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What To Look For In a Bed and Breakfast Blogger

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

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

Why Your Inn Will Profit From Blogging

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Your inn will profit from blogging. If you are not already consistently offering quality blog posts, now is the time to do so. Let’s examine the benefits of bed and breakfast blogging as well as learn what qualities to look for in a bed and breakfast blogger.

First of all, search engines like Google absolutely love and reward fresh content. They give preference to websites which continually add new information. A blog post is one more indexed page on your website. It signals to the search engine spiders that your website is active.

Bed and breakfasts with blogs establish themselves as being an authority on hospitality and their local community. By offering helpful, travel-friendly advice, bed and breakfasts can get the attention of those wanting to know more about your local area while also telling others what makes your inn an ideal accommodations choice.

The more information you provide on your website and the more questions you answer, the more likely web visitors are to take action like contacting you, reading more of your website, following you on social media, and booking a room.

You can share the following information in blog posts:

Behind the scenes: feature your employees backgrounds and give fun facts about them
Events: let potential guests know about upcoming local events
Packages: people are willing to pay more for something that is already planned and included (such as flowers and tickets)
Recommendations: promote local businesses in your area and let them know you do (they might return the favor)
Reviews: share rave reviews from your previous guests
Rooms: show pictures of your guest rooms, tell each one’s amenities, reveal why the room has its particular name
Specials: offer discounts to mid-week stays or specific groups of people like senior citizens, veterans, and emergency workers

The effort you put it now will pay off well into the future because people will be able to view your blog posts years from now. Providing valuable content means your content will spread. Blog posts can be shared in social media to expose yourself to a whole new audience.

Be sure to attract more guests with calls to action. Encourage them to contact you, connect on social media, and book now.

Write for your ideal guest. Know who you are trying to attract. Pick a diverse range of keywords related to that topic. For example, “eco-friendly inns” can also be described as “green”, “environmentally friendly” and use related keywords like “electric car charging”, “energy efficient lighting”, “rain water saving”, and so on.

List out relevant keywords describing your guest, your local area, what makes your inn so unique, and different seasons of the year.

Keywords to describe the type of guest you cater to:

adventure seeking
antique lovers
beach lovers
bird watchers
business travelers
celebrating birthdays and anniversaries
engaged couples and newlyweds
girlfriend getaways
mystery solvers
romantic couples
scrap-bookers
shopping lovers
sports enthusiasts
wine connoisseurs
winter sports participants
yoga exercisers

Keywords to describe your local area:

amazing views
amusement park
annual conferences
art galleries
breweries
business conferences
college campuses
concerts
sports games
theatre
tourist attractions
trade shows

Keywords to describe the uniqueness of your inn:

amenities
B&B inn association membership
awards
catering
diamond rating
eco-friendly
gardens
handicap accessible
historic
kid friendly
pet-friendly
press coverage
restaurant
retreats
Select Registry membership
spa
tea room
Trip Advisor reviews
vegetarian or vegan
waterfront property
weddings
wine tours

Keywords regarding different times of the year:

Christmas
Fall foliage
New Years
Patriotic holidays
Valentine’s Day

Does this seem overwhelming? Why not do what you do best as an owner/innkeeper and have a professional like me do your online marketing (blogging and social media)? These are some qualifications you should look for from hospitality marketing professionals:

What is their education background?
What experience do they have?
Do they seem easy to work with?
Will they be dedicated to your bottom line and getting you the results you need?
Are they active in blogging and social media for their own business?
Do they have client testimonials?

Contact Kristi Dement of Bed and Breakfast Blogging for a free consultation today. Feel free to add comments or questions below.

Images by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Amenities, Associations and Ratings, Blog and Social Media, Events, Guests, Promotion, Publicity

Everybody Writes: Tweet & Post

Posted on August 17, 2015 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

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

Why Your Bed and Breakfast Needs a Memorable Logo

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Do you have an effective logo for your bed and breakfast? A logo is an important element for your Bed and Breakfast Business. A simple factor such as the image that you project through your logo could encourage customers to make a reservation with you over one of your hospitality competitors. Your bed and breakfast needs a memorable logo.

