2020 has seen a significant increase in people choosing to holiday in the UK instead of going abroad. But what makes people choose to book your holiday rental? It isn’t always about location. A luxury lodge on the Welsh coast could easily be competing against a seaside cottage in Cornwall if the accommodation has the look and feel that appeals to the guest. So you need to focus on the experience you offer. And create an easy journey for your guests from the moment they start looking for a place, to booking, through to staying at your property and beyond.
That comes from building trust and relationships that last. To encourage people to book direct (and previous guests to return again and again), there are a few things we can help with.
1. Build and create a winning website
Our specialist team work closely with you to build and create a beautiful, bespoke website that truly reflects your property and the guest experience you offer. From individual boutique holiday cottages like Sextons Place (pictured below), to larger cottage collections like Upper Rectory Farm Cottages (pictured above) with flexible configuration options and a diverse target market. We take our time to discover what you love about your business and what your guests love most about staying. Then our expert photographers capture amazing imagery that reflects this and we start to build the website around it. Next we create rich content and build an intuitive user-experience with clear call-to-actions. It’ll be easy for visitors to your website to book and pay online – securely and confidently. (We can help you choose a property management system if you don’t already use one). Everything is optimised for search engines and mobile devices; and we set you up on Google Analytics when the site is launched. Ongoing you will have total control of your own website. So you can add blog articles, photos and update the content as required to keep your audience engaged (or we can help with this too).
Ilonka, the owner of Sextons Place, describes what it’s like working with us:
“From the very start they listened to my ideas and went on to create a website that far exceeded my hopes and expectations. Every member of the team has such an in-depth knowledge of their subject matter and they were always on hand to provide guidance and advice in the most patient and kind manner, which made for a very enjoyable experience. I am hugely grateful for all the time and effort they put into making my website and one that I am extremely proud of. Thank you to everyone at ACT Studios, your service is without fault and I cannot recommend you highly enough to anyone thinking about creating their own website.”
2. Invest in professional, quality photography and 3D tours
This is where it all started. Since 2015 our highly-skilled and talented team have been shooting, editing and delivering outstanding photography and 3D tours to showcase your holiday accommodation. All designed to bring your property, rooms, services and guest experience to life, online and across your marketing channels. We capture images that tell a story. Plus we don’t ever limit the number of images you will receive. So if your property inspires us to take lots of stills to get the full coverage you need, then we will pass them all over to you. The final images are yours to use however you choose. On your website, in social media posts, advertising, in printed brochures – it’s up to you. Just remember to update your photography after you have redecorated or made any changes to your property. That way you keep your guests informed and can use fresh images to stay in touch.
“The ACT Studios photography and walk-through tour package was our best marketing spend ever. Since carefully incorporating it all onto our website we saw a 15-20% uplift in bookings resulting in our best ever financial year. ACT Studios are passionate and talented guys and they really care.” Pete Gray from Pitt Farm.
3. Stay in touch with your guests
It’s important to keep the guest experience alive even after their holiday ends. There are a number of things you can do:
- Ask your guests to review their stay and welcome their feedback.
- Post regularly on your social media pages, engage with your followers and encourage them to share their experiences. (You can ask guests to follow you during the booking process or on a card in your property).
- Send regular mailshots to previous guests and those who have made an enquiry. Even if it’s just four times a year, it’s a fantastic way to share your news, seasonal updates and entice guests to make a repeat booking.
- Send previous guests a personal email 11 months after they placed their booking. We’re creatures of habit, so it’s likely they’ll be thinking about booking their next holiday around this time. Remind them of the fantastic time they had last time they stayed.
If you need any help with this, we offer a marketing service too. From sending a one-off mailshot to get you started, to social media management. Please call us on 0333 344 6897 to find out more.