Tour Operator Blog by Rezdy

Tour Operator Logos: The Value of Creating a Good Logo

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:48:00 GMT

A logo is an essential part of your business branding plan. You might be a small activity operator in a coastal beach town, but that doesn't mean you don't need a logo that allows people to instantly recognize who you are and what you do.

There's even more competition out there online, so you need to create a logo that grabs attention wherever it's placed.

There are many benefits to having a logo designed specifically for your company:

1. Logos Create Business Identity

When you're creating your business logo, remember that this is the image your clients will remember you by.

Think about it — you probably recognize other large corporations in your world because of their logos.

When you look for a caffeine pick-me-up, you probably glance around to find the nearest green circle filled with a mystical mermaid, the universal symbol for Starbucks Coffee.

This is the type of corporate identity you want among your customer base. A good logo will allow them to recognize you in seconds.

Put your logo everywhere!

Once you've settled on the design, use it consistently throughout all of your marketing materials. Include your logo on your merchandise, and wherever your company is mentioned online.

The more places you put your logo, the quicker your customers will recognize it and the faster your brand identity will develop.

If they see your brand on your Facebook page, they will remember to "like" your page in order to receive more updates. Or if your logo is on a local sponsorship banner, they'll know you're investing resources in your community.

2. Logos Provide Visual Enhancement of Your Brand

Your logo should represent your company and what it does.

When you create your logo, you should:

Choose a color that will stand out, and make it a clean, crisp logo that is easy to read and understand.
Include the name of your company in some form, in order to intertwine your business name with your visual identity.
Try to give some sort of idea of what your business does, either with imagery or text.

Here's a good example from one of our customers, Go Car Barcelona:

Brand strategies are an important part of developing your business and helping it grow each year, but they are essentially incomplete if you don't have a logo.

3. Logos Make You Look Professional

People are more apt to work with a company with a well-developed logo. Even though in reality it doesn't mean that one tour is better than the other, people might think that way because first impressions count.

For example, which logo looks better?

A good logo gives the impression that you have invested significant time and resources into developing your brand identity. The underlying message is you're a successful and legitimate company with enough money behind it because you can pay for such activities.

Your logo is a worthwhile investment.

This is your chance to get creative and develop an image that represents your tour or activity so be excited! Invest the time and resources necessary in order to create a logo that instantly conveys your mission and tells customers what they can expect.

If you're thinking about changing your logo, remember that consistency is key - even when you radically change it. Notice in the example above, Best Buy kept the yellow price tag incorporated into it.

Don't rush. Develop a logo that you love, one that you feel truly represents your business. If you can't decide between a few images, test it out with 10-15 of your customers at the end of a tour to ask them which they prefer.

In an online world where people make judgment calls in a nano-second, your logo could be the factor that gives you the upper hand against your competition (provided your website looks professional, too).

For more online marketing tips for tours and activities, download our free ebook:

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Tour Operator Website Design: 10 Tactics to Get More Bookings

Wed, 08 May 2013 23:34:00 GMT

So you've developed an online presence for your tour and activity operation - but having a website with a pretty logo on it won't necessarily get you the bookings you need for your business.

The following tips will help you optimise your website so that you get the most bookings possible, allowing you to increase your profits and expand your presence in the local tourism market.

1. Add clear, concise buttons.

The most important button to have on your tour and activity company website is the "Book Now!" button.

This will allow visitors to quickly and easily make a reservation with you for whatever tour they want to participate in. If you use other buttons, make sure they do not distract or compete with the crucial "Book Now!" button.

2. Make navigating your website simple and easy.

It's important to make all other facets of your website easy to get to from the home page. Keep in mind that some people will be viewing your website from their smart phone or tablets, where easy navigation is crucial.

3. Never underestimate the importance of high-resolution photos.

Add one or two photos to each page, but don't forget to create a specific portion of your website that is exclusively for a photo gallery.

Use high-resolution scenery images, which allow the potential customer to experience your tours through their own eyes before they even start to plan their vacation. It will entice them to book with you when they know what to expect during their own experience.

4. Create quality videos to display on your page.

Today's travelers want to watch a video of the tour and activity experience before they fork over any cash for a reservation. Note that 62% of leisure travelers and 74% of business travelers will want to see a video before they make a final decision.

Be sure to create unique content filled with satisfied customers so your future clients get an idea of what they can expect when they book with you for their vacation.

5. Make it easy for customers to contact your company representatives.

Including basic contact information such as phone number, e-mail address and physical address is a must. In addition, create a form so that customers can instantly submit questions and comments to you via your website.

This creates a direct line of communication between you and your customers, which is much appreciated by your clients. Nearly 32% of leisure travelers will request more information this way before booking a tour.

6. Display your packages and services so they are easy to understand.

Make a list of the different tour packages and experiences that you offer. Describe them in a few sentences, using your best details and strong yet descriptive words.

Include a photograph or a video with each package. Make sure your customers know what to expect, how to dress and what they need to bring with them for their tour.

7. Reveal a bit about yourself.

Set up an "About Us" page that shows photographs of you and your staff members, and explains a bit about your professional qualifications. You might even include a short story of how the business came to life.

In addition, add photographs of your facilities and transportation vehicles if applicable to help customers build up their trust in you. Add testimonials from previous customers who were thrilled with their experiences.

8. Include an availability calendar.

Future travelers will want to easily see if you have something available that works with their schedule. Make sure your calendar is up-to-date at all times, and compatible with mobile!

9. Develop a presence on all of the top social media networks.

This includes Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Pinterest and Trip Advisor. Social networking allows you to expand your reach to customers who may have never even realized you existed in the past. Work hard to nurture your presence on these sites and develop trust and rapport.

