“We love our new website and have learned so much by attending Webinars; the [FREE] workshop we attended in January of this year in Charleston, SC was excellent and jump started our work with the Acorn-IS and the Acorn team. We have learned so much about marketing both our inn & vacation rental properties, especially as it applies to our very best and most mind boggling tool, the internet. Most importantly, we are seeing very positive and tangible results in our Google rankings, online bookings and more. Really exciting stuff.”
Mary Bridges
Vacation In Asheville, Oakland Cottage, Cabins & Vacation Rentals
“It has kept me to the task of keeping things updated current and live. It has introduced me to new concepts and given me the step by step directions to do things that I would have spent way to much time figuring out. It has been a great forum to learn cutting edge concepts and has increased our web traffic and conversion rate.”
Debbie Mosimann
Swiss Woods
“This a a wonderful way to keep up with tech ideas in the industry. Acorn University motivates me to want to try new ideas. At least I know what I should be doing.”
Alice Schiller
The Inn at Stockbridge
“The absolute #1 benefit for me is awareness … those classes and updates just pop up on my computer screen, usually from Annie who I now feel like is an extension of my staff! I can never get so busy that I’m not aware of the marketing tasks that I have to make a high priority. The current information helps me prioritize based on trends and it is essential in providing solid assistance in making good decisions. These decisions have made a major contribution to this year’s bottom line.”
Susan Maddox
Rosemont Inn & Cottages
“The classes have helped me to undestand the tasks necessary in today’s internet and social media marketplace. I began with wide eyes and wonder at all there was to learn and have progressed to becoming a Club 60 member. I specifically have learned that my google places page is important, understanding google analytics is crucial, and working with facebook and blogging is mandatory. Two years ago I did not know any of this and the classes have truly benefited my business because I now feel confident and educated enough to do all that is necessary to keep my business moving forward. Thank you all so much.”
Chris Mason
Parish House Inn
“Loved it! Learnt loads! and hope to start implementing more of it this winter when we are quieter. Great resource to be able to watch the Webinars after hours whenever you want or live. This is a unique service which more should take advantage of as its a “win win” situation.. You seriously can not lose!! Everything you could possibly need to run your Inn successfully is under the “Acorn” banner. We’re 130 room nights ahead of last year. A major reason for this is Acorn Internet Services!”
Mark Stephens
Brewster Inn
“Because there is so much information out there about internet marketing,to get this bell and that whistle, that it can be very confusing. I have come to rely on Acorn University and Club 60, to keep me informed and up to date on what I need to be doing to stay on top of my internet marketing. I usually don’t read any info on internet marketing unless it comes from them, as I trust that they are giving me the latest info I need. It has been a challenge for me to become an internet marketer myself, but the classes and discussions from Acorn have been very easy to follow and have helped me be able to learn the newest updates.”
Debbie Morelock
Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
“My favorite classes are the Club 60 classes. In these classes we are learning the newest techniques as the newest technology is coming out. I feel I have grown more comfortable with the marketing side of the business with all the classes and videos Acorn provides us to help grow our business. I would be lost without all of their support.”
Tammy Doriot
White Oak Manor bed and breakfast
“Acorn University has provided an online at our convenience way of learning. During our busy season it is a little difficult to keep up with the ever changing ways of the Internet, but during the off season we can catch up on what we missed and learn more about what we need to know. Acorn provides the knowledge of “state of the art” information about many topics. They do the research we get the benefit!”
Sharon Smith
Two Sisters Inn – a bed and breakfast
“As a small inn owner, staying out in front of the pack and up with what is going on in my industry is paramount to my success. Participating in Acorn University helps me do just that. We don’t have the budget to just hire a marketing firm to do what is necessary on a daily basis to insure that our website is up-to-date or manage our social media efforts. I’ve had to teach myself the ins and outs of SEO and social media marketing. Acorn University has been instrumental in helping me do the right things at the right time to increase my internet visibility and fine tune my marketing efforts. Without Lisa and the entire crew at Acorn, I might still be lingering at the back of the pack. With their guidance I have grown my business substantially, even in a down market economy. I cannot thank them enough.”
