Make holiday accommodation websites work for you in one easy step.
I would like to tell you how to get the most from your money when listing a holiday property on a holiday accommodation Website. After many years working as an estate agent and now running an holiday accommodation website I have learnt the single most important factor to achieving success is the photograph. You are selling a life style, a dream, its similar to selling your home, you need to show people how they could be enjoying themselves.
1.Use the best asset you have to its maximum potential, the photograph. The saying “a picture paints a thousand words” never lies. This is most commonly, the first thing someone will see about your accommodation online. Remember this is your hook, this image has to get people to look closely at what you are offering, so you at least have a chance to sell your holiday.
2.Study the types of images the industry leaders are using, this will allow you to create an idea in your mind as to what you should be aiming for. So many times I see dull, lifeless, poor quality images. Take time to get a photograph on a sunny day, get depth of field and make the subject look appealing; place newspaper in the fire place light it and take your photograph, it makes a cold room look warm and inviting.
3.Ensure the image is high quality. When you compress it or reduce the actual size of the photograph be sure not to loose image quality, there is excellent software available for this process and most of you will have it already installed on your computer. If you are unsure, copy the image to disc and send it to the company you are advertising with so they can adjust it keeping the quality high (most good companies will do this for you).
4.Consider having a small professional portfolio of images created. They can be used many times for the internet, brochures and other promotional applications. If you divided the cost against the uses and the potential increase in bookings it becomes a realistic cost.
5.Compare what you have created to the photographs already listed on the advertising site of your choice, ask yourself “Would I stay there” if you would then is your photograph of equal quality? Has it got the impact required to make people look more closely? Answer honestly.
If you follow these basic guidelines then your chance of success is greatly improved and your investment in time will be rewarded. Online holiday advertising is growing and some thought and planning will help to make your business a success.
About the Author
Having spent a time in sales and more recently estate agency I decided to be my own boss