10. Invest in an online booking system.

People who are researching vacations in today's world want to be able to book a spot and pay for their reservation from the comfort of their home.

An online booking system is an essential to surviving the tourism market of today, and allows you to be open for business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, no matter what part of the globe your customer is from.

There are lots of options for you to choose from, but make sure the pricing structure doesn't hamper your cash flow, and it's geared specifically for the needs of tours and activities (instead of accommodation, for example). Your vendor should be constantly tweaking their software in ways that will help you run your business - that way, its more than just a booking system.

Your website is your best booking channel!

Travelers today use the Internet for the majority of their reservations, whether for their flights, their hotels or their excursions. In fact, a survey we conducted of Australian tour and activity operators found that their website was the best source of bookings.

In researching what to do at their destination, they usually go to sites like TripAdvisor. This is why you will want to have a well-developed presence on the Internet in order to gain the most customers and earn repeat business from people who frequently travel to your little corner of the world.

For more information on online marketing for tours and activities, download our free and comprehensive ebook:

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4 Online Booking System Features That Generate Sales For Tour Operators

Mon, 06 May 2013 06:15:00 GMT

If you are considering investing in an online booking system, you will want a system that proactively helps you to generate more sales.

As you research the various options available to you, look for software programs that have features designed to increase your bookings and provide your customers with reliable service.

These 4 features ensure that your customers not only have the option to make a reservation online, but they enhance the overall experience of working with your tour or activity business:

1. Real Time Booking

Real time booking means that your customers can book reservations immediately online. They will receive an instant confirmation, and be able to move on with the planning of their trip. Using your online booking system, you can set the times that your tours and activities are available.

Customers can pick a time that is convenient for them, which makes it easier for them to plan their vacation. Many travelers will only choose tour companies that offer these features, so by investing in a system that offers real time booking you will find your sales skyrocket.

2. Agent Management

Whether you have several sales people who work for you or you offer your tours through an authorized seller, an agent management feature will help you keep track of who is selling what tours and activities.

When your agents and resale professionals know they can trust you to keep track of who sold what options, they will be more motivated to promote your company and your tours. This unique feature helps to motivate people to promote your product, resulting in an increased profit for your company.

3. Pre-Determined Inventory

This is an important feature, because it ensures that everyone who books a spot on a tour or activity actually has a place reserved for them. For instance, if you offer wine country tours in vans that seat 8 people, you can set that limit on your online booking system.

Customers will know that they can rely on you to be trustworthy, and they can rest easy knowing there will be a spot available for them on the date and time listed. When your customers trust you, they will refer you and your business will continue to grow.

4. Resource-Dependent Calendar

This feature allows you to create availability that is based on the resources you have available that day.

For instance, the calendar that shows your availability on your website will reflect the number of staff members, tours and activities that you have available on any particular day.

If your business is closed on Tuesdays, your resource-dependent calendar will accommodate that change.

Essentially, it streamlines the booking process and eliminates confusion for your customers. By having a clear, concise calendar that accurately reflects the resources you have available, customers will be able to book easily with your company which will help increase your sales.

Your Customers Are Browsing & Booking Online

Travelers today do most of their research online, and more often than not they will make all of their tour and activity reservations before they even arrive at their destination. By offering online booking, you are allowing your business to grow and be successful in the 21st century.

You will want to choose an online booking system that does the hard work for you. When you invest in a system with instant confirmations and real-time booking, you will find that you have more time to concentrate on the creative side of your business rather than the technical side.

Essentially, you get to enjoy the fun part of your job while your online booking system takes care of the rest.

If you're looking for the perfect system, why not free trial Rezdy? Our customers love it, and there are no obligations and no credit card needed:

6 Essential Mobile Optimisation Tactics for Tours & Activities

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 02:49:00 GMT

In the digital world, the way that people consume information and make purchases is changing every day. Travelers today will book the majority of their reservations for tours and excursions online, and many of those will make those reservations on a mobile device. Mobile reservations aren't the way of the future — they are the way of today.

In fact, according to a report by VFM Leonardo, the number of people who make tour and activity reservations on a mobile device such as a tablet or a smart phone is on the rise:

In 2011, about 11 percent of people used their mobile device to inquire about a tour on their next vacation. By 2012, that number rose to 19 percent.
36 million Americans using their mobile devices to research vacation options and another 16 million making the reservations on their mobile device.

That's why it's so important for tour and activity operators to incorporate these tactics into their website:

#1 Make your mobile website visually appealing.

Tablets and smart phones are designed to give the end-user an excellent visual experience. Make sure that your mobile site includes high-resolution photographs and interesting videos to help keep the customer interested in what you have to offer.

On smart phones, speed is a priority. More than 60 percent of United States users want a smart phone site to load and work properly within 4 seconds or less. Tablet users are more leisurely, and want to enjoy video content on the mobile site.

#2 Keep it simple, and make sure it is easy to complete the reservation.

The most prominent item on the screen should be the "Book Now" button, whether you are designing a mobile app or a mobile site for a tablet. The customer will want to be able to quickly and easily make the transaction and reservation.

Users who are going to book on a mobile device are ready to make their purchase — their decision has already been made. Make it easy for them to create a reservation with your company.

#3 The size of the device should always be a priority when designing your site.

Remember the interface that the user will be using, and keep in mind the size of the user's screen. For your mobile site on a smart phone, keep it as clean and simple as possible. Users are dealing with a four-inch or smaller screen, and won't want to deal with a cumbersome site.

Add larger visuals, more options and extra buttons to your tablet mobile site to help enhance the experience for the tablet user, who is more likely to spend more money with your company.

#4 Ensure that the mobile site is linked to your social networking pages.