Debra Howard
High Pointe Inn
“Acorn University is INVALUABLE to our business. Frankly, I’m not very comfortable with the new – and ever-changing – world of computers & social media. AU has made it possible for me to gain confidence and skills and even supported my understanding of the relative importance of various tasks and how to balance them effectively. In challenging economic times, these skills have helped us remain competitive and have helped our B&B thrive!”
Carol Bruno
Scarborough Inn, Ocean City, NJ
“After 35 years in the innkeeping business, having owned a design firm, having worked in marketing, as well as having a dagree in education, we thought we knew it all. Then we met Lisa from Acorn IS. We knew nothing!! Acorn has given us amazing industry knowledge with their ongoing educational programs. We sometimes take the same class more than once.
The internet is changing daily and it is great to know that Acorn rides the crest of that wave, keeping us up on what we need to know to be successful entrepreneurs and innkeepers. Through Acorn, our online marketing has been given a tremendous boost and our increased occupancy is a testament to that fact.
If you are an innkeeper and you market your inn online through your website, social media and the like, or if you are thinking about doing so, signing up for these classes will be the best investment you could possibly make.
If this hasn’t convinced you, give me a call! Elizabeth 508-487-2779″
Elizabeth Brooke
Gabriel’s at the Ashbrooke Inn
“Do you know the significance of Google Places Page Freshness and the How To’s of safeguarding that, how about how to RSS feed your Blog, why a Blog is an important element of your marketing job and a how it it provides the ever elusive “”freshness”" Google so values, how to and why checking your Google Analytics is important, How to set up a Google Plus One Account for your business and all about Siri and how this ‘personal assistant’ may change the whole face of SEARCH? Well, if you were an Acorn University/Club 60 participant you would know about these things. If knowledge is power can you really afford to be without the power you need to keep your business vital & thriving in this economy?”
Patti Wiles
At Cumberland Falls Bed and Breakfast Inn
“Acorn was recommended by a fellow B & B owner. They took what was a boring, white, two sentence website that had absolutely no SEO and what emerged was a wonderful butterfly, with words that matter, that web crawlers see. By attending their webinars and online learning center I too feel as if I have emerged from my lack of knowledge. I didn’t know what I didn’t know about SEO. Acorn’s vast never ending knowledge and learning resources continually assist me in the growing field of SEO and how it helps my business grow. I am so thankful to have been introduced to them and their knowledge!”
Cindy Vogel
Ohia House Bed and Breakfast
“I try to attend at least one Acorn educational webinar each quarter (I wish I could attend ALL of them). In every session I have learned something that improved my web presence and the actions cost me nothing to implement! I simply can not keep up with all the changes in internet/social networking ‘stuff’. I depend on Acorn to tell me and teach me about that. By the end of November 2011, we had already surpassed our total gross income for 2010 largely due to our web/social networking activities suggested by my Acorn team. THANK YOU Acorn team!”
Dee Fegan
Pheasant Field B&B
“In spite of a difficult economy, we have had a great year. I think the fact that we are Acorn clients has a great deal to do with this. We had a new site built this year, which had a significant impact on our occupancy. The new site, combined with my on-going participation in and commitment to Club 60, and what I have learned from Acorn U Webinars is helping me to maintain a necessary presence on the internet. The folks at Acorn Internet Services monitor the ever-changing search engine enviornment and provide education that enables inkeepers like me to react and respond.”
Jan Preus
1750 Inn at Sandwich Center
“I could not be more excited to be connected with Acorn. Lisa has over the years encouraged, prompted, educated, explained and basically gave all the ‘tools of success’ to her customers… it was up to us to use them.
By choosing one way to say that Acorn has helped would be tough. Acorn with all of their educational webinars, forums, documents has brought our business into the mainstream in an location that is so difficult to compete in. Lisa pushes; she wants each one of us to be the best that we can.
