Investing in a strong website design for your bed and breakfast is an absolute must. You need to list on more than just channels like Airbnb and Vrbo, and invest in a direct booking website that converts browsers into bookers. This blog post will walk you through the ins and outs of website design. We know it sounds scary, but tools like our direct booking website builder make it far easier than ever before. By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to impress with your website design.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
1. Know your audience
Like any other industry, you have to understand who your audience is to truly market well to them. Think about who your target audience is. Is it honeymooners? Multi-generational families? Friends? Groups? Browsing guests want to “see” themselves in your marketing materials. Think about who your demographics are, and then make your website appeal to their needs.
2. Show off
As you know, it’s a competitive market out there for short-term rentals. You really need to highlight why your property is worth staying at over another. Be sure to invest in professional photography (Airbnb Pro Photography Program is an affordable starting point) to capture the very best of your home. Show off your fashionable design, cool amenities like pools, great views, etc. Think “what makes this home special?” and show it off on your website.
3. Create a strong homepage
Your home page is where users typically land on first. It needs to be easy to navigate yet still awesome to look at. You’ll need to create a compelling headline and calls to action that encourage people to click on other parts of your website and spend more time there. Creating a vacation rental blog is a helpful content marketing element to have on your website as well. Don’t forget great photos!
4. Improve your user experience
The flow of your website is just as important as its looks. You need clear, easy-to-follow navigation menus that make it easy for guests to find what they’re looking for. If they get frustrated, they’re going to shut that browser and perhaps never come back to your website. Just as important are fast loading times. Nobody likes to wait more than a second or two for a site to load. Lastly, so many bookings are made on mobile. According to Rentals United, more than 50% of vacation rental bookings are made on mobile devices. As a result, your website needs to be automatically responsive to optimize across devices (laptops, cellphones, tablets, etc.).
A well-structured website is needed to guide visitors smoothly toward the information they seek. Logically organize your content using intuitive navigation menus and clear labels. This will make it easy for potential guests to find the details they need without feeling overwhelmed or frustrated. Be sure that your site is mobile-friendly and can automatically adjust for cell phones.
Fast loading times are crucial for user satisfaction. No one wants to wait for a slow website to load, especially when they’re eager to book their next getaway. Optimize your website’s performance by compressing images, minimizing code, and leveraging browser caching to ensure a seamless browsing experience.
A user-friendly design is critical for accommodating your audience. Ensure your website is accessible and easy to use, regardless of your guests’ device or browser. Responsive design is the key to achieving this flexibility. This means that your website automatically adjusts its layout based on the screen size and orientation.
5. Optimize for SEO
In this day and age, optimizing your website for search engine optimization (SEO) is an absolute must. According to Magnetic Strategy, more than 50% of vacation rental website traffic comes from organic SEO. This means your website needs to be optimized. Make sure all of your information is up to date, images are properly sized, and you’ve incorporated keywords throughout your website.
6. Integrate your direct booking website
Offering direct booking on your bed and breakfast website provides numerous benefits for you and your guests. It streamlines the reservation process, reduces reliance on third-party platforms, and allows you to maintain control over your online bookings and guest relationships.
Choose an online booking system that integrates with your direct booking site. Look for features such as real-time availability, secure payment processing, and customizable booking forms to accommodate your property’s specific needs.
Recognize and promote the advantages of more direct bookings through your website. These can include exclusive deals, personalized service, or flexible cancellation policies for guests. Make it easy for guests to complete their reservations by providing clear instructions and support throughout the booking process.
7. Leave reviews, get reviews
In this industry, reviews are perhaps the most important way to get more bookings. Reviews show future guests that past guests had real, genuinely positive experiences at your property. Be sure to send automated follow-up messages to guests asking them to leave reviews. Additionally, it’s important that you leave reviews of guests. When you leave a review, it encourages a guest to leave one for you sooner (as they can’t see your review until they leave a review or wait about two weeks).
8. Integrate with Host Tools
Remember to integrate your listings with Host Tools. We even offer a direct booking website tool for you to use. Additionally, when you use our platform, you are able to automate many of your day-to-day tasks and save up to 80% of the time you spend managing your listing.
Final thoughts
Follow these basic tips for your bed and breakfast’s website design, and you’ll be on your way in no time. Remember that your website if often the first impression a guest will have of your home, so you want to make sure it’s showing off your property with its best foot forward. The better the website, the better your bottom line. Period.
Host Tools provides an automated, unified calendar for short-term rental hosts, allowing you to seamlessly list on all major channels. Start your free trial today!
