Marketing advice for B&B owners in 2016 Jan 18th
A B&B is such a small business that you could be excused for thinking that it doesn’t need a marketing strategy. However, there are many alternative sources of accommodation that your potential customers could choose, meaning that a carefully thought-out marketing plan could, far from being a mere optional extra, genuinely make or break your business success.
Keep things simple… at least to begin with
Having said all of this, we should urge you not to over-think matters. Peruse the Internet for marketing advice and you could come across a heap of articles with more than their fair share of confusing jargon, but you should start with the basics and, for now, wait before considering more clever tactics.
Start by simply looking at your B&B as it stands and considering… well, basically, what it’s like. Consider where it is located, its size, the number and types of rooms it offers, and what people have written – good and bad – about your B&B in the guestbook.
Who do you want to attract to your B&B?
Once you have conducted relevant research, you should consider which particular markets you want to pursue. If, for example, your B&B is located in a quiet, rural area, like the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales, you should discern which types of people especially appreciate this kind of environment.
You should also do your best to address any clear remaining obstacles to your success. So, if many guests have criticised the quality of the food offered at your B&B, single this out for improvement. After all, good food is something that all visitors will expect, no matter what demographic they fall into.
Now it’s time for the advertising
Once you have not only identified the specific demographics you would like to chase, but also ensured that your B&B offers plenty to entice them, you’ve definitely got good reason to feel satisfied. But there’s still a missing link here between your B&B and your potential customers – and that’s advertising.
An appealing and useful website is crucial in this respect. The hotel management software provider eviivo has posted a thorough guide to making sure that your B&B’s website ticks many vital boxes. Advertising in print publications is also a good idea, but make sure that the publications you choose are commonly read by the specific types of people you are aiming to attract.
Keep a close eye on your B&B’s performance
Once you’ve got an advertising campaign well underway, you should periodically review your B&B’s performance to see what effect – if, indeed, any – your marketing efforts are having. You can gain the information that you require for review purposes through inviting customers to provide feedback. You can also obtain data of a more statistical slant by using B&B management software, such as that available from Angelfish Software, that allows you easy access to turnover and profit figures.
Jan 18th
A B&B is such a small business that you could be excused for thinking that it doesn’t need a marketing strategy. However, there are many alternative sources of accommodation that your potential customers could choose, meaning that a carefully thought-out marketing plan could, far from being a mere optional extra, genuinely make or break your business success.
Keep things simple… at least to begin with
Having said all of this, we should urge you not to over-think matters. Peruse the Internet for marketing advice and you could come across a heap of articles with more than their fair share of confusing jargon, but you should start with the basics and, for now, wait before considering more clever tactics.
Start by simply looking at your B&B as it stands and considering… well, basically, what it’s like. Consider where it is located, its size, the number and types of rooms it offers, and what people have written – good and bad – about your B&B in the guestbook.
Who do you want to attract to your B&B?
Once you have conducted relevant research, you should consider which particular markets you want to pursue. If, for example, your B&B is located in a quiet, rural area, like the Lake District or Yorkshire Dales, you should discern which types of people especially appreciate this kind of environment.
You should also do your best to address any clear remaining obstacles to your success. So, if many guests have criticised the quality of the food offered at your B&B, single this out for improvement. After all, good food is something that all visitors will expect, no matter what demographic they fall into.
Now it’s time for the advertising
Once you have not only identified the specific demographics you would like to chase, but also ensured that your B&B offers plenty to entice them, you’ve definitely got good reason to feel satisfied. But there’s still a missing link here between your B&B and your potential customers – and that’s advertising.
An appealing and useful website is crucial in this respect. The hotel management software provider eviivo has posted a thorough guide to making sure that your B&B’s website ticks many vital boxes. Advertising in print publications is also a good idea, but make sure that the publications you choose are commonly read by the specific types of people you are aiming to attract.
Keep a close eye on your B&B’s performance
Once you’ve got an advertising campaign well underway, you should periodically review your B&B’s performance to see what effect – if, indeed, any – your marketing efforts are having. You can gain the information that you require for review purposes through inviting customers to provide feedback. You can also obtain data of a more statistical slant by using B&B management software, such as that available from Angelfish Software, that allows you easy access to turnover and profit figures.