Transcript of conversation with Ryan O'Grady, Founder of Fotaflo.
Meghan: Hey Ryan, thanks for taking the time. Let’s jump right in and tackle some of these big challenges operators are facing.
Challenge 1: Marketing and Sales
Q: Marketing services, finding the right sales channels, and standing out among competitors is tough. It includes online marketing, SEO, and building brand awareness. How can operators tap into their current customer base for referrals and repeat bookings?
Ryan: Your current customers are one of your greatest untapped resources. First, when happy customers recommend you, it’s like getting a glowing review straight to someone’s ear. People trust recommendations from friends and family more than any fancy ad. Plus, it costs you next to nothing.
Second, repeat customers are your bread and butter. They already know you’re great, so you don’t have to spend time convincing them. By focusing on creating amazing experiences and staying connected, you build loyalty and bring them back time and again. It’s a win-win.
Q: How does Fotaflo help with this?
Ryan: Fotaflo simplifies the process. We make it easy for operators to capture and share media of their guests having the time of their lives. Guests then share these photos with their friends and family—essentially becoming your unofficial (and very enthusiastic) marketing team. It’s marketing made simple.
Q: Specifically, how does this build brand awareness?
Ryan: It’s all about staying top of mind. Instead of targeting people with ads they’ll probably ignore, let your guests share genuine, meaningful memories. Those memories remind them and their networks of the great experience they had with you.
Fotaflo takes it further by strategically resending those memories on special occasions, like birthdays or anniversaries. It’s a subtle but effective way to keep your brand in their thoughts and in their social feeds.
Q: Does Fotaflo increase quality web traffic to help with SEO?
Ryan: Absolutely. Operators want more direct bookings, and that starts with quality web traffic. When guests view their photos on your website and share them, their friends and family end up on your site too. It’s like rolling out a digital welcome mat for your next customers.
Challenge 2: Finding Customers
Q: Finding the right customers is another biggie. How can operators find their “tribe” or niche market and actually turn engagements into bookings?
Ryan: Word-of-mouth marketing is everything. Your current customers are the bridge to your future customers. Their friends and family are likely to share similar interests, and a personal recommendation goes a long way.
When your guests share their memories on your website, their networks see those photos and click through. Suddenly, their coworker or cousin is on your website, learning about your business and booking their own experience. It’s like a chain reaction of happy customers.
Challenge 3: Digital Presence and Tech Issues
Q: Social media content creation is a major headache for operators. They didn’t sign up to be TikTok stars! How can they simplify this without spending a fortune on a social media manager?
Ryan: Here’s the thing—running a business is already a full-time job. You don’t need to add “Social Media Guru” to your resume. Instead, let your guests do the heavy lifting. Their shared memories are authentic, relatable, and far more engaging than anything you could post yourself.
Your social media reach might be limited, but your guests’ networks are huge. When they share their experiences, it’s like getting a personal endorsement straight to your next customer’s feed.
Q: What about influencers? Are they worth it?
Ryan: Influencers are fine… if you like throwing money at short-term hype. But let’s be honest: real guest content is where the magic happens. It’s authentic, it’s relatable, and it actually works. Guests sharing their experiences will always outshine a paid post from someone who’s “honestly” never heard of you before last week.
