Sharing The Travel Industry's latest Technology
Posts tagged booking server
What do you want to do?
Aug 17th
What do you want to do?
A simple question and a great concept for a blogging site. I recently came across this useful blog by Philb that covers a full range of internet related topics that are oh so useful to have. This is especially great for those aspiring web marketers that are looking for ways to utilize new technologies. Give it a look:
He covers topics like:
· Email
· Multimedia
· RSS
· Shopping
· Webpages
· Websites
· Wikis
·
A truly helpful site!
Unique Travel is the Perfect Online Niche
Jul 6th
National Geographic Adventure publisher Francis X. Farrell recently had an interview with the Adventure Travel Trade Association and spoke about the emerging trends with adventure travel. The interview really is beneficial for those that are looking for new ways to market and package their unique and adventurous tours. He really is trying to shift the old marketing focus away from demographics and focus on consumers spirituality. This paradigm shift towards sustainable authentic experience is driving the new wave of the tourism industry.
Sites like gapadventures.com and adventures-abroad.com have realised this and are taking full advantage of this new wave.
So what does this mean for the unique and independent tour provider? Two words, GET ONLINE!! There is a thirst for unique and different tours that are not found through traditional travel channels like travel agents. They shy away from large “corporate” sites and are scouring the new for new ideas.
Your site must have an informative and attractive layout in order to establish trust with the clients, and then it must also have booking capabilities. This will ensure the growth of your business.
We have started amazingtours.rezgo.com to showcase great and unique tours that we have found.
LinkBaiting For Tourism Companies
Jun 21st
There has been a huge focus on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) in recent years. People hire companies to optimize their website and streamline the page results. It has now been realized that small companies can increase their SEO presence through more creative and innovative means. The way that sites like google.com and yahoo.com index their sites makes it very beneficial for companies to have links to their sites from other websites. This is termed linkbaiting, or agreeing to host another non-competitive website’s link on your site in exchange for a similar service. The Canadian Tourism Commission recently released 5 suggestions to maximize your web presence with minimal cost. These recommendations are focused on small independent tourism companies:
- Top 10: Creating a ‘top 10’ type list closely related to your industry usually gets quality results. It is therefore important to define which subjects truly interest your target market and to evaluate what is already available on the internet.
- Resource site: Listing the blogs, forums, directories and so on that are of interest relative to your domain can attract numerous links. In fact, the creators of these sites will probably be interested to create a link to a resource site, especially if it is in a neutral field.
- Humour/Controversy: According to your industry or positioning, humour or controversy could be a good link generator. If you’re lacking imagination, you can check Flickr or YouTube and find an amusing video or image with a link to your products or services.
- Useful functionality: Developing a tool that can be used by your potential clients has as much of an effect on links to your site as your renown for being forward‑thinking in your area of expertise!
- Link a study or report: A report with different content and exclusive data will be sure to attract quality links.
Linkbaiting or link exchanges have been a very effective driver to our site, Rezgo.com. Recently when looking at our google analytics we have noticed that 65% of our site traffic has been directed by companies that we provide booking server CMS solutions for. People are finding our link on accomodation and tour provider’s websites and following the link to our site. These click-throughs have a low bounce % and spend an average of 5.5 minutes on our site. These are people you want looking at your site.
What have you found with Linkbaiting?
Has it worked for you?
Booking Trends for Tourism Products
Jun 8th
The times are changing. Can anyone really remember a time when you weren’t able to research your next holiday, find customer reviews and then have the ability to make a reservation online?
Once online security issues were addressed and customer confidence increased the wave began, This service started with hotels, vacation packages and flights. Well the next wave of online reservations services are now being introduced. With the proliferation of web 2.0, a new more accessible form of reservation service has allowed small independent accomodation and tour providers an economical solution for getting their products onto the net.
In the past large GDS’s such as Amadeus or Soft Voyage have ruled the booking world, these mega companies have an inaccessible starting fee for small companies, as well they charge commissions on all of the sales that are made with their system. There is a need for change.
Customers are becoming web savvy and are demanding more interaction from websites. Sites that can offer a great presentation and sales delivery to the guest are likely to succeed.