Benefits of Having a Company Logo:

Provides your bed and breakfast business with an extra level of professional presence
Often the first impression a potential client will get of your bed and breakfast services
Helps you brand your bed and breakfast to your potential and existing customers and guests
Sets the tone and presents a graphic representation of your business
Reminds guests of their stay with you
A wise investment in the health and growth potential of your business

Characteristics of Good Logos:

A visual representation of everything that your brand stands for (Rosemary House Bed and Breakfast is named after rosemary the spice representing friendship)
Eye catching and visually appealing
An original and memorable design will stand out to those who see your logo
A timeless and balanced look that can stand as your business identity for years to come
Font style plays an important role in creating the right image
The right font can send a certain message about your bed and breakfast inn that can enhance the overall logo
Choose simple font face or type face for the words in your logo to be clearly read
Cursive scripts that appear to be hand written can give out an impression of luxury and tradition
Your design should look good when it is made smaller or larger
A unique design that will put you at the forefront of your client’s and customer’s thoughts when they are traveling to your local area
A memorable design that will stand out in the minds of those who see your logo (who can forget the antique bicycle in the Pedal’rs Inn Bed and Breakfast logo?)
The logo should appeal to those in your target market
If you do have an image, make sure it is relevant to your theme (ex: Blue Mountain Bed and Breakfast is located in the mountains of Missoula, Montana)
Bed and breakfast businesses can lean towards imagery that relates to their location or landmarks in their local area.
The logo design may even capture the personalities of the owners

Color Psychology:

Color can really set the mood and convey a lot of emotion
Most professional looking logos are kept fairly simple and are made up of only two or three colors.
Make sure that the colors are not too overwhelming or overpowering for your logo
Blue: secure, calm, honest, strong, caring, trustworthy
Red: energy, love, exciting, action, bold, passionate
Orange: happy, sociable, friendly, affordable
Yellow: logical, playful, optimistic, forward thinking, confident
Green: growth, organic, natural, caring, fresh, earthy, environmentally aware
Purple: imaginative, creative, nostalgic
Black: sophistication, luxury, seductive, formal, authority
Multi–color: positive, playful, bold, boundless
You should be able to print the design in full color or in black-and-white while retaining the look and the meaning of the logo

Remember:

It is best to have a professional design it
An affordable option is to use an online custom logo service
These design firms usually offer a variety of packages
Be sure to visit their website, look over their prices, view portfolios of their past work, and read their testimonials as well as their guarantee policies

Where You Can Display Your Logo:

Bed and Breakfast Signs
Brochures
Business Cards
Clothing such as T-shirts and and Hats
Coffee Mugs
Key Chains
Letterhead
Marketing Materials
Print Advertisements
Promotional Items
Social media profiles
Stationery
Website

Because you want to encourage customers in to stay at your bed and breakfast and then hopefully return the next time they are nearby, what you really need is a memorable design that will stand out in the minds of those who see your logo.

When you have a logo that satisfies your bed and breakfast’s branding needs, you successfully represent your bed and breakfast in an artistic way. With the right brand your bed and breakfast or hotel can have more reservations for less effort and you can possibly command higher prices.

A logo also becomes a very valuable and powerful asset in the long term as the people in your market become more familiar with it. If you offer a high standard of service to your customers, they will be reminded of all the positive experiences that they have had with you when they see your logo.

Top Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

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

The Art of Social Selling

Posted on October 14, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

I highly recommend Shannon Belew’s book called The Art of Social Selling: Finding and Engaging Customers on Twitter, Facebook, Linked In, and Other Social Networks. Belew says the power has shifted from the brand to the consumer. Marketing has become a two-way conversation with the customer. The art of social selling is based entirely on your ability to build relationships.

