tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64086755869740038132024-02-07T03:31:03.007-07:00BnBwebsites BlogThe official BnBwebsites blog. Learn what's new in the worlds of web design, SEO, and social media marketing for the hospitality industry.BnBwebsiteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032080582549812712noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-28235399557527719752020-09-21T11:40:00.002-06:002020-09-21T11:40:22.335-06:00Why Should I Use a Review Management Software?<p><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your business's reputation mainly consists of the perception people have of your company. Before, businesses in the lodging industry primarily relied on print advertising and word of mouth to create their image. Now, the reputation of hotels and BnBs all over the world depend on online reviews posted on social media platforms, their websites, and rating sites.</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-4e206972-7fff-e02f-8b52-8f83536d584d"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Since a growing number of consumers use online reviews and ratings to choose a place to stay, having a review management software has become crucial for any business in the hospitality industry. Responding to, requesting, and managing all online reviews can be overwhelming. However, it needs to be taken care of carefully. Any little mistake could affect the brand that has taken you years to build.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Why Does It Matter?</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">The reputation of a business is mainly based on online reviews, ratings, and testimonials. A company that doesn't have reviews is often perceived as unreliable. Investing in a powerful review management system could drive more traffic to your website and increase direct bookings.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reviews posted on platforms like Tripadvisor or Yelp have a significant impact on the decision making of travelers. According to a study conducted by </span><a href="https://www.phocuswire.com/Vast-majority-of-TripAdvisor-users-read-at-least-6-12-reviews-before-choosing-hotel" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PhocusWire</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, more than 50% of travelers read online reviews before booking their stay at a hotel or a BnB. The same research revealed that 87% of users think positively of hotels that provide quick and appropriate responses to negative reviews. </span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">A variety of software can alert you about new reviews, evaluate your performance, and help you mitigate the damage of bad ratings. You can also enhance your brand by letting your guests review your BnB services through Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor, and then displaying their best reviews.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Effective Review Managing Services</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Building your reputation is everything. When it comes to managing reviews, your best choice is to hire a professional digital marketing agency that evaluates your online presence and puts in place a successful review marketing strategy.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;"> If you are looking for effective and affordable review management services, BnBwebsites is your best choice. We are an experienced digital marketing agency that specializes in creating successful marketing campaigns for Bed and Breakfasts. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our Review Management packages.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white;">CONTACT US</span></a></span></p><div><br /></div></span>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comUtah, USA39.3209801 -111.093731124.760532763755197 -128.6718561 53.881427436244806 -93.5156061tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-51199596004330890812020-09-21T11:35:00.003-06:002020-09-21T11:35:30.236-06:004 Tips to Get More Reservations During Low Season<p><span style="color: white;"> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hospitality industry is one of the most competitive in the world. Every year many BnB business owners struggle to get reservations during the low season. If you run a bed and breakfast and want to increase your number of bookings, here are four tips that will help you retain customers and attract new guests:</span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-519d7731-7fff-7e35-826f-0e4d4e62e068"><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Special Promotions</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Promotions and special deals can help you increase direct bookings and build customer loyalty. Rewards, small discounts, or things such as free drinks or snacks are small details that can convince customers to choose your bed and breakfast over other lodging options. Send exclusive promotions to old guests that might be interested in staying at your BnB again.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Target locally</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Take a look at all the activities and social events that are being organized in town. Whether it is a concert or a baseball game, use it for advertising your BnB. Come up with new services or activities that complement these attractions. </span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Use the Right Channels</span></span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Using the right channels is the most effective way to get more reservations during the low season. Finding out what the channel is that your target audience uses the most is the first step. With the help of a marketing agency, you can define if the channel you need to focus on is social media or google ads, or if you need to invest in search engine optimization.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Work With a Reliable Digital Marketing Agency</span></span></h2><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Working with a hospitality digital marketing agency is your best choice to improve brand awareness, reach new customers, and increase sales leads. An agency with experience in the hospitality industry can come up with effective marketing strategies that drive traffic to your website and increase direct bookings even during the low season.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">If you are looking for digital marketing services, BnBwebsites has over ten years of experience providing high-quality digital marketing services in Utah.</span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">Whether you want to improve your BnB´s webpage, manage your company’s social media accounts, or launch a digital marketing campaign, BnBwebsites has got you covered. Contact us now to get a FREE website analysis. </span></span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: white;">GET IN TOUCH WITH US</span></span></a></p><br /></span>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comUtah, USA39.3209801 -111.093731111.010746263821154 -146.2499811 67.631213936178852 -75.9374811tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-26658367455014662462020-09-21T11:32:00.001-06:002020-09-21T11:32:57.335-06:005 Ways Social Media Can Help Your Business Grow<p><span style="color: white;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Due to its effectiveness and affordability, most companies rely on social media networks to achieve their marketing and branding goals. According to </span><a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/203513/usage-trands-of-social-media-platforms-in-marketing/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Statista</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, in 2017, 90% of U.S. businesses used social media for marketing purposes. </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3ec968c1-7fff-5aae-a8fe-30e1931e02d1"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media platforms are incredibly powerful in the hospitality and travel industry. Besides looking for trip ideas online, travelers use Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and other platforms to book travel activities, share photos, and post reviews. Through social media, bed and breakfasts can not only build their brand but also enhance their guests' experiences.</span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Building a successful online presence can help your BnB stand out, bring traffic to your website, and increase online bookings. If you want to expand your BnB business, here are five ways social media can help you achieve it. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target the Right Audience</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Identifying the groups of people most likely to be interested in your service is key to any successful marketing campaign. Social media can provide you with the data you need to engage with the right audience. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Platforms like Instagram and Facebook can provide you with insights about your current customers. Learning more about their age, gender, location, interests, and income levels can help you get your message across to the right people.</span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social networks also serve as a tool to analyze your competitors. See who they engage with and how they do it. The chances are that the groups of people they are connecting with are valuable for your business as well. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enhance Guest Experience</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The guest experience begins the moment travelers start searching for a hotel or bed and breakfast. Social media sites are a great channel to engage with current and potential customers while still planning their trip.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social networks can also help you enhance customer service. Through them, you can connect with your guests and solve their inquiries and problems immediately. Besides, you can also use your platforms to inform your audience about promotions, special deals, and social events.</span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a Brand Identity</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media accounts are the perfect platforms to share what makes your Bed & Breakfast different from other lodging options. Create and share content that is relevant for your target audience to help your BnB stand out. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reach New Customers</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Besides helping you retain customers, social networks can help you reach potential customers. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest are the ultimate tool to inspire people to visit your website.</span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 17pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Generate More Direct Bookings</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social media makes it easier and quicker for people to book a room at your BnB. Many booking systems allow clients to make their BnB reservations directly through platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having a strong presence on social media sites can help you bring traffic to your website, increase sales, and build customer loyalty. If you are looking for digitals marketing agency with years of experience in the BnB industry, BnBwebsites is your best choice. </span></p><span style="color: white;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONTACT US</span></a></p><br /></span>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comUtah, USA39.3209801 -111.093731111.81270260457908 -146.2499811 66.829257595420927 -75.9374811tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-3055393222722200182020-08-19T09:28:00.003-06:002020-08-19T09:34:09.430-06:003 Ways to Build a B&B website<p> <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Ways to Build a B&B website</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPFv3ngyT6pqQzx3V6Fk6x9HDZtcgcBD5NqfD996b5rRtrydQcsx_3lsoNSokr4aKFeEur7wRpx1sUMMhyphenhyphenJu2p8RUFC18cstSnWK0HWrHNQBj5w4S9hrztE3Jb14AoGWxCD_9PxKbRhE/s2000/web-designer-on-computer-R28GA9P.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCPFv3ngyT6pqQzx3V6Fk6x9HDZtcgcBD5NqfD996b5rRtrydQcsx_3lsoNSokr4aKFeEur7wRpx1sUMMhyphenhyphenJu2p8RUFC18cstSnWK0HWrHNQBj5w4S9hrztE3Jb14AoGWxCD_9PxKbRhE/s640/web-designer-on-computer-R28GA9P.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><br /><br />When it comes to lodging marketing, a well-designed website is the most powerful tool BnB owners can use to convince travelers to book a room at their bed & breakfast. Websites are the best place to showcase your business, engage with your guests, and impress potential customers.<br /><br /><br />For many, building and designing a responsive webpage can be a challenge, especially if they don’t have much experience in website development. Here are 3 ways to build a website for your lodging business:<div><br /><b>DIY</b><br /><br />If you choose to work on the web design for your BnB on your own, there are a wide variety of website builders or CMSs that offer web design packages for different businesses. Here are two of the most popular ones:<br /><br /><br /></div><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div><b>Wix</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It offers a wide range of website templates specifically designed for hotels and BnBs. These designs include an online booking system and client interaction tools. Although Wix offers free plans, only monthly paid subscriptions let you connect the domain name to your business’s website, which is a must if you’re serious about your business. One of the downsides of wix is that it is not so SEO friendly as the following CMS.