10+1 Ways To Increase Direct Bookings At Your Accommodation
With summer just around the corner and holiday bookings in full swing, finding ways to increase direct bookings at your accommodation is probably the hot topic right now. Makes sense! Besides, if the bookings don't increase now, then when; Direct bookings are undeniably the,what's best for you and your business. But maybe they are imagining a midsummer night's dream. But what if we told you that you can increase direct bookings at your accommodation even if you started now; Even if you just built your website; Below you will find 10+1 ways on how you can increase your direct bookings and therefore fill your business coffers with money! What is a direct booking site; Let's start with the basics: A direct booking site is essentially a booking form on your website where guests can book your property directly. By entering your website, someone can see photos of your property, the services you offer, the location etc. It gives you the possibility to convince him to book directly and not through some accommodation booking engine(e.g. Booking). As you understand, a basic requirement to install the reservation system is to have a website! Why do you want to have a website where your accommodation can be booked directly?; For many reasons. And let's see in detail: 1. You can make the website as you want. You can put as many photos and videos as you want. Make the menu as you think would be best for your potential customers. You can enter rich information about the accommodation as well as the area. Overall you have the ability to create a great user experience and thus convince your guests to make direct bookings more easily. 2. You have a better chance of someone finding your accommodation With most bookings now being made online, a website gives you an extra channel for someone to find you. Using SEO can help your website appear high in search results when someone is looking for accommodation in the area. If your competitors do not have their own website then you are one step ahead of the competition. 3. Save on booking site fees(OTA) The OTAs(Online Travel Agencies), i.e. the online booking platforms(e.g. Booking) they usually charge high fees to you and your guests. Most Airbnb hosts today pay a commission 3% and visitors pay approx 14,2% of the reservation subset(Source: Hostfully). This is how all platforms work. This cuts into your profits and leaves little room for marketing. With a direct booking website, bypass these charges. Why not use that money you would be giving in commissions to improve your business, reinvesting in marketing strategies or improving your rental properties; 4. You collect guest data Booking platforms do not share guest data other than first and last name. This further limits your marketing potential and retargeting campaigns. When you create a website that takes bookings directly at your accommodation, you have the freedom to ask your visitors for data such as their contact details, where they are traveling from and the reason for their stay. You can use this data to create targeted marketing campaigns. For example, you can offer a special discount to professionals coming to your area for a conference. Or you can send an invitation to customers to come back a few months after check-out. 5. Marketing Opportunities Online booking platforms can drive traffic to your property but that's about it. They cannot promote your unique services and benefits in an attractive way. For these platforms all accommodations are the same. On the contrary, through your website you can display your accommodation in such a way that potential guests will love it. You have the ability to create even more positive impressions and positive reviews. also, you can create a loyalty program or offer rewards to repeat customers and do targeted email marketing campaigns. 6. Highlight your brand Brand building is very important for any business. It is the identity of the business and what sets it apart. Your website is an extension of your brand. You can choose the color combination, the font, photos and overall design to reflect your brand and stand out from the competition. On the contrary, in an online booking platform the brand that is displayed is the platform itself and not you. Direct bookings at your property are a great marketing tool and potentially a significant source of revenue. It allows you to build relationships with your customers. It also allows you to avoid third-party booking platforms and therefore brokerage fees. You gain a database of your guests and are generally in control of your accommodation. However, your website may not be living up to its full potential if you're not getting a lot of direct bookings. But there are many ways to increase your bookings. From search engine optimization to social media promotion. in this article, we will share them 11 better ways to get direct bookings at your property, so you can generate even more revenue directly. 10+1 Ways to increase direct bookings at your property 1. Use social media Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are great places to promote your property. You can upload photos, video of the property or area, information and,what's relevant. You can also use social media to run targeted ads and get in front of potential visitors. For example, if you are running a special offer or want to attract visitors during a "dead" season, you can target your ads to people who live in specific areas and are looking for rental accommodation. Make sure your website is listed on all your profiles on…