Month: July 2024

Since you’ve already chosen what to blog about, you’re well on your way to defining your book blog’s purpose. The next step is to determine the primary objective of your book blog – in other words, what exactly you want it to accomplish.

This could be:

• Promoting products
• Building authority
• Connecting with readers

Once you have a clear purpose in mind, you can set specific goals and use them to track your blog’s success.

If you’re wondering how to start a reading blog, choosing a platform is an important step! 94% of first impressions about a website relate to its design, so you want to choose a high-quality blogging platform to present your content in the best possible light.

We’ve done our fair share of research on this matter, and we can confidently say that the top three blogging platforms are:

• Wix for its built-in blogging features
• Squarespace for its uniquely designed templates
• WordPress.org for its ability to manage lots of content

There are countless different genres of books, from sci-fi to self-help – and if you can narrow your book blog down to just one of these niches, then you’ll attract a more specific audience to your content.

Can you guess which niche this Squarespace book blogger has chosen?

Your blog name will likely become the most recognizable part of your digital brand, so you’ll want to choose it wisely! Make sure to pick a name that showcases your personality. If you’re stuck for ideas, try to think of names that are relevant to your niche.

It’s also a good idea to have your blog name either be identical or very similar to your domain name. Your domain name is the website address that readers will enter to reach your blog – ours is WebsiteBuilderExpert, for example.

The cost of a domain name will differ depending on the extension you choose (.com, .net, and so on). If you want to take extra steps to secure your website, you can also purchase an SSL certificate.

Now is your chance to let even more of your personality shine through! If you’re using a website builder like Wix or Squarespace to design your blog, you can customize elements like the color scheme, fonts, and positioning without any knowledge of code. In fact, you can literally drag and drop text boxes and images wherever you want them to go!

Wix offers a wide selection of blogging templates to choose from.

Now that you’ve chosen your niche, you’ll be able to hone in on the specific interests and preferences of your audience – and you can tailor your content accordingly.

To conduct some good research on your audience, it’s worth looking into the target demographics of the genre your book blog is about.

This beauty blog seems to know that its audience is curious, socially engaged, and interested in more than just makeup.

For example, those aged 65 and over are 46% more likely to read historical fiction, while those aged 15 to 24 are two-thirds more likely to read fantasy and adventure books.

As you plan your blog content, identify potential topics that are relevant to your niche and of interest to your readers. For example, if your audience are big horror fans, then you’ll want to schedule some timely content in the lead-up to Halloween every year. It doesn’t have to be holiday-specific, of course – if you’re running a romance blog, you can write a list of the summer’s best beach reads, and so on.

It also helps to have your finger on the pulse in terms of the latest bestsellers and popular authors in your chosen genre. You could write a review of a hot new release, or rank a successful author’s books from your favorite to your least favorite.

You want to make sure to get as many eyes as possible on your book blog content, and keyword research is a great way to accomplish that. It might even give you some trending topic ideas, too!

Keyword research is a search engine optimization strategy, meaning it’s one way you can help your blog rank higher in Google search results. 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, so appearing on the results pages can help grow your audience massively.

You can use online tools like WordStream or AnswerThePublic to find out which book-related keywords have a high search volume – or in other words, which keywords have the most people searching them in Google!

It’s important to write attention-grabbing headlines for your blog post since these will be the first clue people get as to what you’ve written about, and whether or not it’s something they’ll want to read.

We’ve written our fair share of headlines here at WBE, so here’s a short list of the most important qualities of a successful one:

• Keep it short and sweet to avoid any text getting cut off in previews.
• Make it memorable and intriguing so that readers will click.
• Make it specific so that people can tell right away if your content is relevant to them.

It goes without saying that to write a quality book blog, you’ve got to actually read the books you discuss! But other factors contribute here too. For example, you can make your content more relatable by including some personal anecdotes, like how you first got interested in a particular genre.