Lisa and crew not only explain a new topic, they explain why it needs to be done. Acorn is cutting edge; research, new trends, must do opportunities and so on are spelled out… we just need to listen.
Could I do it with out Acorn… sure there are others out there, however one with the fairness, hospitality and dedication that everyone at Acorn offers, I am not sure I could find that. Thank you Acorn!”
Carl Kosko
Harvest Moon Bed & Breakfast
“I tell everyone, ‘Acorn doesn’t give us the fish, they teach us how to fish’. We are so fortunate to be associated with a hosting/design company that not only gives timely, attentive and highly professional service, but that constantly watches out for their customers’ best interests. We have been with Acorn for 8 years and are so well cared for by their expert staff that we would never consider moving to another hosting/design company.
Acorn University was a brilliant educational creation by Acorn. In following their instructions and advice, especially regarding social media, our Google ranking has stayed strong. We thank Lisa and Annie for their many pep talks that keep us on track!”
Hayden Cabell
The Inn at Sugar Hollow Farm
“The Acorn University classes are convenient to attend because you do it right from your computer either live or if you missed the class you can watch it later at your convenience via a link provided. The classes help me to stay on top of the latest trends with social media and technology in general. In every single class I have learned something and applied it. Thank you for being in our corner Acorn!”
Trish Robinson
The Captain’s Manor Inn
“This past year not only did we follow the Acorn Marketing Planner but we also added a mobile site. Our mobile site has put us ahead of our competition. This is a must in today’s world. We are up over $25,000 this year and I am willing to bet that the above items plus the tools Acorn has given us to be successful is the major reason for our best year ever!”
Rachel Reid
Andon-Reid Inn Bed and Breakfast
- “Great update! I keep attending the “same” classes because they’re never the same – thanks for helping me keep current!”
11/18/2011 Google Places – Keeping it Current
- “Google Alerts is one of my favorite tools to use. It has been invaluable in finding events and things in my area to write about and let guests know is coming up. The main reason I love it is that not every business or organization belongs to the local Chamber of Commerce so it gives you a way to find out about these things and use the information to your advantage. Acorn does such a good job of teaching us how to use these free tools and presents that information in a very fun way and if you have questions during the webinar you only need to ask to get the answer you need. Thank You”
10/11/2011 Google Alerts An Amazing Tool
- “I learned a lot in this webinar. Thank you for delving deep into it. Sometimes it’s hard to remember everything it can show you.”
9/4/2011 Google Analytics Primer and Beyond
- “I appreciate Lisa’s pace and repetition of key points for clarification & emphasis – that is a help for me. It is often overwhelming that things keep changing & so quickly! I really appreciate the educational opportunities that you offer!”
6/30/2011 Places: Search, Smart Phones and More
- “With technology changing at lightning speed keeping current is essential to business today. Thank goodness for the team at Acorn-Is for their hard work and effort to help us keep at least in step if not one step ahead of the trends today.”
6/30/2011 Places: Search, Smart Phones and More
- ”Right after the webinar I followed all your steps and made a map of my neighborhood with all my favorite places in about 30 mins. I look forward to putting it into practice for the Inn! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
6/7/2011 Free Magical Map Making Tool
- “These webinars always boost me to get off the “dime” and get going on projects that have been on the back burner. Thanks so much.”
3/31/2011 Mythbusters
- “The content was very helpful. My next newsletter will be much easier to write and send.”
3/15/2011 Newsletter Writing
- ”It’s important that everyone knows that it isn’t just 1,2 or 3 things that gives you website authority. It’s everything that Lisa spoke about and being consistent with it.”
2/18/2011 Club 60
- “I feel much more confident. If we didn’t have these monthly webinars I know I’d be overwhelmed with the changes that seem to happen on a daily basis. Lisa and Annie really go above and beyond the norm to help us learn how to keep up.”
2/17/2011 Club 60
- ”Thank you for showing me what to look for on the new Google and how to (attempt) to update my website.”
