There’s a lot that goes into running a bed and breakfast and that’s true from the very beginning – because getting it right at the start is important for your chances of success. Right from the off, you’ll be juggling considerations like location, staff requirements and evaluating the appropriate level of insurance for your B&B – but one thing that musn’t get lost in the crowd is your marketing strategy.
Marketing is essential for attracting guests to your B&B and you’ll need to put together a plan. However, hiring a marketing agency to do this can be expensive, so we recommend trying to do as much as you can yourself.
To improve your chances of running a successful B&B that draws in customers throughout the year, we’ve put together a handy list of tips for marketing it so that you can hit the ground running regardless of experience.
Social media
There are more than 57 million active social media users in the UK, meaning that you can reach a huge pool of potential customers by having a presence on some of the biggest channels like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Well-shot pictures of your property make fantastic first impressions, and regular updates about what’s on – as well as drawing attention to any special offers – are helpful for keeping you in your potential customers’ minds.
You can also boost your posts on social media too, which involves paying a small fee to be able to reach a much bigger audience – one that you’ll be able to customise to match your target clientele.
Guest referrals
There’s no better marketing than word of mouth and you should reward those who are singing your praises. Whenever a guest checks out, encourage them to recommend the B&B to friends and offer them a discounted stay if that friend books a room in the future. That personal recommendation is well worth the marginal expense.
Ask customers to leave reviews
Review sites like Trustpilot or Feefo are great for showcasing how great your bed and breakfast is when people are thinking about booking a room. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews when they check out and it will fill others with confidence that you’re one of the best accommodations in the area – especially if you display those reviews prominently on your website and social media.
Local networking and collaboration
Collaborating with other local businesses is a canny option that benefits everyone involved. Pubs or local events can be great places to leave advertisements for your B&B and, in exchange for them advertising your business, you can promote them to your guests as well. As long as they’re not direct competition, this is an easy way to boost your reputation as well as get eyes on what you’re offering.
If you’re setting up a new B&B, these are all easy steps to take to give yourself the best possible chance of success.