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>WordPress</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It is one of the world´s most popular pages to run blogs and websites. WordPress offers hundreds of templates, customization options, and SEO tools. This platform offers free options and paid subscriptions. However, you will always have to pay the hosting fee. </div><div>Hire a Web Designer</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><b>You can hire a web design professional to create a website for your BnB. </b></div><div><br /></div><div>An experienced web designer can help you create an appealing website based on what you want. You can recruit a full-marketing employee or hire a freelancer in platforms such as Indeed, Linkedin, and Upwork. One of the disadvantages of hiring a web designer is that not all of them know the importance of SEO and how to apply SEO when building a website. <br /><br />At BnBwebsites, your website is designed with SEO and Accessibility in mind, which take us to the next option you have. </div><div><br /><b>Work with a Digital Marketing Agency</b><br /><br />Working with a digital marketing agency is the most profitable way to design and manage a successful website for your BnB. <br /><br />Hospitality marketing agencies are experts in both the lodging industry and the digital world. <br /><br />A digital agency like BnBwebsites can respond to your B&Bs changing needs and provide affordable and fast solutions to help it increase its direct online bookings.<br /><br />If you want to build a successful BnB website that achieves high search engine rankings and generates more revenue, BnBwebsites is your best choice. At <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">BnBwebsites</a> we have SEO know-how, we have the experience in creating well-designed lodging websites, and we can support you on other essential parts of building your brand. <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/3/#">LEARN MORE </a><br /><br /><br /></div>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-15684687295705422692020-08-19T09:13:00.001-06:002020-08-19T09:13:22.460-06:00How to Get More Direct Bookings on Your BnB Website<p><span id="docs-internal-guid-c40e5ded-7fff-5a50-0414-b061f5ecd119"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to Get More Direct Bookings on Your BnB Website</span></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T7itxlV8bJ-afkJmGnLBiMXbbNfawqAADKE1WOMqxVWCXnHquHa9wW-64wKPoZZU9IoqYfuKtyZEVI2eyitUvgsUa7uFJ7S1DcW0KPcq2Rz5ssiIsEgYQpSSj3sc620S0H2gLVlvsHE/s2000/booking-bnb-websites-marketing-agency.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_T7itxlV8bJ-afkJmGnLBiMXbbNfawqAADKE1WOMqxVWCXnHquHa9wW-64wKPoZZU9IoqYfuKtyZEVI2eyitUvgsUa7uFJ7S1DcW0KPcq2Rz5ssiIsEgYQpSSj3sc620S0H2gLVlvsHE/s640/booking-bnb-websites-marketing-agency.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When it comes to advertising your BnB, your website is without a doubt the most important marketing tool to help your business thrive. A well-designed website along with SEO will help you increase direct bookings and ensure guest loyalty. </span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-23a82a07-7fff-e258-a282-389761ad16c0"><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Design a Functional Website </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A website is the first place where people look for information about your Bed and Breakfast. Make sure you offer a great user experience with these tips on webpage design:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use simple layouts that are easy to use and navigate for anyone.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure that your page adapts to any devices or screen sizes by making your website responsive.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make it easy to contact you through live chat, email, or phone call.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add a blog section to create and share content related to your BnB.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.7999999999999998; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use attractive pictures and well-written text, including all the information that the average user expects to find on a BnB website such as check-in times, amenities, breakfast options, and policies. </span></p></li></ul><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make your Website Visible with an SEO Action Plan </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-0239e63d-7fff-94fe-a4e8-44e4127ad87b"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you have designed and launched a website, it is time to make it visible with Search Engine Optimization actions. SEO is the most cost-effective marketing strategy to improve your website’s traffic and increase your online bookings. </span></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Follow these tips to optimize your webpage:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create unique page titles and meta descriptions.</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do some research on your area and main competitors. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Choose the right keywords and include them within your content. </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure that your webpage loads fast.</span></p></li></ul><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keep It Simple</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Guarantee a great customer experience with booking and payment options that are simple and efficient. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having an easy online reservation system with step-by-step instructions is essential to increase your B&Bs online bookings. You can also enable direct bookings from social platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. </span></p><br /><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Expand your BnB company with BnBwebsites </span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To expand your BnB, you must work with experts that provide effective online branding. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">With more than 10 years of experience, BnBwebsites is the best hospitality marketing agency to help your bed & breakfast get more bookings. Contact us now to get a FREE website analysis.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">GET IN TOUCH WITH US </span></a></p><br /></span>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-80085500168173401242020-08-19T08:58:00.004-06:002020-08-19T08:58:36.943-06:003 Successful Marketing Strategies for Your BnB<p> </p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5fd3948c-7fff-d013-09ef-7b2952e3edf3"><h1 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3 Successful Marketing Strategies for Your BnB</span></h1><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9mL0gKKxs6oCBVBXYj5S18OZVQy3LeGt8cv03Xs9vXLHQ9YM1dNJB559n6ceT-PYEIIPIUui3bQvbdgSeP8AmqpKTwXdTRteVcrgyvrat86BaWMY-7itNEy_OYj-19lDh_ODIOuqLaY/s2000/Marketing-strategies-Bed-and-breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1335" data-original-width="2000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9mL0gKKxs6oCBVBXYj5S18OZVQy3LeGt8cv03Xs9vXLHQ9YM1dNJB559n6ceT-PYEIIPIUui3bQvbdgSeP8AmqpKTwXdTRteVcrgyvrat86BaWMY-7itNEy_OYj-19lDh_ODIOuqLaY/s640/Marketing-strategies-Bed-and-breakfast.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The hospitality industry is one of the most competitive in the world. Building a brand in such a dynamic market is a challenge for many BnB owners. Luckily, there are many innovative marketing strategies that can help your business grow. Here you will find three powerful marketing tips for your BnB:</span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a User-friendly Website</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most people will get the first impression of your BnB from your webpage. It is important to make sure that your website is eye appealing. Moreover, a website that is simple and well-organized will help your visitors find the information they need quickly and easily.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here is a list of key elements that a good website should have:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Personalized style</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Simple layout</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Perfect grammar and spelling</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">High-quality photos</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compelling Headlines or Titles</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Call to Actions </span></p></li></ul><h4 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are looking for ideas, check out these </span><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/website-design-portfolio.htm" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">awesome website designs</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.</span></h4><h4 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 4pt; margin-top: 14pt;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make Your Business Visible with SEO </span></h4><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using Search Engine Optimization is an affordable and effective way to build a successful online presence for your BnB. SEO techniques can help your website get noticed by search engines like Google and Bing. With the right use of keywords and metadata, you will be able to rank higher up in google searches, and increase customer traffic to your website.</span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase Your Social Media Engagement</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Although it can seem intimidating, promoting your BnB through social networks is one of the best ways to engage with key audiences. Social media accounts are the ultimate tool for creating and sharing content, advertising, and retaining customers. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you already have a Facebook account for your BnB, make sure that it blends well with your existing website. You can also enhance your online presence by engaging in other popular platforms such as Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here are some advantages of advertising your BnB through social media:</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0;"><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Increase website traffic and direct bookings</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reach new customers</span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Create a brand identity </span></p></li><li dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Target specific markets </span></p></li></ul><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get Reviews from Customers</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let your guests review your BnB services through Google, Facebook, and TripAdvisor, and then display their best reviews on your website. Having positive reviews on your BnB webpage will impact the decision-making of potential customers, especially in this industry. </span></p><h2 dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 6pt; margin-top: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get More Direct Bookings With BnBwebsites</span></h2><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At </span><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">BnBwebsites</span></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, we are experts in creating affordable and effective marketing strategies for BnBs. Whether you want to design a website or launch social media campaigns, BnBwebsites is your best choice. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/" style="text-decoration-line: none;">CONTACT US</a></span></p><div><br /></div></span>BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-55667572121358907652020-04-07T12:45:00.003-06:002020-06-11T10:59:28.931-06:00Coronavirus and the Lodging Industry<table cellspacing="10"><tbody>
<tr><td colspan="2" valign="top"><h2 style="text-align: center;">
<i>3 Tips for Surviving the Travel Drought</i></h2>
<br /><img alt="girl with breathing mask" class="img-responsive" height="NaN" src="https://bnbwebsites.s3.amazonaws.com/9977/pille_riin_priske_o5fo4vuuibm_unsplash_rs.jpg" title="" width="100%" /><br /><br />Let’s talk about the Coronavirus.<br /><br />Stings right? It punches the hospitality industry square in the jaw.<br /><br />Turns
out, with a pandemic and social-distancing, people are postponing or
canceling getaways, anniversary trips, and weddings (honeymoons too, go
figure). Now, instead of booking a room with you, they are staying home
and counting their rolls of toilet paper.<br /><br />Here are some tips to keep COVID-19 from killing your business. We’ll get through this together!<br /><br /><img alt="Woman browsing on phone" class="img-responsive" height="NaN" src="https://bnbwebsites.s3.amazonaws.com/9977/oleg_magni_lgnv_4_l8la_unsplash_rs.jpg" title="" width="100%" /><br />
<h3>
#1 Be Present Online!</h3>
People are sitting in their living rooms bored out of their minds. They will be pulling out their phones to scroll through their newsfeeds. So be there! Your online presence has never been more important.<br /><br />Update your website (send us updates to support@bnbwebsites.com).<br /><br />Then fire up the social media!<br />
<ul>
<li>Post about special cleaning measures your business is taking</li>
<li>Give them ideas of what to do in their free time</li>
<li>Share a meme</li>
<li>Don’t let people forget about you</li>
</ul>
After the social-distancing is over, you can bet that your guests will
have cabin fever. Be the first thing they think of when they’re finally
leaving the roost.<br /><br /><img alt="woman cleaning windows" class="img-responsive" height="NaN" src="https://bnbwebsites.s3.amazonaws.com/9977/austrian_national_library_t5qnrcvkuz8_unsplash_rs.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<h3>
#2 Be a Safe Haven</h3>
If people are looking to stay with you, they want to know about the sanitation of your property. Doilies and decor… not so much.<br />
<ul>
<li>Communicate. Let them know via website, social media, and email lists what exactly you do to sanitize after each check-out. Describe
your precautions when preparing food.</li>
<li>If your property is in a more isolated or rural area, now is your time to shine! Your location can now lead to more business from people looking to avoid high-population areas. Invite them out.</li>
<li>If people choose to simply stay home for a while (doing their part
to stop the spread), sharing your sanitation efforts is still important.
