Tag Archives: food

Everybody Writes: Infographics

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This wraps up our series of posts about Ann Handley, the author of Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide To Creating Ridiculously Good Content.  Ann offers practical infographic creating tips that we will illustrate with an excellent bed and breakfast industry infographic.

But first, just what is an “infographic”?  Infographics are expressed graphically via drawings, pictures, maps, diagrams, charts, and more and are all held together with a coherent visual theme and typically published as an image file.

According to Ann Handley, the best infographics express rich objective data in a more accessible and engaging way:

  • Checklist or resource
  • Compare and contrast study
  • Evolution of a movement, demographic, or industry
  • Illustration of the state of some business sector or function

Have the following characteristics:

  • Utility: entertaining, educational, intrinsically useful, applicable to your audience
  • Data: based on facts (not opinions); uses credible data and credible sources
  • Story: have a hypothesis and a narrative at their core
  • Logical sequence: organize your information so that it flows logically; the images and text need to make sense together
  • Great design: color, typography, illustrations, animation, videos, charts, text
  • Quality control: make sure your infographic is free of errors
  • Promotion: the goal is to drive attention to and interest in your brand
  • Shareable: make your infographics easy to share in social media

The infographic shared in this blog post was produced by Little Hotelier and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International.  First, they share the statistics that the B&B Industry in the United States has an estimated worth of $3.4 billion.  The core of this starts with the estimated 17,000 inns in the United States and then branches out to all of the product and services needed:

The median performance:

  • Occupancy rate: 43.7%
  • Average daily rate: $150
  • Revenue per available room: $58

bed-and-breakfast-infographic

The infographic tells us that the typical inn has between 4 and 11 rooms with 6 being the average number of rooms and the average size is 5700 square feet.

94% have private baths and 93% offer free high speed wireless internet.

Types of inns:

  • Suburban 5%
  • Urban 23%
  • Village 43%
  • Rural locations 29%
  • Historical designation 36%

bed-and-breakfast-infographic

Their infographic portrays amenities at most inns both in the common areas and in the guest rooms.

Amenities in Common areas:

  • Internet
  • Magazines
  • Hot/cold beverages
  • Board games
  • Fireplace
  • Televisions
  • Refrigerator
  • Newspapers
  • Telephone
  • Cookies, cakes, candies, and fruit
  • Fresh flowers

Amenities in Guest rooms:

  • Internet
  • Magazines
  • Televisions
  • Fireplace
  • Luxury bed linens
  • Robes
  • Premium branded toiletries
  • Jetted tubs

bed-and-breakfast-infographic

Their infographic ends with a statistic about the inn owners.  The percentage of inn owners that are 72% are couples, 18% are individual females, 5% are individual males, and 5% are non-couple partnerships.  Also it lets us know that 79% of owners live on the premises.

bed-and-breakfast-infographic

A big thank you to Ann Handley, Little Hotelier, and the Professional Association of Innkeepers International.  If you would like help with your online marketing, please contact us at Bed and Breakfast Blogging.

Top Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Amenities, Blog and Social Media, Guests, Marketing, Promotion

Everybody Writes: Tweet & Post

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Ann Handley, author of Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide To Creating Ridiculously Good Content, discusses practical tips for writing on Twitter and Facebook.  Using social media the right way can be very beneficial to your bed and breakfast brand.  Using social media the wrong way has the very real potential to damage your B&B’s reputation.

Writing For Twitter:

  • Establish who you are (how your bed and breakfast improves peoples lives)
  • Tell your bigger story (your passion for hospitality and hosting guests)
  • Share the why & who, not just the what (ex: what specific book are you reading and why–do not just tweet that you are reading)
  • Personalized, not too personal (there is a fine line between sharing yourself and sharing too much)
  • Be cautious with automation (also do real-time tweets)
  • Use Twitter to float ideas and see what gets nibbled (see what people are responding to)
  • Use a clear call to action (be obvious about how you want others to respond)
  • Use Bitly to shorten links (offers rich analytics and saves characters)
  • Tweets around 120 characters are optimal (most likely to be retweeted)
  • Share your history (ex: share pictures)
  • Tap into what people care about (ex: travel, food, relationships, etc.)
  • Convey your personality (ex: be you!)
  • Track and follow trending hashtags (what is trending and how can you join in the conversation?)
  • Do not use more than 2 or 3 hashtags in a single tweet (#otherwise #it #can #be #annoying)

