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How To Make a Successful Bed and Breakfast Press Kit

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Kristi Dement One comment

Successful bed and breakfast press kits can increase your inn’s likelihood for receiving media attention. Wondering what is a press kit? It is a package of media about your inn that makes it easier for a journalist or reporter to do a story about your bed and breakfast.

When you do most of the work for reporters up front, they will be more receptive to your pitch for press for their website, publication, or news story. In addition, it looks more professional and makes your bed and breakfast more appealing to write about.

Consider adding a press kit link on your website. “Are you a journalist working on a story about inns or bed and breakfasts? We would be happy to help you with your story or article.”

Your valuable bed and breakfast press kit can include:

Contact’s name, phone number, and email address (the owner, innkeeper, public relations person)
High resolution photos (your gorgeous view, the outside of your inn, your guest rooms and common rooms, the best breakfasts meals you serve, etc.)
Map of your local area (and its nearby attractions)
Brief history of your inn (its location, year it was built, original owners, type of architecture, its history as a bed and breakfast, etc.)
Innkeepers/owners story (share your story or how your B&B came to be, a little about yourself and your team, and why you’re doing what you’re doing)
Pictures of your luxurious amenities (such as a pool or private hot tub, fireplace, library, spa, garden, etc.)
Current promotions (your own specials, custom packages, and description of private events you host like weddings, etc.)
Awards received (from bed and breakfast associations, contests won, your AAA Diamond rating, your BBB grade, etc.)
Online guest reviews (share links to positive guest testimonials)
Your blog (which features local activities and area events)
Existing press coverage (list of and links to articles in newspapers, magazines, and online attention)
Videos (made about your B&B or that you had filmed to promote your inn)

Include anything you think will enhance your reputation as providing exceptional hospitality. This is your opportunity make it accessible for the press to report about your bed and breakfast. Even curious potential guests will be impressed by it when they see it.

Having an available press kit, makes you media friendly and more likely to get more publicity for your inn. If you do not mind members of the press coming to your bed and breakfast to interview you and/or make a video, then be sure to state that on-site tours can be arranged. There is nothing better than free publicity!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Marketing, Promotion, Publicity

How To Accomplish Your Bed and Breakfast Goals

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Consider writing down your bed and breakfast goals for next year. Use the famous SMART acronym to make decisions. This will help you accomplish your bed and breakfast goals.

Specific: Make sure that your goals are very specific. First, ask yourself some questions.

What are we trying to accomplish?
What types of repeat guests would we like to attract?
Are guests coming to our local area for a specific reason or activity?
What types of local events in our area attract guests?
What do guests tell us they like about my inn?

Measurable: Goals need to be measurable to know if you have reached them. Quantifying your goals gives you something to strive for.

By what percentage do we want our occupancy rates to go up?
How many more B&B packages could we sell this year?
What number of local business partnerships do we want to add this year?
How much money could we set aside to sponsor a local event?
How many private events should we host?

Attainable: Goals need to be reachable to motivate you do achieve them. Setting impossible goals does not help you. Make it a goal that is a stretch but doable.

How many blog posts could we do this year?
How many e-newsletters would we produce?
What social media campaigns could we do?
Do we need to change our reservation software to give us better results?
Should we join a bed and breakfast association?

Relevant: Goals need to be suitable to what your inn and your local area offers. Represent what your guests can expect from their stay with at your bed and breakfast.

What inn amenities could we promote?
Do we have any of the following: a restaurant, a gift shop, or a spa?
Do we have excellent local entertainment venues or other attractions?
Do we have up-to-date pictures of our bed and breakfast and food?
Could we support a local cause that has an event?

Time bound: Giving yourself a deadline makes your goals even more real. Vague goals do not equal results.

What are the due dates for our blog posts?
How many calls to potential local business partners do we make each month?
By what date should our bed and breakfast website be redesigned?
When do we need to finish this renovation project?
No later than what date should we put up our new bed and breakfast sign?

Success does not happen by accident, but by dedication and SMART goal planning. What goals does your inn have for the coming year? Feel free to comment below with what your bed and breakfast would like to accomplish.

