Lay My Hat

We managed to get a full page feature in Cumbria Life - a local magazine - this month. If you're interested, there's a copy here:

Kendal Cottages - Cumbria Life - November 2010

One or two friends have seen it and commented, but there have been no enquiries. Still, can't do any harm.

Wow looks wonderful Paul. Hope it brings you lots of bookings, out of season ones especially.

Nice article KC. Well done!

Thanks, both of you!

Yes, great Paul and these mags have a certain shelf life I feel sure: dentists, hairdressers etc so the enquiries may yet come.

No pic of the dynamic duo though!

Thanks, GG.

Giddy Goat wrote:Yes, great Paul and these mags have a certain shelf life I feel sure: dentists, hairdressers etc so the enquiries may yet come.

If I get lots of guests with pristine teeth/hair, I'll know why.

Giddy Goat wrote:No pic of the dynamic duo though!

Don't want to put them off now.

That's a great piece, but what I'm wondering is:

How many people who live or work in Cumbria are in your target market ?

Looking on the positive side, guests holidaying at neighbouring properties will see what they are missing and where they need to book for next year

Thanks, Richard.

It's not probably our main market but the magazine is bought (and subscribed to) by visitors as well as locals. I'm unsure of the figures but hopefully it can tap into some of them.

We've also found this year that a number of our guests have been visiting family in the area so there's good reason there, I suppose, to make locals aware.

To me, who grew up with the print media, there are few things more pleasing than a well laid out magazine article. Just seems like proper grown-up advertising compared to all this ephemeral internet stuff. And, as GG says, good magazine articles have built in longevity and pop up in the oddest places, still working hard on your behalf as they yellow and fade.

My only tiny criticism is that the (well-composed) lead picture just feels a bit cold and wintery in this context and might have benefitted from the addition of a little warmth and sunshine, or more interesting lighting. But otherwise – great stuff!

Jim

Well done Paul

Looks great!

I think it will bring in some business - we had a feature in the Yorkshire Post magazine (our local press) and it's still bringing in the odd enquiry a year later. We also had a feature in a national mag but that doesn't seem to have had any impact at all.

Thanks again. We've had fleeting mentions in the national press, too (Guardian, Telegraph and Times) but mostly they have come to very little.

Guardian: 2 enquiries, 0 bookings
Telegraph: 0 enquiries, 0 bookings
Times: 2 enquiries, 1 booking

I agree with you on the photos, Jimbo. They were all taken before we finished the property and I've not really had a chance to get back in and re-take them yet. The property has been pretty much continuously occupied and the little time I've had at changeover hasn't tended to be coupled with good weather. Hopefully I'll be able to update them soon but alas, it won't be any use for this article...

Great stuff Paul - are you going to put it on your website?

I've mentioned it on our blog and linked to the article from there.

Well done KC! Great article and lovely pics (though I take Jimbo's point). The one by the river immediately makes me want to stay there.

TC