You also want to make sure you keep the quality content coming on a steady schedule. Online content calendar tools like CoSchedule and Trello can help with this, as can content batching!

Making sure readers engage with your content is important for your blog’s success, especially if you want to monetize it further down the line. It’s also really satisfying to get feedback on what you’ve created!

Below are some ways you can foster reader interaction:

• Ask questions that they can respond to in the comments section.
• Link to social media platforms where they can follow you.
• Let them vote on what your next blog post should cover.

If you follow some of the tips above about fostering reader interaction, then you’ll be sure to build a sense of community on your blog.

You can take this a step further by hosting book-related webinars, Q&As, or book clubs to further connect with your audience in real time!

This book blogger creates in-depth plot summary videos on her YouTube channel.

Blogging is a great marketing tool for small businesses, and it’s also a great passion project for anyone looking to share a personal interest with the world. Some of the clearest benefits of starting a book blog are:

• Connecting with like-minded readers
• Growing your online audience
• Creating your personal brand
• Making money through your blog

If you’ve read this far, you now know how to start a blog about books and make it a success. If you have any additional tips and tricks of your own, share them in the comments below – after all, we’d love some reader engagement!

Here are a few pointers:

1. Have you established yourbrand identity?: Your brand’s unique identity covers various elements like your name, logo, color palette, and copy. These elements must set you apart from competitors, so consider how the visual aspects of your website can create a cohesive and recognisable experience for users.
2. Do you know yourtarget audience? Attract the right crowd to your bookings website by establishing your target audience. If you’re struggling with this task, imagine your audience’s age range, gender identity, interests, lifestyle, and location. Will your service resonate with the kinds of people you’ve envisioned?
3. What kind of bookings are you taking?Depending on your services, you will need different booking features on your website. For instance, if you hold monthly classes, you’ll need to be able to take recurring bookings. Or, if you offer workshops that are in popular demand, you’ll need to have a waitlisting function. These factors will influence the website builder you opt for, so keep them in mind!

The number of website builders on the market can feel overwhelming. For that reason, we’ve narrowed your options down to two platforms. Home to excellent booking integrations, bothWix and Squarespace are our top picks for beginners. Either platform will help you create a professional booking website. 

Wix Summary

The best website builder on the market, Wix comes with brilliant features you can use when creating your booking website. Its Wix ADI tool can generate an AI-driven website template based on your needs, while you can also add a number of integrations to your booking page through its bustling app store.

Wix is also a suitable platform for hotels. In Wix’s April Review, it unveiled its new hospitality solution Wix Hotels. If you own a hotel business, you can now accept payments and reservations in one place, or connect your business with popular websites like Booking.com.

Squarespace Summary

Squarespace is a brilliant fit for design-conscious business owners.Boasting the most stylish templates on the market mixed with great design tools and a drag-and-drop editor, this builder makes it easy to look professional online.

It also comes with Acuity Scheduling, a built-in booking system, so you can set up appointments as soon as you choose your template.

Because Squarespace is also theeasiest website builder to use, I recommend this platform for one-person businesses.Even if you have limited time or resources to dedicate to your booking website, setting up won’t be difficult due to its user-friendly interface, and you’ll also encounter some useful onboarding tutorials along the way.

What Do You Need in a Booking Website Builder?

Need help choosing a website builder? If that’s the case, spend some time assessing each platform and exploring the features they offer. Do these features fulfill your unique needs?

Here are some features to look out for:

• Calendar syncing– Busy schedule? If you anticipate plenty of bookings, then you’ll need a way to showcase your availability. Many scheduling integrations, including Wix Bookings, offer ways to sync your Google Calendars with your website.
• Streamlined payment systems– To watch the money roll in, look for scheduling tools that let you accept payments online via credit cards, digital wallets, and invoicing.
• Automations – If your schedule is jam-packed, automations can help you manage it. Search for automations that can speed up the process, like automatic emails that remind customers of upcoming bookings or payments.
• Staff management tools – Part of a larger business? If so, you’ll need a booking system that can integrate multiple staff members with your website. See if the platform lets you add staff calendars for each member of your team.
• Video conferencing – If you will be face to face with plenty of remote clients, your website builder must allow video conferencing. Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling has this feature and lets you integrate Zoom and JoinMe with your booking website.

