The Results Are In: How Did Glamping Under The Stars Benefit From 30 Days Of Video? – The Digital Marketing Superhero’s Club Volume 1 Chapter 16

Does creating video for your Facebook page really make a difference to your business? Or is it just a waste of time?

This week’s Superhero, Kyra Fingleton from Glamping Under The Stars tells her story and tells us what she got from creating 30 days of video.

Superhero Tips – Just Do It

It’s been two weeks since I sent a newsletter and in fairness week one wasn’t my fault. I had computer issues but last week…

Are there tasks that you put off in your business?

I feel a bit cheeky giving advice on this after my two weeks of newsletter sloth but I’m writing it today because I have to. Email is a huge part of my online strategy. It might seem like a few weekly ramblings but I’m doing it because I want to get to know my readers better.

And email is important for almost every business. There are three strands to every online marketing strategy.

1. Your website
2. Your email marketing
3. Your social media.

You need all three to be successful but email often gets pushed aside.

I’ve been running an email challenge in my group this month. People were keen to build their lists. The video challenge captured everyone’s imagination, but this one has gone a little flat. I wonder why that is?

• Is it because email is a bit boring?
• Is it because we de-value it?
• In the age of social media does it feel a tad… yesterday?

For me, email has always been a huge source of new customers. It sells in a way nothing else does. I wrote an article about it for The Congregation a few years ago. Even a tiny list can help you sell.

It’s also hard work. Since GDPR it’s harder to build a list. Lead magnets like my Online Strategy Workbook work but they take time to create. Then you have to think of something to say every week.

It also lacks the instant gratification of social media, you send out an email and… nothing happens. You don’t get a bunch of likes or comments. If you are lucky someone replies.

Yes, you can look at the stats in your email marketing software but you don’t get that little buzz you get from social.

It’s because of all these barriers that email marketing could be an opportunity for you.

If other people in your industry are lazy about email, then you have a chance to shine.

So why not grab that chance now? Go set up an account on MailChimp or ConvertKit and devise a lead incentive that will attract your ideal customer?

Superpower of the week – Add Video Captions With Quicc

Kyra talks about captioning in the interview. It was when she started captioning her videos that she started to see results.

But captioning video is a pain. The tool Kyra was using Clipomatic, is cool but you have to edit your captions on the spot.

Quicc is a captioning tool I’ve been testing and it is better than many of the off the shelf-captioning apps available.

You upload your videos from your phone (iPhone or Android) or desktop and it will auto-caption them. And here’s the cool thing, you can edit your captions after you have uploaded the video. You can even upload from mobile and edit on desktop which is great for the fat fingered people like me.

You don’t just get your captioned video, you get a .srt file that you can add to videos on YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter for closed captions.
More on the difference between closed and open captions here.

You get 10 minutes of video for free when you sign up, monthly packages start at $12 a month.

Superhero Interview – Kyra Fingleton: Glamping Under The Stars

Kyra Fingleton is the owner of ‘Glamping Under the Stars’ – a beautiful boutique glampsite in Co. Laois. The glampsite has quickly established itself as one of the best in Ireland, offering a range of quirky, luxurious accommodations including bell tents, wood lodges and a gorgeous hand-built shepherd’s hut.

As a mother to 3 young children, Kyra is committed to creating a magical glamping experience for families – offering the joy of campfires and stars, with all the comforts of home. The relaxed atmosphere, comfy beds and pretty vintage touches are also a hit with hen groups, who regularly hire the place out for private parties.

Kyra’s high standards and unique understanding of what makes a great glamping trip have ensured a large number of guests return to glamp under the stars year after year.

When she’s not plumping pillows and stocking up the firewood, you’ll find Kyra singing in her ‘opera’ voice, practising yoga, or taking photographs. Though not all at the same time.

Amanda Webb:

This week’s superhero is Kyra Fingleton from Glamping Under The Stars, which is a Glamping site here in Ireland, so next time you come and visit, make sure you come and visit Kyra. Welcome to the show, Kyra.