2/1/2011 Freshness Synergy
- “YES, YES, YES- PAII should offer these webinar to people who are not attending PAii like me. But, I was able to feel part of, learn, and learn, get excited from Lisa Kolb at Acorn Internet with the two webinars she hosted at PAII. Lisa and Annie, you did a HUGE SERVICE for those of us who could not attent PAII due to our families, running our B&B & being open for our guests, and the cost of attending PAII.”
1/12/2011 7 Building Blocks – Live from PAII
- ”Thank you for the clear, concise, priceless and valuable information you provide the small business owner. Way to go Lisa and her team!!!!!!!!!!!”
1/12/2011 7 Building Blocks – Live from PAII
- “Awesome job Lisa. you were fired up, sounded great, covered alot, great option for the ones who are not at PAII. I listened from my home office and felt like is was there. A++++”
1/11/2011 7 Building Blocks- Live from PAII
- “I really received so much information today that helps me keep on track for the coming year. The webinar is so worth the time to attend. Thank you for all you do for our business health.”
1/4/2011 Project Manager Innkeeper Basics
- “Always learn something new. Almost more than can be absorbed at one setting.”
1/4/2011 Project Manager Innkeeper Basics
- “Lot of material — all good.”
12/21/2010 Making the Press your Friend
- “Always new stuff.”
12/21/2010 Making the Press your Friend
- “I always am amazed at what there is to learn…thank you so much for helping us in this new age of google…facebook. twitter and all the others.”
12/21/2010 Making the Press your Friend
- “Every opportunity I get to be in an Acorn Webinar, I feel fortunate. Thank you for your continued support.”
12/11/2010 CMS Editor Training
- “I left this webinar with a wealth of information and ideas. I could not wait to make my first video. Lisa, Annie & Sharon are so helpful you leave the webinar with the confidence to try everything.”
12/10/2010 Club 60
- “This was an excellent webinar. I will try to put this into use as soon as I can find some time after the holidays. THANK YOU, as always, for a fantastic webinar. They are always so very helpful. I appreciate them, you and your staff.”
12/10/2010 Club 60
- “This was very helpful information, keep up the great job letting us know what we can do ourselves. I’m so pleased that we switched to Acorn Internet for our hosting and customization.”
12/7/2010 Free Magical Map Making Tool
- “The new information today was very helpful, especially with all the changes lately. Thank you.”
11/23/2010 Google Places
- “Loved the presentation with updated information on Google Places. It’s such a bonus to have ACORN on top of things so we can concentrate more on running the inn! The input from fellow innkeepers was helpful, too.”
11/23/2010 Google Places
- “Have set through this webinar a few times — learn something new each time.”
11/23/2010 Google Places
- “The impact…oh my! This move by google seems to add to the work load of the web master. As webinars go, this was tops – thanks for setting the standard for effective communication by distance technology.”
11/2/2010 Freshness Synergy Strategies
- “Today we learned the importance of keeping your website fresh. Until today I had been a bit confused with the difference of “Synergy” and “SEO”. With this webinar I learned they work in conjunction and are both important. Thank you.”
11/2/2010 Freshness Synergy Strategies
- “You are really on top of things and way ahead of all (or most) of us. Thanks for taking your time to educate us. I did go to your Educational Bytes before coming to this class. I will definitely be using that site more.”
11/2/2010 Freshness Synergy Strategies
- “Hope you realize how much we appreciate these webinars. Thank you, thank you, thank you! “
10/19/2010 The Ever Changing Face of Facebook
- “Intell-a-Keeper is an amazing program! I love the fact that you get emails after each booking with the search details. It appears that the work is all done for you and presented in a tidy and easy to understand format. Cudos to the program developer. We will definitely buy this service.”
10/13/2010 Intell-a-Keeper can tell you what you need to know!
- “When I look back at this time last year, I didn’t really know how much I was in the dark. I used to think that I would never get all the information that everyone in Club 60 seem to know. Well after “going” to all the webinars I could, I would say that now I not only have some ideal what all goes on with the internet, but I also have more confidence as an innkeeper. Thank you Acorn Team!”
