That would be a total waste of time for me - I have only had one room that was in a zip code within 20 miles of here. Most of our guests are from waaaaaaaaay out of State..
Samster said:
That would be a total waste of time for me - I have only had one room that was in a zip code within 20 miles of here. Most of our guests are from waaaaaaaaay out of State.
After your official one year anniversary now you can join the "marketing local is a waste of time and resources club" aye. You can chase the wind to get a room or two but overall it is not worth the time. Locals know you are there, it is internet all the way! For which I am thankful.
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Actually they may NOT know you are there. I live in a city with a pop of about 2500 (over 2000 is a city), have been here as a B & B 13 years in July, have been written up in local papers many, many times and I STILL hear - "I didn't know we had a B & B in ...."
Last year the Blueprint Community Team put out a newspaper supplement about our city and my B & B was above the fold, front page of section 2. That produced 3 room nights ans a dinner from locals (one dinner and room night was a birthday for his wife).
What I tell locals is "if the phone rings, it is NOT for you."
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gillumhouse said:
Actually they may NOT know you are there. I live in a city with a pop of about 2500 (over 2000 is a city), have been here as a B & B 13 years in July, have been written up in local papers many, many times and I STILL hear - "I didn't know we had a B & B in ...."
Last year the Blueprint Community Team put out a newspaper supplement about our city and my B & B was above the fold, front page of section 2. That produced 3 room nights ans a dinner from locals (one dinner and room night was a birthday for his wife).
What I tell locals is "if the phone rings, it is NOT for you."
K you are proving my point. Ignorance is what I am saying about locals typically. If they are B&B people at all or would refer you THEY KNOW YOU ARE THERE. Otherwise forgetabout them. I mean do what you do, when you are involved in a community everyone in the know knows who you are and where you are! If not, get involved!
Contact the local photogs and florists for recommendations for wedding nights. Word of mouth is the best bet and of course having a sign out front that locals drive past helps. But we have a sign out front and back and if I am at the bank or store they say to me "Oh is that still a bed and breakfast? I thought it closed" NO we are open as a B&B 17 years now. We get calls for donations twice a day every day from locals, they ALL know we are here and open.
If I get a call locally and I offer them a HUGE discount and they complain we are too expensive and go to the flea bag hotel which charges more - but they can pack 4 to a room!
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