A West Oxfordshire pub, Eynsham’s The Talbot Inn, is maximising the potential of the internet and has just enjoyed its best week ever in terms of turnover, thanks to online marketing experts, IRUN, and its new package of internet marketing solutions.

Trevor Johnson, Landlord of The Talbot Inn takes up the story: “Although we previously had a website it was out of date as it was difficult to make changes. With a new accommodation suite having recently been completed we needed the website to achieve good rankings on major search engines to increase direct room bookings, rather than being heavily dependent on agencies which apply a fee of 15% of the booking value. Unfortunately, as the site had no professional copy or search engine optimisation work this wasn’t being accomplished. I felt the old website was of no value to my business and knew I needed a new solution, so I contacted Lynne Jones of IRUN Oxford.”

Trevor continues: “I already had a professional relationship with the Lynne, spanning several years. Having worked together in the past, I was confident with Lynne’s proposal for a complete internet marketing package, including a new website, search engine optimisation and a customer relationship management system would help boost business.”

The first stage of the process was to build an interim website using IRUN’s WebBuildPRO package. The WebBuildPRO system is 100% internet based includes a full set of management tools which would allow Trevor to update the site whenever he needed to.

Lynne comments: “Having this new site live quickly meant IRUN’s Customer Relationship Management system, InTouch, could be integrated straight away. InTouch enables the Talbot to efficiently manage customer information and communicate with them quickly and easily by sending out a monthly email newsletter with details of special offers and upcoming events.”

Lynne continues: “The Talbot’s website has recently been upgraded to IRUN’s fully flexible solution, iCMS. This system allows for future adaptability of the site so the pub’s future aspirations and growth can be managed easily and effectively. We have also provided a complete web-to-print service for all printed promotional items including advertisements, brochures, business cards, menus, wine lists and customer comment cards.”

Trevor comments: “Providing good service is not enough, to be successful you need to work to attract new customers, look after them, find ways to stay in touch and persuade them to visit more often – either that or become one of the 40 pubs going into liquidation each week”.

He has also had an increase in direct room bookings, and has received many fabulous compliments about both the site and the email newsletters being sent out.

Trevor concludes: “IRUN is very straight and direct in their approach which I appreciate. Lynne and her team have been absolutely fantastic with the delivery of their package of services, as well as providing a level of ongoing support, which is second to none. Although it is very early stages for the whole marketing solution I am very excited to see how it progresses.”

The historic Talbot Inn in West Oxfordshire offers beautiful en-suite accommodation, an award-winning restaurant and all the charm of a traditional English inn. As the Talbot is part of the Swindon-based Arkell’s Brewery, it is expected the marketing products and solutions provided to them will be rolled-out to the entire Arkell’s pub network, and beyond, as a vertical market solution.