The A-Z of B&B - It's as Easy to Compile as 123 - Without Z...

Air Bnb - a social network/sales channel for B&Bs and people with spare beds. http://www.airbnb.com/

Analytics - the place to view reports and statistics of your B&B website - how many visitors and from where. https://www.google.com/analytics

Association - The UK B&B association that one pays to join for company discounts. http://www.bandbassociation.org

Breakfast - fresh, local produce is a must for high quality. Read Hugo Woolley's inspirational breakfast recipe book http://www.breakfastbook.co.uk/

B&B Blog - somewhere to write about life as a B&B owner to attach to website. Can be good for those guests who want to know everything about you before booking. http://posterous.com http://wordpress.org/

B&B Bloggers - people who sit writing about travel technology, marketing and general B&B stuff. Can be worth reading.http://bedandbreakfastclub.co.uk/ http://chefforfeng.wordpress.com/ http://www.abouttheinn.com/ http://innkeeperchronicles.confessinns.com/ http://www.happyhotelier.com/

Council Tax - Is just paid as normal for B&Bs instead of business rates, should they pass the subsidiary test. Read more here

Community - both online and in the real world it's important that a B&B embraces community. Building a social community online of former/potential guests and knowing the community where they live. Excellent site to learn how to build an online community here - http://www.communityspark.com

Distribution/Sales Channels - Expedia/Last Minute/Late Rooms - companies that act on the hoteliers' behalf to sell rooms charging commission as high as 20%. Every B&B's mission is to get away from them and sell their own rooms.

Dogs - Dog friendly B&Bs are becoming more and more fashionable. Here's a site that is dedicated to pet friendly accommodation - http://www.maps4pets.com/

Empty Room - never a failure but an opportunity to build great PR, see my article here

Films - local area films on a B&Bs website work a treat to sell an area - and in tern your rooms. Few people take advantage of the fact that Youtube videos of local areas are yours to use.

Google - Fighting your way to the top is the aim but how? Google Local is the immediate, easy and free solution.

Guests coming back - read this article on taking care of your guests and make them return!

Help - Follow me on Twitter and Facebook and ask me anything. Someone will have an answer pretty much immediately with over 1000 B&B owners in the B&B club network - Twitter @bandbclub Facebook.com/bedandbreakfastclub

International Guests - how to reach abroad and attract foreign guests is something worth looking into. Asking foreign friends where you appear on Google is a good idea. See my interview with distribution channel SEO Gareth Gaston.

Jobs - Cleaning rooms, making breakfasts, online and offline marketing and playing host for seven days a week. Being a B&B owner isn't always the easy life many think it will be.

Karen Thorne - runs a course for wannabee B&B owners at her property in Shropshire. http://www.bedandbreakfastacademy.co.uk/

Life Changing - read Sarah and Chris Wilson's blog on their life changing journey to move from London to the lakes and open a B&B.

Marketing - it's a must for all B&Bs to understand something about marketing, especially these days with most rooms being sold online. The Guest Company gives free marketing advice to B&Bs. A particularly good book on hotel marketing can be found here

Nature - being up early most owners find themselves constantly nature spotting and posting pics of animals on their blogs

Online Booking Engine - a must for 95% of B&Bs if they want to sell rooms. Here is PART 1 of my online booking engine survey. PART 2 is coming soon.

People Skills - necessary for anyone who is entertaining guests seven days a week. Here are 10 ways to improve your people skills. After all, no one wants to stay with a wet lettuce.

Quality of Life - this is what we all want and can be found by running a B&B. No more rat race, no more 9-5. It's a lifestyle business but still requires strong dedication and hard work.

Reservation Management - double bookings are the thing of nightmares. The web is teeming with software to take bookings online and off. Stay tuned for booking system reviews highlighting the system's abilities to manage reservations.

Spam Email - look out because credit scammers target B&Bs. Here's a recent amusing one that's been doing the rounds: 'Hello, please confirm if you have 4 double rooms or 8 single rooms for 8 persons who are coming for execution in your country. Payment via credit card. Arrival date: 20th of November Departure date: 30th of November. Kindly confirm the request and get back to me with your response, Thanks. Warmest regards, Prof.mike kwudi Imperial College London. Also look out for newly ordained priests...

Three in a Bed - the Channel Four B&B TV show that's always on the look out for contestants. I review every episode when it airs which is great fun. See behind the scenes interviews here.

Understanding guests needs - by knowing the reason for a guests stay you can generally help to make sure you meet their needs (within reason!).

Vegetarian Bed and Breakfasts - it's not all heart attack on a plate you know. There are quite a number of vegetarian B&Bs around including this beautiful one in Cornwall.

When will this end? Nearly there now, how do you think I feel writing it... Can you tell it's getting lame?

eXtreme B&Bs was a series of short films/articles I began doing which was great fun. Am always on the look out for more if anyone has a very different property?

You must be fed up by now.

Zoologists often observe guests in Blackpool B&Bs.

Filed under  //  A-Z of B&B   New owners   Starting a B&B  
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