Squarespace’s features page told me everything I needed to know about Acuity Scheduling. I saw that they offered multiple ways to get paid, which is great if you’re accepting regular payments from customers. Source: Website Builder Expert

Which Pricing Plan Do I Need?

To enable Bookings on Wix, you need the Core plan, which is priced at $29 per month when billed annually.It lets you install the Wix Bookings app, offering the ability to offer unlimited services and sync your personal calendars to your dashboard. Overall, it gives you a great range of booking features for a reasonable monthly cost.

On the Core plan, you can send 50 SMS notifications a month to your contacts. However, if you want to send a greater number of texts, you need to upgrade to the Business or Business Elite plans. For instance, the Business plan, priced at $36 per month when billed annually, lets you send 100 SMS notifications a month.

Wix’s pricing page has a section dedicated to its booking features. I was looking for ways to integrate socials and found out that you can connect multiple channels – great if you have pre-existing social media platforms you’d like to connect with your site. Source: Website Builder Expert

Once you’ve bought the Core plan or above, you’ll be able to download Wix Bookings from the app store and integrate it with your website!

But what about Squarespace? Our research shows that its plans are great value for money, varying between $16-$52 per month when billed annually.However, for a professional business page where you can take bookings, I recommend the Business plan at $23 per month when billed annually.

It comes with great ecommerce features that will complement your bookings page nicely. For instance, customers will be able to create accounts on your website, while you can create pop-ups and banners to promote new services you offer.

To access bookings, you’ll need to purchase Squarespace’s Acuity Scheduling tool, which comes at an additional cost. Ranging from $16-$49 per month when billed annually,you’ll be able to sync your calendars with your website and set up your payment settings.

I saw that all of the Acuity Scheduling plans come with invoicing and automatic reminder emails. Since all of these tools are in one place, I felt confident about managing my booking website through this tool. Source: Website Builder Expert

Squarespace Acuity’s cheapest option, the Emerging plan, is ideal if you’re at the helm of a one-person company.This means you might hold appointments or classes, run regular services such as live entertainment or beauty treatments, or frequently hold meetings for your freelance business.

However, you may need the Growing or Powerhouse plan if you’re a part of a wider team. For instance, the Powerhouse plan, at $49 per month when billed annually,lets you set up multiple time zones for different staff members and locations – great if your operations are run in multiple areas!

For more information on pricing, check out ourWix Pricing andSquarespace Pricing pages.

At first glance, a domain name may only seem like a small aspect of your website, but it’s much more than that. It’s the main way users will find you online.For that reason, you need to come up with a memorable primary domain to make sure your page is accessible for  public use.

Though most website builder plans come with a free domain, these typically last for one year only. Once your plan has run out, the domain will be charged. These prices can range from $20-$70 per year, depending on the platform you’re using.

For more flexibility with your pricing, you can research different domain name registrars to see who offers the best deals. Domain.com is a great example. On its website, I found offers for various domains that would suit a variety of businesses. For instance, a classic “.com” domain is $11.99 for your first year, but rises to $21.99 per year at renewal. 

I was impressed by Domain.com because there was so much choice. I found “.store,” “.tech,” and “.net” add-ons among many others. Source: Website Builder Expert

Need help finding the right fit?Read our guide to the best domain name registrars.

How Do I Create a Strong Domain Name?

Now that you know where to get a domain from, it’s time to choose a strong domain name.

This section will be most relevant to you if you haven’t come up with a business name yet. If you already have one, it’s best practice to make this your domain too, since you most likely have an existing customer base who are already familiar with it.

Without further ado, here are four tips to creating a strong domain name.

