Social Media | Kristi Dement

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Following Boards on Pinterest

Posted on March 7, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Not only can you start pinning pins from Pinterest, you can also start following boards on Pinterest. I am going to name the categories of boards and provide an example or two in parentheses of how this can apply to promoting your bed and breakfast.

As I write this, there are 7 featured boards:

Art (artwork of bed and breakfasts or people eating in bed)
Design (your website, your B&B stationery, your logo, etc.)
DIY and Crafts (guests with hobbies)
Food and Drink (pictures and recipes of what you make your guests)
Home Decor (for any room in your B&B)
Photography (breathtaking pictures that inspire)
Travel (you want them to travel to your area)

They also have the following categories:

Animals (pets and farm animals at your B&B)
Architecture (style of architecture of your B&B)
Cars and Motorcycles (that belong to you, your guests, or you want to have)
Celebrities (know of a celebrity that has stayed at a B&B? even cooler if it was at yours)
Education (feature local colleges and universities)
Film, Music, and Books (such as fiction books with B&B settings)
Gardening (pictures of your landscaping and those you admire)
Geek (such as avatars and comics and movies you like)
Hair and Beauty (does your B&B have a spa?)
Health and Fitness (feature your most healthy breakfasts)
History (is your B&B historical?)
Holidays and Events (if you decorate for the holidays, take pictures!)
Illustrations and Posters (anything that speaks to you and possibly your guests)
Kids (are you a kid friendly B&B?)
Men’s Fashion (if your B&B is in the mountains, feature hiking apparel)
Outdoors (pictures of local attractions)
Products (do you sell anything, like a cookbook or coffee mug?)
Quotes (positive quotes about life, success, and fun)
Science and Nature (pictures of the nature around your B&B)
Sports (what activities do people do when they visit you?)
Tattoos (of guests that visit if you ask their permission first)
Technology (do you offer free wi-fi access to your guests?)
Weddings (does your B&B perform wedding ceremonies?)
Women’s Fashion (if your B&B is in a warm place, feature summer outfits)

That is quite a list and it is sure to change as all social media changes, but that should give you some ideas on what you can pin about! Your only limit is your imagination!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

Pinterest Settings

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

A Pinterest Business Account has different Pinterest settings. After your e-mail address and password, you have the opportunity to edit your Pinterest Business Profile anytime you want as you think of keywords you wish to be known for, offer new services, or desire to change your profile picture.

As for search privacy, I recommend that you say “no” so that your pins will show up when other people search for keywords relevant to your pins. You do want people to see your pins, right? After all, that is the point of marketing on Pinterest!

Beside “Personalization”, you can choose to let Pinterest show you pins based only on your activity on Pinterest or also based on your activity and others sites you have visited recently. I chose the later since it gives me more ideas based on what I have just been looking at online.

If you choose to get e-mail notifications, you can indicate yes or not to the following reasons why they could contact you when someone:

Pins your pin
Likes your pin
Follows you or one of your boards
Comments on your pin
Sends you a pin
From your other social networks joins Pinterest
Invites you to a group board
Price changes for a pin you add
Stuff you might like
Weekly inspiration
Feature announcements and updates
Invitations to give Pinterest feedback

You can also link Pinterest to the following social media and e-mail accounts:

Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Gmail
Yahoo mail

It all depends on how much feedback you want when people start pinning your pins and how connected you want your Pinterest account to be with other social media. Personally, I love getting e-mails that someone has pinned my pin or started following me or one of my boards! It helps me know what gets people’s attention. The next blog post we talk about how to do the fun part: pinning!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

You Can Succeed With Pinterest

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

You can succeed with Pinterest. Did you know that Pinterest is a great way to attract guests to stay at your bed and breakfast? I am going to be writing a series of blog posts about my journey starting Pinterest.

Pinterest is a social media website that allows you to pin different pictures onto boards. You can use your own pins or pin other people’s pins. It sounds much more complicated than it really is.

Pinterest allows you to be very creative and this is a great marketing tool for your business! I would like to share some of my tips as well as discuss my Pinterest boards so you can see just how easy and fun it is for you to get started! The best part is that anyone can use Pinterest because it is FREE!

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

Vegetarian Bed and Breakfasts

Posted on February 15, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Do you have vegetarian bed and breakfasts? You may decide to cater your breakfasts to vegetarians only or offer vegetarian breakfasts to your vegetarian guests. A good rule of thumb is to ask for any dietary restrictions when you book your guests so there are no surprises in the morning!

Your nutritious breakfast menu could feature home cooked specialties prepared (with seasonally available) locally grown fruits and vegetables. Fresh fruit or fruit juice, home made bread such as rolls, muffins or scones. Guests can select either fresh brewed coffee or tea. You may include specialty omelets, pancakes, or even top your oatmeal with blueberries.

On your website, state that your wholesome vegetarian breakfasts sustain your guests all morning long. Promote your healthful vegetarian breakfasts in blog posts and on social media as well. Your B&B will attract vegetarians who are looking for a breakfast that complements their dietary lifestyle.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Food, Guests, Promotion

Awesome Yoga Retreats

Posted on February 13, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Does your bed and breakfast offer awesome yoga retreats? The bed and breakfast owners who do, emphasize the peacefulness of their quiet location, the beauty of their scenic nature, and the transformation in body and mind that can come with yoga.

You can encourage guests of all experience levels to challenge themselves in your safe and comfortable setting. Highlight the benefits of their coming: a place for them to strengthen and relax their body, free themselves from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, and grow in creativity.