It shows that you are a responsible and caring member of the global community. This will help your business in the long-run.</li>
</ul>
<br /><img alt="gift wrapping envelope" class="img-responsive" height="NaN" src="https://bnbwebsites.s3.amazonaws.com/9977/artistiq_dude_hzgbudog_qg_unsplash_rs.jpg" width="100%" /><br />
<h3>
#3 Gift Certificates (mic drop)</h3>
People are not sinking their money into definite plans (AKA “bookings”).
Standard travel insurance doesn’t usually cover cancellations due to the coronavirus outbreak. That means a widespread “wait-and-see”
mentality.<br /><br />Enter the gift certificate.<br /><br />People still need something to look forward to. Maybe especially? Future guests may decide not to travel for a special occasion, but gifting a rain-check to someone via gift certificate? Yes.<br /><br />Many reservation engines provide options for the online purchase of gift certificates. Reach out to yours and set it up. Once available, let people know via social media, your website, and email lists. This can provide some revenue for the time being, and get your business through the travel drought.<br /><br />
<h3>
FAQs from you, our clients</h3>
<i>Can I suspend my website (and billing) for the time being?</i><br />It’s
not a good idea. If you choose to turn off your website, we’ll keep it in our system and can turn it back on and resume billing whenever.
However, this is a really good way to disappear in search engine
rankings. When you turn your site back on, all the authority your website has built up over the years will start over. Needless to say,
this will hurt your business substantially down the line.<br /><br /><i>What do I do about refunds? Guests are asking for them well within the appropriate time frame. How can I slow the bleed?</i><br />Fix
a set cancellation fee, regardless of time frame. When they ask for a
refund, let them know about the fee. Then inform them that they can move
their reservation into a Gift Certificate with no fee (again, Gift
Certificates can seriously save you here).<br /><br /><i>How can I reach out to my customers en masse?</i><br />As
mentioned, social media is a great avenue. For emailing large amounts of people, BnBwebsites has basic email software included with your website that may meet your needs. We can set it up for you upon request. As for generating an email list, reservation systems usually have this capability, and can sometimes even send the emails directly.<br /><br /><i>Is BnBwebsites offering discounts to clients in light of the Coronavirus?</i> <br />We
are a small, privately-owned company that is feeling the strain of the pandemic just like you. While we will do all we can to help meet your website needs, we cannot offer free hosting or discounts at this time.<br /><br /><i>I have sent several updates to be made to my website. How soon can I expect those changes to be made?</i><br />We
are receiving a remarkable amount of support requests at this time, so the normal 24–48 hours will not always be possible. However, we will get
to your requests as soon as humanly possible.<br />
<br /><br />Best regards, and let us know if you have any questions! For edits or updates to your website, email support@bnbwebsites.com.<br /><br />To your success!<br /><br />The BnBwebsites Team<br /></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap="nowrap" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;" valign="top"></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
BnBwebsiteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032080582549812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-33430857209090999652020-02-03T10:23:00.000-07:002020-02-05T13:47:59.832-07:00The Importance of Professionally Branded Email Addresses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4dHyvC5i4sB_UrGh8Ueh7NLLncqNfWjmAhHqq8HNr0R6U9wk5oTTLL5bmGFpIlbLaHSdINN2ed2mbXsgGG-oR2zsHOxaYerwlIbBTK0c70DC6BaU5Yg9mqpYx2Qh1_bYpsN5Iuu_8I0/s1600/email_typesrs.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="477" data-original-width="1000" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4dHyvC5i4sB_UrGh8Ueh7NLLncqNfWjmAhHqq8HNr0R6U9wk5oTTLL5bmGFpIlbLaHSdINN2ed2mbXsgGG-oR2zsHOxaYerwlIbBTK0c70DC6BaU5Yg9mqpYx2Qh1_bYpsN5Iuu_8I0/s640/email_typesrs.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>
What is a Branded Email?</b><br />
This is a professional email account that uses your own website's domain.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycdQd-qhmFrH8fMR8yUEhla0DaOfN6usHcH4gk3uwrgMaVdW85wzaFLHtEd5tcuSaxS_foRbuSbiUecC9roD2EVHqviuOYBhrG6G2TAm9HMllDBV_JJamSNQ09VL8owpGycB5xlZIhvg/s1600/email_breakdown_hd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="173" data-original-width="861" height="79" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycdQd-qhmFrH8fMR8yUEhla0DaOfN6usHcH4gk3uwrgMaVdW85wzaFLHtEd5tcuSaxS_foRbuSbiUecC9roD2EVHqviuOYBhrG6G2TAm9HMllDBV_JJamSNQ09VL8owpGycB5xlZIhvg/s400/email_breakdown_hd.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<b>
Why is a branded email account important?</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Each type of email says something about your business. You can communicate professionalism or a lack thereof by the type of email account you use for business interactions. There are three different classifications of business email addresses.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<b>
1) PERSONAL</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The username and domain don't relate to your website in any way. This can make you look like a scammer or a hobbyist.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><b>Examples</b></i><i><b>:</b> sdmerrill12@aol.com, shaundm@msn.com, shaun@gmail.com, sdm375@hotmail.com, shaundmerrill@comcast.net</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<b>
2) OFF-BRAND</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The username mentions your business, but the domain is not yours. This is usually because you don't know how to set one up, but is less professional and diminishes customer confidence. You also advertise someone else's website with every email you send.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><b>Examples:</b> bnbwebsites@gmail.com, bandbwebsites@aol.com, bbwebsites@msn.com, bnbwebsites@hotmail.com, bbwebsites@comcast.net</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<br /></div>
<div style="clear: both;">
<b>
3) BRANDED</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The username is informational and the domain is your own. This makes your business look professional and legitimate.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<i><b>Examples:</b> smerrill@bnbwebsites.com, info@bnbwebsites.com, support@bnbwebsites.com</i></div>
<br />
<br />
If you're just starting a business, or if you want to increase your professionalism, a branded email account may be just what you need. <a href="https://www.zoho.com/mail/zohomail-pricing1.html?src=zmail" target="_blank">Zoho</a> offers this kind of email address for free.<br />
<br />
If you've seen the difference that changing to a branded email makes, or if you have other tips for improving professionalism, tell us about it in the comments.BnBwebsites Ongoing SEOhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09669790043467303057noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-67027287800474043432019-06-25T08:49:00.001-06:002019-06-25T08:49:41.993-06:00Google My Business Short Names<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0t7UgP08WBKn5zD7S-9EYrShLrtmggy2XJz0mQ9dlMZs11WPrIfor_ODa7JsAtoUa5xRwJOdVW8XoDbPaCZyPf94ZIJG5afCrIoh2xfqaaVHb1-SAStNYZ_gO7A7jzRjkrLmaxaBGE9N7/s1600/google-my-business-short-name.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="368" data-original-width="837" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0t7UgP08WBKn5zD7S-9EYrShLrtmggy2XJz0mQ9dlMZs11WPrIfor_ODa7JsAtoUa5xRwJOdVW8XoDbPaCZyPf94ZIJG5afCrIoh2xfqaaVHb1-SAStNYZ_gO7A7jzRjkrLmaxaBGE9N7/s640/google-my-business-short-name.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Google is rolling out a new feature for Google My Business (GMB) listings - Short Names.<br />
<br />
Think of your GMB Short Name like your Twitter handle or your Instagram username.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>EX: @bnbwebsites</i></div>
<br />
The primary function of your GMB Short Name is to provide a condensed URL that you can easily distribute.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>EX: g.page/bnbwebsites</i></div>
<br />
You can give this short URL to customers who may not be sure how to leave you a Google review. Or it might help someone find you on Google Maps.<br />
<br />
There are several useful applications for your GMB Short Name so be sure to claim yours right away, as each Short Name must be unique.<br />
<br />
If you're not sure how to create your GMB Short Name, we love this article by Chatmeter: <a href="https://www.chatmeter.com/blog/new-google-adds-short-names-heres-what-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank">Google Adds Short Names – Here’s What You Need to Know</a>Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-69554461967183448322019-04-11T14:07:00.001-06:002019-04-11T14:23:04.780-06:00Local Citations: How Small Properties Can Compete With The OTAsIf you’re located within any decent vicinity of a major city or tourist attraction, you’re likely experiencing this: you do a Google search for “XYZ lodging” and every link on Page 1 is for an association, an OTA, or a directory.<br />
<br />
So what’s a small business owner to do? How do I get real estate on Page 1 in a saturated market?<br />
<br />
Enter the Local Pack:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojE43JpEEdsM1LMXIQTIZl1RptUWYF8E3jsf7zUg-iumb7uE5Yf_8MEQQcmcGTVF-oAT43U89veQlT98T70U_HD76LA95xPo-WdxDlKvbFLlbNvzavzDDhRFuRsQuUbH2QHDegG3vgBQ/s1600/google-local-pack-highlighted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Google Local Pack highlighted in sample search results" border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="951" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojE43JpEEdsM1LMXIQTIZl1RptUWYF8E3jsf7zUg-iumb7uE5Yf_8MEQQcmcGTVF-oAT43U89veQlT98T70U_HD76LA95xPo-WdxDlKvbFLlbNvzavzDDhRFuRsQuUbH2QHDegG3vgBQ/s320/google-local-pack-highlighted.jpg" title="" width="213" /></a></div>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