1. Is it short?The name “www.thisisaveryverylongwebsitename.com” isn’t particularly appealing. Though it does exactly what it says on the box, it will be tedious for users to type out. Instead, think of iconic brands like “ebay.com” or “www.levis.com” – short, sweet, and memorable.
2. Is it catchy?Like you would with a jingle or a tagline, make sure your domain is catchy so website visitors will remember it. As an example, “pinterest.com” is memorable as it blends the words “pin” and “interest” to create something entirely unique!
3. Is it easy for users to type out? To ensure users can easily type out your domain, ignore numbers, hyphens, and too many similar letters.
4. Does it have a keyword?Depending on your industry, you could try to add a keyword to your domain. For instance, if you’re a yoga instructor, you’ll probably want the word “yoga” somewhere.

Now for the fun part: your website’s unique design. According to our landing page statistics, your landing page will have a 160% higher conversion rate than other areas of your website. To keep users on your page, ensure that its design is both attractive andeasy to navigate.

Here’s what every strong website design needs:

• A strong tone of voice – Is your website sophisticated or playful? Authoritative or friendly? Your copywriting should reflect your brand’s identity. To create your tone of voice, think about your target audience and how they’d like to be spoken to.
• An eye-catching font– What do American Apparel, Jeep, and JCPenny have in common? A distinctive font. In fact, all of these brands use the font Helvetica! To find your ideal font, research current typography trends, see what other brands are using, and then explore which style best suits your brand.
• Evocative colors – Colors are associated with emotions. Because of this, you need to consider which colors best represent the way you want your website visitors to feel. If you’re offering fashion consultations, you could choose black to evoke luxury or sophistication. Or, if you offer business consultations, you could choose blue for trust and security.

For more design ideas, read ourhow to design a website guide.

On top of your website’s visuals, you need to add elements to your website that’ll help users find what they’re looking for. If you’re browsing a website builder’s template library, here are some key booking website features to watch out for:

• Navigation bars –If your booking website has multiple pages – such as “about us”, “services”, and “contact us” –  you need to ensure that users can easily switch between them. The quickest way to do this is by adding a website navigation Luckily, most website builder templates come with this feature.
• Booking widgets –How do you want users to book services on your website? Whether you want them to fill in contact forms, or click on a calendar on your landing page, look for a platform with a variety of booking widgets.
• Video Hosting –To showcase your services in another light, you could always add  a video that introduces, explains, or showcases your services. For that, you’ll need to make sure your website builder allows video hosting.

If picking a template feels overwhelming, some website builders have AI tools that’ll build your website for you! I used Wix ADI to create a booking website and it generated a unique page that fit my unique requirements. Source: Website Builder Expert.

Once you’ve chosen your template, you can start filling your website with content. But what should you include? Think about your target audience’s needs and ask yourself whether these features will be useful to them.

I’ve listed some pointers below:

• About Us Page– Here you can add background information on your brand’s story and mission statement.
• Services – Showcase your services by creating a bookings page. You can include important details like location, pricing, and dates.
• Social media links – Already have a Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok account for your business? Add social media icons to your page so users on your website can access these profiles too.
• Automated chat box– You can’t be at your website 24/7, so it’s worth adding an automated chat box that can respond to messages. Oftentimes, these chat boxes will notify you when someone interacts with your website.
• Testimonials– Adding genuine reviews to your website builds trust. If previous customers show approval of your services, then more people will be inspired to book a service themselves. You could add customer quotes, star reviews, and even photos (always ask for permission first), or install an app that allows customers to upload their own reviews themselves.
• Privacy Policy – Comply with website regulations by adding a Privacy Policy to your website. It tells users exactly what you intend to do with their information.
• SEO targeted copy– When writing your website copy, ensure you’re targeting the appropriate keywords. For instance, if “nail art” is your unique selling point, then you need to make sure this keyword is in your website headings and service descriptions.