Writing For Facebook:

  • Connect with existing communities of potential buyers
  • Target by niche, not by numbers (ex: those who have liked other bed and breakfasts)
  • Your brand’s online voice and tone are very important (be professional and friendly)
  • Post when your audience is online (makes sense to be online when they are!)
  • Posts with images get the greatest amount of engagement (always use images with permission)
  • Keep each Facebook post brief (ideal is 100-140 characters)

Bed and breakfasts can take advantage of using social media websites like Twitter and Facebook to spread the word about their luxurious accommodations.  Be careful to tweet and post pictures and information that is consistent with the image you want to portray about your bed and breakfast.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Marketing, Promotion

Everybody Writes by Ann Handley

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Everybody writes, but do you know how to “create ridiculously good content?”  This “Go-To Guide” offers practical tips that can be applied to owning and running bed and breakfast inns.

Author Ann Handley explains a 12-step “Writing GPS”:

  1. Goal: know what you are trying to achieve and why it matters to your readers. Is it to educate them about your local area?  Inform them about upcoming events?  Entice them to vacation at your B&B?
  2. Reframe: phrase the idea in a way that relates to your readers.  Can they relate to needing a break?  Are they seeking to improve a relationship?
  3. Seek out the data and examples: use credible sources that support your main points and/or discuss personal experiences.  Your sources could be about travel and leisure, health and fitness, or food and wine.  The personal experiences could be yours or a story (told with permission) of a couple renewing their vows, for example.
  4. Organize: know what structure best helps communicate your point.  The story about the couple could be put in interview format, for instance.
  5. Write to one person: your goal is for your readers to recognize and relate to the issues. If may help to speak as though you are writing to a dear friend about the benefits of a bed and breakfast stay.
  6. Produce the ugly first draft: you first just want to get your initial thoughts written down.  This may not be pretty, but the object is to start writing!  You can edit it later.  What compliments do you hear from your bed and breakfast guests?
  7. Walk away: put some distance between your first draft and your second draft.  Even if it is to get up and make breakfast for your current guests.  The point is to allow yourself some time to get away from what you are writing.
  8. Rewrite: shape it into something a reader wants to read.  You may think of some additional points or some more specific examples to illustrate your points.  Perhaps you live in a historical bed and breakfast and learned more about the people who lived here and/or the guests they entertained.
  9. Give it a great headline or title: make sure you deliver on what the title says.  If your title is “10 Ways to Have Fun In [insert your area here]” make sure that you list 10 Ways and that people really have fun doing those leisure activities.
  10. Have someone else edit it: for grammar, usage, style, and punctuation.  Spell check is not enough and even that will not correct every spelling error.
  11. One final look for readability: make sure it is alluring, easy to scan, maybe part of a list or have bullet points.  Can people easily find my main points or do they have to hunt for them?
  12. Publish: know what you want your readers to do next so you can give your call to action.  This could include following you on social media, subscribing to your blog, booking a room, etc.

Ann Handley says that the more you think about what you want to say, and plan for it, the easier it is to say.

  • Why am I creating this?  Your content has to matter to your target audience.
  • What is my objective?  Know what you want people to do as a result of reading your content.
  • What’s my point of view?  Always be focused on your readers perspective (have a customer-centric point of view).
  • How will this impact my readers?  Put your readers into the story.

Creative Approaches To Frame Your Writing (examples listed apply to B&B’s):

  1. Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Bed and Breakfast Etiquette
  2. Skeptic: Are Bed and Breakfasts Really Better Than Hotels?
  3. Explainer: The Bed and Breakfast Difference in Plain English
  4. Case study: How One Couple Renewed Their Relationship At a B&B
  5. Contrarian: Why Relaxation Is Underrated: The Key To More Productivity?
  6. How-to: How To Plan Your B&B Vacation
  7. Quick how-to: 3 Ways To Jump Start Your Vacation Plans
  8. How NOT to: 5 Ways to Compromise Your Relationships
  9. First person: My Personal Experience At Bed and Breakfasts
  10. Comparison: How B&B’s Measure Up To Hotels
  11. Questions and Answers: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
  12. Data:Are People Working Longer Hours? Yes, Says Survey
  13. Man on the Street: Experts Offer Opinions On B&B Stays
  14. Outrageous: Why No Breaks Can Actually Make You Sick
  15. Insider secrets: The One Thing You Need To Know About Bed and Breakfasts

Bed and breakfasts can write using the 12 Steps of Writing GPS and they have many different ways to creatively frame their writing to their readers.  The important thing is that consistent, quality content keeps you in the forefront of people’s minds when they go to book their next vacation!

