New Myrtle Beach Living & Life Section on my Fine Resort Vacation Website

Hi everyone!

If you have been keeping up with our Fine Resort Vacation site over the last few months, you'll notice that we have been adding pages about some more adventures!

As some of you know, we have spent the last 2 winters in the Myrtle Beach, SC area (North Myrtle Beach for the winter of 2008-2009, and Myrtle Beach for the winter of 2009-2010), and so are adding information that we have been gathering about Myrtle Beach Life & Living as well! And, we'll be adding more as time goes on!

Even though we are "snowbirds" in the Myrtle Beach area (at least for now!), there are several great vacation resorts in the area through your GRN (Gold Crown) vacation membership. If we go back this coming winter (and it is looking likely... keeping our fingers crossed!), I am going to visit a few of the resorts in our membership and check them out.

Since I spend numerous months there, it doesn't make a lot of sense for me to book a vacation right down the road :) but there isn't any reason I can't pop on over and take a photo or two, and give all of you my impressions (keeping in mind, however, that I won't be able to give you a TRUE 1-week experience run down).

Anyway, the information I add about Myrtle Beach Restaurants and shopping will come in handy to ANYONE who is either snowbirding or vacationing in that beautiful spot!

So, keep your eyes open, and please let us know if you find great places that YOU would like us to add to the site as well!

Web Copywriting, Blogging, and Watching the Myrtle Beach World Go By

Watching the world go by also provides a never-ending supply of blog fodder, which I absolutely love sharing with others. Whether it’s motivational, inspirational, educational, or entertaining, I enjoy it all.

For example…
I was just standing on my balcony overlooking the dunes on Myrtle Beach from our 14th floor unit (where it snowed 1-2 inches the other day - see photo for proof!).

This winter (January - April 2010) is our 2nd winter down here, and I found myself thinking about last winter when we stayed in the Cherry Grove section of North Myrtle Beach.


As I stood on the balcony, overlooking the beautiful dunes (and watching the resident cats run around in the world's largest litter box), my mind travelled back to the last few months of our stay last winter. At that time, the city of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina sent out crews to improve and protect the fragile sand dunes. (Now, stay with me, because this story weaves into an important web copywriting concept that we need to understand.)

Ok. So, I’d watch these guys work the beach for hours and hours over the course of several weeks. First they put up hundreds of small protective fences in front of the dunes up and down the beach for a stretch of at least a couple of miles.

Then, they came back and drilled tiny little holes – lots of them – into the sand behind the fences.

After that, they took tiny baby dune grass plants – probably a gajillion at least, and carefully planted them into their tiny little holes.

You couldn’t miss ‘em. Really.

Anyone walking out onto the beach from any point of entry would have to stop at the fences and marvel, “Wow! Look at all those tiny baby dune grass plants! What a lot of work must have gone into planting those! I’d better keep off these dunes!”

But just in case the newly planted dune grass somehow escaped one’s attention, the city was prepared. The crew came in yet again. This time with signs. They put signs – dozens of signs in front of the dunes, politely asking us to refrain from messing up the restoration work.

As if that weren’t enough, there are signs – big signs – at the beginning of every public beach access walkway informing people of the rules of the beach and telling them to protect the dunes (again, see photo for proof).

At this point, one would think that people would reverently avoid walking behind the protective fences to – well, help protect the dunes and respect the restoration project.

So why is it that as I stood on my balcony in Cherry Grove, I saw people in the dunes? And guess where they just plopped their beach chairs?

Right smack dab on top of all the little baby dune plants.

And get this… They were sitting RIGHT BEHIND THE SIGN. The very sign that is asking them to please protect the dunes by leaving them the heck alone. I am not joking. This was for real.

Right behind the sign that was now obscuring their otherwise lovely view of the ocean.

Sigh. I mean, c'mon - look at the photo - and if you look closely enough, you'll see lots of footprints in the sand.

So. What has this got to do with web copywriting? A lot! Consider this:
It is obvious that the signage and new plants did not get the visitors’ attention.

Let me say that again:
It is obvious that the signage and new plants did not get the visitors’ attention.

How can that be?

Well, two thoughts come to mind:
Either the people damaging the dunes just don’t care and/or can’t read (in which case it doesn’t matter how much the city of North Myrtle Beach tries to protect the dunes)…

Or…

The signs are not written or presented using proven copywriting techniques.