Depending on your website builder, there are different ways to add appointment functionalities to your page. Since we’ve mentioned Wix and Squarespace already, here’s how you can add bookings to both platforms.

Wix Bookings

Setting up Wix Bookings was easy – I went onto the app store and installed the tool in one click. Afterwards, Wix redirected me to my dashboard, where I could now access a new “catalog” section. Here, I was able to add new services onto my website, from private appointments to group sessions.

For my fitness bookings website, I could add new classes from scratch or by editing the different kinds of services listed on the page. These suggestions were all relevant to my test website’s business, like the personal training and open gym! Source: Website Builder Expert

Once I had added my services, I could explore a myriad of other features. I could click on the “bookings calendar” tab to see my work schedule, set up and manage the work hours of staff members, and edit my default hours so customers know when I’m available each week. All of these features will help you manage your business effectively, so you can run each service without a hitch.

Acuity Scheduling

In contrast to Wix Bookings, Acuity Scheduling is already built into Squarespace. In other words, you don’t need to install an app to set it up. After I had chosen my template, I located the “Scheduling” tab from the left sidebar and began to fill in details such as my scheduling page URL and first appointment type.

If you’re precious about your time, Acuity Scheduling makes it easy to set your availability. I could fill in which days and times I’m available to make sure that visitors only book classes on those allocated days. Source: Website Builder Expert

I was taken through a straightforward, step-by-step process, beginning with naming my scheduling page to entering my availability for each week. All of the key features, such as appointment invoicing and client lists, are kept in one area of your website, so it’s really easy to organize and maintain your business over a long period of time.

Is There Anything Else I Should Set Up?

Before you dive into testing and publishing your website, double check to see if you also have these key features installed:

• Do you have payments enabled?If you’re offering paid services, you need a way to accept payments online. For instance, both Wix and Squarespace have their own all-in-one payment solution, letting you accept payments from major credit and debit card companies. Wix gives you the widest variety of payment options, with over 80 payment methods worldwide.
• Are you offering gift cards?If so, Wix Bookings lets you sell gift cards from your website. Customers can purchase custom amounts and send them to friends and family, enabling the recipient to book one of your services. Meanwhile, you can’t get gift cards with Squarespace, but you can offer special packages for clients. As an example, you could offer their fifth booking for free after four appointments.

After installing Wix Bookings, I could access gift cards from my dashboard. The feature also lets you track them, so you can see how successful they are. Source: Website Builder Expert

So you’ve spent hours putting your website together and it’s almost time to hit publish. But before you do, there’s one step you can’t avoid: testing your website. This will help you spot any website errors that could negatively impact users, and gives you time to smooth these problems out before going live.

These are some areas of your booking website to keep an eye on:

1. Is your website slow?According to our website load time stats, 82% of consumers say that slow loading times impact their purchasing decisions. With this in mind, don’t forget to test your website’s loading times. You don’t want a customer to feel frustrated and close your bookings page! You can help speed up your website by optimizing images. To achieve this, you’ll need to find the sweet spot between lower file sizes and high-quality imagery, so feel free to experiment with image compressing tools before hitting publish.
2. Are your pages mobile optimized?With a third of customers preferring to book appointments via mobile, you need to make sure your pages are mobile optimized. If your website looks clunky on smartphones, it’s time to go back to the drawing board. Keep your website mobile-friendly by removing any excess plugins or pop-ups that will clutter the screen, refining your design so it looks sophisticated on all devices, and using a free tool like mobiReady to see how well your website performs on mobile.
3. Does your bookings system work?Remember to test your bookings system. After all, there’s no point in setting up a booking website if visitors can’t book your services in the first place! When testing this feature, make sure all dates and prices are accurate, your payment options work, and your booking system offers a seamless experience from start till finish.

Tested your website thoroughly? Go ahead and publish!

