Why to have your own online reservation system (Non OTA)

[gillumhouse]

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part....

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part...

Am I reading that you do not have a website? ...we just dropped our outdated website...
You are only bookable thru an OTA? ...hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us...
I'll wait until you answer those questions as I jumped the gun before.
.

We do have a website. It was outdated, from the 2000s, not great, couldn't book a room on it, etc. It was bad.
Booking.com carries our web site now; they designed it. What sold us was the "Book Now" feature, which is what our original site didn't have. These sales carry a 10% per booking commission instead of the regular 15% through the actual Booking.com website. We are linked right to the calendars, reviews, availability, marketing resources, etc.
Guests can also contact us direct. We still get a ton of phone calls, people drop in on us to check things out, we have walk ins, e-mails, etc. When I'm a guest, I always call the property directly. This is what a lot of people prefer, but most of our sales come from online bookings, yes.
.

the trouble I find with a bokoing.com web site is they own it not you - if you want to leave later its tough. PLus how much control over changes do you have?
.

We have complete control over content, availability (including blocking dates out if we only want direct sales on weekends, special events, etc.) and it automates all reporting, has excellent customer service, etc.
I think when we moved over to B.C. the big draw was the Book Now button; this was, we felt, a quick fix to having a crappy web site and I think the upfront costs to overhaul scared us a little. Now that I see this is the norm, especially with B&Bs, this will help entice the Owner.
.

Treat the owner that way I tell folks to get politicians to do what you need. Show them the money! Show your owner how for an investment of $xxxx.00 they will save a total of $xxxxx.xx in commissions to offset the initial web site investment. The rest will be gravy.
Then with RezKey or some other online booking system you can direct book and save more commission. You can still use bdotcon but you will not need them as much.
.

That is a wonderful way of putting it! I actually had a conversation with the Owner, by phone, about an hour ago and she's all for it. We all talk about rehashing the season; I think this is one we're doing.
.

These figures are not based on anything, just a for instance.
Investment of $5000 to create a new web site with great photos. Commissions paid = $15,000. Investment in web site saves at least $5000 assuming there will still be $5,000 in commissions the first year. For the next 3 to 5 years gravy. By then it may be time to at least do an upgrade on the web site.

 

[Morticia]

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part....

Why in heaven's name would you let BOoking dot com take over control of YOUR web presence. Not a good thing. Others have already said it so I won't say more. Have you ever taken an innkeeping workshop or attended a B & B conference? You should because you would be getting information to help you run your business the way it should be run.
There is no way I would be giving $$$ to OTA'S!!!
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.

It's your first year, yes, but the owner has had the place at least since 2000 if that's when the dud website was from. What has THAT person been doing all these years? That's the annoying part. You've stepped into it and are trying to make things better but it sounds like it's uphill all the way.
.

Nope. The current Owner has had it for four years. She doesn't live here, she needs us to make things better. But I don't want that to be the main focus; let it be known we are doing great! We just need to tweak to make everything run smoothly.
.

Well then sounds like the owner didn't find the good resources you did!
Something it's hard to understand as some folks here spent years doing research and asking questions to get themselves set up.
There's a place opening in my town next year. They already have their website up, their Facebook page, they are getting media coverage on the opening, etc. They've signed up with a bunch of online review sites. They've got the logo done. You get the picture. Someone did some research. Maybe took a class.

 

[Arks]

1. Let me say, this has moved completely away from the ResKey subject this topic was founded on, so maybe JBloggs can change the subject line to "Nothing whatsoever to do with ResKey".
   
2. Let me say that having your website hosted by booking, and giving 10% of EVERY online reservation to someone else, is the craziest thing I've ever heard of. ResKey costs me less than 1/2 of 1%/year and the targeted promotion I do for my inn costs me about the same. The rest of the money goes into my pocket.
   
3. Thinking booking is doing all that much promotion of your inn, over other inns in the area, is the next-to craziest thing I've ever heard of. Booking is only interested in booking, and they promote your competition as much as they do you, so that's the same as no benefit at all. They just want people to book. They don't care where they book.
   
4. Sounds like someone answered the phone and listened to the booking salesperson. Glad I don't answer the phone (all calls go to voice mail) or I'd probably fall for the same sales pitches some others have apparently fallen for.

 

[Jcam]

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part....

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part...

Am I reading that you do not have a website? ...we just dropped our outdated website...
You are only bookable thru an OTA? ...hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us...
I'll wait until you answer those questions as I jumped the gun before.
.

We do have a website. It was outdated, from the 2000s, not great, couldn't book a room on it, etc. It was bad.
Booking.com carries our web site now; they designed it. What sold us was the "Book Now" feature, which is what our original site didn't have. These sales carry a 10% per booking commission instead of the regular 15% through the actual Booking.com website. We are linked right to the calendars, reviews, availability, marketing resources, etc.
Guests can also contact us direct. We still get a ton of phone calls, people drop in on us to check things out, we have walk ins, e-mails, etc. When I'm a guest, I always call the property directly. This is what a lot of people prefer, but most of our sales come from online bookings, yes.
.

but most of our sales come from online bookings, yes.

By this you mean with the book now button thru booking. So, you are giving 10% of all of your online income to an OTA when anyone books online. How do you sync your walk in/call in traffic with the booking.com calendar?
It's not good to have so many eggs in one basket. Branching out is a good idea. Of course, with an outdated website you'll have to spend some money to get a good one with an online booking system. A lot of us do our own but if you haven't any skills in this area it's better to hire someone who can pull together the site for you and give you instruction on how to update it yourself.
How to market your own website rather than relying on an OTA that is being paid by lots of people to do the same thing - you need good SEO built into your site so it shows up when your area is searched. You need to offer the guest something to look at: good photos, local area info, things like that.
If you are not the only property in your area look at the other websites for help determining how THEY are coming up in searches.
.