Getting someone to your website is one thing. Getting them to pay attention to what you have to say is something else entirely.

So. Let’s get back to our dune protection scenario. The signs look a lot like most “Do Not” signs. You know the type: Do not do this, do not do that…blah blah blah.

This particular sign reads: “Dune Protection…Please Do Not Walk On, Cut, Break, or Destroy Vegetation.”

What’s missing? Keywords! These signs contain no keywords at all.

Not a single eye-catching keyword that people care about. No sense of urgency. Nothing unique. Nothing appealing to the visitors’ emotions motivating them to respond (translate: “buy”).

The city of North Myrtle Beach evidently does not employ copywriters to write and design their signs.

Let’s analyze the situation. Do you know how many people searched the term “Do Not Walk On The Dunes Sign” that month? Four. That’s right. My keyword reverse-search tool indicated (last spring) that four people in the whole wide world searched that term. Ok. Maybe that phrase is too narrow.

So, I entered the phrase “Protect Dunes,” and ONE person searched for “How To Protect Sand Dunes” last month.

Pop in the keyword “Dune Protection.” Only eight searches.

Obviously, a sign begging people to help protect dunes just isn’t going to cut it.

So, contemplating a fitting punishment for disrespectful dune tramplers, I typed in “Let’s Go To Prison,” and behold! 345 people searched that phrase that month! (You can see that I was in a research frame of mind.)

Even the misspelled, “Lets Go To Prison” got 1,104 hits. (Ok, maybe it’s a movie title, but I knew I was on to something!)

As I watched adults (who should know better) destroy the baby dune plants, additional phrases came to mind. The thought, “Why don’t you people grow up?” was among them. Believe it or not, 4,923 people searched the term “Grow Up” that very month. Hmm.

So, instead of the current sign, I submit to you the following sign:

Please Help Our Dunes
GROW UP!
Stay Off Them or You Can
GO TO PRISON!
($1,000,000 Fine, and Please Note:
People in the Condos are Watching You!)

Whaddaya think? (Ok, maybe they won’t go to prison or get a $1,000,000 fine, but I kind of liked it…)

So, when writing web copy, 1) use terms people are looking for, and then 2) place them strategically in the text so that people actually notice them when they do see them.

Otherwise the website will not attract qualified visitors, and those who do visit won’t stay.

Oh… I had one final idea to help the City of North Myrtle Beach help protect the dunes:

How about pointing an identical sign INWARD towards the dunes? Even if people miss the sign from the outside, they can’t miss it when they plop themselves down in the chair that looks right at it.

Just a thought.

PS: What do you think of my little snow man? He lasted just a couple of hours here on the deck (see photo for proof.) :)

Timeshare: Deal or No Deal?

"Let's face it. Travel is big business. Huge business. Even in "this economy." Consider that international visitors to the United States spent more than $122.7 billion on travel and tourism-related activities in 2007 - that's just people coming to United States alone! (Source: Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) March 11, 2008)

I've also seen estimates attributed to the Travel Industry Association that the travel and tourism industry itself generates more than $1+ trillion in economic activity.

These are significant figures. And a lot of people want a piece of that pie. Who can blame them? Traveling is fun, and it's a fun industry to work in if you enjoy traveling yourself."

And so I began this article earlier this year for the EzineArticles.com site (If you are interested, you can find this article there in its original state, along with my other articles.) With slight variations and some additional content, I share it with you here because the content is relevant to what I keep hearing about "this economy."

The idea to rework and republish this piece came to me as we winter here in Cherry Grove Beach, South Carolina. Down the road a space are numerous and lovely timeshare resorts inviting "walk ins" to tour their facilities. When we arrived here in Cherry Grove, I called the North Myrtle Beach Visitor Information Center with a specific question. Once the person answered my question, she tried to sign me up for a 120 minute "tour" and presentation of one of the timeshare resorts.

I tried to explain to her that I was not interested, and indeed market exclusive luxury vacation memberships, but she didn't give up. I was finally able to end the call, but the conversation stuck with me.

I've never cared for the timeshare sales tactics - I do not like feeling pressured. My husband and I purchased a timeshare ourselves years ago and have never been all that satisfied. We decided to sell it, but have been unable thus far to sell our timeshare week for even a fraction of what it cost us initially - not to mention how expensive it is to keep it up and running. We are truly caught between a rock and a hard place with this thing.