Do you want to add or improve your blogging, social media, and/or reputation management strategy? Contact Bed and Breakfast Blogging at 919-931-6168 or email contact@bedandbreakfastblogging.com

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Blog and Social Media, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity, Success

How You Can Profit From Creating Memorable Guest Packages

Posted on November 8, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

I would like to invite you to attend the webinar, “How You Can Profit From Creating Memorable Guest Packages.” This is scheduled for Wednesday November 16 at 2 pm. All members of the Professional Association of Innkeepers International may register to attend.

How You Can Profit From Creating Memorable Guest Packages: Regardless of the number of rooms your inn has, every innkeeper can profit from designing memorable packages for their guests. Since guests do not want to “work” to put together a great vacation, you can coordinate things on the front end (before they arrive) so your guests can relax and enjoy their experience. Guests are willing to pay more for things to be planned in advance for them. In this webinar, we will discuss creative ways to put packages together using your knowledge of your inn’s local area and by partnering with local businesses including restaurants and attractions. This is extra income that is there for the earning and for the satisfaction of pleasing your guests who will no doubt return again soon because of their memorable stay.

You Will Learn:

What It Means To Be Memorable
5 Essential Questions To Ask Before Designing a Package
10 Types of Packages and What They Can Include
Don’t Forget To Add “The Fine Print”
and much more!

Enjoy hospitality photographer Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography‘s images throughout the presentation. Marcus travels across the country to take pictures of bed and breakfast inns, hotels, restaurants, and food.

With his talent for lighting, Marcus Berg is able to capture what is outside a window from inside a room. Marcus is easy to work with and will makes very flattering pictures of fine accommodations and cuisine.

unique-angles-berry-ice-cream-dessert

This webinar, “How You Can Profit From Creating Memorable Guest Packages” will be recorded and I will add the link to this webinar once the Professional Association of Innkeepers International posts it on their website. Innkeepers interested in contacting me can use the contact form on my website. Thank you.

Food image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Marketing, Promotion

Bed and Breakfasts Named After Metals

Posted on August 26, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Unique Angles Bronze Antler outside with sign

Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast

Did you know that there are bed and breakfasts named after metals? Well, they at least have a metal in their name (or implied in their name).

The following is a short alphabetical listing of some “metallic” inns in the United States:

Advice 5 Cents: Duck, North Carolina (after all 5 cents is a nickel!)

Bronze Antler Bed and Breakfast: Joseph, Oregon (the innkeepers can arrange for bronze foundry tours upon request)

Coppersmith Inn Bed and Breakfast: Galveston, Texas (the second owner, Paul Shean, was a coppersmith from Ireland, hence their name)

Goldsmith Inn Bed and Breakfast: Missoula, Montana (the innkeepers have the last name Goldsmith; the Goldsmiths restored this beautiful historic property after it was planned to be demolished; it required moving this massive 4,000 square foot home)

Silver Heart Bed and Breakfast: Independence, Missouri (this historic home officially opened as a bed and breakfast in April of 2013; their sign has a large silver heart on it)

The Iron Gate Inn and Winery: Cedar City, Utah (the oldest Bed & Breakfast building in the Cedar City community opened as a bed and breakfast in June of 2002; and yes, the gate is made of iron)

Mercury Inn (formally named “Wild Iris Inn”): Portland, Maine (Mercury, a deity from ancient Roman mythology, was a protector and guide to travelers. He ensured that those in his care were given the best treatment he had to offer. Mercury Inn seeks to offer the best in modern accommodations, local fare, and warm hospitality).

The Platinum Pebble: West Harwich, Massachusetts (centrally located on Cape Cod; “a pebble’s throw” from Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, Provincetown, and more; the word platinum may come from the fact that they receive rave reviews)

Tin Lizzie Inn at Yosemite: Fish Camp, California (Tin Lizzie takes its name from the Model T Ford which the public lovingly dubbed “The Tin Lizzie”; they have a replica 1890’s Victorian Model T, but it is only 2 years old.)

Each inn has its own story. Whether the name is picked for its uniqueness, a nearby local attraction, an owner’s profession or last name, its physical features, its proximity to other attractions, or even an antique replica, it is always fun choosing the right name for your bed and breakfast inn.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Marketing, Renovating

Bed and Breakfasts Named After Colors

Posted on August 24, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Unique Angles Thyme and Tide Sea Mist room

Since colors can be quite attractive, it is not surprising that so many bed and breakfasts are named after colors. We take a look at bed and breakfasts across the United States that have a color in their name.