Did you know that over one BILLION people are active on social networks? Thus, it is extremely important that you know where your customers are hanging out.

Shannon Belew defines “social selling” as the identification, targeting, and reaching out to prospective and existing customers through social media channels and social communities in an effort to engage them in conversations that result in a potentially mutually beneficial relationship. This means being more social (listening and conversing about the customer’s needs) and less traditional selling. The heart of social selling is relationship building.

This book reveals Belew’s ten most important rules for online social interactions:

1) Be genuine: your social networking persona should be an extension of your real persona

2) Listen, listen, listen: to truly hear what the customer is saying so you can present a viable solution you must find and monitor conversations that relate to your prospective customer’s needs, concerns, and interests with the goal of remaining relevant to your customers

3) Be responsive: to customer-related complaints and concerns voiced across social media channels

4) Follow the leader: follow group guidelines, watch how members participate and interact with one another

5) Tailor the conversation: find common ground and share information relevant to your audience

6) Be helpful: offer educational opportunities, general support, and even inspiration

7) Identify the enter and exit signs: know if it is polite to enter the online interaction and make sure to exit gracefully

8) Maintain separation of professional and personal: make sure what you share is suitable for both audiences

9) Be consistent: give people a clear expectation of who you are and what your area of expertise is

10) Admit when you are wrong: be willing to apologize, it is a sign of strength and goodwill

Shannon Belew’s concept of “unselling“:

Unselling is a process that occurs over time
Requires consistent interaction with your prospects via social media
This establishes your credibility as a good resource
Identify and interact with industry influencers
Be a thought leader to build social influence
Embrace consultative sales in which you are developing conversations that educate and assist the prospect through the buying process
This opens the door to an increased amount of sharing
This increases the comfort level of prospects as well as puts you in the role of expert

Belew talks about word of mouth marketing. Social shoppers are not only influenced by their friends and family, but by perfect strangers, too. Encourage your happy and satisfied customers to provide online testimonials. Include your links on thank-you pages and emails. Respond to negative reviews quickly. Thank customers publicly for their positive reviews.

In this book, Shannon Belew cites a 2013 Technorati Report that stated that blogs are the third-most influential digital or online resource and the fifth most trusted resource on the internet. Blogs are great for sharing on social media. Plus, points made in a blog post can be posted or tweeted on social media. Later in the book, Belew gives specific tips about using each of the major social media channels. This is an incredible resource for business owners.

*Please note: I am not being compensated for this review. I just really love this book and think it will help others wanting to grow their business!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Marketing, Promotion, Success

How To Ask for a Link Request

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Do you wonder how to ask for a link request? I am going to sum up the main points in the awesome book published by Entrepreneur Press called Ultimate Guide to Link Building: Build Backlinks, Earn a Higher Search Engine Rank, Increase the Authority and Popularity of Your Site by Eric Ward and Garrett French.

Steps:

Look over the website you want to have your link on to make sure it is relevant
Do not put the words “link request” in the email subject line
Start the e-mail off addressing the website owner by name
Introduce yourself, your website, and why you would like to the link
Identify the exact URL on their site where you think the link is a fit
List the exact URL from your site that you want them to link to
Give a valid email address and respond to any email requests they send
Provide your phone number–something a spammer would not do
Follow any link request instructions they give
If a reciprocal link, confirm that you have linked to their site and provide the URL
Be attentive, professional, courteous, and to the point

This book also lists Link Building Strategies written by Jon Cooper of Point Blank SEO:

Start blogging on your website
Have internal links to other content on your website
List resources and outside links
Build relationships with others
Find niche-specific directories
Write guest posts or have guests write posts for your blog
Provide educational content
Write compelling testimonials
Provide useful lists–there is power in making lists!
Be interviewed or interview someone in your industry
Offer timely/seasonal content
Use humor
Provide printable resources
Host contests
Cover news first
Give helpful infographics
Host online webinars
Promote National Days and Events
Survey people and post results
Debunk popular myths
Comment on relevant blogs
Do question and answer blog post
Ask customers what they want to see more of
Connect with industry associations and organizations
Attend relevant conferences
Call people
Host local group meetings
Retweet Twitter tweets
Provide email signature listing website & ways to connect with you via social media
and much more!

