The Bed and Breakfast Academy Podcast Karen Thorne

Welcome to the B&B Academy podcast.

I'm Karen, the founder and owner of Bed and Breakfast Academy, helping aspiring and existing B&B owners to create a B&B lifestyle you'll love living with guests who become loyal fans and keep returning.

Visit the Bed and Breakfast Academy Website for more information about the Online Course and Mini Workshop.

In this episode, which is #9 in the Taking Control of your B&B Marketing 2024 series,  I delve into the significance of understanding your ideal bed and breakfast (B&B) guests to simplify marketing efforts. I emphasise the need for clarity in defining your ideal guest profile, enabling tailored marketing strategies and enhancing guest satisfaction.

I share insights on how guest demographics and preferences can evolve over time, influenced by factors such as changing trends and external events like the COVID-19 pandemic. By focusing on a few key guest profiles, B&B owners can streamline marketing efforts and create a more personalised guest experience.

I also highlight the significance of staying informed about discrimination laws and adapting marketing messages accordingly. Overall, the episode provides practical tips for B&B owners to attract and retain loyal guests while optimising marketing strategies.

Other blog posts mentioned in this episode:


Marketing Tip #6 - 6 Reasons to Write a blog for your bed and breakfast 
Marketing Tip #7 How does Pinterest work and why you need it for your B&B
Marketing Tip #8 3 Reasons why email marketing is important for your B&B
You can find out more about protected characteristics on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website here in the UK >> Protected Characteristics.
Thinking of running a dog friendly B&B? Check out this blog post here >> A practical guide to running a dog friendly B&B
Your Smile File - Take control of your B&B Marketing in 2024
Your FAQ File - How to use frequently asked questions for effective B&B Marketing
And those negative reviews - Using negative reviews to market your B&B

 

Welcome to the B&B Academy podcast.

I'm Karen, the founder and owner of Bed and Breakfast Academy, helping aspiring and existing B&B owners to create a B&B lifestyle you'll love living with guests who become loyal fans and keep returning.

In today's episode, I share practical steps to take control of your B&B marketing in 2024. Learn more about how you can make more effective use of your website to get more direct bookings.

Visit the Bed and Breakfast Academy Website for more information about the Online Course and Mini Workshop.

Read the corresponding blog post

In this latest podcast episode,I delve into the art of turning negative reviews into positive marketing opportunities for your B&B.

Discover how to respond tactfully and professionally to criticism, even when it seems unfair.

From acknowledging guest feedback to highlighting your B&B's unique attributes, learn valuable strategies to enhance your online reputation and attract more guests.

Join me as I explore the power of constructive communication and the importance of maintaining a positive image in the competitive hospitality industry.

 

Welcome to the B&B Academy podcast.

I'm Karen, the founder and owner of Bed and Breakfast Academy, helping aspiring and existing B&B owners to create a B&B lifestyle you'll love living with guests who become loyal fans and keep returning.

In today's episode, I share practical steps to take control of your B&B marketing in 2024. Learn more about how you can make more effective use of your website to get more direct bookings.

Visit the Bed and Breakfast Academy Website for more information about the Online Course and Mini Workshop.

Read the corresponding blog post

Other blog posts mentioned in this podcast:

How to Use FAQs to Effectively Market a Bed and Breakfast

How to Use ChatGPT to Write Blog Posts Faster as a B&B Owner

Podcast Summary:


Introduction: Discuss the significance of a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) website and the need for regular evaluation to ensure it remains current and accurately represents the business.
The Purpose of a B&B Website: Highlight the primary goal of a B&B website which is to generate business by converting website visitors into guests. Discuss how showcasing unique selling points and providing clear online booking options can facilitate this.
Website Discoverability: Discuss the importance of website discoverability and how to determine if your website is being found.
Use of Google Analytics 4: Explain how Google Analytics 4 can be used to track visits to your website and gather important data.
How Guests Find Your Website: Discuss the various ways prospective customers might find your B&B website.
Website Aesthetics and User-Friendliness: Discuss the importance of accurately portraying the B&B experience on the website and ensuring the site is easy for the customer to navigate.
The Importance of a Blog and Email Sign-ups: Highlight the benefits of having a blog and an email sign-up form on your B&B website.
Conclusion: Recap the importance of having a well-designed, user-friendly, and discoverable website for your B&B business. Discuss how each aspect of your website contributes to creating an online presence that fosters guest engagement and conversions.

 

For more information about Bed and Breakfast Academy visit the website here

In this episode, Karen delves into the power of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for your B&B.

Learn how a well-crafted FAQ page not only streamlines guest inquiries but becomes a marketing goldmine.

From handling policy queries gracefully to boosting your online presence, FAQs are your secret weapon in 2024. Tune in for practical tips on turning FAQs into engaging blog posts and Instagram content.

Welcome to the B&B Academy podcast.

I'm Karen, the founder and owner of Bed and Breakfast Academy, helping aspiring and existing B&B owners to create a B&B lifestyle you'll love living with guests who become loyal fans and keep returning.

In today's episode, I share practical steps to take control of your B&B marketing in 2024. Learn more about using your "Smile File" to organise your B&B Marketing into content buckets.

Visit the Bed and Breakfast Academy Website for more information about the Online Course and Mini Workshop.

Read the corresponding blog post

Read the blog post about marketing a bed and breakfast with your lemon drizzle cake recipe >> 10 Ways to Attract More B&B Guests with your Favourite Cake

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes packed with valuable tips for B&B owners. Thanks for joining me today!

In this episode, Karen shares her insights on how to take control of your B&B marketing and increase direct bookings. She emphasizes the importance of adopting authentic marketing strategies that not only yield positive results but also bring joy to the process.

Karen challenges the common perception that marketing is distasteful or spammy and offers a fresh perspective on how to market your business in an enjoyable and genuine way.

One of the key strategies Karen discusses is the concept of the "smile file." She explains how our natural negativity bias can often overshadow the positive reviews and feedback we receive from guests. The smile file serves as a powerful tool to counter this bias by collecting and storing all the positive reviews, guest book comments, and compliments you've received.

By referring to the smile file whenever negative comments start to affect your mindset, you can regain a sense of positivity and focus on the many positive experiences you've had with guests.

But the smile file isn't just a tool for personal well-being; it also has practical applications for your marketing efforts. Karen explains how analyzing the recurring themes in your smile file can provide valuable insights into what your customers appreciate most about your B&B.

These insights can guide your content creation for marketing emails, blog posts, and social media. Whether it's highlighting your delicious breakfasts with recipes and photos, showcasing specific ingredients and where you source them, or incorporating guest quotes that capture the essence of their experience, the smile file becomes a rich source of inspiration and authenticity.

Tune in to this episode to discover Karen's ideas for taking control of your B&B marketing, increasing direct bookings, and creating an authentic and enjoyable marketing experience.