Smart phone users are more likely to connect on social networks while on the go. When designing the site for a smart phone device, make it social-media friendly. After people have made a reservation with your company, allow them to quickly connect to Facebook to share this news with their friends.

Tablet users are comfort-users, and probably have more time to tinker with your site. Allow them the opportunity to create a quick review that can be posted to a testimonial page.

When you make social networking easy and convenient for the mobile user, your will reap the benefits of having your customers do your marketing for you.

#5 Make your mobile app or mobile site a one-stop-shop for your customers.

Take advantage of the opportunities that the mobile platform presents you with as a tour and activity operator. They should be able to tap your phone number to make a call, click a link to send you an e-mail or easily connect with a map to help them get to your location. Turn the customer's mobile device into their ticket for your activity or tour.

#6 Give special offers to people who use their mobile devices to make reservations with your company.

Promotional items such as a free snack, drink ticket or complimentary parking will reward users for taking advantage of your mobile site.

This will help aid to your already favorable reputation as a tour and activity operator in the area.

Mobile isn't a maybe, it's a MUST!

It is essential to master the mobile platform and to provide your customers with a user-friendly site. Travel agencies, tour operators and activities managers need to know that nearly 50 percent of people who perform a travel-related search on their mobile device will end up making a reservation.

This is a huge market of people that can have a big impact on your business. These are the people that you want to reach out to, and the customers that you want to have. You want to have the reputation of being a mobile-friendly company.

People in today's global world are just squeezing in their vacation time, so you will want to make booking tours, activities and excursions with your company as convenient and easy as possible. This means you have to be available on the go.

Make sure that your booking system is optimised for mobile. Rezdy certainly is!

To take an obligation-free trial of Rezdy, click on the button below.

4 Tips On Facebook Testimonials For Your Tour or Activity Business

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 22:57:00 GMT

You have your Facebook page all set up, so that everyone who is traveling to your area and wants to book one of your tours or activities can interact with you. You've picked out the perfect cover photo, and you have a great profile picture that showcases your brand name and logo. You have your contact information listed, a few photo albums posted and a witty status already on your Timeline.

Now the real work begins — you have to get your past, present and future clients to interact with you. But how?

The following tips can help you get testimonials from your customers and also help you encourage people to engage with you on this ever-popular social network.

1. Offer a prize or incentive for leaving a review of your company and its services.

According to Marketing Sherpa, some travel companies offer gift cards to the customers who leave the most beneficial, helpful and informative reviews.

People love Facebook contests, so making a contest about reviews and testimonials is a great way to promote your company while gaining a few reviews along the way.

Popular gift card choices include Amazon, Starbucks and Target.

2. Send out an e-mail survey and ask for a Facebook testimonial at the end of it.

Before you give a tour or provide an experience, be sure to get your customers' contact information. Have them include their full name, address, phone number and e-mail address. About a week after they have visited your location, send them an e-mail with a survey asking about their experience.

In addition to the standard questions you would ask in this type of survey, ask them to leave a testimonial for you to post on your business Facebook page. Many people are more inclined to leave a testimonial this way, so it helps you to get more reviews than you would if you simply asked for them on Facebook.

3. Advertise your Facebook page at the end of a tour.

Your customers are going to find your business through many different means. Some will receive your business name as a referral from friends and family, and others will find you simply by walking down the street.

Not everyone will automatically realize you have a presence on the largest social media network, so don't forget to remind them.

Simply inform them that you have a Facebook page and if they want to see photographs and get more information about upcoming tours and promotions, they should like your page. Of course, ask politely for them to leave a post about their experiences once they have found you on Facebook.

4. Simply ask for a testimonial through a status update or a photograph.

Sometimes getting testimonials on Facebook is as simple as asking for them. Every once in a while, post a short status update that asks clients to say what they love about your tours and activities.

The status update could simply read "Tell us why you loved the tour you went on with your company." You will be surprised how many people will take a few seconds out of their day to reminisce about their time spent with you and provide you with a kind testimonial.

What's in it for you?

When you ask your customers for their opinions, they feel that they are valued by your company. You will find that people on Facebook feel more accountable, since they have to back up their account with their full name and picture. You are more likely to get accurate and honest reviews that don't simply trash your company.

However, it's important to be realistic and understand that all businesses will have both negative and positive feedback. When it comes to social media, it's very important to avoid the temptation of deleting negative feedback about your company. This frustrates other people on the social network, and can be a public relations disaster in just a matter of minutes.

Instead, encourage representatives for your company and your social media manager to interact with clients, ask them to elaborate and provide solutions — all on your Facebook timeline. This will show that you care about your customers and you want to make it right.

The first step to delving into the world of social media is setting up your account and getting started. The second step is promoting community engagement, and interacting with your customers on a regular basis.

Through this, you will establish a repertoire with your clients that will allow them to do the promotion work for you. You will find that the more people who like your page and share your status updates, photographs and videos, the more your business will continue to grow.

Before you know it, you'll be the most popular tour company in your area.

For more tips on how to use social media for your tour or activity business, download our free ebook:

Twitter for Tour and Activity Operators: What You Need To Know

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:30:00 GMT

Jumping into the world of social media can seem daunting, but as a tour and activity business in a tourist destination, it's an essential element to your marketing plan.

According to Frederic Gonzalo,

Social media is one of the most successful ways to market your travel services, with more than 50 percent of direct bookings coming from social media accounts.
Social media can reduce marketing costs by up to 24 percent, allowing your profit margins to increase significantly.

Twitter is one of the most important social networks to be a part of and have an active presence on, as it's one of the most widely used social networking sites.

Basically, Twitter is a forum where people can send out 'tweets' to their followers. A tweet is a short message that can be no longer than 140 characters (links get shortened), and people use tweets to share things they found interesting, make big announcements, voice their opinions and send a quick message to their friends.

