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Like attracts like- What attracts customers to your B&B |
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Written by Jackie Miller
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Sunday, 22 April 2007 |
April already, with business beginning to take off for another season I am asking myself that old chestnut:
What did I learn from last season?
And what can I do this year, that I didn’t do last year, to increase sales and improve my service to customers?
Spend more money on marketing and advertising?
Hopefully not, without thinking about it very carefully to make sure that I am focussing on my target market.
Lets take it as read that you are happy with your Internet exposure, and you have fully researched off-line ways of marketing your accommodation.
Yes, I said to myself last season, let the punters roll in, I’m as ready as I can be.
I was wrong Why ?
I was thinking purely accommodation and location and forgetting about attractions.
What has become obvious is that my customers always come to the area for a specific reason, either business or pleasure.
So wherever you are in the country, whether you are an established business or new to tourism, get out there and find out what is going on around you.
You are probably aware of all the major attractions in your area and how to link with them, but do you update yourself often enough with what’s on?
I know I didn’t last year and therefore lost trade as a result. Working hard to keep visitors in your area not only helps you but also boosts the economy of other small to medium sized businesses/ attractions.
We had a new local radio station in our area last year. My first thought was that I was too small to pay the high advertising rates. However, after an informative chat with the editor of the radio station I managed to persuade her to look at special rates for a group of accommodation provides so we all had a bite of the cherry, well sound waves, at an affordable price.
During the last couple of months, as light relief from the never-ending spring-cleaning, I have started to make contact with local organisations providing activities for tourists in the area.
Wherever possible, or appropriate, I have linked to their web site or agreed to advertise their events on my site. Remember you can help your customers by becoming an attractions guru for the area.
Leaflets and brochures do have their place but they need to be backed up with first hand knowledge wherever possible. You might not be interested in steam railways, vintage cars, or fishing but I’m sure some of your guests will be.
So go to your library, scan the local press, ask the tourist information centres about familiarisation visits to attractions. Join forces with who ever you can to put your little bit of the country on the tourist trail.
Remember we all want tourists to Visit Britain.
For B& B owners in towns or businesses with parking problems two sites worth looking at www.parkforce.com and www.parkingpatrol.co.uk both sites claim to have ethical lawful and very effective ways of securing parking for your guests.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 April 2007 )
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