Posted in Decorating, Marketing, Success

Breakfast Food Holidays

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Breakfast food holidays occur throughout the year.  One way to vary your menu and impress your bed and breakfast guests is to fix them food that is celebrated on certain food holidays!  For example, the first Friday in June is National Donut Day.

So what are just some of the amazing food holidays innkeepers can use?

  • January 20: National Cheese Lover’s Day
  • January 24: National Peanut Butter Day
  • January 30: National Croissant Day
  • February 16: National Almond Day
  • February 21: National Sticky Bun Day
  • February 23: National Banana Bread Day
  • March 1: National Fruit Compote Day
  • March 7: National Cereal Day
  • March 25: National Pecan Day
  • April 7: Coffee Cake Day
  • April 16: National Eggs Benedict Day
  • April 25: National Zucchini Bread Day
  • May 4: National Orange Juice Day
  • May 6: National Crepes Suzette Day
  • May 14: National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
  • June 3: National Egg Day
  • June 18: National Cherry Tart Day
  • June 21: National Peaches and Cream Day
  • July 5: National Apple Turnover Day
  • July 11: National Blueberry Muffin Day
  • July 27: National Crème Brulee Day
  • August 8: National Zucchini Day
  • August 24: National Waffle Day
  • August 31: International Bacon Day
  • September 8: National Date Nut Day
  • September 17: National Apple Dumpling Day
  • September 26: National Pancake Day
  • October 10: National Angel Food Cake Day
  • October 26: Pumpkin Day
  • October 29: National Oatmeal Day
  • November 14: National Guacamole Day
  • November 17: Homemade Bread Day
  • November 28: National French Toast Day
  • December 15: National Cupcake Day
  • December 17: National Maple Syrup Day
  • December 24: National Egg Nog Day

The cool thing about food holidays is that they correspond with the seasons of the year.  It makes sense National Egg Nog Day is in December!

Innkeepers and chefs, how do you come up with your menus each day?  Some of you get inspiration from (or have even created your own) cookbooks!  Others have tried and true family recipes.

I know a big emphasis (and rightly so) is placed on buying local farm fresh food.  Not only is it great that your food is prepared fresh in your kitchen, but that your bed and breakfast/restaurant supports your local community.

In addition to breakfast food holidays, if your bed and breakfast specializes in cooking a certain type of food, then by all means embrace that.  One deliciously distinctive type of cuisine is the Southwestern cooking cuisine.  Depending upon your bed and breakfast location and your family roots, your guests can enjoy a variety of delectable dishes authentic to your region and or ancestry.

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Food, Guests

1898 Waverly Inn

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Better Way to Stay ~ A super relaxing getaway at our Inn and The gas is on us! at 1898 Waverly Inn Bed & Breakfast 800-537-8195

The 1898 Waverly Inn is Hendersonville’s oldest surviving inn.  The first guests (coming by train or stagecoach) walked on boardwalks and at night the street corners were lit with oil lamps.  For the past 28 years, Diane Sheiry and husband John have run the inn.  They are thankful they have Darla (her sister) as well as Debbie and Sandra to help keep things running smoothly.

The colorful flags hanging off their porch can be changed to represent the countries of the guests who are staying at their inn.  The Waverly Inn has delightful curb appeal and I love their cute stepping stones.

Looking down my little path in the side garden.

The National Wildlife Federation certified that their bed and breakfast garden is an official wildlife habitat.  They provide the birds with food, water, and shelter.

You can bring the third person or have a bed to yourself in this room.