Kyra Fingleton:

Hi, Amanda. Thanks for having me.

Amanda Webb:

I’m really delighted to have you on. The reason I asked Kyra on the show was because you would have heard, if you’d been listening to this podcast, me talking incessantly about our 30-day video challenge that we had over in the Facebook group, and the idea was that you would post a video every day to your Facebook page for 30 days, and Kyra did this.

Tell me about where you started with the videos. Tell me what sort of videos you created, what you were hoping to achieve, and then we’ll talk about what actually happened.

Kyra Fingleton:

Okay. Well, actually, I really enjoyed the challenge. At first, I was a bit hesitant about it because I thought people might not want to be bombarded with videos and that they wouldn’t want to hear that much, but actually people responded really well, so I was delighted that I did the challenge.

I managed 29 days consecutively. I missed one day somewhere along the line, but, overall, I got really good engagement, and the videos that seemed to work best were either specifically about the Glampsite itself, showing people what was here, how we do things, giving people a look around inside the accommodations that we have, and so showing the different kinds of groups that come.

We tend to get families or hen parties, so I had some video footage of hen parties. For example, there was a guy playing the guitar and a group of hens sitting around the campfire and having a good time, so I had a short video about that with music and everything.

Then, as this sort of challenge progressed, then I was learning from you, I was learning from the group, and I started to figure out how to put captions and subtitles, which works much better actually, once I managed to get the hang of those because people didn’t have to hear what I’m saying, they could see what the video was about and kind of watch it without the sound on, which actually was a huge leap forward in terms of getting engagement and getting people to see the video and know what it was about without actually having to switch it on and specifically listen to it, so that was great.

Amanda Webb:

Two things. So what tool were you using firstly for that captions. You were shooting on your phone, were you?

Kyra Fingleton:

I was, yeah. At first, I sort of was a bit cart before horse that I was trying to put the captions on retrospectively and found that just didn’t work. I couldn’t figure out that, so I downloaded the Clicpomatic app, which was very simple. It was for the iPhone, and I know you suggested some for people who don’t have iPhones, but I came across it through your podcast, or whatever, about that.

It will add the subtitles up to a minute long of video, so I had to keep them under that minute time, which I realized, through trial and error, but actually, that was quite a good length of time for me. I managed to get the point across in that time, and I wasn’t rambling on too much, but the actual captions had to be adjusted before you saved it.

You couldn’t save it and come back later, so you had to do it, make the video, the Clicpomatic would add the captions as you were making the video, and then you’d have to edit it, because sometimes it could come up with some fairly colourful interpretations of what I’m saying, let me tell you.

Amanda Webb:

I’ve had that experience, too. I think it looks really nice, as well. The layout is quite nice. I suppose now is the time for me to mention there is a new toy. It was in beta, I think, the last time I mentioned it, but it’s out there now, so maybe you want to try it, called Quicc, Q-U-I-C-C, and it’s not an app yet. It will be an app, and it’s a paid tool. So you upload your video. You can upload it from your phone, and then it is saved. Once it’s uploaded, it’s saved, and you can go and edit the text.

Kyra Fingleton:

Okay, and you can come back and work on it?

Amanda Webb:

Yeah. Exactly. So it’s quite good, but it is I know like Clicpomatic is going to be a one-off payment, and this is like a monthly subscription, so it’s going to cost you a little bit more in the long run, but it might be nice just for that function.

The other question then, well, the second question that came out of what you told me already, because we’re going to delve a little bit further, is you said you got some great responses. So what was that? Was that people commenting on your page or was it actual… I was going to say actual, real people as if… people on your page aren’t real, but you know what I mean.

Kyra Fingleton:

Yeah. Well, it was actually really interesting what did happen. Some of the videos, I actually rated them before I was due to speak to you just to see what the top five were and what kind of engagements and sort of reach I got. So the one that did the best out of all of them, I got 3.4 thousand views, or how much of that they viewed, I’m not sure, but I got 22 comments and 19 shares on that video-

Amanda Webb:

Wow.