Personal tweets range from discussing the meal plans for that evening to voicing a political opinion. Business tweets, on the other hand, should be structured a bit differently (hint: link back to your website).

As a business in the tourism industry, you should join Twitter in order to connect with your customers on a more social level while also promoting your products and services.

Why Use Twitter for Business?

The popularity of Twitter is on the rise, specifically for businesses that are a part of the travel industry. In 2011, about 62 percent of industry businesses had a Twitter profile. By 2012, that number had jumped to 75 percent and it continues to climb today (Source).

Twitter is used by the travel industry for:

Customer engagement. It's a way to connect with past, present and future customers. By joining the conversation, you will gain credibility as a business and develop a unique relationship with your customers.
Customer service. Many travelers today want to be able to quickly and easily reach the companies and businesses they have booked with for their trips. You can use Twitter as an instant customer service line, allowing you to quickly and easily satisfy your clients.
Promoting Brand Identity. Your Twitter account allows you to use an image as your signature photograph. Many companies opt to use a brand name or logo to increase brand identity among their clients. This image shows up next to all of the Tweets that you send out to your followers.
Running competitions. This is a great way to interact with your clients and promote your business. Many Twitter contest rules involve retweeting a specific tweet and following a company. You can start your own contest to gain more followers and increase awareness about your tour and activity business.

Quite frankly, as a tour and activity operator, you need to develop a presence on Twitter to stay relevant to your customers and to compete in the industry.

Setting Up Your Twitter Account

You will want to set up your Twitter account in a way that makes it both efficient and effective. The following tips will help you get a successful start on Twitter.

Name: First you will want to create an account name. It's best to keep your Twitter name short, and avoid awkward and cumbersome characters. If at all possible, register your company's name in order to make it easy for your customers to find and identify.
Image: For your profile image, it's best to choose a business logo. Make sure the logo will be visible in the tiny size that is on display when you send out a tweet. According to The Next Web, a monochromatic photograph is best. It's best to keep your profile picture uniform and use the same photograph from your other social media accounts.
Bio: Your bio is one of the most important parts of your Twitter profile, because most users will read your short, 160-character description before deciding whether or not to follow you. You have to keep it short, so choose your words carefully and make each character count. Sometimes including contact information like a phone number is helpful.
Tweets: The ultimate goal is to send valuable tweets that will lend themselves to retweets. When someone retweets what you have said, your message is circulated out to all of their followers. This allows your reach to increase exponentially. Keep your tweets diverse, send out links to articles, promotional information, interesting quotes, twit pics and events. Be witty and get creative — tweeting is meant to be light-hearted and fun but also valuable.
Photos: Tweet at least two or three photos every day. Researchers have found that photographs get the most engagement on social media sites, as people love something visually interesting and appealing. By tweeting relevant photos about your tours and activities, you will generate interest and excitement about your business.

Choosing Hashtags

A hashtag, formerly known as the pound sign, is a way of tagging your tweet so that it's a part of a general conversation. It's one of the keys to getting noticed on Twitter, but according to Hash Tracking you will want to choose your hashtag wisely. Follow these steps to pick the best hashtags for your tour and activity operation.

Start by thinking about what your tweet is about. You will want to use a hashtag that is relevant to the content of the tweet.
Choose a hashtag that is trending, but keep it general. For instance, if you are a tourism company in Detroit using hashtags like #Detroit or #PureMichigan would help you promote your tweet.
Consider adding an additional hashtag to your post that is not trending as high but might help you reach more valuable followers.
Never add too many hashtags. You want your tweet to be easy to read, and you don't want it to be flagged for spam. You will want to strike the delicate balance between using a relevant hashtag without getting lost in the crowd.

Now that you know how to set up your Twitter account and you recognize all of the benefits it can have for your tour and activity operation, it's time to jump into the Twitterverse today.

When you immerse yourself in this social networking site, you will find that you can quickly gain followers who will retweet your information. This promotes your business and helps you advance within the social networking site, and more than likely your business will continue to grow.

In the 21st century world, people conduct their lives through social media — and they are relying on it more and more to plan their vacations and excursions. When you have a presence on Twitter, you will find customers can easily connect with your company and book a reservation for your tours and activities.

For more tips on how to use social media for your tour or activity business, download our free ebook:

How Tour and Activity Operators Should Use Facebook for Business

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:14:00 GMT

If you run a tour and activity company in a particular area, and you don't have a Facebook page, you are missing out on a big opportunity.

More than half of the population of the United States has a Facebook profile now — and those people are using Facebook to plan their next vacation. It's not uncommon to hop on Facebook and see a status from a friend that says "Heading to Paris next month, what should I go see?"

Facebook is a cheap (as in, free) way to connect with your customers, generate buzz and increase your profits.

In 2011,

more than 51% of travel brands that had a Facebook presence noted that they had an increase in business that year.
Just about half of the travel brands on Facebook found that their bookings increased because of their presence on the large social networking site, and
71% of travel brands on Facebook found that they had better engagement and conversation with their customers.

This is an opportunity to hear directly from customers, to build excitement about what you have to offer and ultimately grow your business into the 21st century.

Facebook Page Essentials for Tours and Activities

You will want to make sure your Facebook page looks professional and provides valuable information to those who are looking to connect with you.

Cover Photo & Profile Picture

To start, add a cover photo and a profile picture.

Your cover photo is the main image that customers will see when they click on your page, and it spans the length of the browser. Choose a high resolution image that gets across a message about your business. If you provide tours of San Francisco, perhaps a cover photo of the Golden Gate Bridge taken on one of your tours is a good choice. It should be attractive and interesting, inspiring the customer to dig deeper into your Facebook page.