This is a small sampling of colorful inns listed in alphabetical order by name:

Amber House Bed and Breakfast: Sacramento, California (their logo has grain in it like the “God Bless America” song lyric “amber waves of grain”)

Black Forest B&B Lodge and Cabins: Colorado Springs, Colorado (built in the majestic Black Forest, the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains)

Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast: Missoula, Montana (the sky is so blue in this gorgeous mountain setting)

Brownstone Colonial Inn: Reinholds, Pennsylvania (a beautifully restored 18th century Georgian sandstone farmhouse)

Green Palm Inn: Savannah, Georgia (there are a lot of green palm trees in Savannah)

Indigo Inn: Charleston, South Carolina (in the year 1850, this property used built to serve as an indigo warehouse now it has been transformed into a lovely inn)

Orange Blossom Hacienda: Queen Creek, Arizona (of course they have orange blossoms for guests to enjoy)

Purple Mountain Lodge B&B and Spa: Crested Butte, Colorado (the lodge is a pretty shade of purple)

Red Gate Inn: McKinney, Texas (appropriately, they have a red gate and a red front door)

Silver Fountain Inn: Dover, New Hampshire (their silver fountain has lights so you can even see it at night)

The Golden Leaf Inn: Estes Park, Colorado (located on a scenic mountain with plenty of trees including golden leaves)

The Yellow House: Waynesville, North Carolina (there’s no surprise that the house is yellow in color)

Tickle Pink Inn: Carmel, California (sits on the original home site of State Senator Edward and Mrs. Bess Tickle, who loved flowers–especially pink flowers)

Violet Hill Bed and Breakfast: Middletown, New York (originally operated as a dairy farm in 1926, they now grow beautiful flowers for market)

White Porch Inn: Provincetown, Massachusetts (in keeping with their name, the whole inn, including the porch, is the color white)

If you stayed at (or own) a bed and breakfast with a color in its name, feel free to comment below with the name and its website address. Bed and breakfast inns display lots of lovely colors.

Want to attract more guests to your inn? Contact Kristi Dement of Bed and Breakfast Blogging to help you with your online marketing needs.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Marketing

Feature The Benefits of Your Unique Inn

Posted on August 8, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Unique Angles Photography bed and breakfast outside

If you feature the benefits of your unique inn, you will attract more guests. Good marketers use features to explain and develop benefits. People often get features and benefits mixed up. That’s easy to do. Features are characteristics of the product or service, while benefits are positive values to the purchaser.

Let me illustrate with a relevant bed and breakfast inn example.

Bed and Breakfast Features:

8 bedrooms each with private baths
conference room
electric vehicle charging
fireplaces
spa
outdoor swimming pool
wired internet

B&B Guest Benefits:

comfort of your own private bathroom
convenience of a conference room on site
environmental friendliness of electric vehicle charging
romantic appeal of fireplaces
relaxation and health appeal of your spa
refreshing dip in the pool on a hot summer day
enjoyment of free internet access throughout your inn

Also take the time to note what your previous guests have commented or listed in their online reviews. Not all feedback will be positive because you cannot possible please everyone all the time. You can take potentially negative comments (or objections) and market them in a positive light. Put this on your website and share in social media.

Examples:

“Out in the middle of nowhere”= “get away from the hustle and bustle of the city”
“Too expensive” = “great value for all that is included in your stay”
“Rains a lot” = “plenty to do inside if it rains such as…”

Now it’s your turn. What benefits (not just features) do your guests receive when they stay with you? For example, if you have a game room, you can write, “Guests have fun playing our games in our billiard room.” Be sure to show pictures of your pool table, chess set, Scrabble board game, and even jigsaw puzzles and post on Facebook, for instance.

Also, take note of any guest complaints you have and see if you can turn it into a positive. For example, a vegetarian bed and breakfast may receive a complaint that they do not serve meat, but they can share guest testimonials about their delicious, hearty, and healthy vegetarian breakfasts. Of course, be sure to get the permission from guests, before you put any pictures of them online.

Since each inn is different, notice what your guests say about your inn. Then you are well on your way to attracting more guests when you feature the benefits of your unique inn.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Amenities, Marketing, Promotion

Sponsoring Attracts More Guests to Your Inn

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Sponsoring attracts more guests to your inn. Consider sponsoring local area events and/or teams to draw attention to your inn. Many bed and breakfasts operate around vacation destinations like the beach or other tourist attractions. Innkeepers can capitalize on events such as local festivals. By sponsoring something like a local event or team, your name will be included in their marketing efforts.

