott now has over 40,000 owners, with annual sales of more than $100 million.
It offers many travel programs for their owners, including an excellent internal timeshare resort exchange program, exchanges throughout Marriott’s hotel and resort system, exchanges through one of the large exchange companies, one of the largest resale operations in the industry. Marriott also recently announced that it had signed an agreement to manage a timeshare resort where it had no direct capital investment. The company expects this management contract to be the first of many. Other hotel companies already involved in timesharing or considering involvement are expect to follow suit. Bob Miller, MORI’s executive vice president and general manager, feels that Marriott and other hotel companies can bring much to timeshare resort management. The advantages include: volume purchases and preventive maintenance for the property; collection of receivables and servicing of loans; a national rental program; access to the company’s reservations system; owner communications, systems support, and development; strong management; and much more. HILTON TAKES ON TIMESHARING In one of the most exciting timeshare industry developments since Marriott entered the business, Hilton Grand Vacations Company was recently formed. Though Hilton will probably not begin the construction of new timeshare properties until later this year it is already entering into the market aggressively. As part of HGVC’s formation, it has joined as partners with a successful timeshare company in Florida, Mariner, and thus, already has 15 timeshare resorts and more than 22,000 owners. In addition to excellent resort properties, Mariner also runs many rental programs and a resale operation that has one of
the highest volumes of any timeshare company in the United States. As with many hotel companies entering the business, Hilton’s timeshare objectives include: creating a system of high-quality timeshare resorts throughout the world; establishing property management and hospitality services that include reservations, resale, and rental segments; and establishing a club to provide exchange services and access to its frequent guest program and other hotel industry programs.
Another key player in this joint venture is Ed McMullen Sr. of American Resorts. Mr. McMullen has been highly successful in timesharing and he brings much experience to Hilton. Both Mariner and McMullen have had great success with high-quality two-bedroom, two-bath units of about 1,200-square-feet and this policy will continue with Hilton and future construction. Many resorts may be built on or near already-existing Hilton hotels and resorts throughout the world (e.g., the Caribbean, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Hilton Head Island, and Orlando). Owners will be able to enjoy all of the hotel or resort amenities and services. They will also have access to the Hilton HHonors program and other vacation packages offered by Hilton. Hilton’s timeshare ownership program will be based on a points system, which has become very popular in the industry. The firm also plans to interface with Conrad Vacation Ownership, Hilton’s other timeshare program. OTHER BIG NAMES IN TIMESHARING Many other hospitality companies have reviewed the advantages of timesharing and are entering the business. Among many, two perfect examples are Disney and Ramada. Disney Vacation Club (DVC) recently opened its first units at Walt Disney World. As with many companies in the industry, DVC tackled two major consumer concerns: flexibility and «hard-sell» sales techniques. By purchasing a real estate interest in Disney Vacation Club Resort, guests automatically become members of the club and are entitled to a variety of exclusive benefits and privileges. Members also receive an annual allotment of vacation points, which may be used on vacations at the resort or at more than 100 worldwide resorts currently offered through a «Member Getaways» program. «The flexibility of choosing among several different vacation experiences is what sets the Disney Vacation Club apart from many similar plans,» says General Manager Mark Pacala.
«The vacation points system allows members to select the type of vacation best suited to their needs, particularly as those needs change from year to year.» Each year, members choose how to use their vacation points, either for one long vacation or a series of short getaways. For a one-time purchase price and annual dues, guests may purchase a real estate interest in the resort, which expires after 50 years. The minimum purchase price is currently $11,730. According to Mr. Pacala, the Disney timeshare project is substantially ahead of projections. The entrance and success of Disney serves as more proof that timesharing is a viable option for many hotel companies. This past spring, Ramada International also entered into the timeshare business in the Bahamas. Through the purchase of a Divi timeshare resort near Nassau, Ramada is testing the waters to see if timesharing should be a part of a larger program for them. Divi recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with plans to concentrate on its five Caribbean resorts and ten timeshare locations. With 50 units, the Ramada International timesharing project is part of the 295-suite Ramada South Ocean. They offer both floating-time and fixed-week units.