Never again.

Once we found the vacation membership we ultimately joined (and now market), it was the classic "no brainer." The differences between the concept of timeshare and our vacation memberships are staggering, which you will clearly see as you continue to read.

As an aside, it occurred to us as we were discussing "this economy" is that people are still vacationing - and if they aren't, they want to. They just don't want to pay through the nose. And they don't want to stay in some crummy and cramped hotel room, either. They want to be able to prepare some of their meals at their room instead of going out three times a day. Of course, the timeshare resorts are the perfect setup for vacations because they are typically roomy, have fully equipped kitchens, and are in lovely areas.

But, there are problems with purchasing a timeshare. And if you are seriously considering purchasing one, I only ask that you read on to see the truth in the numbers first. If what you read makes sense to you, then I invite you to go to our website to see how you can stay at these very same resorts without being shackeled to them or going into debt for the ability to vacation there.

I don't know if you have ever vacationed at a timeshare resort, or if you have purchased a timeshare in the past. If you have vacationed at a timeshare, then you already know what happens when you arrive: You are invited to a presentation about the property, and you are usually offered a gift certificate to a local restaurant or show in exchange for your time (typically 90 minutes - maybe more).

The resort isn't doing this to help you become acquainted with the area. They want you to purchase a timeshare at that specific location. After all - the resort is beautiful, and since you're having a wonderful vacation, why not purchase a week you can enjoy every year for years and years to come?

Whoa! Before you whip out your credit card or sign any financing papers in the magic of the moment, take a deep breath.... No... make that five or six deep breaths. Ask yourself these questions:

1) Do you really want to be locked into a contract where - after you pay thousands of dollars for the initial purchase - you'll be paying annual maintenance fees (which never seem to go down)? (According to Timeshares.com the industry average is $16,000 for a purchase. And, WorldMarkTheClub.com, says that the 2006 industry average for maintenance fees was $512 for a one-bedroom, and $614 for a two-bedroom unit.) My husband's and my annual fees are currently at $500 - just to keep the darned thing active.

2) In the event you'd like to exchange your week for a week at a completely different resort, do you want to pay annual membership dues to an exchange company and then pay for the exchange itself (cough up another couple hundred dollars a year). In our case, in order to trade for a week somewhere else, we have to belong to Interval International, and keeping that membership costs us about $80 per year. Then, to make the exchange itself, it costs us another $130 or more depending on where we're going. So, annually - if we want to use our timeshare at all, we are up over $700. And that's just for the right to go somewhere for one week!

3) Also, if you want to exchange your week for a week at another resort - even if you're willing to pay all those fees - are you prepared to be disappointed if you are told that the location you want to visit is not available (such as Hawaii, the Islands, etc... You might have to try Branson, MO - there are usually weeks available there ...)? In our case, we have never gotten the exact trade we have wanted. Ever. We have had our timeshare for at least 12 years, and while we certainly can travel with it, we have never gotten what we requested. We are extremely fortunate that we work our own schedules, and are very flexible, because otherwise we would be at the mercy of where a timeshare was available for a week possibly determined by our employer. For example, when I worked for a school system, I was limited to school vacations for our own travel. Hmmm. Think anyone else in the world has limitations? Again... we can almost always go to Branson, MO.

4) Are you absolutely sure that you only want to come back to this particular resort year after year? When we purchased our timeshare, we were in northern NH, and the liklihood of our actually staying at the property (only an hour from our own beautiful mountain home) was nil. For a few years, and when my husband's daughter was a little girl, we would occasionally drive over to the resort to use the swimming pools, but that's it.

Ok, if you answered yes to those questions, then by all means, buy a timeshare. And, in all fairness, we have met people who are extremely happy with timeshare ownership.

If, however, you are thinking twice, and taking another eight to ten deep breaths - you might be asking yourself, "Well, if not timeshare, how else can I vacation at these gorgeous resorts? Is there another way?"

The answer is "yes." And this is where I introduce to you the luxury vacation memberships that we now market through Global Resorts Network (GRN). GRN has the exclusive worldwide rights to market a private vacation club membership that has twenty-two years experience in outstanding customer satisfaction.

Since these memberships are now marketed via the internet, this trend is catching on very quickly. And why not?

You won't have to sit through a sales presentation, and the process is extremely simple. What you see is what you get.