What is the Local Pack?</span></h3>
<div>
Also called the Map Pack, this feature specifically highlights local businesses with a brick-and-mortar location. Something that an OTA can't do.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This means that you <i>can</i> find real estate on Page 1 even in tough markets.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
What do I need to do in order to show up in the Local Pack?</span></h3>
<div>
Your Local Citations need to be completely accurate and in sync.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<a href="https://moz.com/learn/seo/local-citations" target="_blank">What is a Local Citation?</a></h3>
<div>
A Local Citation is any mention of your NAP Information - meaning, your business's Name, Address, Phone. This fundamental contact information needs to be accurate, across the internet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Examples of Local Citations</h4>
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/7091?hl=en" target="_blank">Google My Business listing</a></li>
<li>Business Facebook Page</li>
<li>TripAdvisor listing</li>
<li>Association website listing</li>
<li>Etc.</li>
</ul>
<div>
Each of these mentions is considered a Local Citation.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
What are some common Local Citations errors?</span></h3>
<div>
Your business's Address and Phone will rarely change. But we often find that business's names can have lots of inconsistencies.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Examples of inconsistent business names</h4>
<div>
Let's assume that the official business name is "BnBwebsites Bed & Breakfast".</div>
<div>
Here are some common variations that are considered Local Citations errors:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>BnBwebsites Bed <span style="background-color: #ea9999;">and</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Breakfast</li>
<li>BnBwebsites <span style="background-color: #ea9999;">B&B</span></li>
<li>BnBwebsites Bed & Breakfast <span style="background-color: #ea9999;">Inn</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: #ea9999;">BnB Websites</span> Bed & Breakfast</li>
</ul>
<div>
These may seem like small variations but each of these inconsistencies hurts your Local Citations profile.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
How do I fix my Local Citations?</span></h3>
<div>
<ol>
<li><b><i>The Long Way:</i></b> Use Google's help to scour the internet, find your Local Citations, and correct them. You'll need to either log into your account and make the change or many of these directories allow you to Suggest An Edit.</li>
<li><b><i>The Short Way:</i></b> Use a lookup tool like Moz Local to <a href="https://moz.com/local/search" target="_blank">find your most prominent Local Citations</a> for you. These tools should also specify what the error is and provide a link for you to access the inconsistent Citation quickly.</li>
<li><b><i>The Paid Way:</i></b> Tools like Moz Local usually also offer a paid package so that you can input your correct Local Citation once and the service will handle the rest.</li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
What else do my Local Citations need in addition to NAP Information?</span></h3>
<div>
To make your Local Citations even more attractive to both users and search engines, consider adding more information whenever possible:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Website address</li>
<li>Hours of operation</li>
<li>Photos</li>
<li>Reviews</li>
<li>Etc.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="color: #444444;">
What else can I do to compete with the OTAs and hotel chains?</span></h3>
<div>
Local Citations are not the end-all solution, of course. As with anything web- or SEO-related, it's just one piece of the puzzle.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Reviews</h4>
<div>
You already know the importance of guest reviews. But you may not know that <a href="https://support.bnbwebsites.com/review-marketing.htm" target="_blank">having a 5-star rating is just one piece of the reviews puzzle</a>.</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><b><i>Diversity:</i></b> You don't want to have 300 reviews on TripAdvisor but only 5 on Google and only 10 on Facebook.</li>
<li><b><i>Recency:</i></b> After about 90 days, reviews start to depreciate in value.</li>
<li><b><i>Quantity:</i></b> If you only have 3 total reviews, that overall 5-star rating looks a little suspicious.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Content</h4>
<div>
The OTAs and chains might have inherently higher Domain Authority, exponentially larger backlink profiles, and thousands - or even millions - of dollars to spend on marketing. But that doesn't mean small businesses are simply out of luck. It means that you'll need to <a href="https://moz.com/blog/small-businesses-websites-compete-big-players-seo-whiteboard-friday" target="_blank">target and optimize differently</a>.</div>
Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-84790115075194592042018-03-12T15:03:00.001-06:002020-06-11T13:07:11.860-06:00HTTPS is No Longer Optional<h2>
Google Chrome 68</h2>
<br />
For more than a year, Google Chrome has been <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2016/09/moving-towards-more-secure-web.html" target="_blank">marking more and more HTTP web pages as "not secure"</a>.<br />
<br />
Google made a new announcement earlier this month that <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2018/02/a-secure-web-is-here-to-stay.html" target="_blank">beginning in July 2018, Google Chrome will mark all HTTP sites as “not secure”</a>, continuing their campaign to secure the web.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7cHiYA754MaCULRymTOwMxngk1CSGdPHeu7u1C9yoYKvjGCILOtqO4EPOWhmo3P2aES5tqzlFcdbwkaHHu59yoeNZHgphVfzDj8CC6Y6dCtFlqht76MW0DrWGjS-RByExkTEP43yluA/s1600/shutterstock_147872255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7cHiYA754MaCULRymTOwMxngk1CSGdPHeu7u1C9yoYKvjGCILOtqO4EPOWhmo3P2aES5tqzlFcdbwkaHHu59yoeNZHgphVfzDj8CC6Y6dCtFlqht76MW0DrWGjS-RByExkTEP43yluA/s640/shutterstock_147872255.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<h2>
Why HTTPS matters</h2>
Users who see a “not secure” warning when visiting your website will be much more reluctant to trust your brand or make purchases.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/security/encrypt-in-transit/why-https" target="_blank">“You should always protect all of your websites with HTTPS, even if they don’t handle sensitive communications.”</a><br />
<br />
HTTPS protects your website visitors by eliminating unprotected communications.<br />
<br />
Developers can now create powerful tools that can provide new offline experiences but they depend on HTTPS.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2>
What is the cost?</h2>
<br />
All BnBwebsites sites are secured with HTTPS free of charge.BnBwebsiteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032080582549812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-19602302110386815822018-02-26T10:37:00.000-07:002020-01-25T13:44:38.521-07:00Why should I have High Quality Images?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aDXcbP-E-hqlVgAOTVOEw20llbHXxnOk3JZi4elpUT9PROm6JYNo0yjaFqwFHQU9C6b1QXTDmrmWx6_mfUIEpTZG9vU2IKC3oW4ZNysuJwMouk344HsZVBwakTgweyoqsGb025RvqjY/s1600/High-Quality-Image-rs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="800" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2aDXcbP-E-hqlVgAOTVOEw20llbHXxnOk3JZi4elpUT9PROm6JYNo0yjaFqwFHQU9C6b1QXTDmrmWx6_mfUIEpTZG9vU2IKC3oW4ZNysuJwMouk344HsZVBwakTgweyoqsGb025RvqjY/s640/High-Quality-Image-rs.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Ask yourself: What is the first thing I notice about a great website?<br />
<br />
Things that would come to mind would probably be logos, website design, and images. Generally, we are more drawn to sites that are aesthetically pleasing to us, <a href="https://www.treefrog.ca/why-professional-imagery-is-important-for-your-website">this is due to us being able to process images quicker than reading</a>. If that’s the case, then the images on our websites have an impact on the visitors that land on our homepage and subsequent pages, and more importantly: we have a duty to make sure those images are crisp, clean, and appropriate for our purposes. With that being said, you’ll end up asking yourself: How can I make my site picture perfect? So here are a couple things to consider: <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Professional photography</b></span><br />
<br />
Hiring a professional photographer is beneficial in numerous ways. When you hire a professional you get crisp, high-quality photographs that will fit your needs. What you get is a trained eye for photography’s many unwritten rules, and a fresh perspective on the subjects that you wish to capture. <br />
<br />
“Can’t I just take a photo with my phone? It has a pretty good camera.”<br />
<br />
While it’s true that your smartphone probably has a good camera, there is more to photography than a good camera. While you are welcome to take a photo with your smartphone, it is important to keep in mind that it may not come out the way that you intended, or it may produce a photo that is unappealing to the audience you are catering to. A high-quality photo will portray your business in a more professional manner and inspire added trust in the services that you offer, additionally, great photos could also drive more action to be taken by potential customers! Putting your trust in an experienced photographer may not be the easiest, but it will be well worth it for your website. <br />
<br />