There are always things you can do to draw bigger audiences to your website. By taking the steps to ask for link requests and implementing the link building strategies, you will be well on your way to developing more a popular website.

Readers, I welcome your responses to this post as well as other ideas related to the topic of link requests and link building. I read every comment and respond when appropriate. Thanks! Kristi

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Associations and Ratings, Blog and Social Media, Conferences, Events, Promotion

Your Website Needs Pictures

Posted on March 28, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Your website needs pictures. If this web page had no pictures, would it have caught your attention as well? You need to wow your potential guests with amazing professional photographs showing them the experience they will have if they stay at your bed and breakfast. Your website needs pictures:

Outdoor pictures
Gardening & Landscaping
Breathtaking Views
Guest Bedrooms
Guest Bathrooms
Gourmet Kitchen
Your Breakfasts & other Delights
Common Areas
Grand Staircases & Fireplaces
Porch, Balcony & Deck
Your Antiques & Collections
Your Events such as Weddings & Concerts
Innkeepers/Owners
Area Attractions and Area Events

The old saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words” is right! For search engine optimization purposes, be sure to label your images with the relevant keywords. Capture their love of what your inn and local community has to offer with awesome photos!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Decorating, Events, Food, Gardening and Lawns, Guests, Promotion

All in the Details

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

all-in-the-details

Do you ever notice that it is the little things that make a big difference? Sometimes it is all in the details. For example, when I stay at a bed and breakfast and they include free use of their washer and dryer (and even supply the detergent and dryer sheets) that is an added bonus to me.

Other little details can include:

Friendly phone conversation
A professional hand carved sign to see as you approach
A warm greeting when you come in
A welcome note when you enter your room
Specific promotional package for your special occasion
Fresh flowers in your room
A guest book to write comments in
A guidebook to the local area and its attractions
A wide selection of books to read
Board games to play
Chilled wine bottle and wine glasses near the private hot tub
Filled basket of various snacks to choose from

The list of details can also be custom tailored to your bed and breakfast. Perhaps you offer weddings or workshops. The point is to get creative so that guests appreciate the little details you put into making their stay a happy and memorable experience they will fondly recall.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Amenities, Decorating, Guests, Promotion

Maximizing Your Time

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

maximizing-your-time

We all have 24 hours in our day. Since none of us can buy time, we must maximize (make the greatest and full use of) this limited resource. This means we must have a strategy (a plan for obtaining a specific goal or result).

So what are goals? Goals are the results toward which our efforts are directed. The best goals are SMART:

Specific–target a specific area for improvement
Measurable–quantify or at least suggest an indicator of progress
Action-oriented–state what action must be taken
Realistic–state what results can realistically be achieved, given available resources
Time-related–specify when the results can be achieved

As an innkeeper of a bed and breakfast, you may want to categorize your goals based on the different areas in your job. I have included an example of a smart goal for each category.

Cooking–I will learn at least one new breakfast recipe each week and serve it to my guests.
Decorating–I will consult with a professional painter and get an estimate on interior and exterior painting costs.
Events–I will host a local chamber of commerce meeting every week.
Finances–I will keep an organized record of my earnings and expenses.
Gardening–I will plant at least 3 trees and 5 bushes this month.
Housekeeping–I will hire a maid to clean our rooms regularly.
Laundry–I will arrange for a laundry service to clean our linens.
Marketing and Promotion–I will hire someone to write a blog for our website.
Shopping–I will stick to my list every time I buy groceries.

You may think of other categories or come up with different goals. The point is to make the best use of your time. This will allow you, the busy innkeeper, to get everything done and still have a little down time to yourself.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Success