With this kind of company, the timeshare industry is really coming of age.
Hotel officials obviously consider it an excellent way to fill rooms with happy vacationers.
Sandra P. Martini We all recognize the importance of having a business plan (even if we haven’t yet done one), but do you recognize the value of a good marketing plan? While most marketing plans take up a few pages of the standard business plan, I recommend you take the time to create a dynamic marketing plan if you really want to kick your business into high gear. A good dynamic marketing plan is one that you review weekly, monthly and quarterly. A truly dynamic marketing plan contains goals, objectives, action items and it both changes and grows with your business. The next few issues of “Effective Entrepreneur” will be dedicated to marketing plans and the steps necessary for creating a realistic and valuable tool. Let’s start with the basics: Determine your goals. Good goals are SMART: Specific Measurable Action-oriented Realistic Time-oriented They also have a “reason”, are consistent with each other and have some type of price tag as outlined below. Identify what you want to accomplish: Do you want to create a website? Increase your website traffic? Get more clients? Sell more widgets? What is it that you want to do or get from completion of your goals? What? Your goals must be Specific, Measurable and in writing. Define as specifically as possible, what it is that you want to have, get or accomplish then write it down so you can refer to it throughout the process…it’s okay that your goal(s) may change as you complete the task, just write it down to imprint on your brain what you are working toward. Simply stating a “goal” such as “I need a website” or “I want more clients” is too vague and gives you nothing to measure your success (or failure) against. The following are better: I will create a one page website. I will increase my website traffic by 50%. I will get five new clients. The more specific the goal, the better your chances of attaining it and the more Actionable the idea. Be Realistic. I am not going to be a ballerina by the end of the year. No amount of preparation between now and December will result in me performing at The Wang Theatre in Boston for New Year’s Eve.
This is not a realistic goal for me. Unrealistic goals set you up for a fall and kill your enthusiasm toward other goals that you can achieve. Be realistic while remembering that worthwhile goals should force you to reach out of your comfort zone in order to attain them. When? Each of your goals must also have a Time element. Time frames make the goals more measurable and more “real” for you. You know when 60 days goes by and you either made your goal, are working towards it or must re-evaluate whether or not the goal needs to be revised or is no longer realistic. Without that time element, it’s too easy to keep pushing the actions until tomorrow or next week and you’ll never be encouraged to act on the goal – consider having a deadline embedded in every goal your kick in the butt to get moving. There is no set time frame for every person or every action. Set a timeframe that is a challenge for you and be determined to make each subsequent timeframe slightly shorter to consistently improve your success. “I will create a one page website within the next 60 days” or “I will increase my website traffic by 50% in the next 90 days” are both good examples of specific goals with deadlines. Why? It is very motivating to list the “why” of each goal. Why do you want to accomplish X? List all of the benefits that you, AND others, will receive from the achievement of your goal. When tempted to play hooky or skip a conference call, it’s helpful to have a written list of why you are working so hard whether it be to grow your business or get a promotion or whatever your goal is. Seeing the resulting benefits is a great way to stay on track. Know the cost. The achievement of every goal comes with a cost. The cost may be financial or it could be that you need to get up an hour earlier each morning or eat more salads. What will it take for you to achieve your goal and are you prepared for it? If there is no cost, the chances are that your goal isn’t worth much.
Locking yourself in a room, in a coffee shop corner or under a tree somewhere for a few hours with your laptop or a legal pad to work on your goals may not sound exciting, but it’s critical to the success of your business. Be consistent. Your goals need to work together. Conflicting goals are damaging emotionally and the likelihood of you completing any one of them is greatly diminished. For example, the following two goals are inconsistent and would result in a healthy dose of frustration for both you and those around you: 1. I will spend every weekend playing with my kids during the summer.
2. I will take three college courses during the summer to further advance my career. The issue is obvious. Three college courses while working a full-time job are going to interfere with spending every weekend playing with the children. It may work for the first week or two, but overall it’s a recipe for failure. When establishing your goals within your marketing plan, all of the goals must lead to the same end, to further your business.
