SEO 101: 5 Ways to Improve Your B&B Website SEO
(Search Engine Optimisation) is an essential part of managing your own website. Implementing best practice SEO strategies can ensure that get found in search engines.
By following some of these simple tips, you can increase your exposure and search engine rankings, which can dramatically improve the chances of your B&B being found online.
1. Get listed
Being listed in local directories with other B&B businesses signals to search engines what your website is about, which city you are in, and for which searches your website should display.
Make sure you spend some time listing yourself and claiming your profiles in the top local directories for your city, town or country. Always ensure that your information is consistent and that you use the same name and address formats when listing yourself in local directories.
2. Ask for reviews
Whenever you say goodbye to your guests, ask them to leave reviews on the websites where you are listed. These reviews, good and bad, make your business more credible, and if they are on a recognised website, are often displayed within the search results in Google.
You can promote guests leaving reviews by sending them an email with the details of where they can review you after they have left.
3. Add your address
Make sure that you add your business address to all the pages on your website. This is used as a local ranking signal, and informs the search engines which city and country you are in.
It also ensures that you appear for the correct searches when people are looking for a place to stay in your area.
4. Go local
Links from other websites form a large part in search engine rankings and being found online. The more links from local websites that you are able to get, the more likely you are to rank for searches for accommodation in your area.
Spend some time forming partnerships with other local suppliers, like tour providers and restaurants. Make sure that as part of these partnerships these suppliers link back to your website from their own websites.
5. Start a blog
Starting a blog is not only a great way to showcase your local knowledge, but the search engines also love websites that are always producing fresh content.
Make sure you cover topics that people will be searching for, such as the latest events, things to do and activities in your area. You never know. Someone who is looking for information on an event near you, may find your website and then end up booking their accommodation with you as well.
Image: Thanks to Antonio Manfredonio on Flickr.com
Related posts:
- Improve Your Website in 3 Easy Steps
- 5 Ways to Make Your Website Fabulous
- How to Optimize Your B&B Website | Part One
- Tried & Tested | Translate Your Website
- Get That Website Started!
Category: Bed and Breakfast Marketing, The Internet
Don’t forget to keep your profile updated on Google Places, Google+ profile, and the other business profile pages of other websites. It’s also worthwhile to make sure your site does appear in the search results by submitting the site to the search engine. If your site is built on top of WordPress, this happens automatically.
Something else that sometimes goes overlooked is that most local chamber of commences or destination management organizations have a business directory that includes a section for accommodation. They should be free and it’s very worthwhile to take the 20 minutes to fill out.