Adding a little technology to the Cape Breton hospitality

What better a way to start into the New Year than to jump into mentoring sessions! I started out in St. Peter's on the Fleur-de-lis Trail on Monday morning, then moved on to Nyanza in the afternoon, followed by Baddeck that evening. Tuesday had me in Beinn Bhreagh - across the bay from Baddeck, and out to Big Bras d'Or for another evening session. Wednesday had me starting in Baddeck in the morning and then out to Indian Brook, which is just a few minutes beyond the Englishtown ferry on the Cabot Trail, in the afternoon. I was so happy that the weather was cooperative - unfortunately with the mild weather comes fog. I was looking forward to capturing some of the amazing views along my travels but they were all shrouded in the thick fog.

The sessions covered a lot of the materials that have been the focus of the project - return on investment - having that online availability and booking and/or shopping cart capability on your website; the elements of a good website; search engine marketing and search engine optimization - what you can do to help make it easier for your website to be found in online searches.

A number of operators that I met with are in the process of having a new website created or are in the process of having one started. Layout, pictures, writing on the website, linking, menu items, etc. were all big topics. I was happy to hear that all of the operators sees the importance, not only in having a great website, but in having the ability to make changes and add content to the website through the use of a content management system. I remind operators that their website is an extension of their business and to be able to make changes to their website when they want is something that they should have the ability to do.

A website is never finished. Never. It is something that you tweak, update, clean up, edit, etc throughout its life. Your business doesn't remain the same and nor should your website. Adding new pictures, updating your information, starting a blog, etc. not only keep your website current, but will also help you in online searches.

Getting out and meeting with operators one-on-one and learning about each of their businesses and helping them with their websites is both a rewarding and a learning experience for me. No two businesses are alike and neither are the websites. Going over the sites together and discussing additions and changes - what works and what doesn't - and talking about packaging ideas, links to attractions in the area that may be of interest to tourists, etc. make each session as unique as each business.

The hospitality and the cups of tea were an added bonus!