People coming in from out of town are more likely to see your name so you will receive more brand exposure. Keep the name of your bed and breakfast in front of those attending events by meeting as many people as possible and handing out your brochures.

Consider sponsoring local events and groups such as:

Charity walks/runs
Community causes
Festivals and parades
Nonprofit organization events
Sports teams (you may even influence the name of your local team)
Trade shows

Look for charities that will give you meaningful exposure to a large number of influential people. If you are sponsoring a charitable event, try to choose one in which your target market (the type of guests you want to attract) would participate.

You can get the word out about the event by posting on social media and your website. Build your inn’s brand awareness by having your name and logo prominently displayed:

Advertisements
Banners at the event
Blog posts
Emails
Flyers
Posters

Partner with someone who has like goals.

Do you have a personal connection to a particular cause?
Do you want to support local theater and arts?
Do you want to have your own sports team?

Sponsorship is a long term opportunity. If the first time it is successful, perhaps it can become an annual event or ongoing sponsorship. You can list your sponsorship of the event or group on your website. Sponsoring is a great way to attract more guests to your bed and breakfast inn.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Events, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity

What To Look For In a Bed and Breakfast Blogger

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Kristi Dement 2 comments

Do you wonder what to look for in a bed and breakfast blogger? You may (or may not) have a blog for your bed and breakfast inn. If you do have a blog, chances are you are so busy as an innkeeper that you really do not want to take the time to write about your inn. The key is to focus on what you do best (providing excellent hospitality) and let a professional bed and breakfast blogger do the rest!

Why do I specify “professional bed and breakfast blogger”? First of all, you want someone who is a professional blogger. Someone who understands key strategies to effectively blog online so that search engines notice your content. Secondly, you want someone who is familiar with the bed and breakfast industry. Plenty of people can blog, but they need to convey the awesome benefits of staying at a bed and breakfast.

Another key factor is how well they can promote your local area. You want to give potential guests a reason to want to visit your area. A few important ways to promote your local area that include:

Feature local places of interest: arenas, colleges, gardens, museums, restaurants, stadiums, theaters, tourist attractions
Promote local events: concerts, festivals, marathons, parades,
Recommend fun activities: biking, fishing, hiking, canoeing, touring

A professional bed and breakfast blogger should have these personality traits:

Adaptable: readily adjusts to different situations
Brilliant: shows great intelligence and talent
Creative: has original thoughts and imagination
Dedicated: committed to doing a fantastic job
Efficient: competent and capable; makes good use of time
Focused: pays attention to what is important
Genuine: authentic, real, and sincere
Honest: truthful, credible, upright, and fair
Innovative: tends to do things that are new or improved
Just: guided by principle; does what is right
Kind: benevolent, considerate, and gentle
Loyal: faithful to commitments
Motivational: inspiring; has a positive influence on others
Neat: organized and orderly
Optimistic: expects positive outcomes; has a favorable view of events
Perceptive: shows keenness of insight and intuition
Quotable: words things clearly and succinctly
Reliable: dependable in achievement and accuracy
Steadfast: firm in purpose; unwavering resolution
Trustworthy: deserving of trust and confidence
Understanding: superior power of discernment; compassionate
Valuable: worthy of respect and admiration; contributes profitable work
Web savvy: has practical experience using the internet and online resources
X-traordinary: exceptional, noteworthy, and remarkable
Young at heart: has a youthful outlook regardless of one’s age; energetic
Zealous: enthusiastic, devoted, and diligent

If you are looking for a bed and breakfast blogger who can help you add a blog or provide fresh blog content on a consistent basis, please contact Kristi Dement of Bed and Breakfast Blogging for a free consultation.

Top image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Marketing, Promotion

The Many Benefits of B&B Association Membership

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

There are many benefits of B&B Association Membership. While each bed and breakfast association has their own unique benefits, the following lists commonly offered benefits from such groups. Innkeepers not belonging to any professional associations will learn why membership is valuable.

