Hotel Propeller Blog

5 Things to Include in Your B&B’s Very First Website

first website

As the owner of a bed and breakfast in today’s digital era, you’ve probably heard it time and time again that you need a website if you want to make any impact in the industry.

Consumers today are different from those of previous generations. There is a lot of choice available to them and information is practically at the tip of their fingers. If you want to attract guests to your bed and breakfast, you have to find them where they are; online.

A website is a great way to get word about your bed and breakfast out to the public. You can reach a greater audience through the Internet increasing your target audience without having to spend millions of dollars to do it.

Some points to note

Before you rush out to get a website designed, there are some important points to keep in mind. Some bed and breakfast owners make the mistake of designing a flashy website that suits their tastes and fail to think of their target audience. Ensure that your website is appealing but most importantly functional. When designing your website it is important to place yourself in the shoes of your target audience. Try to imagine that you were searching for a bed and breakfast. What information would you like to know? What would you expect to find on a B&B’s website?

It is also important to note that a lot of people today use mobile devices when searching for information on the Internet. It is therefore important to ensure that your website is responsive. This means that those viewing it on a mobile device (smart phones, tablets, phablets, PDAs, etc.) should still be able to navigate easily and get the information they need from it.

Important things to include in your first website

With this in mind, you can proceed to the design of your website. The following are five of the most important things you should include in your website:

1. The location and directions to your bed and breakfast

The most important thing  is to ensure that your customers can find you easily. (tweet this) You should therefore include your contact details in your website. This should include your physical address. Where possible, this should be included on every page of your website as a reminder to the customer of your location.

Include information on how customers can get to your establishment from major transportation termini such as major public bus stops, airports and major highways in the area.

It is important to include a map or a link to a map feed with the description. This makes it easy for the readers to locate your bed and breakfast.

Be sure to describe any landmarks in the area and provide directions from these landmarks. This will make it even easier for guests to find their way to your establishment.

2. Information about the local area

One of the most common mistakes bed and breakfast owners make with their websites is focus on their establishments and leave out vital information about their surroundings. Although it is important to provide information about the accommodation, guests don’t spend a lot of time within the establishment when visiting an area. They would like to know what the area has to offer.

You should therefore include information on places they can visit, things they can do and events that may be taking place in the area. This information may even play an important role in convincing holiday seekers to plan a holiday in the area and choose to stay at your bed and breakfast.

Ensure that the information you provide is up to date. Where possible, provide an entire page dedicated to local events and activities. Keep this page up to date with events that happen locally throughout the year.

You should also include some description of the culture and history of the area. You may want to include some local words if in an area that speaks a unique language or some interesting facts about the area. Such information will make the reader want to visit the area.

3. Description of your establishment

You only have a little time to attract the attention of your online visitors. (tweet this) You therefore need to provide them with as much information about your establishment as possible within the shortest time.

Describe the facilities you have to offer your guests i.e. rooms, gardens, patio, lounge, computers, Wi-Fi and other such information. You should also include information on the services you offer.

It is important to remember that your website is like a storefront. It is your opportunity to sell your bed and breakfast. You should therefore put your best foot forward. Why should the visitor choose your bed and breakfast over a local hotel or other such accommodation in the area? What do you have to offer that sets you apart from other establishments in the area? Use your strengths to sell your bed and breakfast.

It may also be a good idea to include a brief history of your bed and breakfast. This is especially good if there is an interesting story behind its establishment. Travelers are especially intrigued by establishments that tie into the history of the area in which they are located. Include any interesting facts about your bed and breakfast that you think your visitors would find interesting.

4. Prices

For most people planning to travel to any part of the world, the cost of accommodation will be first and foremost on their minds. You should therefore provide visitors to your website with a list of your fees and charges.

It is especially important to include any information on special offers that you may have. These special offers or packages may be the thing to convince them to take up accommodation with you.

It is vital to keep the price list simple. You don’t have to break it down into fine details though. Simply present the cost of accommodation. You can break down the costs later upon request.

5. Photographs and videos

This is probably one of the most important things to include in your website. Images are the most effective way of sending a message across to your website visitors. Photos help you showcase what you have to offer without having to use so many words to describe it. Photos and videos give you the opportunity to show the viewer just what they will get when they choose to stay with you. They give the viewer a little taste of the experience of staying at your bed and breakfast.

It is important to ensure that you use original images that are a true reflection of your bed and breakfast. Avoid using images that can be found on other websites.

Be sure to include photos of the establishment and the surrounding areas. Many bed and breakfast owners only provide images of their establishments and forget about the surrounding areas. Travelers are just as interested in the area as they are in your establishment.

Remember to exploit the unique aspects of your bed and breakfast and use them to sell your establishment to the viewers. You have a few short seconds to arouse their interest and engage them.

With these few tips your website is poised to be the marketing tool you want it to be for your bed and breakfast.

Did we leave something out? We would be glad to know–leave your comment below!

Image: Doolin Accommodation

 

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