Here's a great example from Melbourne By Foot walking tours:

Your profile picture should consist of your brand name or logo — something the consumer can easily identify with when they are conversing with you on the site. The profile picture will show up next to any comments or status updates that you post on the page.

About Section

Be sure to fill out all of the relevant fields when building your profile.

You will want to include contact information such as phone numbers, e-mails and other social media accounts so that customers can easily stay in touch with you.

For instance, if you offer bike rentals on Mackinac Island, your about section could say "We rent out the best bikes of all shapes and sizes to visitors of Mackinac Island. You won't find better prices or better quality bikes anywhere else on the island."

In the "About" section, provide a brief description of the services you provide.

Posting on Your Tour and Activity Facebook Page

Lee McCabe is the director of Travel, Global Vertical Marketing at Facebook, and he recommends that tour and activity operators spend their time creating light-hearted posts that help to engage potential Facebook fans.

Post Frequently

Be sure to post frequently to your page in order to stay relevant on your customer's news feeds. Strike a balance because you don't want to post too much. Once a day is perfect.

Interesting blog posts about the area work well, as well as industry news items. Asking your customers a question at the end of the post is a great way to get the conversation started, and interested customers will likely share your post with their own set of friends. This is the perfect way to get the word out about your business.

Post Visual Content

In addition to news items and interesting stories, you will want to post relevant photos and videos to your Facebook page.

For instance, as a tour operator, you will want to post plenty of photographs of recent tours. If you do walking tours throughout London and came across an interesting find one day, snap a quick photo on your iPhone and upload it to your Facebook page right then and there.

Your Facebook fans will love the instant updates and it will get them excited about their upcoming tours with you.

Promote Yourself

Also be sure to promote sales, specials and new products through status updates.

Again, see how Melbourne By Foot is doing it right:

Clever tour operator software vendors like Rezdy allow you to include links to your online booking software so that customers can quickly and easily make their reservations through your Facebook page.

Generating Buzz with Contests on Your Facebook Page

Contests are a great way to get a lot of fans very quickly, but it's important to recognize that these will not always be quality fans. However, the more fans you have the more likely other friends will find you and that increases your odds of securing quality fans in the future.

General travel contests often have a giveaway as a reward, such as a free tour or a discounted activity or excursion for someone taking a trip in that area. People love to get free stuff, so contests are always a hit. As part of the contest rules, ask your participants to share your status or promote the business on their personal pages. This will help you generate buzz and get more people to like your page.

Start Using Facebook Professionally

Once you get your Facebook page up and running, it is important to make it a part of your daily routine. You will want to update your Facebook page several times throughout the day, providing your friends with valuable information, interesting stories that are worth discussing and high-resolution photographs and videos.

Facebook is not only a great way to advertise the tours that you offer and the activities that people can participate in on their next vacation, but it's a wonderful way to connect with your customers on a personal level. It allows you to become a part of their daily lives and conversation, something that is not possible on any other medium available today.

For more tips on how to use social media for your tour or activity business, download our free ebook:

3 Ways to Grow Your Small Tour or Activity Business

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 22:45:00 GMT

As a small business, your resources are limited for just about everything. However, you know that investing in marketing and promotion is essential to helping your business grow, because it is so closely tied to sales.

Fortunately for the small tour and activity operators today, the Internet provides a quick and easy way to get the word out about your business, and many of these online marketing strategies are relatively inexpensive. Social media accounts, for example, do not cost anything to set up and if you maintain them yourself, you won't see any overhead costs other than time.

The following avenues will help you promote your tour business and attract new customers from across the globe:

1. Social Media

Social media is one of the best ways for any small business to develop its presence in the online community, and the results of a successful campaign are tangible. Social media allows people to connect with your business in new and exciting ways, as well as quickly spread the word about your location to friends and family.

When starting a social media campaign, it's important to choose a few different account types and develop those accounts completely before joining additional networks.

Most small travel businesses will begin their social media campaign with a Facebook account and a Twitter account. Along the way they might add other relevant accounts, such as Instagram, Blogger or Flickr.

Facebook

Facebook allows you as a tour operator to post status updates about recent happenings with your business and the area you are located in. These status updates will range from quick-hit news items, links to relevant stories and simply fun thoughts, but they also might provide customers with details on an upcoming promotion or contest.

Facebook is a great way to add photographs of recent tours, as potential customers will want to see exactly what they are going to experience when they book a tour or activity with you. For instance, if you offer whale watching tours, consider posting a few photos each week of the whales that you see. It will get people interested and excited in what you have to offer.

Contests are also a great way to get people involved on Facebook, as most contest rules require participants to share information about the company with their friends. It spreads word of mouth and generates buzz about your company, and a lucky winner will get a prize such as a free tour or a discount.

Twitter

Twitter allows you to post quick information for your followers, and often includes newsworthy information, promotional information and contact information. You only have 140 characters to get your point across, so it's important to be witty and creative. A quick Twit pic can go along way as well, enticing people who are following you to check out your website for more information.

Since social media is being used more and more, tour operators need to know how to use social media for their business, so that it has a positive impact on revenue.

2.TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor should be a priority for tours and activities because it has become a top resource for people who are planning vacations, as it is known for being reliable and trustworthy. This site provides a comprehensive summary of many of the attractions in any particular city or area that people are visiting. In addition to the summary, users can get on and post reviews of their personal experiences. There is an opportunity to add photographs as well.

That is why this is an important site to develop a presence on, as it is trusted by travelers and businesspeople alike. Ask people who have enjoyed your tour to get on Trip Advisor and help you develop your page. The more reviews you have, and specifically the more positive reviews you have, the better ranking you will earn.