This is the American Holly bedroom where we stayed.  It was perfect for my mom, my daughter, and I to sleep in. The desk (partially shown in the above picture) in this room is from the 1940’s.  This historic bed and breakfast has charming antiques yet it also has modern amenities.

Janie came and took this just before I found a great mirror for the mantle. I love the cozy European feel of this room.

The gorgeous Catawba Rhodedendron bedroom is shown above.  I love everything about how this room is decorated.  All fifteen guest rooms have comfortable queen or king sized beds.  Their luxurious bedding comes with extra pillows and blankets.

This pencil post bed is made of pine and was created in Kennesaw GA

Like the American Holly room, the Mountain Laurel room also accommodates up to three guests.  Their claw foot bath tubs in their bathrooms come with bubble bath, a bath pillow, and a book rest. The rooms all have fluffy towels and cozy robes.  Since the 1898 Waverly Inn is an environmentally friendly inn, they encourages guests to reuse linens and towels, but are pleased to provide fresh ones when requested.

Couple’s Spa Package at 1898 Waverly Inn Bed & Breakfast 800-537-8195

The inn offers Couples Massage at their Spa which is located on their second floor.  They also offer massages to individuals who are interested in receiving the pampering and relaxation a professional masseuse offers.

First Floor Parlor. For those that keep asking about the color it is Lowe's Valspar "Caramelized Onion".

In the common areas, guests can interact and share experiences as well as give recommendations for beautiful places to see and exciting things to do.  Diane said that the younger guests tend to prefer zip lining while the older guests prefer touring places like the Biltmore Estate.  We loved touring the Estate as well as the Gardens, Winery, little shops, restaurants, and much more!

If you feel like relaxing right here at The 1898 Waverly Inn, they offer a wide variety of things to entertain you and your companions:

  • Interesting collection of books
  • Fun and challenging jigsaw puzzles
  • Classic board games (we played Trivial Pursuit and Scrabble)
  • DVD movies to watch in your guest room
  • and much more!

This Apple Carrot Pecan Cake with Mascarpone Topping was in this month's Southern Living Magazine. OMG!

Each afternoon, the 1898 Waverly Inn bed and breakfast has a Tasting Hour with complimentary wine and other beverages as well as snacks like cheese and crackers.  Sometimes they even have decadent desserts like this Apple Carrot Pecan Cake with Mascarpone Topping.  It was the recipe of the month in Southern Living Magazine.

Dining Room set up and ready to go for breakfast.

Their delicious gourmet breakfast is always served hot and fresh. Diane says they love to use locally grown food. Their delectable jams were from South Carolina. John is usually the breakfast chef and we enjoyed his six grain pancakes.  We asked for pecans and blueberries and they were hiding right inside the pancakes.  They offer healthy choices like Egg Beaters and turkey bacon.  They also accommodate guests’ dietary restrictions and food allergies.

Six grain pancakes with bacon

The Waverly Inn leaves out different flavors of hot tea as well as hot cocoa packets so guests can use the inn’s hot water to enjoy them at any time.  A guest refrigerator as well as an ice machine are available at any time.  If you need anything, you can visit their front desk or conveniently place a call from your guest room.

Civil War

Innkeeper Diane told us that half of the experience of visiting Hendersonville, is visiting their Historic Downtown.  We received a personally guided tour through the Henderson County Heritage Museum at the Historic Henderson County Courthouse.  The museum holds memorabilia from all American Wars including their actual uniforms.  The informative volunteer tour guide revealed that she is a Veteran Naval Nurse who served during Desert Storm.

From the museum’s information about the history of the town of Hendersonville, we learned that in 1878 it had a major railroad station where people could travel over the Appalachian Mountains in only two days rather than the fourteen day journey it took by horse and wagon. The museum even featured information about the 1898 Waverly Inn:

 

“Across the street from the Wheeler Hotel (where Boyd Park is today) stood an elegant home built in 1885, by Major James Anderson, an engineer who served as superintendent of the railroad.  In 1897, following Anderson’s death, the six-acre lot and very large house was sold to Joseph Noterman, a jeweler from Cincinnati, Ohio.  He moved in with his wife and two youngest daughters, one of whom later married a son of David Henry Wheeler.  The couple, Emily Noterman and Samuel Fair Wheeler, were married in 1904.  Money from the sale of the Anderson property was used by two of his nieces to build a handsome boarding house on adjacent land.  That building still stands and is known as Waverly Inn.”

