Increasingly, we are using the internet to buy products, book
accommodation and find information. If you run a bed and breakfast the
chances are you’ve already started to use either your own website, or
others, to advertise your business.

Deciding which website to advertise with, or how to promote your own
site, can be difficult, given the amount of options available. With
regards to the latter, finding a website you would consider booking
accommodation on yourself and is well promoted, with good customer
service gives you a good basis to work with. Look for clear, well
designed pages that provide comprehensive information on each
accommodation provider and compare prices for listings across a
selection of sites.

With your own website, creating pages that are easy to navigate, have
great images and describe your location, accommodation and facilities
well is a good start. Making it easy for people to find your prices and
booking information sounds obvious, but it is surprising how many
website designers forget the basics. Promoting your website in the
search engines is a daunting task considering the amount of competition
in this field. Having a well designed website with precise html code
that has outgoing and, more importantly, incoming links of a high
quality, are just some of the things you need to consider. There are so
many country houses, small hotels and B&Bs across the country,
making yours stand out from the crowd is important.

So once you’ve received your bookings and your customers arrive, how
do you get them coming back for more and to recommend you to other
people. Simple things make all the difference. As well as having a
homely, welcoming, environment with areas for guests to relax in, extra
touches can make all the difference.

Flowers in guest rooms needn’t be time consuming - rather than a full
vase, use a small single stem vase with just one or two flowers to make
your guests feel at home. Other extras you could consider are dressing
gowns and electric blankets in the winter months, an empty jam jar with
homemade shortbread next to their tea and coffee making facilities and a
complimentary magazine or newspaper of the day in each room. Touches
like these only take a little extra time, thought and money to achieve,
but can greatly increase your chances of repeat bookings from returning
customers and recommendations.

In a communal area, provide good tourist information in a folder, or
something similar, with up to date leaflets. Personalise this
information by adding your own recommendations of things to see and do
in the area and add basic accommodation information to keep your guests
informed e.g. breakfast times, house rules. Also take the opportunity
to advertise any extras you offer like evening meals and winter break
offers. Make books and magazines available in your guest lounge and
perhaps put on some music to create a welcoming, homely environment.

Put a couple of business cards in your guest rooms for them to pass
on to others, or keep in their wallet or purse until they need to use
you again….