Whitney Arnell
PURPOSE AND GOALS
I wanted to complete this project because the Boondocks Cabin is owned my in-laws, and it’s one of my favorite places to go. It means a lot to the whole family, so I wanted to help them where I could to try and get it rented more. My main goals with this project were:
- Create social media posts they could post on their Instagram account to try and get more renters.
- Update their Guest Book to make it more aesthetically pleasing and guest friendly.
- Create a fun video that not only can be used to advertise the cabin, but also one that the family can hold onto as a memory forever.
THE PRODUCTS
The first aspect of the project I did for them was update their guest book. My goal with the guest book was to make it easier to read and follow along, and also give it a theme to make it more aesthetic. I wanted to create a “brand identity” with this guest book as well. I have attached the entire new guest book file, as well as before and after pictures to compare it to the old guest book. My clients were very pleased with the new guest book, and they couldn’t wait to print it off and switch it out with the old one!
The second part of my project was creating social media posts that they could post on their Instagram account. They hadn’t used their Instagram account in over two years, so I wanted to get it started again because I know how powerful digital marketing can be. I took pictures of certain aspects of the cabin that they could post, as well as wrote captions to go with them.
Caption: OUR NEW SIGN IS UP! We’ve worked so hard to make this sign, and it couldn’t have turned out any better. The statement “Dulcius es Asperis” (Sweeter after Difficulties) has been our motto through this whole cabin experience. Go to https://www.kabino.com/ to book your next stay at the best cabin in Island Park!
Caption: No grandma will be tripping up these stairs. Go to https://www.kabino.com/ to book your next stay at Boondockers cabin where you’ll get to walk up our brand new front stairs, relax in our hot tub, and look at the most amazing view you’ve ever seen!
Caption: There’s no place like Boondockers Cabin for the holidays. Winter is in full swing in Island Park, and our cabin is ready for it! Go to https://www.kabino.com/ to book your next stay where you can experience the best snowmobiling in the world right from the driveway!
I also videoed and edited two videos that they can post on their Instagram account as well. The first video is a short reel that goes along with a trending song right now on Instagram. Every business and influencer has used this song in one of their reels before, so it was a great choice to try and get more views. The second video is meant to be more of a “commercial” type video that showcases the memories that can be made at the cabin. I interviewed and videoed each of my in-laws and asked them to share their favorite memory or their favorite thing in general about the cabin. My clients wanted it to be both serious and fun, and wanted it to really show the different reasons or occasions that you can rent the cabin for. My clients were thrilled when they got to see the final video and were so excited to show people.
Caption: At Boondockers Cabin, you’ll feel happier than Repunzel when she left her tower. Go to https://www.kabino.com/ to book your next stay with us!
Caption: No matter what reason or occasion you may be wanting to come for, we guarantee you’ll make amazing memories here at Boondockers Cabin just like we have. Go to https://www.kabino.com to book your next stay with us.
CHALLENGES
My biggest challenge through this project was having too many ideas! As the project timeline went on, I kept coming up with more and more ideas that could help accomplish my goals and help get the cabin rented more. I realized though that I was going to have to narrow it down to the best ideas, and I needed to listen closely to my clients opinions and focus on what they wanted. I didn’t have the time to do everything I wanted to, but I overcame this challenge by communicating with client and focusing on their biggest wants.
PROJECT PROCESSES
The process I followed through this whole project was come up with ideas, ask my client their opinions, create a draft of my ideas, send it to my client for approval, and complete the product so it’s ready to be printed/posted. I never wanted to do anything that my clients didn’t want or care about, so asking them for their opinions was super important to me. This is a process I want to use for the rest of my life, because even though it’s my project, I’m doing it for someone else and their opinion matters the most.
EXPERIENCES I HAD
I had multiple great experiences through this project both professionally and personally. On the professional level, I gained so much more experience in running a social media account and videography. I’ve never been able to really do either one of these tasks, and it was a great experience to learn more about each one. It was a lot of trial and error, but it taught me a lot and it’s an experience I’ll get to take with me in all of my future career opportunities. On a personal level, this project gave me the opportunity to spend more time with my in-laws and get to grow closer to them. This cabin means so much to them, so it meant a lot to me to be able to be a small part of it. It’s an experience that I will always be thankful for.
INSIGHTS AND TAKEAWAYS
I had a few takeaways through this project, but the biggest takeaway I had is that I actually really enjoy videography! It’s not a skill that I necessarily possess, but I enjoyed getting to conduct research about it and put that research to practice. This is a skill that I want to continue to develop for the rest of my life, because I know I can do great things with it if I practice. Another big insight I learned through this project is the importance of paying attention to trends. With the way social media algorithms are set up, if you keep up with the trends and post according to those trends, your views are more likely to increase and come across more people’s accounts. If I ever have a career that involves social media, this is something I will always remember!
PROJECT OVERVIEW
THANK YOU!