If you want to run a successful bed and breakfast, then you need to figure out the best way to advertise your small property.

Without an effective advertising strategy and marketing campaign, it will be impossible for travelers to find you. After all, you won’t have any guests if they don’t know that you exist!

So make sure that you advertise in the following ways to get the word out about your bed and breakfast.

Physical Advertising

Curb appeal is what will draw last-minute guests in – especially if you’re located on a busy highway. Road-tripping travelers who haven’t planned where they’ll stay that night will be tempted by your warm and inviting sign.

So invest in signage for your bed and breakfast that makes it easy to identify your location. Unique signs that promote your overall brand will help you attract customers who are already in the area.

Remember to include social media and website information on your signs, too – adding legitimacy to your business, and allowing travelers to check out your website before deciding to walk in.

Online Advertising

You need to increase traffic on your small hotel website in order to drive direct online bookings. By advertising in online directories and on travel websites, you can capture travelers from across the globe. You can also attract channel bookings by partnering with online travel agencies (OTAs).

Implement an SEO strategy on your own website in order to increase your search rankings, and maximize your presence on social media in order to stay engaged with your audience.

Another great online tactic is retargeting. Retargeting is a form of online advertising that allows you to show specific ads to people who have visited your website.

It works like this:

• You install ‘java script’ code on your website.
• Someone visits your website.
• The retargeting software you use makes sure that this person is tracked with a ‘cookie’
• This ‘cookie’ gives your remarketing software the ability to display your ads across the web, on sites that are a part of their network.

After people drop off your small hotel’s website, they can see your ads across the web, on…

• Display Networks. Each retargeting platform will have signed up websites who agree to serve your ads. The websites become a part of the retargeting platform’s display networks (eg. Google’s Display Network).

• Facebook (FBX). Seeing as Facebook is the biggest social network in the world – and especially for hotels – the retargeting platform you choose needs to be linked with Facbeook!

They will then place your ads in peoples’ Facebook news feeds, as well as on the right hand side of the page.

Print Advertising

Brochures, local newspapers and travel magazines can still be a valuable asset in your advertising campaign. Consider investing in this traditional form of advertising in order to complement your online marketing campaigns!

You just need to figure out which publications your ideal guests are reading. Then, contact them to see how you can advertise your property.

To learn more about developing a marketing strategy for your small hotel, download our free ebook on online presence.