Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Building a Successful Travel Website


Having a functional and informational website is crucial for any business, especially those who are in the travel industry. Your website can serve as a great tool for introducing your destination to potential visitors online that can help boost sales while giving viewers a preview of what you have to offer. 

Content can make or break your website. It can help persuade people to travel to your business over other places. Here are 6 key items to include when creating your website to help guarantee success. 

1. Strong Home Page
The homepage will be the first thing most viewers will see. It should be easy to navigate and all of the important pages should be easily found. The layout should be organized and contain professional graphics and images. 

2. Promotional Materials
Your website can serve as a great place to put your promotional materials. From commercials to photos, you can designate a page that is dedicated to introducing your business. You can also include the history of the business or fun facts to increase interest. 

3. Social Media Networks
You can invite your viewers to connect with you on social media networks by including recognizable social media buttons on your every page including the homepage. Your website visitors may check out these networks to gain more information about you business. 

4. Ratings and Recommendations
You visitors can also gain more information about you by checking out ratings and reviews before they decide to travel to your business. If there is a reputable site that you want your visitors to look at you can include a link to it. You could also promote testimonials on your webpage. To learn more about the importance of ratings and reviews, check out my older post on the topic. 

5. Pricing
Price can play a huge role in consumer decisions. By having a page that outlines the costs, customers will be confident in how much they will be spending. Whether you offer admission prices or certain types of packages, its important to include this information. You may choose to let customers purchase tickets online which may be more convenient for some visitors. You can also offer special online deals from time to time. 

6. Contact Information
Visitors need to know both your location information and how to contact you. You can list your physical address and even include a map provided by Google Maps that can help visitors get directions. You should include your phone number and email if you have one. If different staff members handle different inquiries, you should include their contact information. 

Below you will find a list of successful Midwest travel websites you can check out for some more great ideas! 

  • Henry Doorly Zoo, Omaha, NE: www.omahazoo.com/ 
  • Adventureland, Des Moines, IA: www.adventurelandpark.com 
  • Mall of America, Bloomington NE: www.mallofamerica.com/ 
  • Field Muesum, Chicago, IL: fieldmuseum.org/ 
  • Indianapolis Speedway, IN: www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/


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