| The very first thing any prospective business owner | | | | If you are sending your survey out to friends and |
| should do is research their market. Is your business | | | | family, many people will respond just to help you out. |
| viable? Will it make any money? Is there a gap in the | | | | But, if you are sending the survey to people you |
| market locally? Are there specific markets that you | | | | don't know so well, then it is a good idea to offer a |
| can tap into? | | | | prize or some other incentive. Maybe you could offer |
| Do some research, then do some more! The more | | | | a bottle of champagne or a night away in the |
| research you do, the more chance you have of | | | | B&B when it is open. |
| creating a successful B&B business that gives | | | | 4. What Should You Include In Your Survey? |
| you a good income. | | | | This is where you get to test all of the great ideas |
| Start by sending out a survey. It's a great way to | | | | you have for setting up a B&B. You may well be |
| test your ideas out before actually committing to | | | | surprised by the results. Many B&B owners set |
| anything. | | | | up their business based on what they would like from |
| 1. Who Will You Send It To?Identify a list of friends, | | | | a B&B rather than what their market would |
| family and colleagues who would do your survey for | | | | actually like. For example, you may love showers and |
| you. The more the better and make sure you | | | | never take a bath, so you are planning just to have |
| choose a wide range of people. You'll want a wide | | | | shower rooms. But your survey tells you that 80% |
| age range, people with lots of different interests, | | | | of your respondents like to have a bath when |
| those with family, those without. | | | | they're away. |
| | | | |
| 2. What Medium Can You Use? | | | | 5. How To Analyse Your Results? |
| If you're techy enough you could probably set up | | | | You need to analyse your results carefully. Those |
| your own survey online. If not, then there are | | | | bath lovers may all be married couples in their 70s. |
| companies out there who will set up surveys for you | | | | Whilst your target market is actually businesspeople, |
| and collate the results. For a cheaper option you can | | | | staying with you whilst they're away from home, |
| put together a WORD form with drop down boxes | | | | who demand a shower in the morning., So |
| and send this out by email. This will take more of | | | | understanding your target market will help you know |
| your own time, putting the results into a sensible | | | | whose results to pay particular attention to. On the |
| format for you to use, but it is a good choice if your | | | | other hand your results may make you change your |
| funds are limited. | | | | mind about the market you are targetting! |
| 3. How Will You Persuade People To Respond? | | | | |