Congratulations on publishing your booking website! However, you can’t just stop there. You’ll also need to use an array of marketing tools to grow your business’ online presence. Here are three tools that can help you promote your website:

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

If there’s anything you should focus on, it has to be your website’s SEO. When you create website copy, you’ll need to target the right keywords to ensure your website appears on search engines.

The keywords you choose should be intuitive and relate back to your business. For instance, a private tutor offering singing lessons could target keywords such as “singing lessons,” “singing teacher,” “vocal coach,” or “voice lessons.”

To help you come up with these keywords, put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. Think about what they’d need to search for on Google to find your service.  

For additional help, you could also consult a free SEO tool. My personal favorite is Keyword Surfer, a free extension you can add to Google Chrome. When you enter a specific search query into Google, it’ll show you related keywords alongside their overall search volume – perfect for beginners and seasoned SEO professionals alike!

For an in-depth look at SEO, refer to ourSEO basics guide.

2. Email Marketing

Keep customers in the loop by setting up email marketing. For instance, if you’re in hospitality, you could set up hotel newsletters and notify your contacts about upcoming events, loyalty schemes, or even seasonal discount codes.

If you opt for either Wix and Squarespace, both of these platforms offer built-in email marketing tools. But if you’d prefer to use a third-party company, like Mailchimp, you could also download an email marketing integration from Wix or Squarespace’s app store.

Want to know more about emails? See our guide toemail marketing best practices.

3. Blogging

If you have plenty of expertise in your industry, consider adding a blogging platform to your booking page. This way, you can showcase your knowledge to your audience and build trust with new website visitors who come across your content.

Most website builders, like Wix and Squarespace, already come with blogging features, so it’s easy to integrate one with your website. With Wix, for instance, I could install the Wix Blog integration from the app store in one click. Once I added it to the site, I could access my blog page from the editor and start creating my first post.

If you opt for a blog, remember to enable commenting and social media sharing. Commenting lets your audience engage with your content and spark industry-related discussions, while social media sharing lets visitors share your work with audiences on other platforms (and who knows who will see it?)

For more information on blogging, refer to our guide tostarting a business blog.

My Squarespace website came with its own blogging page named “journal”. Here, I could start writing posts on fitness-related topics, using them to share my findings with potential customers who visit my page. Source: Website Builder Expert

This article is backed by hands-on website builder research. In fact, our in-house research team has compiled information from over 200 hours of data collection.These findings were split into six key criteria that were weighted based on what users are looking for most in a website builder:

• Website Features (30%)
• Design Functionality (25%)
• User Experience (17%)
• Help & Support (10%)
• Value for Money (10%)
• Customer Score (8%)

Since website features are most important to users, I delved into Wix and Squarespace’s respective booking features to show you what they offer and how they could accommodate your needs.

After covering the seven easy steps, you’re now ready to create your own booking website. But if you’re still hesitant about getting stuck in, here’s why you should take the leap:

1. You’ll save time by streamlining the booking process.You will no longer need to juggle multiple tasks at once, from managing reservations to constantly sharing your availability with clients.
2. Customers can easily book your services.With all of your bookings kept in one place, customers won’t have difficulty booking and paying for a class, consultation, or service.

Keen to pick your website builder?Read our guide to the best website builders and open your booking website now.

First up? Assessing the state of play in your local hotel business.

You’ll need to analyze the lay of the existing hospitality land – and that means researching the market. Undertaking market research for your hotel will help you understand and meet the evolving needs of your future guests, while staying on top of emerging travel patterns, popular booking platforms, and current hotel market dynamics.

For a full overview of using market research to understand your audience, our guide will help. But, if you don’t have the time for such a comprehensive take, here are a few quick tips:

• Consider the demographics, psychographics, and behavioral characteristics of your potential guests to understand your hotel’s target audience.
• Identify your hotel’s niche within the broader hospitality market (such as eco-friendliness, luxury, or catering to a specific demographic of guests) to differentiate it from competitors.
• Research your hotel’s direct competitors – both local and online – and evaluate their online presence, pricing strategies, customer reviews, and overall market positioning.
• Establish clear, achievable business goals (both short- and long-term) that align with your vision for your hotel. These goals can tie into specific, measurable KPIs: such as occupancy rates, revenue targets, and customer satisfaction metrics.

