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In 2023, the B&B business sector faces fierce competition as the number of companies in this field increases yearly. Without an effective strategy, you will be left behind in the game, and sooner or later, your company will be listed for bankruptcy.
In the digital marketing era of 2023, finding a way to change this dire situation is not difficult. However, the 6 ways to advertise your bed and breakfast business revealed below will offer the best practical solutions to gain an edge over the competition.
Create an Attractive and Informative Website
It is widely accepted in the marketing industry that having a well-designed and informative website can help improve your online presence, attract more customers, and even rank higher in Google search results.
Creating an attractive and informative website is crucial in advertising your bed and breakfast business. A well-designed website can help you stand out from the competition and be the best option when customers are confused among a hundred choices.
Here is a list of some of the unique features and amenities that you could highlight on your website:
- Location: If your B&B is picturesque, be sure to showcase that on your website. Include stunning images of the surrounding scenery, and highlight any nearby attractions.
- Amenities: What amenities do you offer your guests? Do you have a pool, hot tub, fitness center, or other amenities? Be sure to list all your amenities and highlight any unique to your B&B.
- Atmosphere: What kind of atmosphere do you create at your B&B? Are you a warm and inviting place where guests feel part of the family? Or are you a more luxurious and exclusive experience?
Into the detail with this information:
- Standard Room
- Deluxe Room
- Suite
- Family Room
- Double Room
- Twin Room
- Single Room
- King Room
- Queen Room
- Mention accurate rates for each room type
- Include any discounts or special offers.
- Non-refundable: Customers will not receive a refund if they cancel their reservation.
- Flexible: Allows guests to cancel their reservation without penalty until a specific date before arrival.
- Moderate: The same as the flexible policy but may charge a fee if the cancellation is made after that date.
- Strict: The same as the flexible policy but will charge the total reservation amount if the cancellation is made after that date.
- Phone number
- Email address
- Physical address
- Social media links: Facebook/ Instagram/Twitter
- Contact form: guests can easily send you a message without leaving your site.
For example: Your bed and breakfast in a picturesque location could create a website with stunning images of their rooms and surrounding scenery. They could also highlight the unique features of their B&B, such as its proximity to hiking trails, wineries, and other attractions. The website should also be easy to navigate and provide detailed information about room types, rates, and amenities.
This is important because potential guests want to be able to find the information they need quickly and easily. The website should be well-organized and easy to use. Moreover, encourages potential guests to visualize themselves staying at the B&B and enjoying all the area offers.
Utilize Social Media Marketing
Social media has become a powerhouse in digital marketing, with companies harnessing its influence like never before. According to Statistics, in 2022 alone, social media ad spending reached an impressive 230 billion U.S. dollars and is projected to exceed 300 billion dollars by 2024.
That’s why it’s important for B&B businesses to establish a strong presence on popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. And one valuable thing is Instagram leads the pack, with 65% of social media marketers utilizing the platform for its exceptional ROI, engagement, and growth potential in 2023 to the data of HubSpot.
By leveraging the power of social media, B&Bs can enjoy a number of benefits, including
- Increased visibility: Many individuals opt for social media as their primary means of finding information. Therefore, it can help your B&B reach a bigger audience by captivating content and gaining followers.
- Improved engagement: By sharing engaging content, responding to comments and messages, and running social media contests and promotions, you can build stronger customer relationships to drive booking and generate revenue.
- Targeted advertising: By using demographic, interest, and behavior-based targeting, you can deliver your ads to the potential customer most likely to be interested in your B&B or increase your return on investment.
- Brand awareness: Social media lets you showcase your unique features and amenities, share customer reviews and testimonials, and promote special offers and deals.
Example: A charming B&B using Instagram to showcase its cozy rooms and hosting behind-the-scenes stories of breakfast preparation. First, it attracts guests seeking a more personal and authentic travel experience. And the second benefit is to engage with guests in real-time. It allows the B&B to share updates about its daily operations and answer questions from guests.
Offer Special Promotions and Packages
Offering special promotions and packages can be an effective way because it taps into the psychological principles of scarcity and social proof. Offering limited-time promotions or unique packages can create a sense of urgency and increase bookings at your bed and breakfast.
Plus, popular promotions provide social proof that your business is desirable, increasing the likelihood that potential guests will choose your business over others.
- Create enticing promotions for different seasons or special occasions: Winter holidays (Christmas, New Year’s Eve), Valentine’s Day, Spring break, Easter, Summer vacation, etc.
- Design packages that include local experiences / activities to attract travelers: a package that includes a stay at your B&B, local museum tickets, a restaurant gift certificate, etc.
- Offer discounts for groups or families: Attract larger groups of guests, such as families or wedding parties.
- Partner with other businesses in your area: Offering discounts to guests who book a tour or activity with a local company.
- Run contests and giveaways: Generate excitement and buzz around your B&B.
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Encourage Guest Reviews and Testimonials
Encourage reviews and testimonials from guests by requesting feedback at the end of their stay. Provide a link to your review page and offer incentives for those who leave reviews.
It’s essential to respond to reviews, whether positive or negative. This shows that you value your guests’ feedback and are committed to providing a great experience.
If a guest leaves a positive review, thank them for their kind words and invite them back for another stay. If a guest leaves a negative review, apologize for any issues they experienced and offer to make it right.
Example: The B&B could create a dedicated page on their website for guest reviews. This page could include a mix of positive and negative reviews and responses from the B&B owners. The B&B could also share positive reviews on their social media pages. This would help potential guests see what other people have said about the B&B and build trust.
Collaborate with Travel Bloggers and Influencers
According to a study by Nielsen, 71% of consumers put their faith in product placements, advertising, and opinions of influencers. Therefore, partnering with travel bloggers or influencers is a great way to promote your bed and breakfast to their audience.
Before you partner with an influencer, be clear about your expectations about how many posts you want them to make / What kind of content do you want them to create? How will you measure the partnership results through the number of impressions, clicks, or bookings?
Another consideration is to Identify the right influencers. Not all travel bloggers or influencers are created equal. You want to find someone with a following interested in your type of B&B.
Example: A bed and breakfast in a picturesque location is teaming up with a travel influencer to write a blog post and share their stay on Instagram. This collaboration aims to provide valuable social proof to potential guests.
By showcasing their experience at the B&B, the influencer can boost the business’s credibility and demonstrate that it is a desirable place to stay. Moreover, the influencer’s followers may be more inclined to book a stay at the B&B after seeing the positive content shared by the influencer.
Conclusion
There are several effective methods to promote your bed and breakfast business and draw in more guests. You can use social media, partner with travel influencers, provide exclusive promotions and deals, encourage guests to leave reviews and testimonials, and take advantage of local partnerships and events. These tactics can boost your business’s visibility and make it stand out from the rest. Applying these strategies can attract more guests to your bed and breakfast and ensure its ongoing prosperity.