Uncorked With Courtney: Why video is so important.

So here’s the deal… Google REALLY likes video. You know who else likes video? Basically everyone.

So most of you know that I do a weekly vlog called Uncorked with Courtney. And every week I talk about either something happening at the winery or something happening in the world or, if I really don’t know what to talk about, something random. And I end each video with a wine of the week (occasionally, not our wine).

It’s a very fun and comfortable thing for me to add to our marketing plan. But that isn’t the only reason I do it. Using video in marketing is also a great way to educate or tell a story.

People value education. Facts. Knowing. And in the wine world, not knowing can be scary. What wine should I take to a dinner party? What wine should I drink? What should I eat with certain wines? There are a lot of questions.

And we all love stories!

My goal is to make my friends, family and our customers more comfortable with the idea of wine and to tell them our stories. (I hope it’s working!) And at the same time, I’m boosting our rankings on Google, getting our business name out there and having a blast. It’s basically a win-win win-win.

So, if you want to see my Uncorked videos, click here.

If you have any questions (seriously, any questions) about wine, email me here. courtney@schoolhousewine.com

If you have any questions about video shooting, editing or more info about why it is so important in the digital world, email me at the same place.

Now go out and make some awesome videos about your business!

Courtney is an employee of School House Winery, home of Building 6 wines located in Dover, Ohio. 

Welcome to School House Winery: Why good staff is so important.

My hope when you walk though SHW’s front door is that you are greeted with a smile and a welcome. A first impression is so important in this industry and having great staff creates a lasting impression. The wine is important too.

Before I get started, I want to make a mention that our staff is amazing. They work hard every day and always stay positive! Keep up the good work Jennifer, Dave, Tina, Cindy, Lori, Maranda, Yolanda, Sarah, Miles, Kaitlin and soon to be Alex!

Last week, while on our family vacation, we took a day trip to Savannah, GA. We did a little shopping and enjoyed the beauty of the historic town. While shopping on River Street, we stumbled across a honey store called Savannah Bee Company with a Mead tasting bar tucked inside. Mead is made mostly with honey instead of grapes or hops, but you can blend it with almost anything. It’s a very unique beverage.

We walked in and decided to try some mead. There was one employee behind the bar, a younger guy with a full beard who looked like he genuinely loved his job. We stepped up with a few other couples and got started. All of a sudden this employee turned on his customer service, like a flick of a switch, the show was on. He walked us through 6 meads, telling us stories for each one. Explaining each mead and why it is unique. Discussing the notes and ingredients added to each one. Creating a whole experience for us.

I visit a lot of wineries, sadly some of which I haven’t really liked. Sometimes it’s the atmosphere, or the wine, but it always ruins the whole experience. I believe that good, welcoming and knowledgeable staff can flip that situation around instantly.

The point here is that this guy loved his job, was knowledgable in his field and had a great welcoming personality. The first thing we discussed after leaving was how much fun we had. The mead was great. Smooth, yummy, refreshing, but if the employee was not as welcoming, we would have had a totally different experience. But instead we will talk about this great store and suggest it to anyone who says, “I’m visiting Savannah, what should I do?”

Good staff can be hard to find, but we are lucky to have great employees creating experiences every day! Our wine isn’t bad either.

Courtney is an employee of School House Winery, producer of Building 6 Wines located in Dover, Ohio.