Small Business Boomers

Marketing a Bed and Breakfast

by Jean on June 19th, 2008

In my previous posts about bed and breakfasts as baby boomer businesses, I talked about what it takes to start a B&B. To be successful in this business, like any other, you must market. It’s not enough to have a “better mousetrap.” You must figure out how to let people know your mousetrap exists.

For Bed and Breakfasts, marketing means having a web site. Take a look at the Olde World B&B site for a minute. Notice:

• The use of photos. Many photos are presented at the top to immediately give the viewer a sense of the beauty of the place.
• The review in the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Any time you can get a testimonial or a review for your business, market the heck out of it.
• The wine tours, which are a draw for that part of Ohio. Wine is big business now, particularly for baby boomers, and several B&B’s have networked to provide a great experience (which, of course, requires the participants to spend at least one night in one of the B&B’s).
• Photos of rooms are included. I won’t book a B&B without seeing the room (and making sure the bathroom is private). This is a MUST.
• Online room availability and reservations are included. This feature is also becoming a requirement.

To get a B&B noticed, it must be part of a national B&B network. Olde World is on bedandbreakfast.com, one of the largest. (The other one that I use a lot for checking on rooms is bbonline.com. There is a fee required, but without some kind of network, it’s almost impossible to get traffic. A webmaster is needed to keep the site updated and do SEO.

Linda says she does little local advertising, except for the teas and the wine tours.

That’s about it. I hope you’ve enjoyed the information on bed and breakfasts as baby boomer businesses. One more post, Saturday, on the concept of “bed and breakfast sitters.”

Don’t forget my “50 things to do at 50-something” contest - comment and put yourself in the running for a $30 book gift certificate.  Final comments must be posted by June 20. 

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POSTED IN: Businesses for Boomers, Marketing, Networking, New Ideas, Starting Up