When you visit my website, you can explore the membership at your leisure without someone pushing you to make a buying decision on the spot.
As you go through the website, you will see that a lifetime (Platinum) membership is only $2,995.00 and that there are no blackout dates for travel.

Hmm.

Then, if you need more information, you can either email or call me (or request a call from me) with your questions. Here are some of the questions you may have:

1. "Is there an annual maintenance fee to use this membership?" (The answer is, "No.")
2. "How much do I REALLY have to pay for a week at one of these resorts?" (The answer is, "Anywhere from $298 - $798, but not higher.")
3. "Yeah, sounds great, but what are the odds that I'll really get to use a resort in Hawaii or the Florida coast?" (The answer is, "Once you put in your request for a location and range of dates, customer service will be bending over backwards to find you your location - that's what they do. And because of the club's tremendous buying power, the odds are very, very good that they will find you a beautiful resort.") Note: I know this because I have experienced their customer service myself. It is second to none.
4. "If I purchase a membership, who will the travel club membership be with?" (The answer is, "Once you make your purchase through my GRN site - http://www.fineresortvacation.com/, you will become a member of Gold Crown Resort, our travel partner. Gold Crown Resort has more than 22 years of experience in outstanding customer service.")

So, let's recap the differences here:

• Timeshare ownership can cost an average of $16,000. Our vacation membership has one low cost to join - $2,995 for a lifetime membership.
  Timeshare ownership dues/fees range from $300 - $1,000. Vacation membership does not have annual dues or maintenance fees. You never pay for a vacation unless you actually take one, and then, your cost is only $298 to $799 for the week. And you can take as many vacations per year as you wish; you are not limited to one week.
• Timeshare ownership default on yearly dues could jeopardize ownership. Vacation membership means you join once, you're a member for life, with no extra fees.
• Timeshare ownership exchanges are difficult and costly. Vacation membership means no more exchanging, and members choose from more than 5,000 luxury resort properties worldwide.
• Timeshare ownership has maximum depreciation on the investment worth approximately 10 cents on the dollar. Vacation membership has retained its full value for the last 21 years (there is a $75 transfer fee).
• Timeshare ownership means that the owners may pay additional fees for property remodeling and renovations. Vacation membership means that the members do not share in remodeling or renovation costs.

It is ultimately up to you to do your due diligence and determine what really will work best for you. There are times when a timeshare purchase might initially seem to be the best way to go - as an example, perhaps if that resort is near family and you will always use that particular resort.

But again, compare apples to apples: Would it really be cost effective to do this? If you could purchase a vacation membership for $2,995 instead, and then simply book your subsequent vacations at one particular resort - I believe you would be better served through our membership. You would also not be locked in to one particular week.

After all is said and done, the best suggestion is that you do the math and carefully consider all your options and preferences before you purchase either a timeshare or a vacation club membership. After all, travel and vacation is supposed to make you feel good - not stressed!

And Yet ANOTHER Cool Thing About Legitimate Home Based Business

Today is Thursday, December 4, 2008, and just the other day, John and I arrived at our "winter headquarters" on the beautiful coast of South Carolina - the Cherry Grove Beach section of North Myrtle Beach, to be precise. So, working from home this winter will be a bit more comfortable and fun (no shoveling or scraping ice from the car!)

While we traveled down the coast from snowy (and cold) northern New Hampshire, we visited with John's brother in Massachusetts, and then with my family in New Jersey over Thanksgiving. We had a nice, leisurly drive (except during a bit of a rainstorm en route), and arrived safe and sound here in Cherry Grove Beach.

While we were driving down here, neither of us did any actual work - other than returning a couple of emails to potential customers. The interesting thing thing, however, is that our businesses earned us money while we traveled.

When we got to our winter condo - the cutest little oceanfront place that will serve our purposes perfectly - and I turned on the computer, my email announced several new sales that we had made while we traveled. How cool is that! Just another thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving...

We also noted that while we were traveling, other people were on line, looking for legitimate home based businesses and opting in to get informaton at our Global Resorts Network marketing site - which is a great testimonial for how important it is to have a system to use when promoting your business.

Anyway, I just wanted to get this out there while I was thinking of it. Now, it's time to get unpacked, organize my office here in Cherry Grove Beach, and get back to work! Because, even when one has a system to work with, we still need to work the system and promote it!

:)