10/12/2010 Project Management Innkeeper Basics
- “Thank you for the up-to-date information. I hope I can stay on track and take advantage of Acorn’s expertise in the ever-changing internet world.”
10/12/2010 Project Management Innkeeper Basics
- “The webinars are great and very informative. Much better than offerings from other organizations!”
10/12/2010 Project Management Innkeeper Basics
- “Just put your hand on my head and transfer all your knowledge!”
10/5/2010 Project Management Innkeeper Basics
- “What a great webinar. The visual presentation showing how everything Innkeepers need to be doing is inter-related and affects online presence was extremely helpful. I will also be attending this webinar ‘after hours’.”
10/5/2010 Project Management Innkeeper Basics
- “What you provide in these webinars is easy to understand and put into practice even for the novice.”
9/29/2010 Social Media Synergy
- Best you’ve given, full of info and quick. Also good for you. Now you’re making some changes to my site and “Like” page!
9/11/2010 Facebook
- “With everything on the web in constant flux, it’s great to have Acorn watching and sharing information via webinars.”
9/11/2010 Facebook
- “I am so thrilled that you are able to record the webinars for replay. There is so much valuable information and it is difficult to catch it all in one sitting. Thanks for all your hard work.”
9/11/2010 Facebook
- “Thanks for these webinars. I would be so lost with out them!”
9/11/2010 Facebook
- “Very pleased, already used some information presented, removed two spammers from wall.”
9/11/2010 Facebook
- “Today’s webinar was priceless. Today I learned so much about the ins and outs of all the little quirks on building a customized map. I can’t thank Annie enough for explaining each item in detail and then showing us how to do them. Today it all made so much more sense to me. I am now very anxious to make the maps I started even more informational and fun to use. BRAVO!”
7/20/2010 Map Building
- “Thank you so much for all you do for the bnb community; I love your webinars. I learn new skills, am given a path and map to follow and always find them motivational. Still have some issues with sound quality but it is improving.”
7/13/2010 CMS Editor
- “Thanks for all your good work. We appreciate it. It motivates us …”
7/8/2010 Blog Writing
- “I have been taking the blog webinars since you started offering them. Today I learned some more ways to fine tune my writing. I am so happy I keep taking them, every host is a little different and adds items and hints in various ways to help me be better. Each time I feel more confident with the blog posts I am writing. Thank you for the very in depth blog writing session today!”
7/8/2010 Blog Writing
- “Every Webinar that Acorn presents is the best one I’ve attended to that point. Thank you sooooo much!”
7/8/2010 Blog Writing
- “Great information. I wish I had taken these webinars over the winter. I would be so far along by now. Thanks again for sharing.”
6/29/2010 Press Releases
- “This is my first webinar and I found it very user friendly. I will definitely do more of them. Thank you Lisa and Anne.”
6/23/2010 Quarterly FFA
- “I’m sold on Acorn. You haven’t heard the last of me. With Acorn, how can we go wrong!”
6/23/2010 Quarterly FFA
- “I think you did a great job. You make it understandable for those of use that are just starting out. Thanks for your time spent educating us!”
6/23/2010 Quarterly FFA
- “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to come to the webinars. This week I learned something new again. Even though I have attended quite a few of your webinars it helps to take them again because information changes or is augmented in a newer way. As you are always saying “new and fresh content is best” well I have to admit that each session there is something “new and fresh” for me to learn and expand on. Thank you so much.”
6/23/2010 Quarterly FFA
- “I think you’re the best informative business out there for B&B’s when it comes to internet marketing! I saw you at the Mid-Atlantic innkeepers conference and you have several of my area innkeepers as clients! Thanks for your time!! And thank you for this wonderful webinar!!“
6/23/2010 Google Alerts
- “This was a wonderful refresher to motivate me back into action!. As always, Annie is a gracious moderator and Lisa a crystal clear communicator. Thank you so much!”
