In Part 2 in this series I’m going to talk about the next problem I see when working with stressed out B&B owners…
They don’t build a database.
This is especially true with those B&Bs who use third party booking engines. Keeping records of everyone who has visited and categorising them into one nighters, two nighters, etc. is just too difficult when done manually, and so they don’t do it. So Why is it important to build a database?
When you’ve defined your niche and you’re attracting guests who absolutely love you and what you do for them, they’ll want to return. So we need to give them the opportunity to do that as often as we can.
When we have our database, we can email them with information about special events either we’re putting on ourselves, or events that are happening in our area, that we know for sure would interest them.
If we continue with our fishy theme from the last post, we’ll want to let our fishermen know about the upcoming fishing event happening in our area, but that they probably don’t know about. They’ll have yet another opportunity to interact with you, their new best friend, and indulge their passion once again. They’ll love you for it!
When we build a database, it’s like having your very own money tap. You create an event, email your raving fans, and they naturally want to buy from you.
How often could you do this in a year?
Its so true,I work really really hard on my data base,i keep all the info in a crm system,also while the guest is here,if they tell me some thing like they are here for the football,hospital visit i write it on there booking form and it all goes in the system,it works a treat!
great blog by the way!
Hi Paul, and thanks for your comment. Well done you on keeping the details in a CRM system. You’re ahead of the game, for sure. Glad you enjoyed the blog too. 🙂
Yvonne, your point is right on the money. Keeping a database is the first step for innkeepers in working to keep you and your property “top of mind” and bring your guests back again and again. I tell my clients that all the time. The small investment in time (or in outsourcing this particular task) is well worth it in the long run. Great blog!
Thanks for posting Sharon, I’m glad you liked the blog 🙂
I have just started to layout a database for our B&B. we are trying out Bento and TapForms. As I was searching for B&B databases your blog was one of the results. What do you or other B&B owners use for a database? Is there a “ready-made” form o line?