Understanding that not everyone has the means to hire a professional photographer, there are other ways to get adequate images for your bed and breakfast. If you ever need to do a <a href="https://www.bnbwebsites.com/diy-photo-shoot.htm">Do-It-Yourself photoshoot</a>, ensure that you have an idea about what you’re doing. The last thing you want is to waste time taking photos that would not be adequate for your website. Once you do have means to get professional photography done, that would be the best option for your business and website. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step away from the Slideshow</span></b><br />
<br />
“...but slideshows will show all the photos I want everyone to see!” <br />
<br />
Though that idea seems grounded in logic, it is far from the truth. Design aspects of the past have found their way into the way websites are designed in the modern day. Now, you may be wondering: “Why are they bad?”<br />
<br />
Slideshows are not as effective as they are made out to be. The prospect of being able to show visitors your gallery on your homepage seems inviting, but <a href="https://erikrunyon.com/2013/01/carousel-stats/">data shows that a majority of people only take action on the first slide</a>, thus making the other slides in your slideshow virtually useless. Slideshows are also a part of a website that is consistently skipped over, which is to say that people are more likely to turn a blind eye to the slideshow that you invested high-quality photos for.<br />
<br />
<br />
Slideshows can negatively affect your SEO if you put incorrect header tags, and can cause slower page load times due to people filling them with more images than is needed. In short, there are an array of things that could go wrong with slideshows, the quantity of which outweigh the minimal benefits of them. <br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Why go through all of this trouble?</span></b><br />
<br />
Though it may seem tedious and expensive, the return on your investment will be worth it. Your business brand is an important aspect of being successful, and part of that brand is public perception. High-quality images contribute to that image. You can think of visitors landing on your homepage as a first impression, and you want to make a great first impression. Showcasing the products and/or services that you offer in a professional manner will increase trust in your business to provide a high-quality experience. Beyond that, you will have a website and images that you can be proud of. Whether you’re a small or big business, it is a worthy investment to hire professionals to take your photographs and to keep up with best website image practices to ensure that your site is functioning optimally and aesthetically. <br />
<br />
<br />
If you are looking to build a responsive website, visit us at <a href="http://www.bnbwebsites.com/">www.bnbwebsites.com</a> and contact us! We would love to help you on your way to building a beautiful, functional website!BnBwebsiteshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08032080582549812712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-46332934410722194322017-10-09T15:28:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:15:20.050-07:00Why is Google saying that I'm only a 3-star hotel?On your Google My Business listing, you see something like this:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiV500mqyme-nHZPOewRy8AhCgcQQMW-otFPKBCs-qiBEaOk_a8JAO7qtZZ8V2wZ-L5z_HTWHcDZE6nF2fpf9EG6uj29RwrIv4XLl8lZmkd2jCw5oqzLJJC82r6py5NDe9Jh7Mhz5U6kb/s1600/2017-10-09_1355.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="468" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsiV500mqyme-nHZPOewRy8AhCgcQQMW-otFPKBCs-qiBEaOk_a8JAO7qtZZ8V2wZ-L5z_HTWHcDZE6nF2fpf9EG6uj29RwrIv4XLl8lZmkd2jCw5oqzLJJC82r6py5NDe9Jh7Mhz5U6kb/s320/2017-10-09_1355.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Your reviews say that you're rated 4.3 stars but why is Google calling you a 3-star hotel?<br />
<br />
The 3-star hotel classification is part of what Google Maps calls the "<a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/6056435?hl=en" target="_blank">place label</a>".<br />
<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>The place labels shown on Google Maps are determined algorithmically based on a large number of factors. One factor these algorithms consider is the accuracy of the business information and the richness of the content associated with the business.</i></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
Google Maps <a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/2721884" target="_blank">gathers your business information through a number of sources</a>, including:<br />
<ul>
<li>your Google My Business listing</li>
<li>your website</li>
<li>information available on Online Travel Agency websites</li>
</ul>
<br />
The important detail here is that the classification assigned in your place label is separate from the overall star rating from your reviews.<br />
<br />
It's completely possible for a 5-star hotel to have poor reviews, as it is possible for a 3-star hotel to have 5-star reviews from guests.<br />
<br />
So what classifies a property as a 3-star, 4-star, or 5-star hotel?<br />
<br />
Smarter Travel explains that there is, "no one-size-fits-all measurement to rate a hotel’s value, amenities, and overall potential for customer satisfaction," but provides a great <a href="https://www.smartertravel.com/2009/07/09/hotel-star-ratings-what-do-they-mean/" target="_blank">breakdown of hotel star ratings</a> for major OTAs.<br />
<br />
Hotels.com goes so far as to provide a detailed description of <a href="https://www.hotels.com/customer_care/star_rating.html" target="_blank">how they determine hotel star ratings</a>.<br />
<br />
You'll notice that amenities play a very large part in how hotels are rated. If you don't offer 24/7 room service, heated pools, a fitness center, and en-suite Jacuzzis, then you're likely not eligible to be classified as a 5-star hotel, regardless of how good your guest reviews are.<br />
<br />
If you have a verified Google My Business listing, you can <a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/6215588" target="_blank">manually update your property's amenities</a> to help make sure that Google has all the correct information regarding your business.<br />
<br />
If you've updated your Google My Business listing but still not seeing the appropriate hotel star rating, you can <a href="https://support.google.com/business/answer/6215588" target="_blank">contact Google My Business Help</a> to request a review of your information.Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-58214419976758449582017-09-28T11:15:00.001-06:002022-03-14T14:22:38.970-06:00Your Google My Business ListingAs recently as August 2017, Google was estimated to have over 80% of total search engine market share:
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="570" id="na636422108230390000" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="" width="600"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">document.getElementById("na636422108230390000").src="http://www.netmarketshare.com/report.aspx?qprid=4"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpcustomd=0"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpf=16"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpwidth=600"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpdisplay=1111"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"qpmr=10"+String.fromCharCode(38)+"site="+window.location.hostname</script></div>
<br />
<br />
With that in mind, it's incredibly important that your business is listed fully and correctly in Google's database.<br />
<br />
This will ensure that searchers see your correct NAP (Name, Address, Phone) information, reviews, and calls-to-action to visit your website or get directions to your location:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pdlctp4QHvwi7NKJqMZfr4RLIe1FGDRjp7k9n3gg2gigYFE485S6DYAymQibq4HtRIsnl5A25lWQNuhvpvjz51YgYPbWDcGt5SdiMwiPgTmHCSVcBb1JnnxThGBPKNwT0m9QPt_3kK_x/s1600/bnbwebsites+++Google+My+Business.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1213" data-original-width="1306" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2pdlctp4QHvwi7NKJqMZfr4RLIe1FGDRjp7k9n3gg2gigYFE485S6DYAymQibq4HtRIsnl5A25lWQNuhvpvjz51YgYPbWDcGt5SdiMwiPgTmHCSVcBb1JnnxThGBPKNwT0m9QPt_3kK_x/s400/bnbwebsites+++Google+My+Business.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Even more recently, Google has opened up <a href="https://posts.withgoogle.com/" target="_blank">Google Posts functionality to all businesses</a> with Verified Google My Business listings.<br />
<br />
This allows businesses to promote events, specials, products, and more, with a call-to-action directly to reservations, newsletters, etc.<br />
<br />
But before you can start publishing content directly to Google search and maps pages, your Google My Business listing must be Claimed and Verified.<br />
<br />
Go to <a href="https://www.google.com/business/" target="_blank">google.com/business</a> to get started.Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-64832703127891409882017-06-09T15:49:00.001-06:002022-03-09T13:14:17.889-07:00But I'm only 30 minutes outside of (major city)...For a long time now, Google has been focusing on several ideas that have a big impact on Local Search. A couple that heavily affects the hospitality/lodging space are:<br />
<ul>
<li>serving search results that match the user's intent</li>
</ul>
<div>
and, of course,</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>topical relevance</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A question that we hear often from clients is, "I'm not ranking on Page 1 for "(major city) bed and breakfast"."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My first response is always, "Well, are you located in (major city)?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And in these cases, the answer is usually something like, "Not exactly, but we are really close..."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
What does Google consider to be the boundaries of (major city)?</h3>
<div>
<br />
