Even though this has been around for a while, everyone may not be aware of it’s capabilities and you can use it to help your bed & breakfast attract new customers.
When Apple released it’s reviews feature to their ‘Maps’ application it was a game-changer. This feature allowed your bed & breakfast to feature your reviews to more than 800 million Apple desktop, mobile or tablet devices.
As the default map setting for Apple devices, Apple Maps acts as a directory allowing users to search for surrounding businesses. It also helps you determine how to get there, whether it’s by walking, driving or even public transportion.
To make their maps more useful, Apple started to present your B & B’s reviews within their interface when searches are made. The reviews and information are pulled from websites such as Booking.com, TripAdvisor and Yelp.
As you can imagine, the exposure is huge, with hundreds of millions of people using Apple products. I know that there are times when there are quite a few Apple devices being used in my home. My kids and grandkids all have iPhones, iPads and Mac Books that they use daily. Even the seven year-old has an iPad, but no phone yet.
This feature isn’t new, but adapting and using existing technology is crucial if you hope that your bed & breakfast will be competitive. Take advantage of this feature to show off your hard earned reviews to the massive number of Apple users today.
How do Apple Maps hotel reviews work?
Your bed & breakfasts’ details and geographic coordinates are listed on Apple Maps. When a guest searches for ‘hotels’ in your local area, your bed & breakfast appears along with other accommodation providers.
Each search result will be displayed as a pin point. If a potential guest taps the pin point for your bed & breakfast listing, a card opens up with useful information such as, an address, photos, phone number, ratings or reviews.
The bed & breakfast reviews and photos are pulled into the information card that guests can read all in one place. The Apple Maps listing provides guests with all the information they require to choose where to stay.
If your bed & breakfast isn’t visible to guests who are searching for accommodation, then they certainly won’t be able to book with you!
How can you list your B & B on Apple Maps?
This feature can still set up your listing in a few simple steps:
- Get onto the Apple Maps Connect website.
- If you have an Apple ID, simply login, otherwise you will have to create an account.
- Then you will be taken to a page to add or change your small business information – click on ‘add my business’.
- Type in your address details to see if you are already listed.
- If you are listed, you may find the details incorrect, ‘claim’ the listing and edit the details.
- If not, enter in your information. The phone number you enter will be used to verify the listing.
The listing and edits may take up to one week to go live.
(Apple Maps Connect)
How can you improve your Apple Maps listing?
Apple searches the web for existing photos and reviews associated with your bed & breakfast. That’s why it’s important that you update your Yelp listing, so when the information and photos do get pulled, they will be correct. Make sure to have consistent information and photos across Yelp, Booking.com and TripAdvisor, etc.
As Apple Maps feature became more popular, Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) jumped onto the bandwagon and got involved too. This means that all of your room information, rates, room availability and photos will need to be synced across all the OTA channels you use for your bed & breakfast.
How can you capture bookings from Apple Maps users?
If all goes well and a guest stumbles upon you through Apple Maps, thumbs through your five star reviews and decides to make a booking, what happens next? Can they check your room availability and book themselves in?
If not, then you run the risk of losing that tech-savvy guest! In this day and age, accommodation providers must have a system in place to manage room availability in real time. Not only does it make life easier for your guests, but it saves you time and allows you to accept bookings 24/7, without any manual intervention.
If you want more tips on how you can create an engaging online presence for your business, follow the IAA Bed and Breakfast Blog and our Facebook Page.
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