Keep looking for ways to improve your TripAdvisor listing. You will be thrilled the day you log on to Trip Advisor and see your business as one of the top-rated things to do in your city.

3. Voucher Sites

Voucher sites have become a great way to generate buzz about your business. Popular voucher sites include the likes of Groupon and Living Social, and they allow you to create a daily deal that works for your business.

For instance, you might offer an extremely discounted tour during one of your slow months to help boost your sales.

This is a great way for customers to discover your business, and when they enjoy their experience, they will be more likely to recommend you and help you spread the word online as well.

Where should you start?

People who are planning trips and making reservations are getting most of their information off of the Internet before they go. The Internet has changed the way that people travel, in the sense that travelers are able to see and experience a place online before they ever make a reservation.

Perhaps you offer double-decker bus tours in an action-packed city, or maybe you provide surfing lessons off of the coast. Either way, you will want to develop your reputation not only in your own community but across the global travel community as well.

As a starting point:

Launch a social media campaign to get people talking, and provide them with the best deals around so they can't pass your tours up.
Take advantage of the senses, and provide your customers with a 360-degree experience when they visit your website including photos, videos and reviews. Do this on your own website and on TripAdvisor.
Partner with voucher sites to build awareness of your tour or activity.

Your business might be smaller than that of a corporate conglomerate, but that doesn't mean you can't beat your competitors with online marketing. Use your niche and local expertise to showcase to the world your amazing services and the experiences that you offer, and before you know it, you will have a full plate of reservations every day!

For more tips on how to market your tour or activity business online, download our free ebook:

What avenues have you found successful in growing your business? Share them with us in the comments section below.

How Tour and Activity Operators Can Set Pricing To Increase Revenue

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:18:00 GMT

The vast majority of tour and activity operators can substantially increase their profits simply by taking a more sophisticated approach to the pricing of their services.

Anyone who has booked a flight or a hotel room knows that their pricing can vary widely according to when the service is booked. It is thus surprising that tour and activity operators who also operate in the tourism industry have been very slow to get smart about what is generally referred to as “yield management” or “dynamic pricing”.

Increasing your profits often requires little more than applied common sense in setting prices that vary with consumer demand. This is how to do it.

1. Consider which pricing strategy makes the most sense for your tour or activity.

When pricing your products, do not make the mistake of thinking that each particular product (eg. “Walking Tour A” or “City View Flight”) should have only one fixed price. All your products should be priced on the basis of “it's not what you do but when you do it”.

Common examples of how to structure your pricing to optimize profits by adjusting price in light of consumer demand include:

Seasonal Pricing. This most basic form of yield management is the most commonly used by operators. Nevertheless you should ask yourself whether you have been grainy enough in how you use it. For many operators having a “high” and “low” season is very much sub-optimal. Based on a review of demand in past years you may find that it makes sense to have 3, 4 or more “seasons” in your pricing.
Day of Week Pricing. Most operators experience differential demand patterns for their products on different days of the week. It is well established that by adjusting your pricing to make busy days of the week more expensive and/or to make quiet days cheaper you can substantially increase profits. Those customers who can as easily come on quieter days will take advantage of the cheaper pricing you offer rather than taking up space on days that are busy anyway thus increasing total sales.
Time of Day Pricing. This is one of the most powerful tools for increasing profits for operators running businesses which have limited resources. Time of day pricing is probably your best tool for maximizing profits in high demand periods. Don’t be shy to have BIG price differentials based on time of day. For example, if you operate a kayak rental business in a resort area, then during busy season your 8AM rental price might be $15/hr versus a price of $40/hr between 10AM to 4PM.
Surcharge or Peak Pricing. Even if you have a “peak season” rate should you charge even more at times of known extraordinary demand (eg Xmas) and/or when you are extra subject to extraordinary operating costs. Consumers expect to pay more for services provided, for example, on a public holiday.
Last Minute Pricing. This can be a powerful driver of incremental revenue for products having a fixed cost of provision. However last minute pricing is generally not effective in getting the bargain hunters to fill your empty spaces unless you have some mechanism to very quickly distribute/advertise your last minute price to the public or your agents. Without this all that happens is that you end up discounting to customers who have come to you by chance at the last minute and would have paid full price.

2. Know your tour or activity costs.

One of the keys to improving your yield management is knowing what it costs you to provide each product/service. This may not be as easy as it seems.

For example, assume it costs you $100 to take your dive boat out for a particular dive and an extra cost of $20/diver.

If your normal cost for this dive is $65 and the boat takes 8 guests, how should you handle matters like “last minute pricing” or pricing for an unpopular early morning time?

Last minute pricing. In the dive boat example the full operator cost is $32.50/diver (ie. $20 + $100/8) but the marginal cost is only $20/diver. So for last minute pricing every extra sale made for more than this amount potentially increases your bottom line.

Unpopular timing. For pricing unpopular departure days/times you may need to set a minimum number of guests per departure in order to ensure you recover your fixed costs (eg. a minimum of 4 divers @ $50 generates revenue of $200 versus costs of $180) with $30 for each extra diver going straight to your bottom line.

In answering such questions you must always know both your full cost and the “marginal cost” for each extra guest you take.

3. Implement smarter pricing & yield management.

For small operators the biggest deterrent to adopting more sophisticated pricing and yield management practices is not how to determine prices, but how to implement these changes.

For operators who use manual systems, implementing any form of yield management becomes a nightmare, because:

Pricing needs to be revisited. To maximize profits, prices need to be continually “tweaked” and updated.

Other sites must be up to date. You need to make sure your own website and the websites of any distributors you use are all also updated in real time.

