website for b&b to be

We have been working on our B&B for a couple of months now and have a tentative open date of April of next year (this is due to both the amount of work that needs to be done and the start of the season). I know our website needs to be up and running well before we expect to open, but is there a general time frame we should be looking at? I'm thinking it would need at least 6 months before we want to start taking bookings. Also, due to the state of the house, we really don't have anything in the way of pictures. Hopefully the exterior will be done within the next two months, but the interior will most likely be worked on all the way until we open. So, we would have a home page and a blog, I think. Is that enough to make setting a website up in advance worth it?
Sorry, the only thing I really know about seo is that it is important.
Thanks!

You want to own the domain name you want, get a home page set up and blog away about all the changes. Make sure the blog is part of your website.
Build up anticipation. Tentatively schedule an open house.
The longer the website is in existence with good, solid seo and continuing interaction from you, the better it will do when you finally need it to produce.
I'd start tomorrow.

I had my website up over a year before I opened. As Madeleine mentions, blog about what you plan and post photos of the progress. The homepage can include info on what you WILL have to offer.
I didn't have any decent photos to show either. The outside of the building was a wreck through most of the renovation. But I used an architect, so I had a computer-generated image of what the building would eventually look like, and I put that on the homepage. Maybe you could make a decent drawing or something to post until you have something worth photographing.

don't worry about things not being finished - the guests I love best are the ones that point out all the things you have changed since they came last
The people love to follow you along on your renovation journey - take pictures of things being done and they will love you for it - get a web site with a integrated blog
Ie new bath for room 12 was delivered today - take picture
Ive just done a bathroom and I took pictures for twitter every time something was delivered as a guess that bathroom part type thing -for a blog I would just do the big things though.

Just came across this article.
It applies to web designers, but many of you here can really relate to the information and it is also a help for someone looking to do a website.

Arks said:

I had my website up over a year before I opened. As Madeleine mentions, blog about what you plan and post photos of the progress. The homepage can include info on what you WILL have to offer.
I didn't have any decent photos to show either. The outside of the building was a wreck through most of the renovation. But I used an architect, so I had a computer-generated image of what the building would eventually look like, and I put that on the homepage. Maybe you could make a decent drawing or something to post until you have something worth photographing..

Click to expand...

That's a really good idea... wonder how we could work that... we have lots of nice pictures of the grounds but it would make me really nervous if the only pictures I could find of a b&b were trees

Joey Camb said:

don't worry about things not being finished - the guests I love best are the ones that point out all the things you have changed since they came last
The people love to follow you along on your renovation journey - take pictures of things being done and they will love you for it - get a web site with a integrated blog
Ie new bath for room 12 was delivered today - take picture
Ive just done a bathroom and I took pictures for twitter every time something was delivered as a guess that bathroom part type thing -for a blog I would just do the big things though..

Click to expand...

Er, by not finished I mean there is a faded salmon pink bathtub circa 1963, so I don't think we would be able to get anyone in that room now to make comparisons we are posting some things up on our facebook and will hopefully be able to get a blog up soon. I do know we will be "finishing" projects for years, though, so hopefully we will have lots of repeat guests to comment on changes once we open.

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates.

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Yeah those ones who know everything about SEO and don't know who they are calling or emailing, then they go around slapping the URL all over the place and irritating people and the owner of the business has no idea what a loser he or she has hired who is supposed to be an expert in social media marketing because they said so.
Yes, that was supposed to be one super long run on sentence of annoyance.

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha
.

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha

Click to expand...

Swirt will see the flagged post. If it's real it will be back.

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha
.

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha

Click to expand...

Swirt will see the flagged post. If it's real it will be back.
.

Click to expand...

Maybe he will put it back labeled spam for the lurkers to see what we mean by scam/spam

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

Madeleine said:

MorrisGuyton said:

Our guesthouse is located in College Station, Texas has event venue and breakfast facility. Bird Haven takes booking for vacation and party in College Station at affordable rates..

Click to expand...

Morris - your Post had absolutely nothing to do with the topic. If you want to advertise yourself then start your own thread and introduce your property.
.

Click to expand...

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.
.

Click to expand...

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha
.

Click to expand...

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha

Click to expand...

Swirt will see the flagged post. If it's real it will be back.
.

Click to expand...

Madeleine said:

Joey Bloggs said:

Madeleine said:

Jon Sable said:

The way it sounds, it's an SEO guy spamming the forum in the B&B's name.

Click to expand...

Well, if so he's using the owner's name. Maybe the whole post should just disappear.

Click to expand...

You know this is true. But at times I think people who are on the forum don't get it when we say this happens all the time, and think we make this stuff up! Sometimes we need to leave stuff for others to see. I thought you were doing that actually, and then Jon commented, so I figured, hey they want people to see how this happens.
Edited to add: and you see, someone flagged it as spam and now the thread is swiss cheesed and we are like "Who the heck is Morris?"
Sounds like another tshirt idea to me. haha

Click to expand...

Swirt will see the flagged post. If it's real it will be back.

Click to expand...

Doubtful.
He doesn't go over them all like that unless we email and let him know.

yup ... I didn't see 'morris' so this makes no sense to me.
as to the original question ... yes yes yes you want a website ... show your project, tell your plans, blog about it. Just DON'T put a picture on it from a template. i feel like i posted this someplace else on forum recently. but here goes ... i renovated a wreck and it was in a harbor. we had no pictures yet, so i bought a little website template that had a beach coastline on it. someone emailed and asked if that was the view from the b&b so i pulled it right away. you don't want people to think you are offering something you aren't. and we were NOT on the beach. we had harbor views ... mid construction, i climbed up into the cupola and got some spectacular sunset photos of that. and that became the main picture on the website.
yes - to the open house. locals were CLAMORING to be let in -- they wanted to see what we'd done. so we had a lot of buzz that way.
i had to have the open house before i felt ready because folks kept coming to the door just wanting to see ... please please please. it's only me, they'd say. multiplied by about 100.
when you have the open house, NO GUESTS, and you need HELP ... more help than you think. if any rooms are off limits, lock them. i posted pictures and plans on the doors of locked rooms so people could see. a lot of work, but we had a blast.