The Internet is a tool, not a solution. You still need a well run business that delivers on what you say it will to your customers. No amount of Internet marketing or online tools can make up for poor service, over-hyped features, or unrealistic expectations.

Having a web site gets you in the game, but it is only the tip of the iceberg (a very critical tip) when it comes to truly using the Internet to market your hotel.

Think of it terms of a bricks and mortar store — your web site is your storefront, but you still need to advertise your property, make sure you are properly located and easy to find, and most importantly build ongoing relationships with your guests/customers so they know and trust you. The good news is the Internet and the so many emerging technologies based on it make that easier to do.

Here are five excellent online tools.

The theme is working smarter - and often web tools can help you do just that!

1. Google Docs (docs.google.com) gives you simple and easy-to-use word processing and spreadsheets via the Internet. This one is particularly good if you're collaborating with clients or co-workers because you can easily share documents with Google Docs, and it automatically keeps track of who changed what and when in the document.)  Another free web-based word processing software worth mentioning is Zoho Writer (writer.zoho.com) because it is so easy to use.  After a simple sign-up process, you can start creating the necessary documents for your hote, today.


2. PingMe (www.gopingme.com) - You may post your reminders about calls to make or meetings to attend on your calendar, in your email or on post-it's on your desk but this web tool gives you a great alternative. Once you set up a PingMe account, whenever you need to note a specific reminder, you can either set up a ping on the PingMe website, or you can send an email to your PingMe account. Then, PingMe will send you an email at a specified date and time to remind you. You can even set up PingMe to nag you with emails every 10 minutes until you've completed an important task.

3. Basecamp (www.basecamphq.com) - This is an excellent tool when you're sharing multiple documents with customers, staff or partners. Basecamp is a web-based collaboration tool, which eliminates the need to shuffle documents back and forth via email. With Basecamp, you can easily manage projects and your customers can sign-in and check the progress of your work. Basecamp allows you to keep track of To Do items or project milestones; share documents, images, and other digital files; and track time spent on various tasks.

4. Jott (www.jott.com) - Next time you are away from you desk and you have a great idea you can virtually "jott" your idea down using www.jott.com. Here's how it works: After registering with Jott, the next time you have a brainstorm and you're away from your computer, you can dial Jott's toll-free number and leave a voice mail for yourself.

Jott then translates your message into text and emails it to you. The next time you check your email, you'll see your message to yourself delivered via Jott. It's the perfect way to capture those 'flashes of genius' that always occur to me on the drive home.

5. YouMail (www.youmail.com) - Talk about working smarter! Here's an interesting tool. Say you want to leave the office for the day but you're still waiting for a call from an important customer. With YouMail, you can create your outgoing message for specific callers that only they will hear. After you set up your YouMail account, you can use YouMail's web-based tools to specify specific voicemails for specific people in your life - one voicemail for one customer, another voicemail for another customer, a unique voicemail that only suppliers will hear; there are all sorts of possibilities for this service.

In addition, if you receive a voicemail that you'd like a co-worker or customer to hear, with one click YouMail allows you to forward voicemails via email.