Logo

The Hendersonville area offers so much for visitors to see, hear, taste, and experience:

  • The Flat Rock Playhouse, The State Theatre of North Carolina brings a wide variety of theatrical and musical entertainment throughout the year.
  • Historic Johnson Farm is an 1870’s brick farmhouse that is oldest home in Henderson County.  Visitors can tour the ten historic buildings and walk the nature trails.
  • Their yearly North Carolina Apple Festival happens over Labor Day Weekend
  • The Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County was established in 1997 and houses mineral exhibits from North Carolina, replicas of world famouse diamonds, Indian artifacts, a dinosaur egg nest, fossils, fluorescent minerals, gems, and faceted minerals.
Tulips in the Walled Garden

The Biltmore Estate and Walled Garden

Nearby Asheville has many other great tourist attractions, including:

  • The Biltmore Estate, America’s largest private home, is a 250-room French Renaissance chateau, exhibiting the family’s original collection of furnishings, art, and antiques. Biltmore encompasses more than 8,000 acres including historic gardens designed by Frederick Law Olmstead.  It is located in nearby Asheville.
  • Western North Carolina Nature Center in Asheville is a living museum with a focus on wildlife of the Appalachians.  The Center houses a collection of 130 injured and orphaned wildlife including reptiles, mammals, birds, insects, and amphibians.
  • Wildwater Ziplines in open year-round and the closest location is in Ashville, NC.  Soar through the trees with views of the beautiful mountains and downtown skyline.
Relax and feel at home on one of our two shaded porches with rocking chairs at the Waverly Inn Bed & Breakfast

1898 Waverly Inn has two porches to relax on while you sip coffee and read

The 1898 Waverly Inn is proud to be part of the North Carolina Bed and Breakfast Inns Association.  I highly recommend that you visit Diane, John, and the entire friendly team at The Waverly Inn.  Their mission of providing warm hospitality, luxurious amenities, and delicious gourmet breakfast is a success!

Posted in Activities, Amenities, Associations and Ratings, Decorating, Food, Gardening and Lawns, History

Bed and Breakfasts in December

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The Queen Victoria at Christmas - Cape May, New Jersey. Bed and Breakfast Inn

The Queen Victoria in Cape May, NJ during Christmas time

Bed and breakfasts, in December, can put on a spectacular display of holiday cheer. This is the best time of year to decorate your B&B. There are so many creative and festive ways to do so. The Queen Victoria in Cape May, New Jersey has exquisite outdoor Christmas lights! I love how they outlined their bed and breakfast to highlight that their inn has three floors and they hung lit garland with red bows on the fence all the way around their property.

#Holidays | A winter welcome at Another Second Penny Inn, Stonington, CT. #bedandbreakfast #travel

Decorative Doorway at Another Second Penny Inn of Stonington, CT

Another Second Penny Inn hung garland and put up a wreath with a red bow on their reflective glass door. The snow falling in Connecticut just adds to the bed and breakfast’s winter look.  They are located on a leafy, scenic road just 3 miles from Mystic and 2 miles north of Stonington Borough.

Their 1710 New England home offers friendly, romantic, and spacious accommodations for their bed and breakfast visitors. Winner of the Best Breakfast in New England, owners Jim and Sandra Wright, offer deluxe five course breakfasts on weekends and holidays and delicious Continental Breakfasts on the other mornings.

Curious about how this inn got its name? They offer this Ancient Persian saying to explain, “If you have two pennies, with the first, buy bread for your stomach and with the second, buy hyacinths for your soul.”
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Morehead Manor Bed and Breakfast of Durham, NC adds to the festivities with this holiday garland draping down our stairs. We welcome you to be our guests! http://www.moreheadmanor.com

Morehead Manor Bed & Breakfast of Durham, NC adds to the festivities with garland & bows decorating the stairway


