Turn your B&B guestbook into a review-generating machine.
Stop letting those sweet guest comments collect dust—start turning them into bookings.

👋 Don’t forget to subscribe and ring the bell so you don’t miss future episodes. Trust me, you’ll want to stick around for the golden tip at the end—it’s a guestbook trick that can boost your Google ranking in under 10 minutes a week.

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Why Your Guestbook Is a Hidden Goldmine

You know that charming little guestbook sitting in the hallway? The one that gets lovely comments like, “Best sleep we’ve had in ages!” or “Loved the rhubarb jam!” Well, guess what—it’s not just a souvenir. That book is sitting on a treasure chest of free marketing content.

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When was the last time you actually used your guestbook for anything other than warm fuzzies?

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If your answer is “Erm… never?” — you’re not alone. But let’s change that.

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🎧 Love B&B chats like this? Tune into the Bed, Breakfast & Business podcast—we keep it real, useful, and sometimes downright hilarious.

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Step 1: Stop Hiding It in the Hallway

Guestbooks tend to gather dust on a sideboard, quietly soaking up compliments like a sponge. But here’s a thought: what if it were centre stage?

• Place it in a high-traffic, well-lit area.

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• Use a little sign that says:
  “We’d love to hear about your stay! Your comments help future guests.”

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• Add a QR code linking to your Google Review page.
  Yes, right there in the book. Let tech and tradition shake hands.

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Coming up—we’ll talk about how to turn a handwritten guestbook entry into a powerful social media post. It’s easier than you think.

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🧠 Step 2: Ask Better Questions

Instead of leaving a blank page, guide your guests with simple prompts:

• What was the highlight of your stay?

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• Which breakfast dish did you love?

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• What surprised you most about our B&B?

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This turns your guestbook from “Nice place!” into “The scones were heavenly. The room smelled like lavender and nostalgia.”

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👉 Usable Tip:
Print prompts on each page or insert a small card—this encourages detail and emotion, which are marketing gold.

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📸 Step 3: Reuse Guestbook Comments Online

Your guestbook is your very own quote bank. Use it to:

• Post a “Guest of the Week” quote on Instagram.

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• Sprinkle quotes across your website pages.

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• Add flavour to your email newsletters.

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Just remember—get consent. A quick tick-box when they check in or out:

“I’m happy for my comments to be shared (anonymously or with my name).”

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📺 Want more visibility tips? Subscribe to the Beds, Breakfast & Business YouTube Channel—you’ll get practical marketing tricks, without the jargon.

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✍️ Step 4: Digitise the Love

Let’s face it—no one’s crawling into your hallway to read your guestbook before booking. So why not bring those compliments online?

• Type up the best entries each month.

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• Create a “From Our Guests” blog post.

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• Add a testimonial slider to your homepage.

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Don’t over-edit—leave the personality in. Guests relate to other real people, not polished copy.

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🎧 Want to build guest loyalty that lasts? Head over to Beds, Breakfast & Business—tons of resources, minus the fluff.

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📬 Step 5: Follow Up with Flair

Here’s where the magic happens. If a guest writes something especially glowing, don’t let it end there.

• Send a thank-you email with a screenshot of their note.

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• Ask if they’d like to copy it as a Google or TripAdvisor review.

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• Offer a returning guest discount or early booking opportunity.

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💡 “Build Your B&B: From Dream to Doors Open” course Insight:
The course recommends automating your follow-ups—set up a simple email sequence using your booking software. One gentle nudge can double your review rate.

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✨ BONUS TIP: Let AI Help

If typing up entries or creating graphics feels like yet another task, try this:
Use a free AI tool to turn guest quotes into visual posts. Just paste the quote and pick a background image.

Boom. You’ve just created a month’s worth of content in 30 minutes.

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Running a B&B? It’s not just tea and toast.
It’s plungers, pastries… and planning.

Download “Your B&B Starter Blueprint” and start with your eyes wide open.

You can find a link in the show notes.

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Do you use your guestbook for marketing, or is it mostly decorative?

Let me know in the comments!

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Here Are Your Key Takeaways

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In Conclusion

If you’ve been overlooking your guestbook, it’s time to see it for what it really is: a free, ongoing, guest-written marketing tool.

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By applying even one or two of these steps, you’ll start creating a ripple effect of visibility, trust, and repeat bookings.

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Need help putting these systems in place? We cover this (and more) in the Build Your B&B: From Dream to Doors Open course. It’s all laid out, step-by-step.

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🛏️ Want more inspiration? Check out, How to Build a Strong B&B Brand That Stands Out. Episode 70.

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🎉 Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss future episodes.
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☕ If you found this helpful, feel free to buy us a coffee—we’ll toast to you with an extra-strong cuppa.