Let's look at an example.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are the formal city limits of Boston, MA according to Google Maps:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXOCfvddY_JLZUFhslakqZQFhPuHfCnEgupvV9z0AqQRrJ6Huq0VY8vtfP5qMlph0IcG6vRWVMVyzIWu-1Nr-wTuZXl0IIf_0uFjACBVPrG4pwECsN_ZNRXT_O-l9OZ4dA302R3dgfhfP/s1600/2017-06-08_1602.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="795" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXOCfvddY_JLZUFhslakqZQFhPuHfCnEgupvV9z0AqQRrJ6Huq0VY8vtfP5qMlph0IcG6vRWVMVyzIWu-1Nr-wTuZXl0IIf_0uFjACBVPrG4pwECsN_ZNRXT_O-l9OZ4dA302R3dgfhfP/s400/2017-06-08_1602.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Google Maps search for "Boston, MA"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here's an example of what a traveler would see if they did a Google search for "boston bed and breakfast":</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlELZbYxsFH2_Qio0bWzljqqZMBu5XzHJeHAFufb42BpT8PKML6FcWkoHTjietenf1cbrpPAQNsJ4f65V7wR_FTS5-j-8tBNEAKKaESHdO6H_kgSoxWdPT059U12heAUC0xBpRYVBRehO/s1600/Screenshot_20170608-152817.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYlELZbYxsFH2_Qio0bWzljqqZMBu5XzHJeHAFufb42BpT8PKML6FcWkoHTjietenf1cbrpPAQNsJ4f65V7wR_FTS5-j-8tBNEAKKaESHdO6H_kgSoxWdPT059U12heAUC0xBpRYVBRehO/s640/Screenshot_20170608-152817.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sample search for "boston bed and breakfast"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After you scroll past all of the paid ads, you will come across the Map Pack (Local Pack) (3-Pack). Notice how much of the city of Boston is not included in this search! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even if you expand the Map Pack to see more, this is as much as you get:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oWl6ApiFk-S2wKMVddHSyG_svg7J-qOkMYQLI-lVtGf2nKmgxckyP-ipSyHCUg5wAqYeWOta0rymYPCHsfnIIUs2yDpiw4MPxT53hsUiFZxCII_DYA7syalETZCh9YVG9JVnKOxu5BYJ/s1600/Screenshot_20170608-155408.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5oWl6ApiFk-S2wKMVddHSyG_svg7J-qOkMYQLI-lVtGf2nKmgxckyP-ipSyHCUg5wAqYeWOta0rymYPCHsfnIIUs2yDpiw4MPxT53hsUiFZxCII_DYA7syalETZCh9YVG9JVnKOxu5BYJ/s640/Screenshot_20170608-155408.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">expanded Map Pack view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aren't there also B&Bs in Roxbury? Yes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aren't there also B&Bs in Hyde Park? Yes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aren't there also B&Bs in Ashmont? Yes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aren't there also B&Bs in Worcester, just about an hour outside of Boston? Yes.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But does Google choose to include any of these areas initially for the search, "boston bed and breakfast"? No.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Why?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Searcher Intent</h3>
<div>
<br />
What we can glean from these sample searches is that based on their seemingly endless data bank, Google has made a determination regarding what geographic area searchers are interested in when they search for "boston bed and breakfast".</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We need to realize that your physical location is the biggest factor when it comes to Local Search.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Regardless of how good your Reviews are, if you're not in that specific geographic location, Google can't actually include you in those search results.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Google knows that if someone searches for "boston bed and breakfast", they are most likely looking for something in the heart of the city, so Google shows the results that most accurately match that intent.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So you have to think: does my business more accurately identify with "boston bed and breakfast" or "bed and breakfast outside boston"?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Topical Relevance</h3>
<div>
<br />
A related concern is, "I'm not ranking on Page 1 for "(major city) hotel"."</div>
<div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My first response is always, "Well, are you a hotel in (major city)?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And in these cases, the answer is usually something like, "Not exactly, we are a bed and breakfast..."</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Just as Google can't be tricked into believing that you're located in Boston if you're not, Google can't be tricked into believing that you're a hotel if you're actually a 2-room B&B. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In fact, you don't want to trick Google, anyway. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If someone does a search for "boston bed and breakfast", they see your website listed in the search results, they click on your link and go to your website, they immediately see that you're in Worcester and not in Boston, they hit the Back button. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now your Bounce Rate is higher.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If someone does a search for "boston hotel", they see your website listed in the search results, they click on your link and go to your website, they immediately see that you're not a hotel, they hit the Back button. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now your Bounce Rate is higher.</div>
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<div>
Google uses your Bounce Rate as one of many indicators to know whether or not your website is relevant to the search query.</div>
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<div>
It's only a matter of time before any attempts to trick Google will backfire on you.</div>
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<h3>
So what can I do?</h3>
<div>
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Embrace where you are! Not the large metro area that's an hour away from you. Remember the sample search above - not even all B&B's that are in Boston get immediately included in the search results for "boston bed and breakfast". So if you're outside of city limits, it's even more unrealistic to expect those rankings.</div>
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<div>
Every location has some redeeming quality - that's why you decided to do business there, right? So embrace your area's attractions and target travelers who feel the same way.</div>
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You can optimize content for "near (major city)" or "staycations close to (major city)". Blogging about attractions around you can help increase your exposure in searches where, by definition, Local Search can't rank you.</div>
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<div>
Instead of aiming for higher traffic volumes, aim for higher traffic quality. Use your website and social media to target travelers who actually want to stay where you are.</div>
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<div>
Don't confuse and frustrate travelers by trying to trick Google.</div>
Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-79134831291451391362017-01-02T11:31:00.003-07:002022-03-09T13:13:45.603-07:00HTTPS as a Google Search Ranking SignalGoogle's effort in <a href="https://security.googleblog.com/2016/09/moving-towards-more-secure-web.html" target="_blank">moving towards a more secure web</a> marches on as our lives become more technologically focused. With the release of Google Chrome version 56, non-secure web pages (HTTP) will show a "Not secure" tag in the address bar:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JyV6bHg-XZjR0wmFEwq5NszhHcxN7cPhyphenhyphenevjMwFR-WQzTQITDsxp0rs18tAHb_DeItwzz6K7VNa0k0U3QQABwOI4KxCs96xDPdCUrERZyJGR5lK1oAkfytOFG9R7rRLCIgDYtuDbNUA/s1600/google-not-secure-tag.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-JyV6bHg-XZjR0wmFEwq5NszhHcxN7cPhyphenhyphenevjMwFR-WQzTQITDsxp0rs18tAHb_DeItwzz6K7VNa0k0U3QQABwOI4KxCs96xDPdCUrERZyJGR5lK1oAkfytOFG9R7rRLCIgDYtuDbNUA/s640/google-not-secure-tag.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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HTTPS is an encrypted method of data transfer that blocks virtual eavesdroppers from seeing and using your information.<br />
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Technically speaking, unless your website is transferring passwords, payment information, or other sensitive data, there's no need for your website to be served over HTTPS.<br />
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But for best practices, and taking into account that <a href="https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html">HTTPS is a search ranking signal for Google</a>, all websites should implement HTTPS across all pages.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"<i>We've seen positive results, so we're starting to use HTTPS as a ranking signal. For now it's only a very lightweight signal — affecting fewer than 1% of global queries, and carrying less weight than other signals such as high-quality content — while we give webmasters time to switch to HTTPS. But over time, we may decide to strengthen it, because we’d like to encourage all website owners to switch from HTTP to HTTPS to keep everyone safe on the web.</i>" - Google Webmaster Central Blog</blockquote>
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So while HTTPS is currently a minor ranking signal, it's anticipated to grow in importance along with the Chrome implementation of the "Not secure" tag. While that tag itself is not a ranking signal, it would come as no surprise that the words "Not secure" being shown right next to your web address will certainly increase your Bounce Rate, decrease your Clickthrough Rate, and diminish the overall level of trust that users find in your website.<br />