If the price for each product is to be variable, then it becomes necessary to use an online reservation system which shows the real time availability of each tour/activity and its pricing (ie. the pricing if the product is booked at the current time for a particular session). If this sounds complicated just think about the process for booking a hotel room online.

The key to being able to implement smarter pricing and yield management is thus to have the tools that enable you to quickly and flexibly update your product pricing by season, day of week, time of day etc.

The same online booking software needs to be able to push these changes in real time to your own website and to the websites of your distributors.

Until recently the online booking software required to power real time bookings (and thus yield management) was not available to SME operators.

However in recent times a few businesses have specialized in providing such tools to tour and activity operators. For example, Rezdy offers commission free plans starting from $19/mth which provide SME operators with all the tools they need to improve their yield management and profitability.

Rezdy can help you grow your business! If you're interested in learning more, click on the link below:

Pros & Cons of Fixed Fee vs Commission-Based Online Booking Systems

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:50:00 GMT

As a tour operator, you know that having an online booking system is essential to growing your business and attracting new customers. However, it can be an overwhelming choice to make. Not only are you trying to consider the various features and aspects of the different software programs, you also have to think about how these programs fit into your budget.

It's important to note that there are two types of paid online booking systems:

A fee-based system is going to cost you a set fee every month, no matter how many bookings you make.
A commission-based system will take a percentage of your profit every time you have an online booking.

Which pricing structure will make your tour or activity most profitable? Here are pros and cons to help you evaluate your business needs as well as your budget.

Fixed-Fee Pricing Structure

Pro:

Most fixed-fee systems will have a set fee that you are locked into for the duration of your agreement. Typically this is a low monthly rate that you can afford, and as your business grows it will not cost you more in fees.

While it may cut into your profits during slow months, you will not see a reduction in your profits during busy times. Ultimately, the goal is to eliminate paying commission fees to third parties. You will want to see more profits from your business rather than more bills and higher overhead costs.

Con:

You will have to pay this bill no matter what. So this means that if you have a month where you receive no online bookings through your system, you will still have to pay for the service. This can be difficult, especially for tour operators that are just starting out in the industry.

Commission-Based Pricing Structure

Pro:

You only have to pay when you get bookings. This is especially beneficial if your tour company is just starting out and every penny counts. It can be helpful to only pay a commission on the bookings that you get, rather than have a bill every month regardless of if you have had customers at your location.

Con:

A commission-based system is not ideal for an established tour operator who has a steady stream of clients, because a fixed-fee system provides the same services for less costs. Especially if your business is booming, a commission-based system can cost you more money than it is worth. Your competitor who is using a fixed fee system is paying less for the same services, and they are getting just as many bookings as you are.

Remember, the more bookings you receive on a commission-based system, the more money you will pay to your software vendor in commissions. The more money you put out in third party commissions, the less money you will have to reinvest in your business and grow your tour company operation.

As an industry that is constantly changing, growing and developing, you will want to have cash on hand to keep up with your competitors.

Which pricing structure suits your business' needs?

It is important to note that just because a specific online booking system has a different payment set up than another program does not mean that it has different features. Many of the fixed-fee systems and commission-based systems have the same features that tour operators know and love.

You will find real time booking on most of these programs, as well as easy ways to manage a tour calendar. Most online booking systems provide payment portals as well.

The difference literally lies in how much you want to pay for this service.

A fixed-fee program will still provide you with all of the quality features both you and your customers want and need.

Now that you know a little bit more about the different online booking systems and their payment plans, the time has come to choose the system that is right for you. This can be a difficult decision, but it's important to evaluate your current needs as well as where you see your company in the future.

If you are just starting out in the tourism industry, you will see some growing pains along the way. A commission-based system may be the most viable choice for you at this point in time, but as your business grows keep an open mind to fixed-fee systems. But the more successful you are, the less you will want overhead costs that continue to climb. You will want to see some profits after all of the hard work and effort you have put into your business.

If you have reached this point in your business endeavor, it might be time to look into a fixed-fee system like Rezdy. It's the best way to provide the online booking system that your customers want while still maximizing your own profits. A fixed-fee system will not hinder the growth of your company, and it will not put a damper on your cash flow either.

If you would like to check out Rezdy, please click on the link below:

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

The Tour Operator's Guide To Choosing An Online Booking System

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 03:14:00 GMT

As a tour operator, you know that an online booking system is essential to keeping your business relevant in the increasingly global market. However, finding the right online booking system for your tour company can be difficult.

It can get frustrating when in your search, you find that most of these software programs are catered specifically to accommodations companies such as hotels, motels and resorts, or to restaurants that are taking reservations online.

Because of this it can be difficult trying to figure out where to start - is there tour operator software out there that's perfect for your business' needs?

Use these tips to help you find the perfect online booking system for your tour or activity business:

1. Know the costs involved with online reservation software and nail down your budget.

It may seem easier and better to choose a free online booking system at the start of your search, but you might find that a paid system is worth the investment.

Understanding the difference between paid and free online booking systems:

Free systems like Rezdy's Community are available to tour companies who are interested, but they often are very basic and do not have a lot of features. While there are ways of making this work for you, it does not offer the best experience both for you as the operator and for your customers - and good reviews of your company come out of only the best experiences.

Paid systems will offer you not only the best features but also customer support so that you can get the help that you need when you need it, and get the most out of the software.

Going with a paid online booking system ensures you get the service and security you need when working with your own valuable customers. But before you invest you will want to make sure you choose a program that is as beneficial to you as possible.

Cost factors that often have to be considered include:

The licensing cost. Licensing costs typically are paid either monthly or once a year, depending on the program you choose. Sometimes it is commission-based (per booking) but we do not believe that this is a good strategy as it will hinder your business as you grow.
Cost of training and installation. Some companies charge additional fees for installation and training opportunities, while others consider it part of the investment.
Cost of customer support. Customer support can be an additional fee, but this is not always the case with all online booking systems.
Licence per user. Some software providers charge per number of staff you have. Not all your staff members will be able to use the same login.