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Morehead Manor of Durham, North Carolina was recently named the Best Black-Owned Bed and Breakfast in America by Black Enterprise magazine.  Innkeepers Daniel and Monica Edwards decorate their inn festively every year.  The garland and ribbon going down their staircase is but one area of the inn in the Bull City.  Within walking distance for their inn is the Durham Performing Arts Center which has holiday performances including the fortieth year of performances of A Christmas Carol! Durham is also the Tastiest Town of the South so between the delicious gourmet breakfasts at Morehead Manor and award-winning restaurants, your appetite will be more than satisfied!
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Christmas by the fire at York Harbor Inn in Maine

Christmas by the fire at York Harbor Inn of Maine


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The York Harbor Inn family of Inns in Maine is comprised of six separate lodges. The Main Inn offers twenty-two guest rooms. There are also two ocean view restaurants as well as lovely banquet and meeting rooms. Many luxury rooms feature ocean and beach view decks, fireplaces and/or Jacuzzi tubs. The York Harbor inn recognizes that people’s dogs are part of their family and they offer pet friendly rooms in their Harbor Crest building.  The picture of their Christmas tree by the fire is gorgeous.
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Victorian Christmas Getaway: The Empress Bed & Breakfast

Stunning Dining Room of The Empress Bed and Breakfast in Little Rock, AR


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Bob Blair and his wife Sharon Welch-Blair are owners of The Empress of Little Rock, in Arkansas. They have been open for nearly twenty years and they love their guests! “Anyone who loves people, enjoys welcoming them into your home, looks forward to a day of tasks and events of all kinds (everyday a new day), and works with a great crew should become an innkeeper.” Their enthusiasm for entertaining is evident when you look at their multi-award winning AAA four diamond rated bed and breakfast!  Every guest room at the historic inn has its own themed tree to create magic throughout the entire mansion. Bob and Sharon display their mementos and antiques in each room so you feel like you are not only experiencing the past, but are cherished guests of The Royal Family.
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#Holidays | The twinkling lights of the tree at the White Oak Manor, Jefferson, TX. #bedandbreakfast #travel

The twinkling lights of the tree at the White Oak Manor in Jefferson, TX.


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White Oak Manor is an historic bed and breakfast in Jefferson, Texas.  Innkeepers Dave and Tammy invite you to join their warm and friendly atmosphere.  It is especially beautiful to visit them this time of year with their festive holiday decorations.  Jefferson is always filled with love, laughter and friendly faces.
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So how does your bed and breakfast celebrate the holidays? Feel free to make comments about what food you prepare for guests, special ways you decorate your inn, and anything else you do to make this time of year extra special.

Posted in Activities, Associations and Ratings, Decorating, Events, Food, Guests

Promote Your Local Area to Guests

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Did you know your guests decide to stay with you in large part due to where you are located? It is in your best interest to promote your local area with website links, menus, guidebooks, maps, and more to tell your guests about your area’s attractions, events, and concerts. Remind them why bed and breakfasts are better than hotels.

Start by having a links web page on your website that refers your guests to local places of interest.  For example, Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast in Missoula, Montana has an Area Links web page listing that includes the following categories:

  • Recommended Guide and Recreational Services: tours, biking, fishing, hiking, river guides, etc.
  • Animal Boarding: unless you are a pet friendly B&B that allows pets
  • Art and Cultural Activities: theater, museum, symphony, ballet, etc.
  • Area History: historical sites, battlefields, visitors center
  • Fine Dining: you can emphasize your own restaurant if you have one and/or recommend local restaurants
  • Food, Health, Specialty, Leisure Stores and Services: bakery, brewery, tea, herbs, landscaping, food stores, gift shops, spa, etc.
  • Outdoor Recreation, Wildlife Activities, Museums, and Gardens: birding, golf courses, gardens, parks, recreation, wildlife sanctuary
  • Sports Events, Family Activities, Concerts: concert venues, concert tickets, sports arenas, sports tickets, arts and drama

Of course, depending upon your location, you may have different categories.  For example, your bed and breakfast may be on the beach and/or have its own spa.  Emphasize the places you know that your visitors like to see and activities they like to do.  You can also offer specific packages based upon the special occasion or interest.

When your guests arrive at your bed and breakfast, you can have a welcome table set up that features brochures from local attractions and restaurants.  Think about having a guidebook or a basket full of local maps, fliers, and more.  Local Chambers of Commerce and Visitors Centers will have various information for you to display.