You may designate specific times of the year for these retreats. Some B&B owners offer weekend yoga retreats. You can put together a yoga retreat package for your guests.

If no one on staff is an expert yoga instructor, you could find a yoga professional in your local area who is willing to conduct these retreats and pay them a reasonable fee per participant.

Be sure to promote your yoga retreats on your website, in your blog, and through social media. You may be attracting a whole new clientele of guests to your inn.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Activities, Blog and Social Media, Events, Guests, Promotion

Hosting Honeymooners

Posted on February 12, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Did you ever think of putting together a Honeymoon Package for you bed and breakfast? Bed and breakfasts can be very romantic–especially for the newly married. Depending upon your B&B’s amenities, you could offer any of the following:

Beautiful fresh cut flowers in your own room
Choice of a chilled bottle of champagne, wine, or sparkling juice.
Box of chocolates by their bedside
Chocolate covered strawberries
Scented candles
Two luxurious robes
CD’s of romantic music
Romantic movies the couple can choose from for viewing in the privacy of their own room
Complimentary snack basket
Pampering that comes with a “his and her” massage
Relax at a spa and enjoy a facial and manicure
Private couples mineral bath
Gift certificate to local restaurant and/or local shopping
2 tickets to a local popular attraction
Dessert served in the dining room by candlelight
Rose petal turn-down service (silk rose petals scattered on your bed)
A luscious gourmet breakfast served in your suite or the dining room

If you have a Honeymoon Suite or even a private cottage, you can let your guests stay there. You can even make the package “a la carte” and let them decide which services they would like to you to provide.

When they make an online reservation, have them specify in one of the comments boxes on the confirmation page. Be sure to feature this package on your website, in your blog, and on social media. You can help make their honeymoon be filled with treasured memories!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

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

Frequent Stay and Referral Program

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Did you know that you can reward your guests for staying frequently and for referring their friends to you? Repeat business and referrals bring in money. As a bed and breakfast owner, you can put in place a program to encourage guests to come again and tell their friends about your B&B. Having a frequent stay and referral program is a great way to reward your guests.

You can say, “The highest compliment you can give us is to return again as a guest and to refer us to others.” There are a variety of arrangements bed and breakfasts offer, such as:

When five of your referrals have booked with us, you get a free night’s stay.
Refer another couple who stays two nights, and you get $50 off your next visit.
With three referrals, you earn a free night in our standard room or 50% off one of our hot tub suites.

You may need to specify certain restrictions including:

When your friends make a reservation online, they must type your name as the referral.
Must show their receipts from previous stays.
Only when your first night’s stay is on a Sunday through a Thursday.
Excludes special events, holidays, and peak periods.
Not redeemable for cash.
Other restrictions may apply.
Expiration date (if any).

You can promote this frequent stay and referral program on your website, in your blog, and through social media. Make sure you mention this as your guests leave to remind them of this unique opportunity. You will enjoy seeing the familiar faces of your returning guests as well as meeting their friends!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

The Business Traveler

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

Have you thought about promoting your bed and breakfast to the business traveler? Your B&B may be in a quiet area that is not too far from major companies. You can offer a discounted rate to corporate business people. One bed and breakfast called their promotion code “BIZRATE”.

You can emphasize all the reasons why traveling employees want to stay with you:

Their own desk area with comfortable office chair
Wi-fi
Fax machine
Alarm clock
Located near a copy store like Kinko’s
Peace and quiet
Free parking
Flexible check-in times
Adjustable breakfast arrangements (including “to go”)
Lenient cancellation policy (ex: no penalty for canceling by noon on the day prior to your scheduled arrival)

Some B&B’s choose to limit this offer to specific rooms or do not make this promotion available at certain times of the year. As an innkeeper, you can offer the traveler a certain percentage off their room. One bed and breakfast offers 20% off the first night and 33% off all other nights.

You can emphasize that they will receive the same great breakfast, same wonderful service, and they are staying at an awesome place. Be sure to discuss this promotion on your website, in your blog, and through social media. You may even contact local area major corporations to let them know their out-of-town employees and customers can stay at your bed and breakfast. Be sure to take advantage of your closeness to major businesses.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

Parents of College Students

Posted on February 9, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Is your bed and breakfast located near a college or university? You should attract the parents of college students who live in your area. Specify what schools their students must attend in order for their parents to receive the discount. You may decide to blackout certain dates such as graduation weekend or holidays.

One bed and breakfast offers college parents who stay six nights, to have the seventh night for free. Discounting the room rate or taking a certain dollar amount off are other ways to provide value to their parents.

You can advertise your bed and breakfast discount in a university magazine or newspaper as well as list it on your website, blog, and through social media. This is a great way to get repeat visitors since their son or daughter will likely attend the school for several years!

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

Senior Citizen Discount

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Kristi Dement Leave a comment

Have you ever thought about attracting seniors to stay at your bed and breakfast? They are a group that generally has more free time and less responsibilities at home because they have grown children. Seniors may also have a more limited budget. By extending a senior citizen discount, you are welcoming them to visit your inn.

You can specify:

Age (ex: 60+)
Time of week (ex: Sun-Thurs.)
Discount (percentage off or flat rate off)

You should state that you require they show proof of age upon arrival. You may want to exclude holidays or other peak times. Sometimes bed and breakfasts accept AARP discount cards. Your willingness to lower your prices can earn you more money because you have more guests visiting your bed and breakfast. Be sure to promote this on your website, blog, and social media.

Image by Marcus Berg of Unique Angles Photography

Posted in Blog and Social Media, Guests, Promotion

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