.
.
11 tactics you need to know when designing your hospitality properties website so your customers will stay longer and book.
Welcome to another edition of Hospitality Property School.
In our last podcast, I gave you 11 tactics you need to know when designing your hospitality properties website.
Today, I am going to continue that conversation and give you “11 More Ways to Create a Perfect Website”.
.
Website responsiveness
It has been a decade since the smartphone has been released and eight years for the tablet and unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 10 years, you know that there’s not much we can’t do on a mobile device.
.
Searching for travel and hotel inspiration is a perfect example of how your guests are using their mobile devices. But when they use these devices, it can be annoying when the information they’re viewing shrinks down and looks too small.
.
We expect a web experience that responds to our screen size and making sure your website looks just as beautiful on a small screen is a key part of delivering a great user experience
.
.
The navigation bar
It’s probably the most important aspect of your website’s functionality. Not only does it guide people through the key areas of your website, but it can also lower your bounce rate.
.
If your navigation bar is clear and accurate, your users will start their web experience with a good impression.
.
.
Organisation
This is where your web design should start.
.
How many pages do you need?
.
What information will you place on them?
.
What web pages that naturally belong together?
.
Map out your website, giving all your content a logical home – and don’t forget to use your data and analytics to inform your decision-making.
.
.
Promotions
[bctt tweet=”Creating special offers for your customers, not only increases guest loyalty but keeps your website fresh with interesting content.” username=”KeystoneHDC”]
.
.
Quality over Quantity
We’ve all visited messy websites that are so mixed-up we have no way of finding the information we were originally searching for.
.
When it comes to the design of your website, you must think about quality over quantity. A designed to bring together everything your guests need to make that final booking decision online.
.
.
SEO
You might have this beautiful online presence, but how do people find you? Search engine optimisation (SEO).
.
We’d all love internet users to wake up in the morning and come directly to your website, but unfortunately, it does not work that way.
.
That is an aspect of web design that needs technical knowledge and is necessary.
.
.
Your websites theme
The theme of your website reflects your hospitality properties personality and it shouldn’t be an afterthought in the design process..
- The colour palette
.
- Consider which of your property’s photos the best to complement your colour theme
.
- Think about your font style
.
.
Calls to action
A call to action is a button that goes beyond the standard ‘click here’. It prompts and persuades users to hit that button and explore your web pages further. Your users are much more likely to click on a button that says ‘take a tour’ or ‘learn more about us’
.
.
Videos
[bctt tweet=”Creating video content is a necessity that cannot be overlooked and is an effective way to keep your visitors on your website longer.” username=”KeystoneHDC”]
.
Hospitality properties are in a great position to use videos as a way of showcasing what the property has to offer. There are plenty of ways to get started and create your first professional-looking videos – you can even do it on your smartphone for free.
.
.
White-space
I’ve already talked about a cluttered website but how do you declutter your website – use white space.
.
It’s important for usability and readability that your site has enough white space between the different elements such as graphics, columns, images, text and margins. White space allows your user’s eyes to relax and take everything in.
.
.
Your Contact Information
Your contact information needs to be up-to-date all the time. You should list as many contact details as you can but make sure to only list the contact details for the communication that is active and manned by your staff.
.
.
In conclusion
[bctt tweet=”The design of your website has to be clean, functional, and easy-to-use.” username=”KeystoneHDC”]
.
As an independent hospitality property owner or manager, it can feel like an uphill struggle to even think about having enough skills or resources to create the perfect website, but it doesn’t have to be.
.
There are plenty of great companies that can work with you to create or update the perfect website for your property.
.
If you would like further information about updating or creating your website, contact us at info@keystonehospitalitydevelopment.com
.
.
With this in mind, we want to challenge you.
We want to challenge you to the 6 Day Challenge.
.
.
We at Keystone HDC have taken our years of experience as hospitality property authorities and have produced the “6 Day Challenge”, a video series with many actionable tips & techniques that you can take and use to help improve your properties patronage and profit.
.
And the most exciting thing with this video series– it’s 100% Free!
.
This 6 Day Challenge will take you step by step through the process of operating a successful hospitality property, including:
.
- Determining What Type of Owner/Manager You Are
- How to Set Up an Organisational Structure
- Secrets to Great Customer Service
- How to Market Effectively
- How to Benefit From Social Media
- How to Make Your Guests Want to Return
.
Whether you are operating a one-room bed & breakfast or a 500 room luxury hotel, there is always something new you could learn.
.
There is a famous quote says
.
“Never stop learning, because life never stops teaching”
.
It is important as a hospitality property owner or manager that you never stop learning.
.
So, what have you got to lose? Are you up for the challenge?
.
Visit
keystonehospitalitydevelopment.com/6-day-challenge-log-in-here
.
Sign up and get immediate access to the first video.
.
Good Luck!
.
.
If you have any stories about “How to Create a Perfect Website” and would like to share or have any questions or feedback you can leave them in the comments section of the show notes.
.
.
As always, let’s work together to put heads in your beds.
Until next time, have a fun day.
.
.
.
.
⇒ TO READ OR LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE ON KEYSTONE HOSPITALITY PROPERTY CONSULTING:
https://keystonehpd.com/KHDC111
.
.
⇒ And don’t forget to join the “6 Day Challenge” here:
.
.
RESOURCES & LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
The Keystone HDC Training Tutorials
https://courses.keystonehospitalitydevelopment.com/
.
.
Join our community in “The Hospitality Property School Group” –Check it Out for One Full Week for Only $1
https://keystonehpd.com/membership-site
.
__________
TWEET THIS VIDEO:
How to Create a Website – Part 2
__________
.
Say hi on social:
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/KeystoneHDC
.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeystoneHDC
.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keystone-hospitality-development/
.
.
Listen to The Hospitality Property School PODCAST here:
https://keystonehpd.com/itunes-podcast
.
https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/hospitality-property-school
.
.
YouTube
.
.
Hospitality Property School is a division of Keystone HDC
.