Advocacy: promoting B&B industry and traveler interests, raising the stature of the state’s hospitality industry, growing the state’s travel economy
Affiliations: state tourism department, state travel council, Professional Association of Innkeepers International, etc.
Brochures/rack cards/travel guides: distributed at member inns, welcome centers, tourist attractions, visitor bureaus, chambers of commerce, and in response to visitor requests
Collaboration: socialize, peer support, share, network, learn, encourage, exchange lessons learned as well as recipes, and enhance the lodging experience of guests
Cookbooks: member inns can buy association cookbooks at wholesale and sell at retail for a profit
Credibility: association membership provides bed and breakfasts with added credibility; licensed, inspected, and approved distinction; passed high standards bed and breakfast checklist
Directory: profile information and pictures in online and print directories
Discounts: lower cost to related products and services (such as credit card processing, conferences and trade shows, floral arrangements, insurance coverage, membership to other hospitality associations, reciprocal or discount lodging with other member inns, travel deals, and web reservations)
Education: foster professional development of members and improve service and professionalism of their staff through annual meetings, experts, featured speakers, round tables, seminars, vendors, webinars, workshops
Legal representation: expert support, legal hotline, industry updates, and a better understanding of applicable laws and regulations
Lobbying: have a voice in legislative issues, support state’s lodging sector, work proactively with governmental agencies that regulate the B&B industry, produce favorable industry public policy, and champion for safety and security in the hospitality industry
Logo: members can use their association logo on their website and marketing materials
Marketing: collective advertising, email marketing, e-newsletter, public relations, social media
Gift certificate program: reimbursement for association gift certificates redeemed
Inspections: regularly conducted property inspections; evaluated with high standards on specific criteria having to do with safety, comfort, and hospitality
Mentorship: seasoned innkeepers can mentor less experienced innkeepers, foster profitability and sustainability
Networking: learn from fellow innkeepers and receive their business referrals
Partnerships: restaurant and lodging expos; engage in charitable and community endeavors
Real estate listings: list of bed and breakfast member inns for sale
Reservations: availability calendar, reservations scheduler
Travel planner: list of area events, specials, and attractions near each member B&B
Website: many offer their members an exclusive web page with photos, contact information, inn names and descriptions, locations, amenities, and specials; links to member website, Trip Advisor and other review sites, social media, and member inn’s blog.

There are many advantages to belonging to a bed and breakfast association. Perhaps the most motivating is making connections with fellow innkeepers and having the accountability and support from your innkeeping peers as well as more marketing opportunities.

Images by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Associations and Ratings, Blog and Social Media, Marketing, Promotion, Publicity

How To Let Someone Know About Your Inn

Posted on May 12, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

How to let someone know about your inn…there are many ways to do this. The more creative and original you let them know about your inn, the more likely you will get bookings. Try answering questions that they will likely want to know.

Why do most people stay at your bed and breakfast?
What do guests love most about your inn?
What are you most known for?
What makes your inn unique?
Why do most people visit your city?
What is the best kept secret about your area?

It is important to understand why people stay at your bed and breakfast. There could be many reasons, including some of the following:

Your luxurious amenities
Your gourmet breakfasts
Your warm hosptiality
Your ideal location
Your thoughtful packages
Your reasonable rates

Pay attention to your guest comments and feedback. Keep track of guest compliments so you are sure to continue getting that response. On the flip side, make note of negative feedback, so you can make the appropriate changes. Knowing what guests love the most (and what they don’t love at all) helps you provide the best environment possible to your guests.

Are you, your inn, or your area famous for anything? For example, you could have won a breakfast recipe. Your inn may have received a prestigious award. You area could be home to the world’s most awesome event.

Be sure to emphasize these accolades in your marketing messages. Marketing messages can be spoken (e.g. what you tell your guests in person or over the phone), be online (e.g. your blog, newsletter, or website), or be in print (e.g. your sign or your brochure).

It is fundamental that you know what makes your inn so special. What do you offer that other area accommodations do not? In marketing, this is called your “unique selling point(s).”

What attracts people to your local area? It could be one or more of the following:

Business
Concerts
Conferences
Festivals
Nature
Sports
Universities

In response to the question, “What is your area’s best kept secret?” you could reply in any of the following ways:

Tell about a famous local legend
Recommend your favorite local restaurant
Reveal a local hot spot not commonly known to tourists
Reassure them you are not hiding any local area secrets and that you will gladly answer all of their questions to the best of your ability

Thus, answering guest questions they want more information on is a great way to let someone know about your bed and breakfast inn.

Images by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Marketing, Promotion

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