Starting a hotel in the US isn’t as simple as throwing open your doors and lighting up a green neon ‘Vacancy’ sign. You’ll have your fair share of regulatory red tape to wade past until you can legally accept your first guest.

This includes:

• Choosing a suitable business structure (for example, sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation) and registering your hotel with the relevant state authorities. You’ll also need to obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS before you can hire your first bellboy or valet.
• Checking zoning laws and land use regulations to ensure your chosen location is suitable for a hotel, then obtaining the necessary permits and approvals from local planning and zoning departments.
• Obtaining health department permits for any on-site dining facilities, plus a hotel license and – if you’re planning to operate a bar at your hotel – a liquor license, too.
• Ensuring your hotel’s facilities and services are accessible for individuals with disabilities, for example ensuring step-free access to key entrances and exits.
• Protecting your hotel’s name, logo, and other intellectual property by registering trademarks. Be sure, too, to safeguard your guests’ data by complying with data protection laws – especiallyif you collect and process guest information online.

The hospitality market will alwaysbe bustling with competition. So, your hotel will need a strong brand to cut through all that fluff and help you not only grab and hold your potential guests’ attention but also convince them to stay at your hotel over the others.

So how can you successfully build a brand online? Start by:

• Developing a unique and memorable brand identity: clearly defining your hotel’s unique value proposition and personality, designing a memorable logo, and choosing a cohesive color palette and typography.
• Crafting a compelling brand story that conveys your hotel’s history, vision, and values, while highlighting any unique features such as architectural elements, community involvement, or sustainability practices.
• Establishing a presence on key social media platforms – Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter) are all excellent places to start, as is TikTok (although this will depend on the demographic of your ideal hotel guest).
• Ensure consistency in branding across all your online and offline platforms: using the same logo, colors, and messaging throughout your website, social media, and marketing materials to guarantee a consistent audience experience. Follow hotel website design best practices to ensure a good user journey.

Before you can start accepting bookings, you’ll need to get online to create a website for your hotel. The easiest way to do this? Through a website builder.

Website builders are tools, such as Wix, Squarespace, and GoDaddy, which allow you to create an online presence for your hotel – quickly, easily, affordably, and without needing to know how to code (or needing to pay someone who does).

Not all website builders are equal, though, so our guide to the best website builders will help you pick the right one for your hotel. You’ll also need to choose a website builder that comes with a strong online booking system, or at least the ability to integrate with one via a reliable third-party plugin.

With the right online booking system in place, your guests will be able to view your hotel rooms’ availability and rates on your website and book directly through your business. This helps you avoid paying out big commissions to third-party booking sites such as TripAdvisor or Booking.com, and giving your sales and revenue a big boost.

Want to know more? Dive straight into our article on how to build a hotel website.

A striking website – like this one from Malibu-based Hotel June – is vital for any hotel. The easiest, quickest way to build one is through a website builder such as Wix or Squarespace.

How you market your new hotel online will have a large, and direct, correlation with how successful it will be. So how can you employ digital marketing strategies to best effect?

Well, our digital marketing tips will help get you started. But for some quickfire, hotel-specific advice here, we can recommend:

• Investing in content marketing – which includes writing and publishing blogs on your website – to boost your hotel website’s SEO (search engine optimization) efforts, and increase its likelihood of appearing higher in Google and Bing rankings.
• Promoting using hotel social media marketing strategies, interacting with your brand’s followers there through liking and commenting, and encouraging guests who’ve had a positive experience at your hotel to talk about it on their social platforms.
• Utilizing email marketing to retain and attract hotel guests. There are various types of hotel newsletters you can send, including publishing a monthly newsletter, offering potential customers deals or discounted stays via email, or retargeting customers who once browsed rooms on your website.
• Getting in touch with influencers to offer them free stays in return for publicity.