You may even arrange with some of these local places (such as local restaurants) to offer your guests a discount if they mention that they are staying with you.  This is great for a number of reasons:

  • You look good for having this arranged ahead of time for your guests
  • The local business owner benefits from the referral
  • Your guests benefit from the discount
  • It is a win-win-win situation!

Thus, you can use your website to post local links, your inn to provide brochures for guests when they arrive, and your connections with local restaurants and other businesses to have deals in place for your guests.  Do not forget the power of video to highlight local attractions near your bed and breakfast and the power of social media to spread your message.  By following this advice, you will take attract more guests to your bed and breakfast as well as position yourself as an expert on your local area.

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Events, Guests, Promotion

You Can Do Pinterest

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You can do Pinterest!  As promised when I started our series of blog posts on using Pinterest, I will share with you some of my Pinterest boards and how I organized them.  This is for you to get some inspiration when you pin on your boards!  It gets exciting when you grow more followers. You can see which pins get repinned the most.

Of course, food is a big deal for a bed and breakfast so I have more than one board for food.  Perhaps I will have enough pins to have a separate board for eggs (including omelets and frittatas).  I did have enough pins to have separate boards for crepes, French toast, pancakes, and waffles–even desserts!  Currently, I have the following boards:

Bed and Breakfast Cooking

Bed and Breakfast Crepes

Bed and Breakfast French Toast

Bed and Breakfast Pancakes

Bed and Breakfast Waffles

Bed and Breakfast Desserts

I also have a board for cookbooks and for other books, including fiction related to bed and breakfasts and nonfiction about running bed and breakfasts.

B&B  Cookbooks

Bed and Breakfast Books

Then I have few boards featuring bed and breakfast in the United States, bed and breakfasts in the world, and award-winning bed and breakfasts.

Bed and Breakfasts USA

Bed and Breakfasts World

B&B Award Winners

In case you are wondering why sometimes I spell out Bed and Breakfast and sometimes I shorten the name of the board to say “B&B”–it is so that the name of the whole board fits on the screen.  Otherwise, if the name you give your board is too long, it will show a … after it to show that there are more letters, but not enough room.  To me, it makes sense to name my boards short enough so that everyone can read its entire title.

I also name my boards with titles that are appropriate. For example, if it is a specific area of the house, I include that in the name of the board.

Bed and Breakfast Bathrooms

Bed and Breakfast Bedrooms

Bed and Breakfast Dining

Bed and Breakfast Kitchens

I also feature less thought of areas that can really look special in a bed and breakfast.

Bed and Breakfast Stairs

Bed and Breakfast Fireplaces

Bed and Breakfast Lights

B&B Stained Glass

Since so much of the visual appeal for a bed and breakfast comes from its outside, I put together the following boards:

Bed and Breakfast Entrances

Bed and Breakfast Porches

Bed and Breakfast Gazebos

Bed and Breakfast Gardening

There are some bed and breakfasts that specialize in an area.  They could offer weddings, be located on a farm, have a spa, and/or a restaurant.

Bed and Breakfast Weddings

Bed and Breakfast Farms

Bed and Breakfast Spas

B&B Restaurants

Some bed and breakfasts are unique because they are located in a registered historic home or even located in a lovely castle!

B&B’s with History

Bed and Breakfast Castles

Because of what services I provide, I have a board for social media and one specifically for Pinterest.  

B&B Social Media Success

Promote with Pinterest

Of course, I have not listed every board I have nor do you need to have the same boards as me.  It is really deciding what you think visitors would like best about your bed and breakfast and featuring those in pins as well as pinning other B&B’s from non-competing parts of the country or those of your innkeeper friends and fellow association members.

Be sure to use the name of your bed and breakfast (or a shortened version of it) on your boards and in your pins as often as possible. This is key so when your pins get repinned they will know it was from your bed and breakfast.

What do guests say they like about your B&B?  Start with that.  You can also offer tips such as home organization, kitchen gadgets, decorating advice, etc.  The sky is the limit. Whatever your strengths are as an innkeeper (ex: cooking, decorating, gardening, etc.) you can feature that in your pins.

You truly are free to make it what you want it to be!  Once you get started, you may not realize how fast the time goes by!  So starting pinning so you will be winning more business!

 

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Promotion
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