Is this a good idea?

[Hillbilly]

Hi everyone. I just got news that another Bed and Breakfast in our town has been sold. The new owners are not going to run a Bed and Breakfast out of it. So here is my question. Should I offer to buy the current Bed and Breakfasts website and place my info to direct their past customers to me?
If so, how much should I offer to buy it for?

 

[EmptyNest]

Hmmmm not sure about that. Sounds like an interesting idea though. But will search engines punish you for having the same info on separate sites? I don't know enough to say yeah or nay. We'll see what our expert has to say. My first inclination would be no..but I have been wrong before

 

[TheBeachHouse]

It is a good idea.

 

[Hillbilly]

Hmmmm not sure about that. Sounds like an interesting idea though. But will search engines punish you for having the same info on separate sites? I don't know enough to say yeah or nay. We'll see what our expert has to say. My first inclination would be no..but I have been wrong before .

I just want to basically use their domain name. Say something like this. " After many great years of hosting you as our guests we have moved on to the next chapter of our lives. We thank you for being our guests in the past and wish you the best. We recommend taking a look at _______ property and I know they will take care of you like we have for sonny years!"
Or something like that!
That's kinda the idea.

 

[Breakfast Diva]

I think you use Acorn, don't you? Better check with them. It used to be a good idea, but I remember them addressing this issue at the LV conference and it's now a bad idea. There might be some way you can take advantage of it and not get into google trouble.

 

[EmptyNest]

I think you use Acorn, don't you? Better check with them. It used to be a good idea, but I remember them addressing this issue at the LV conference and it's now a bad idea. There might be some way you can take advantage of it and not get into google trouble..

You may be able to just buy the domain and have it redirected to your domain.

 

[dumitru]

What I would do is first do a check on all the backlinks that their domain has.
If there is anything of value that would actually bring in some traffic, then it could be worth it. SEO-wise, Google has often said that when domains change hands and the content on them, the old links are devalued close to zero.
If you do buy it - do as you said, with a farewell notice, or try a 301 permanent redirect.
If you are doing the redirect, you might get some "mechanical" bookings by people who haven't even noticed that it is a different property. And you might guess how that will go when they arrive at the wrong address with the wrong assumptions.
If I were in your shoes, I would avoid all these complications.
But what I would definitely do is write a "Farewell dear colleagues" post on my blog, mentioning their name a couple of times, so that if their old customers will Google something like: "Is Gotham B&B closed?", they would get your website at the top.

 

[swirt]

Good question.
Avoid 301 redirecting their site to yours. It would have only a short term benefit and would lead to a confusing user experience. Do this only if you bought the inn and were changing the name and domain.
Similarly buying the domain without the content and redirecting it to your site is usually only a short term benefit as the original site will quickly drop from the search engine results. Pagerank from existing links would be diminished with the combined change of owner and content. The only value would be from people actually clicking on the existing links and finding their way to you. This would only be of value if they had some huge article or some valuable online resource pointing to them. Paid directories will drop them within the year of when they stop paying the bill.
If that site has content that would be good to have on your site, offer to buy the site and move the content you want to your site, then 301 redirect those specific pages to your specific pages.
Buying the domain and website and adding a note to every page that they have closed and are referring people to your site with a link is not a bad idea. Meaning, no bad can come from it. You get the benefit from their existing content if there is any and you provide a service to potential guests.
With changes, there is a trinity: Domain owner, content, hosting. A change to any one item is usually no problem (unless you change from good content to bad), but a simultaneous change to either 2 or 3 resets your web history in the major search engines.

 

[JBloggs]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

 

[JBloggs]

What I would do is first do a check on all the backlinks that their domain has.
If there is anything of value that would actually bring in some traffic, then it could be worth it. SEO-wise, Google has often said that when domains change hands and the content on them, the old links are devalued close to zero.
If you do buy it - do as you said, with a farewell notice, or try a 301 permanent redirect.
If you are doing the redirect, you might get some "mechanical" bookings by people who haven't even noticed that it is a different property. And you might guess how that will go when they arrive at the wrong address with the wrong assumptions.
If I were in your shoes, I would avoid all these complications.
But what I would definitely do is write a "Farewell dear colleagues" post on my blog, mentioning their name a couple of times, so that if their old customers will Google something like: "Is Gotham B&B closed?", they would get your website at the top..

If I were in your shoes, I would avoid all these complications.
But what I would definitely do is write a "Farewell dear colleagues" post on my blog, mentioning their name a couple of times, so that if their old customers will Google something like: "Is Gotham B&B closed?", they would get your website at the top.

That is what I would do as well. I don't think Hillbilly blogs however. So something on the website like "Now welcoming the guests from So and So B&B" maybe somewhere. I am thinking it all may be just time and effort and no bang for your buck in the end.

 

[Arks]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

 

[JBloggs]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.

 

[Arks]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.

 

[happykeeper]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.
.

Corn doesn't grow on hills!

 

[OnTheShore]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.
.

Nebraska certainly does have hills -- The Sand Hills of Nebraska - -they are in the western portion of the state.
In the middle of the state, there is a place called Ward County. They have a sign with a picture of a cow on it. Over the cow picture, the sign reads, "Ward County, Nebraska -- Best Darn (or something like that) Cow Country in the World!" Underneath, "That's No Bull!"

 

[JBloggs]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.

Okay so that is the funniest line I have read all day:
[h4]
In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation.[/h4]

 

[Generic]

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!
.

Is it a website like "Arkansas Bed and Breakfast" or your town in the name? Something that is super search worthy? or their B&B name as the URL?

I think he's a MISSOURI hillbilly!

I was trying to be discreet.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.
.

I was trying to be discreet.

In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation. Next time make it a Nebraska hillbilly...if they have any hills.

Okay so that is the funniest line I have read all day:
[h4]
In Arkansas we're a bit sensitive about our hillbilly reputation.[/h4]
.

Do you know how we know that the toothbrush was invented in Kentucky?
Anywhere else, it would have been called a teethbrush.