6/23/2010 Free-for-All
- “You make it understandable for those of use that are just starting out. Thanks for your time spent educating us!”
6/22/2010 Google Alerts
- “It was presented clearly and concise and thanks for sending the presentation!”
06/22/2010 Google Alerts
- “I always seem to learn something from each webinar I attend! The use of “+” and “-” between Alert phrases should help cut down on the extraneous stuff to which Google alerts me. Can’t wait to try it and see how results improve!”
6/22/2010 Google Alerts
- “As always, spot-on information with no fluff. Great stuff that I’m going to start working on today! Many thanks for all that you’ve done for us, and our industry. You’re proof that the cream definitely rises to the top.”
6/16/2010 Link Building
- “This is exactly what I needed! I have been working on a greenhouse map of the county and was totally stumped as to how to do it. This was the total answer. Way to go and thank you!”
6/1/2010 Google Maps
- “These webinars are terrific and a wonderful service — thank you. I haven’t felt I was wasting my time on any of the ones I’ve taken so far. And the presenters are just terrific — very high level of ‘customer service’ and support — the best I’ve ever seen. Kudos to Acorn for providing this very essential, important and relevant service — thank you so much!”
5/25/2010 Blog Writing
- “I NEVER could have done this without you!! Thanks so much for all your help and suggestions. Can’t wait to get started. You guys are the best!!!!”
5/18/2010 Blogger Set-Up
- “Ok so I didn’t even wait till the webinar was over before I added something I needed to add. I bet there is always something new to learn even if you already had this webinar before, I know I did. These webinars are a true life (for my business) saver. Thanks!”
5/11/2010 Google Local
- “Bravo! Every webinar is more informative than the last. With each month I feel more confident in understanding ‘effective marketing’ better. Thank you all.”
4/22/2010 Club 60
- “I always learn something every time I take these webinars.”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “I loved getting the downloads with the step by step information so very promptly. Lisa and Annie took time to check in with each of us at several points along the way to see if we needed clarification on any of the materials presented. Lisa was very supportive and encouraging.”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “There is so much to think about that I’ll probably need to attend the seminar again to review. Don listened in on the second half and already made some changes!”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “You folk at Acorn are wonderful; I loved it that when I opened my e-mail last night there were the attachments to help me get started on my blog right away. What great service!”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “Extremely helpful. Will try to wade through handouts online to tweak my blog. One of my goals is to paint our area to be so interesting that people will want to learn more and come back to the blog every day and then come here. As you say, “. . . whatever makes you money.” I truly appreciate the invitation. Great job. Thanks!”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “Just wanted to say “Thank You” to Lisa Kolb of Acorn Internet Services – for hosting a free webinar on blogging that was open not only to her clients, but she invited non-customers, as well. It was a very well-attended event – and I know there were several of us who were taking advantage of the kind invitation extended to non-clients – and very helpful in its discussion of setting up your blog, what we are really trying to achieve (page volume and search engine placement, to obtain more bookings). Thanks, Lisa, for being willing to help all of us!”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “This was my first webinar so I have nothing to compare with this one. But on the whole, I liked the concept and definitely gained new information regarding blogging. If this weren’t such a busy time of year, it would be easier to incorporate the suggestions. If this session were offered again, say, next quarter, I would be able to better understand some things that went over my head this time. Thank you for the time involved to develop this session on blogging.”
07/28/2009 School of Blog Webinar
- “Keep up the good work, very informative.”
06/23/09 Acorn Maps Webinar
- “Enjoyed the map webinar and it will be very useful to me. Since the webinar my mind has had so many ideas about the maps, but being that most of our busy time is during the week I can’t seem to stop long enough to see what I can do. This is a lot of info and a lot for someone who has never done this to do, but certainly would like to try. So back to the answer…………yes I did enjoy the webinar and it has got my 64 yr old brain thinking!!! Thanks!”
06/23/09 Acorn Maps Webinar
- “Thanks so much for the great Webinar. We really appreciate you taking the time to do these.”
06/16/09 Google Alerts Webinar