As far as the size of our pics, everything I read about websites, and search engine optimization stress written information as being more important than the pictures. I'm not sure I agree with that, but that is what they all say.
THEY ALL?
Boy did you come to the right place! You are selling rooms at a B&B - Photos are worth 1000 words. Absolutely hands down. There is nothing more important on your website than you photos.
PEOPLE DON'T READ.
PEOPLE DON'T READ.
PEOPLE DON'T READ.
SEO is not what GUESTS SEE. Guests are the ones who pay your bills. SEO is a whole other animal and I am sure Steve can provide an introductory on that..
well, i
thought i was reading good info....
I am glad, truly glad I found this website/ forum.
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high street victorian said:
well, i thought i was reading good info....
I am glad, truly glad I found this website/ forum.
The print are
the details the guest needs. They will read it or not AFTER the photos wow them. With your hubby being a photog you should be able to have a lot of WOW on your website.
I am going to do something - I am going to google "your town and Bed and Breakfast."
First one I come to (I will abbreviate the name as to not put the name on here) GG has the most awful photo on their home page. It looks like they accidentally put it on there. As a guest I will go NO FURTHER. They might have some good pics elsewhere but I am closing my browser on this place. Not to mention the font is fuzzy. Ok I went against my judgement and clicked porch and got even worse photos. This is your competition, so as a guest I click off of them and onto you and get a big WOW and book with you immediately.
Have a look at some websites that are VERY attractive to you and try to emulate that or hire someone to create something like that. Pretend you are going on a trip...that always works well. You will find yourself getting frustrated with half or more of the websites right off the bat.
If you HOME PAGE photo could be the MAIN THING on the page with your B&B name
in the header you would have won half the battle from the get go.
RCene is another with tiny header photo and too much wording on the home page. A photo of a stairway on the home page? Their website puts me off.
Don't compare yourself to these when creating a website. These are poor examples, you want to be 100 times better than these. It is better to have a ONE PAGE website than what these have online.
You have an oppty to WAY EXCEED what they have done and it won't be very difficult!!
Lastly gotta get on the main directories that helps with SEO as well!!! The directories will send you as much business as your own website - for many of us it does. (These are not listed in any particular order)
www.BBonline.com
www.Bedandbreakfast.com
www.iloveinns.com
www.BnBfinder.com
www.innsite.com
Do a google search and whatever comes up for your town, you want to list on the top few of those B&B directories. Look at it this way - if you spend it NOW you will bring in guests and repeat guests and it will pay for itself QUICKLY. You can deduct the costs of these directories on your taxes. BEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK you will find.
Not everyone will come to your website the same way. They may already be on a directory like BnBfinder and it only shows TWO B&B's there and you aren't one of them. Like Bree often says, the more places YOUR name pops up the better it is for you and more likely for them to book with you. I agree with this 100%. Even tho you have the top spot in google, you need to be in all of the top 5 to 10 spots if you can.
The more content on your website the better this will be for you.
Okay all the unsolicited advice. Take it for what it is worth. I have gained much knowledge from this bunch online. I learn more and more everyday. All diff styles diff places but the same goal - the bring in quality guests to enjoy all the hard work we put into our inns.
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