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BnBwebsites strongly recommends that all website owners begin adopting HTTPS now before it becomes a much more important Google search ranking signal, as it's becoming an essential part of a well-designed, fast, and user-friendly website.Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-32515629314447753452015-07-06T11:10:00.003-06:002022-03-09T13:12:27.521-07:00The importance of keeping your Hours of Operation up to dateWe tried to go eat lunch at a local restaurant on the 4th of July - there was no mention online of having special holiday hours, so we assumed they were still open. Unfortunately, we were forced to take our business elsewhere because we showed up and the restaurant was closed. <b><i>Make sure that you keep your operating hours updated online so that you don't disappoint potential customers! </i></b><br />
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This is becoming more and more important now that mobile search quantity has surpassed desktop search - so many more users are looking for your contact info and hours on their smartphones, so you need to make sure that your information is up to date and easily accessible.<br />
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Google has released a tool that will allow you to check your Google My Business (Google Places) listing to see whether or not your business information is accurate. Go to <a href="http://www.gybo.com/summer">http://www.gybo.com/summer</a> and type in your business name and city. You will then be able to see the information that Google has listed for you, and will give you the opportunity to fix any erroneous details.<br />
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Google reports that 25% of businesses change their hours for the summer*, which was the basis for them introducing this special tool. Because many businesses in the lodging industry have seasonal hours, this is extremely important! We encourage all business owners to visit <a href="http://www.gybo.com/summer">http://www.gybo.com/summer</a> and make sure that your potential customers don't have the same disappointing experience that we did.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">* Written by Google and conducted using Google Consumer Surveys, June 2015</span>Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-51136699897555354232015-05-27T15:12:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:09:13.688-07:00New incentives for Responsive Web DesignResponsive Web Design is now essential for any business, but especially for us in the lodging industry. Users want to see prices, locations, availability, amenities, reviews, and compare multiple options before booking. When users are bouncing from source to source, it’s important to have a specific brand identity and maintain consistency across all platforms so that your business is easily recognizable in all contexts.<br />
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During the 2015 AdWords livestream, Google reported that <b>9 out of 10 smartphone users start their research on one device but ultimately purchase on another.</b> Responsive Web Design allows you to deliver seamless transitions between devices and provide brand familiarity, which will increase your likelihood of gaining conversions.<br />
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BnBwebsites builds beautiful and efficient Responsive websites for bed and breakfasts, hotels, cabins, inns, vacation rentals, really any lodging option. Visit <a href="http://bnbwebsites.com/">BnBwebsites.com</a> to browse our design portfolio and check our pricing options.Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-20090158512072417072015-04-20T16:53:00.004-06:002022-03-09T13:08:38.961-07:00Another advantage to being in the Google Local Pack / Map PackGoogle's Mobile-friendly update rolled out back in April of 2015, and that meant significant penalties for websites that are not optimized for use on mobile devices.<br />
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If your website is still not Mobile-friendly (you should fix that), you are not beyond hope. Gary Illyes of Google <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-core-mobile-friendly-20138.html" target="_blank">confirmed that the Google Map Pack will not be affected</a> by the Mobile-friendly algorithm.<br />
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Here's a rough diagram that will show you exactly what the Google Map Pack is:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkoWrugWWPWoW0cMxnkys7fOgvpwL9PoWmkP3URk6iOswBnmNRRHzcUDOPdSKbqldC6WpWTl-Rs_0n7h2DtyrODTlaEWckTKoh6uE08Dq-NK0k7tof2bzFwprfeLq9xHLCSl1PstdT64/s1600/google-serp-segments.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="diagram marking different sections of a typical Google SERP" border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwkoWrugWWPWoW0cMxnkys7fOgvpwL9PoWmkP3URk6iOswBnmNRRHzcUDOPdSKbqldC6WpWTl-Rs_0n7h2DtyrODTlaEWckTKoh6uE08Dq-NK0k7tof2bzFwprfeLq9xHLCSl1PstdT64/s1600/google-serp-segments.JPG" title="Google SERP segments" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />
You'll notice that all listings in the Map Pack have a couple things in common:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>They are listed in Google My Business (formerly Google Places)</li>
<li>They have at least one Google review</li>
</ol>
<div>
Aside from gaining a little protection from tomorrow's Mobile-friendly algorithm update, there are some other distinct advantages to being listed in the Google Map Pack, but we will talk about that another time.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Right now you should be focusing on making sure your website is mobile-friendly, and making sure that your business is integrated with Google's different business functions.</div>
Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-29674719313748421872015-04-14T17:08:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:05:54.434-07:00Can horizontal websites work for the lodging industry ?The novelty of a horizontal scrolling website can make your brand more memorable and share-able online, but is it practical for all industries ?<br />
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Web Design Ledger compiled a list of 25 beautiful and creative horizontal websites here: <a href="http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/horizontal-scrolling-sites-youll-love">http://webdesignledger.com/inspiration/horizontal-scrolling-sites-youll-love</a></div>
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There's no doubt that these websites grab your attention and make you want to explore every nook and cranny. This is great from the standpoint of engaging your visitors, but you'll notice that many of these websites are purely informational. Very few of these websites feature traditional e-commerce shopping carts or booking engines. </div>
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But what do you think ? Is it because users are so accustomed to a particular format when making purchases online, that they will be uncomfortable using a new scheme ? Do you see horizontal website compositions becoming popular for the lodging industry ?</div>
Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-70670563061410148572015-04-07T11:44:00.004-06:002015-07-28T12:42:21.494-06:00New insights about Google's upcoming Mobile-friendly UpdateAs with all changes that Google makes, the Mobile-friendly Update has the industry buzzing. More information, and even more speculation, comes out as we near the April 21st date. Here are a few tidbits that we think will be most applicable to you in the Lodging industry:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjVGfx8BV6PlRFqmJT_f07gANFCH7d6EQtVHrmxmHVTQDS9goB45Q9IPrxEPA0glCgpwoaC1YbRBTLmAa_dQhp1pRXSVGDuACCDjwMAZlxwVjxvQU94NASOzXRcwTDP_EmhC1AxncFUo/s1600/google-mobile-slow-label.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Screenshot of Google's experimental Slow label in mobile SERPs" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjVGfx8BV6PlRFqmJT_f07gANFCH7d6EQtVHrmxmHVTQDS9goB45Q9IPrxEPA0glCgpwoaC1YbRBTLmAa_dQhp1pRXSVGDuACCDjwMAZlxwVjxvQU94NASOzXRcwTDP_EmhC1AxncFUo/s1600/google-mobile-slow-label.png" title="Google's experimental Slow label in mobile SERPs" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://searchengineland.com/google-testing-red-slow-label-search-results-slower-sites-215483" target="_blank">Photo from Barry Schwartz</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol>
<li>Currently, everyone is concerned with gaining the Mobile-friendly label to prove they have passed <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/" target="_blank">the test</a>. But with time, as the majority of websites comply with Google's requirements, almost every search result will include the label and it will lose value. At that point, it's possible that Google would revert to negative reinforcement to encourage change. This negative reinforcement could come in the form of a Slow label being displayed next to a website's search listing. Like an unfavorable TripAdvisor review, this sort of Scarlet Letter shaming would certainly incentivize change. </li>
<li>Your website's mobile rankings and desktop rankings will be kept separate. This implies that Google will have an entirely separate index for mobile than it does for desktop. But you should make sure that both your mobile and desktop websites - or your single Responsive website - work well across all platforms in order to provide the best user experience, and make your booking engine universally accessible.</li>
<li>It is possible that your website's desktop keywords are different from your mobile keywords. When considering your SEO tactics, it is always a good idea to consider the user's intent and needs. For example: a user searching for your B&B on their home computer probably wants to see big beautiful photos, read about all the amenities, and ultimately book a room. A user searching for your B&B on their mobile phone is probably on the road trying to find directions to the room where they're planning to sleep that night. Remember that the needs of your users may vary circumstantially, so be mindful of that when optimizing your website. </li>
<li>Google's ultimate goal is to provide users with the most pertinent information, as quickly as possible. That should be the ultimate goal of your website as well. In the mobile realm, we are seeing growth in use of voice-prompted tools like Siri and Google's Voice Search. This will be important to keep in mind as you prepare or revise content for your website - you should be trying to answer the user's questions in a conversational manner. </li>