Kyra Fingleton:

Which, for me, was really good. I mean, I know there’s some people out there get millions of view, whatever, but that was great compared to what other posts would do. So that was really good. Then, say, trickling down the top five, once it got to, say, number six, there was still around just over 1,000 views, so this is great.

In terms of engagement, I find it works really well for me if people are commenting because they’re tagging their friends and their friends are seeing it and seem excited and think maybe I might book a holiday there, which is obviously what I want, but we had one in particular that worked really well, and I was laughing about the response because during the phase of the 30-day period, our Glamp site was short-listed for a hospitality award.

We were quite excited about it here, and we obviously wanted to make people aware that we were good enough to be short-listed, so we did a sort of humorous video about combing the grass with little children’s … I think it was a Barbie, a pink Barbie comb. I was pretending that I’d combed the whole Glamp site before the judges came to visit, and assess us for this award, but it was funny.

https://www.facebook.com/GlampingUndertheStarsLaois/videos/2025885857707498/

We got great coverage actually online through the Facebook page, but also people were stopping me in the streets and saying, “Oh, how’d you get on with the award. Did you win?” Even out shopping or bringing the kids to school, people locally had seen it and were talking to me, and, of course, people checking in, people who’d booked a stay with us were asking about it. It did get people to engage with it, and I definitely know that people saw it.

Then, of course, great things happened, and we won the award, so we’re absolutely delighted, and we put up a post, just a photo of us, with the award, looking chuffed with ourselves, but we got a massive response then to that post. I think because we had that preliminary video, the people engaged with it and felt … They were rooting for us almost, which is lovely.

Amanda Webb:

So you had 3,000 views on your top video.

Kyra Fingleton:

Yeah.

Amanda Webb:

You weren’t boosting that at all? So that was all organic?

Kyra Fingleton:

That’s right, yeah. No, I didn’t boost that one.

Amanda Webb:

And 22, so loads of comments, loads of shares, which is the dream really for Facebook. Which video was that? Was that the combing the grass one?

Kyra Fingleton:

It wasn’t, actually. That was number two was combing the grass. I got 2-1/2-thousand views of that, 15 shares, and 30 comments, so that was pretty good, but the top video was actually one that surprised me because it was just a video I made of the boardwalk over the bog in Abbeyleix which is a really interesting, scenic place, and I don’t know if it was because people didn’t know it was here, and they were just sort of sharing it to other people to say, “Oh, check this out. We could go and visit that while we’re staying the Glamping,” but I think partly because I had tagged a couple of other groups within the post. There’s an Abbeyleix group, so people within that area might have seen it because I tagged them.

Then, it was shared on by the people who managed the bog and encouraged people to go for walks there, so they shared it to all their group, and then there were comments on there. There was a strand of comments underneath their sharing of it, as well, and they were asking, “Oh, how long is the walk, and how far is it from the Glamp site?” It created a bit of a life of its own.

Amanda Webb:

That’s good, and I like that sort of content, as well, because that probably will … It’s going to result in brand awareness, even if it’s not somebody booking straightaway.

It’s the case of you’re going to grab new people who haven’t heard about you before and get them into your page so that you can show them other content, as well. I would call that tune in content, I think, which is great. It’s a great way to build your audience.

Kyra Fingleton:

Absolutely. We’ve been running for three years now. We’re coming into our fourth summer, and, even now, people locally still can be surprised that we’re here.

We’re still trying to get the word out to local people, because, often, they might have relatives or friends coming to visit them from other places, and they’re looking for somewhere to stay, and especially if they’ve got kids, then they want somewhere a bit more relaxed than maybe a hotel.

It’s actually really good for us to know, to let local people know that we’re here, so even though we mightn’t be reaching that many people further afield with a most like that, although I think we did reach some further afield, but it’s great to know that people locally are becoming more aware of us, and there’s word of mouth is important for us, too.

Amanda Webb:

I’m guessing because other tourist providers, as well, would be recommending you once they know who you are.