Online travel agencies (OTAs) are sites such as Expedia, Hotels.com, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor. These platforms have a large user base and huge global reach, and – by partnering with them – you can bring in more business than your website will alone. (At least in your hotel’s early days!)

Here are our top tips for working with OTAs:

• Negotiate early and fiercely to secure a favorable commission rate and contract terms.
• Explore partnerships with niche OTAs that cater to your hotel’s specific target market.
• Maintain rate parity across all your distribution channels to avoid pricing conflicts and engender trust – although nothing is stopping you from offering incentives for booking directly through your hotel’s website.
• Implement dynamic pricing strategies to adjust your hotel’s rates based on demand, local events, and competitor pricing while staying within the agreed-upon parameters of your deals with OTAs.
• Strategically use OTAs to promote seasonal packages, special offers, and promotions.
• Take advantage of the marketing tools OTAs offer – such as sponsored listings and featured placements – to enhance visibility and attract more bookings.
• Regularly analyze the performance metrics OTAs provide to understand booking trends and customer demographics – and adjust your hotel’s prices accordingly.

Expedia is a popular OTA enabling you to grow your hotel’s reach and guest base, and increase awareness of your brand.

In hospitality, good reviews are, arguably, more important than in any other industry. After all, flip the perspective for a moment, and ask yourself when the last time was that you – as a consumer– didn’t check a stay’s Google or TripAdvisor before you reserved it.

For this reason, how you manage your hotel’s reputation online will be instrumental to its success. To do this, be sure to:

• Monitor and respond to online reviews (especially the negative ones) across platforms such as Google Reviews, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and social media.
• Encourage satisfied guests to leave reviews after their stay with you. You can do this via social media, your website, or in post-stay emails addressed directly to the guest.
• Resolve any issues proactively, offering solutions or compensation to dissatisfied guests and taking the conversation offline as soon as possible.
• Use any negative feedback to refine and improve your hotel’s approach going forward.

Negative reviews can be alarming and disheartening, but be sure to respond to them to convey a professional and polite profile, and use any constructive feedback to improve your hotel’s experience for future guests.

As a hotel, you have a responsibility to every guest that walks into your lobby. First and foremost, that’s to ensure they have a pleasant stay – but it goes beyond that. Because your hotel alsohas a responsibility to safeguard your guests’ most sensitive information and demonstrate your commitment to storing that data privately and securely.

To do this, ensure all your guest information is encrypted, and that your website meets the latest cybersecurity standards. (An SSL certificate is the bare minimum.) If you’re taking payments on-site and online, you’ll also need to ensure your hotel is PCI (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) compliant – your payment processor can help you get up to speed here.

Do all this correctly, and you’ll meet your state’s strict data collection and storage policies. Do it poorly, and you risk exposing your customers’ information in a data breach – and all the financial and reputational consequences that come with it.

For more information on this topic, tick a few items off our website security checklist, browse the latest cybersecurity statistics, or learn how to make your website more secure.

In this guide, we’ve answered the question “how to start a hotel business” by listing out the key components of the process. Let’s recap the most important steps to opening a hotel in 2024:

• Undertake market research and careful planning
• Understand your state’s legal and regulatory obligations
• Create a strong, channel-agnostic online brand for your hotel
• Build a website with online booking functionality
• Utilize digital marketing strategies to attract customers
• Manage your hotel’s image and reputation online
• Partner with online travel agencies (OTAs) to widen your reach
• Implement robust cybersecurity practices to safeguard your website and customers

While doing all this, you’ll need to stay on top of evolving, emerging developments in the hospitality industry, and keep abreast of audience and sector trends as they unfold. Do this, and you’ll build a successful, sustainable place to stay this year and beyond.

Good luck!