</ol>
<div>
For more predictions and details surrounding Google's upcoming Mobile-friendly Update, <a href="http://moz.com/blog/9-things-about-googles-mobile-friendly-update" target="_blank">this Moz Blog article by Cindy Krum</a> has lots of great insights!</div>
Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-28073376481619655272015-03-26T11:53:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:05:23.252-07:00Do Google's reports contradict each other?Google has two tools that can evaluate the usability and mobile-friendliness of your website:<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/" target="_blank">Mobile-Friendly Test</a></li>
<li>Google Webmaster Tools Mobile Usability evaluation</li>
</ul>
<div>
But users have been noticing that the two reports can <a href="https://www.seroundtable.com/google-mobile-friendly-test-webmaster-tools-mobile-usability-reports-20041.html" target="_blank">sometimes contradict each other</a>. The Mobile-Friendly Test results are successful, but Google Webmaster Tools will say that your website has errors on every single page. </div>
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<div>
If the Google Webmaster Tools Mobile Usability evaluation says that you have unresolved issues, those should certainly be addressed as soon as possible. But it doesn't necessarily mean that your website isn't ready for the April 21 update to Google's algorithm that will adjust website rankings based on mobile-friendliness. </div>
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<div>
As we described in another post, the best way to quickly check on your website's readiness is to see if your website is tagged with the Mobile-friendly label:</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDRl4-R3cRqylAxY8GxOuxum9clJftukM_gXm4cA51QBNVSLPe4XopiadweYftgcF3iaMjTBz-kSNAeZwPmU9jJP0ZkyhHC0Redhs126wGPJyT9kY_HH0KWkSzkv2OCBAQCI2uDUQe6s/s1600/google-mobile-friendly-label-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Screenshot of the Google Mobile-friendly label on the BnBwebsites.com listing" border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDRl4-R3cRqylAxY8GxOuxum9clJftukM_gXm4cA51QBNVSLPe4XopiadweYftgcF3iaMjTBz-kSNAeZwPmU9jJP0ZkyhHC0Redhs126wGPJyT9kY_HH0KWkSzkv2OCBAQCI2uDUQe6s/s1600/google-mobile-friendly-label-2.jpg" title="Google Mobile-friendly label" width="320" /></a></div>
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Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-40131567999407992742015-03-24T16:07:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:04:23.570-07:00Google's Upcoming Mobile-friendly Algorithm UpdateAs you probably know, more and more people are relying on mobile devices for their daily online activities. Your smartphone is no longer just for Facebook and Instagram. You can now manage your bank account, get important news, or even book a room at your favorite bed and breakfast from your smartphone or tablet.<br />
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<a href="http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.com/2015/02/finding-more-mobile-friendly-search.html" target="_blank">Google announced recently</a>, “As more people use mobile devices to access the internet, our algorithms have to adapt to these usage patterns.” In the same statement, Google says that starting April 21, 2015 mobile-friendliness will become a stronger ranking signal that will have a “significant impact” on search results. (Google also announced changes to how mobile apps are indexed and ranked, although that isn’t as pertinent here)<br />
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BnBwebsites has always advocated mobile-friendly web design. Our specially-designed mobile websites are built specifically for fast load times and for providing essential information for users on the go.<br />
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There is an easy way to know whether or not Google recognizes your website as mobile-friendly: simply do a Google search for your site on a mobile device. If your site meets the most basic guidelines, you will see a special Mobile-friendly label like the one below:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUa4Ubysx6JO6ydQeAaq0B7ibnZZrfj98wgx8gO8QiH-eezjun-Jn0oiJf3qkQ81wrxFdnXx7-Sq0yFDsQiNx06I6-iulC0gDYz6tLr2dPZVb4RzhT7urMQQZZ1M77vRr_KsZt1DaviU/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUa4Ubysx6JO6ydQeAaq0B7ibnZZrfj98wgx8gO8QiH-eezjun-Jn0oiJf3qkQ81wrxFdnXx7-Sq0yFDsQiNx06I6-iulC0gDYz6tLr2dPZVb4RzhT7urMQQZZ1M77vRr_KsZt1DaviU/s1600/IMG_0032.jpg" width="268" /></a></div>
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You can also analyze your website using <a href="https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/mobile-friendly/?utm_source=wmc-blog&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=mobile-friendly" target="_blank">Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test</a> for more details about the specific criteria that will earn your site the Mobile-friendly label.</div>
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We want to make sure that your business is in good standing with Google by making your information accessible to mobile users and that you are ranking as high as possible for important keyword phrases. In preparation for the April 21 date, BnBwebsites is offering current clients streamlined Mobile-friendly mobile websites for just $100 setup and $10/month hosting. </div>
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We also want to announce that in the coming months, we will be officially unveiling our functional and beautiful websites in the Responsive Web Design (RWD) configuration. The need for standalone desktop and mobile websites is eliminated with RWD by providing a properly scaled website regardless of what platform the visitor happens to be using. This gives your business even greater accessibility and is <a href="https://developers.google.com/webmasters/mobile-sites/mobile-seo/overview/select-config?hl=en" target="_blank">Google's recommended design pattern</a>. All BnBwebsites clients will receive the full $100 trade-in value of the mobile websites to go towards a RWD upgrade. </div>
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Please contact BnBwebsites at 801-894-9492 for a quote on your RWD upgrade and get yourself on the waiting list early. </div>
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Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-48316512609082325152014-09-23T16:53:00.002-06:002022-03-09T13:03:43.384-07:00BnBwebsites made the top 20!We are honored to have been included in UpCity's <i>Top 20 Web Designers for Hotel Owners</i>.<br />
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In this very competitive field, BnBwebsites is proud to offer exceptional service, a great eye for design, SEO that works, and prices that just make sense. Our custom Content Management System makes it easy for you to edit your own website, even if you don't think you're tech-savvy.<br />
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You can read the full article here: <a href="http://upcity.com/blog/2014/09/top-20-web-designers-for-hotel-owners/">http://upcity.com/blog/2014/09/top-20-web-designers-for-hotel-owners/</a>Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6408675586974003813.post-14739218172643095762014-07-16T17:39:00.005-06:002022-03-09T13:03:18.449-07:00Is there a relationship between Bounce Rate and SERP Rank?You may have heard of Bounce Rates and SERP Ranks before, but you may not have a clear idea of what they are or how they relate to each other and to your website. Let's start with some definitions:<br />
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<b><i>Bounce Rate</i></b> = the percentage of visitors that enter your site and subsequently leave ("bounce") rather than viewing other pages of your website. So if your website's bounce rate is 35%, that means 35% of your website visitors never go on to see any more of your website than the page they started on - which is typically your Home page.<br />
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<b><i>SERP Rank</i></b> = the placement, or rank, of your website in Search Engine Results Pages. **we are specifically talking about organic SERP rank, not paid SERP listings**<br />
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A website's Bounce Rate can be a good indicator of whether or not your website content and/or design are capturing the attention of your visitors; and whether or not your SEO is targeting the right audience. That's great, but what does it have to do with how high your website appears in Search Engine Results Pages ?<br />
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More and more, search engines are trying to cater their Results Pages to the user's intent rather than purely ranking websites based on how heavily they implement keywords. If a user quickly returns to the Search Engine Results Page (bounces from your website) to click on the next result or clarify their search query, search engines can infer that your website is not providing the information that the user is intent on finding. If users are consistently bouncing from your website for a particular search query, it could actually hurt your organic SERP rank for that keyword phrase.<br />
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The best solution is to build your website for your visitors, not for search engines. Your SEO and website content should be answering visitor's questions and engaging them. This can help lower your Bounce Rate and help you rise in the SERP ranks.<br />
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<a href="http://searchengineland.com/optimizing-seo-strategy-2014-beyond-183806" target="_blank">This Search Engine Land article explains how other factors affect your SERP rank.</a>Aaron Thompsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08668869209246129753noreply@blogger.com