We have hotels… in Pickwick?
As I restarted my real estate career 3 years ago into the Pickwick Lake and Memphis market, I quickly realized that life had changed in the past decade when I previously had a real estate license. Formerly, everything was mailed and we physically picked up keys at brokerages. Now, it’s all about the internet and the power of the Google search engine. In this market, strategy is everything and its all centered around what is found (and being found) online. And for most of us, we’re thankful the social media world did not exist during our awkward middle school days. But that doesn’t mean we need to ignore its power and influence on modern society.
As I began researching guidence in the marketing world, many experts began speaking with me about utilizing search engine optimization (SEO for short). This happens so much in the internet world that I find daily messages in my inbox from these experts offering to “help” me for what would be a very low fee. Being the frugal person that I am, I decided to figure this out myself with some help from my husband, who would certainly understand how this all works since he is employeed in Marketing with FedEx. After endless discussions about the “long tail of internet searches” with “key word optimization” and “metatag” training, I simply gave up. That was not before I blamed my husband for being the reason I couldn’t understand it all, because clearly, it was his fault for my inability to interpret what I should have learned.
This all happened to correspond with news that the locally renovated Iuka hotels would be named “The Pickwick Lodge” and “The Pickwick Inn” while not technically being anywhere near the lake. Now, you don’t need to be an SEO wizard to figure out if people are wondering where to stay in Pickwick, they will google “where to stay at Pickwick” or “hotels in Pickwick” or something to that effect. So, if enough people are googling these phrases, a place like Pickwick Lodge will rise to the top of the search results, and hopefully increase their popularity.
And with over a million visitors coming to the area every year, it’s no surprise that these out-of-town investors who renovated the hotels figured out what we already knew instinctively: Iuka and it’s peaceful style of lakelife are the best parts of the Pickwick Lake experience. Almost weekly, as a native to Iuka, I get asked by people planning a visit to Pickwick Lake where the best place to stay is. Because most people experiencing the lake, visiting family, or just passing through Tishomingo County will be taking advantage of the outdoor amenities the county has to offer, a renovated hotel makes another great addition to the ever expanding town. And yes, it’s a bit awkward that other hotels closeby have similar names, but anything that can be done to help drive out of town traffic and revenue into these hotels is a good thing. And as long as we leave it at that and don’t start metatagging the Kardashians into all the wording, things will continue to expand in a more positive direction in our hometown, giving others the opportunity to experience the small town experience many visitors are seeking.