Kyra Fingleton:

Exactly. Within Laois, we’re trying to create a network of, say, activities providers and hospitality providers, like ourselves, so this is one way that we can help each other out and share each other’s content.

Amanda Webb:

Brilliant. We can see that it’s had a positive impact on your Facebook page. Is there anything beyond that? What would you say the results of the campaign have been? Well, we’ve said, really, that you’ve built brand awareness amongst the local tourism businesses, as well as further afield. Anything else?

Kyra Fingleton:

Yeah. We found that people who would be maybe Googling us and they find us on Facebook, that I would have put the videos up maybe some time ago, so I might be on day 30, but people would have gone back through the content because they were interested in what they were seeing, I’m assuming.

They went back to the content, and maybe they saw a video that I did launch at the start, and they’d be commenting or sharing that even quite a while after it had been up, or somebody would arrive to the door and they’d say that they’d seen one of the videos that I did historically.

They were going back further through my timeline or newsfeed and seen stuff that I’d done before, which I don’t think people did prior to the video challenge.

I did a video quite near the start about where the toilets are, which-

Amanda Webb:

I like that video.

Kyra Fingleton:

It sounds so pedestrian, so obvious, but, yet, it’s a huge thing for people Glamping, and I think a lot of people coming Glamping aren’t really campers. They’re maybe more used to the hotel experience, so they’re a little bit nervous. They’re thinking, “Is it going to be … Am I going to be going in a bush? What’s the story?” They were actually really relieved to see that it wasn’t a big, long walk to some toilet dock miles away and that the toilets inside were actually really nice, proper flushing loos and all that. Means a lot to people.

Amanda Webb:

It does. Even for me, it would be, and I used to camp, but even when I’d go, if I was going to a regular camp site, I’d want to know, it’s your number one question.

Kyra Fingleton:

Number one and number two. I do think actually that’s one thing, a knock on effect that you can get from creating videos is that, if somebody’s looking to stay with you, they are going to want to see as much as they can, and the videos were a great part of that.

Amanda Webb:

Are you going to keep making videos, Kyra?

Kyra Fingleton:

Oh, absolutely. I don’t think I’ll be doing them every day, but, yeah, I’m trying to plan ahead where I’m going, and I’m going to more local places, making videos about what there is to see and do because that’s a question that comes up a lot, and I think the other side of putting videos out there and people, even if you’re a bit shy about putting your face on the video, at first, I was just kind of behind the camera, but, sometimes, I’ll get involved and actually show my face, just like you do, and I think that when guests arrive, they kind of feel that they know me because they’ve seen my face.

There’s an element of familiarity, so then a lot of hospitality is being friendly and welcoming people, so if they feel they know you, know a bit about you, then it’s almost like they’re coming home to a friend, and as I’m showing them around, then it’s a different experience to when people are meeting me cold, if you like.

Amanda Webb:

I do think actually getting yourself in the videos, and I know it’s really hard for people. I feel like you’re a bit of a natural, so it’s good to know that you also were a little bit nervous about getting in front of the camera. I think that will inspire a lot of people to give it a go, and I think that makes a difference. I’m really delighted that it’s worked so well for you, and you’re award-winning now.

Kyra Fingleton:

That’s it. Award-winning Glamp site. That’s us.

Amanda Webb:

Tell me where we can find you online, Kyra.

Kyra Fingleton:

Okay. Well, we have a website. It’s www.glampingunderthestars.ie, and we have quite a lot of info up there.

Actually don’t have videos yet on the website, but that’s something I’ll have to look into, but we have pictures of our accommodation, and we have actually little sections on activities in the area, so I might try and add the videos once I figure out how to do that, obviously, because I think they give a bit more than just the photographs.

Then, obviously, we’re on Facebook. There’s plenty of fantastic videos you can check out on Facebook, and we’re on Instagram, as well.

Amanda Webb:

That’s brilliant. Thank you so much for joining us this week, Kyra. You really are superhero. Your cape is in the post. Welcome to the club.

Kyra Fingleton:

Woo. Thanks so much.

Find Kyra Online

Website

Instagram

Facebook