I don't know how to successfully pull a quote...
We sync direct calls and OTAs manually, frustratingly, and I'm starting to realize, it's just unnecessary. Overbookings happen maybe twice a season. I come up with a system of cross checking OTAs vs. our books.
.

I don't know how to successfully pull a quote...
We sync direct calls and OTAs manually, frustratingly, and I'm starting to realize, it's just unnecessary. Overbookings happen maybe twice a season. I come up with a system of cross checking OTAs vs. our books.

Hit the quote button under the post you want to quote. If you want to edit the quote (in case it's really long and you just want to answer part of it) erase the bits in between the formatting commands. . Don't erase the formatting commands [quote ] as that throws everything in the thread off.
.

Hit the quote button under the post you want to quote.

Ah, perfect, thanks! I swear I'm not computer illiterate!

.

DOnt' worry ive been on this forum 5 years and still can't make it do quotes -

 

[EmptyNest]

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part....

Why in heaven's name would you let BOoking dot com take over control of YOUR web presence. Not a good thing. Others have already said it so I won't say more. Have you ever taken an innkeeping workshop or attended a B & B conference? You should because you would be getting information to help you run your business the way it should be run.
There is no way I would be giving $$$ to OTA'S!!!
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.

It's your first year, yes, but the owner has had the place at least since 2000 if that's when the dud website was from. What has THAT person been doing all these years? That's the annoying part. You've stepped into it and are trying to make things better but it sounds like it's uphill all the way.
.

Nope. The current Owner has had it for four years. She doesn't live here, she needs us to make things better. But I don't want that to be the main focus; let it be known we are doing great! We just need to tweak to make everything run smoothly.
.

Well then sounds like the owner didn't find the good resources you did!
Something it's hard to understand as some folks here spent years doing research and asking questions to get themselves set up.
There's a place opening in my town next year. They already have their website up, their Facebook page, they are getting media coverage on the opening, etc. They've signed up with a bunch of online review sites. They've got the logo done. You get the picture. Someone did some research. Maybe took a class.
.

I am working with a new restaurant..so not a B & B..but I have insisted they get their facebook page going and the website up and running NOW!!! Of course they are good friends and are accustomed to my ways..LOL...but I would do the same for anyone who is starting a new business.
I want them to build a buzz before they open at the end of the year.
Did this to another new place which just opened and they had people standing in line for blocks to get into their place on opening week!!! Ran out of everything for a week and had to close early. Now that is creating some buzz This is what I want for my friends new place. Ok...so I will post a link and you can let me know what you think...but be aware..it is a work in progress and I have bent to the owners wishes on some things NOTE: the booking links will not work as they are inactive right now. I had to deactivate because people were making reservations already

 

[Morticia]

How do you drive direct sales with just your website? Do you also take advantage of Facebook, etc. marketing? The main reason we just dropped our outdated website and hopped on Booking.com is that we figured the OTA would handle the marketing for us. It seems that putting the money into the site and reservation system makes sense but then how do you get the sales you otherwise would partnered with a successful OTA?
Sorry if this has been asked and answered... just trying to wrap my head around that part....

Why in heaven's name would you let BOoking dot com take over control of YOUR web presence. Not a good thing. Others have already said it so I won't say more. Have you ever taken an innkeeping workshop or attended a B & B conference? You should because you would be getting information to help you run your business the way it should be run.
There is no way I would be giving $$$ to OTA'S!!!
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.
.

OK, I think if you reread the other posts this is not doing me our the Inn I help run any good... it's been established that we should have rethought our strategy after paying so much through B.C... remember this is only my first year... with comments like this I just end up feeling quite dim and not doing a good job.

It's your first year, yes, but the owner has had the place at least since 2000 if that's when the dud website was from. What has THAT person been doing all these years? That's the annoying part. You've stepped into it and are trying to make things better but it sounds like it's uphill all the way.
.

Nope. The current Owner has had it for four years. She doesn't live here, she needs us to make things better. But I don't want that to be the main focus; let it be known we are doing great! We just need to tweak to make everything run smoothly.
.

Well then sounds like the owner didn't find the good resources you did!
Something it's hard to understand as some folks here spent years doing research and asking questions to get themselves set up.
There's a place opening in my town next year. They already have their website up, their Facebook page, they are getting media coverage on the opening, etc. They've signed up with a bunch of online review sites. They've got the logo done. You get the picture. Someone did some research. Maybe took a class.
.

I am working with a new restaurant..so not a B & B..but I have insisted they get their facebook page going and the website up and running NOW!!! Of course they are good friends and are accustomed to my ways..LOL...but I would do the same for anyone who is starting a new business.
I want them to build a buzz before they open at the end of the year.
Did this to another new place which just opened and they had people standing in line for blocks to get into their place on opening week!!! Ran out of everything for a week and had to close early. Now that is creating some buzz This is what I want for my friends new place. Ok...so I will post a link and you can let me know what you think...but be aware..it is a work in progress and I have bent to the owners wishes on some things NOTE: the booking links will not work as they are inactive right now. I had to deactivate because people were making reservations already
.

Ooooh, right down the street from Uncle's! (Which is where we ate when our car died in your lovely little town a few years back!)
Love the building. Looks like a wonderful renovation. Good luck to them!