Try to find a provider like Rezdy that doesn't believe you should have to pay for installation or customer support.

2. Decide which features will be best for your tour or activity business.

For instance, if you are a tour company that provides day-long coach tours of the area, you will likely want to make sure you have resource management features in your online booking software. This ensures that you do not overbook your tours, putting a strain on your business and frustrating your customers.

Other booking software features that you might find valuable include:

Remote access using 'cloud' software, so that you can log in any time, anywhere, using any device
Real-time booking so that the website is constantly updated with the most recent availability for your tours
Ability to add extras (eg. equipment and meals) to bump up your revenue per customer

Talk with your staff and have them try out the software to make sure they think it is functional and useful as well. You will want to make sure the software fits in with your business goals and helps your staff operate the company more efficiently.

3. Assess the software vendor to see if they are truly aligned with your business needs.

The most important thing is to find an online booking system that is truly tailored to your needs.

Choose a company that is going to offer you good customer service. You will want to make sure that you have customer support when you need it and how you need it.
Choose a company that will be providing continuous updates and constantly working on the latest and greatest features that you need as a tour and activity operator. Accommodations and restaurant online booking systems are great — for those types of businesses. Don't settle for a generic model that doesn't work well for you. These companies won't care about you as an individual, and they won't be thinking about features that work best for your industry.

You will be investing in this program and you want it to work for your business, not become a confusing software program with features that are irrelevant.

4. Take the time that you need to find the perfect online reservation system for your company.

Take advantage of free trial offers and test the different systems that are available to you. This gives you a chance to see how each booking system works on a day-to-day basis, and allows you to discover which features you love and which ones don't work for your business.

Take notes and evaluate each program as you are using it. Consult your staff.
Use this trial period to talk with the customer service support as often as possible, so you get an idea for how they are going to work with you once you purchase the software.

It may seem like a time-consuming process, but it will be worth it in the end when you get the online booking system that truly works for your business.

You will find your tour company runs as efficiently as possible, and your customers will find it easier to make the reservations they need before they even reach your destination.

Why not give Rezdy a try? Our free trial has no obligations, no fixed contract, and no credit card information is required:

photo credit: stephenjohnbryde via photopin cc

Top 6 Channels Tour Operators Should Use to Generate Awareness

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 03:12:00 GMT

The key to success in the tourism industry is generating awareness about your product and your brand. While you can purchase ads and start a social media marketing campaign, this is an industry that still heavily relies on word of mouth. The more awareness you raise about your company and the tours and activities you offer, the more bookings you will receive.

The following channels are the 6 most popular ways to market your company and get the word out there about everything you have to offer:

1. Websites and social media

Your own website provides you an avenue to showcase photographs, videos, tour descriptions and prices to your clients. At the same time, you can provide an online booking system so that your future customers can quickly and easily book a tour with you.

In addition to a website, you can add social media profiles to your online presence. These profiles allow you to provide daily reminders to your customers who follow you about specials and new activities. You also can add photographs and videos on your social media sites.

Keep in mind that it can be difficult to launch a social media campaign if you are a relatively new business. As your business grows, you will find your customers will want to connect with you via Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, allowing your social media presence to grow simultaneously.

2. Visitor Information Centres (VICs)

Most tourist cities will have visitor information centres scattered throughout the town. A large town will have visitor information centres on nearly every corner, where as smaller communities might have one information centre.

You can drop off flyers and brochures to these centres, and provide your phone number with information centre workers so that interested people who stop by can set up a reservation with your company.

3. Government Tourism Sites

Local governments and tourism organisations often operate their own websites, where they promote local tourism agencies in the area. You can often obtain a listing on websites such as these, and in addition you can buy ad space to promote your company and the services you offer.

4. Review Sites

Popular review sites, such as TripAdvisor, allow you to put a bit of information about your tours and activities on their site. You can describe your services, prices and add your own photographs.

However, the site is geared more toward the user, as users can add reviews, their own photographs and provide referrals for your business. By providing good customer service, you will see that customers will provide positive reviews and your site will quickly grow in the rankings on the review site.

The advent of social media and consumer promotion on the Internet has allowed people to provide the same referral they would give to a friend to a much larger audience. Travelers have come to trust sites such as TripAdvisor because they can get honest reviews from people who have utilised these same companies on their own previous vacations.

5. Voucher Sites

Some travelers head to voucher sites to purchase travel vouchers for tours and activities. They will cash in their vouchers when they arrive at their destination. You can always add the option of purchasing a voucher for your company to these unique travel websites.

6. Concierge Services

Most local hotels, bed and breakfasts, inns and motels will provide concierge services for their guests. Make sure that local concierge desks have your brochures and flyers available for people who might be interested in the tours and activities that you offer. You may even want to provide the concierge desk workers with a tour experience with your company so they can provide a first-hand recommendation for your guests.

Which channels should you invest in most?

You should figure out which channel works best for your business by...

Dipping your feet in each channel
Calculating the percentage of bookings it generates you (every quarter)

After a year, you should have a good idea of what is and isn't working.

A recent survey we performed found that the best ways for Australian tour operators to generate awareness about their businesses is through their own websites, social media and review sites.

The Australian survey produced interesting results that will help all tour and activity operators better market their own businesses and put their marketing dollars to good use.

To find out more information about our findings and read the full report, download it below:

Image from freedigitalphotos.net

Why Videos Are Essential For Your Tour or Activity Website

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:07:00 GMT

When people get online to search the web, they are looking for a more interactive experience these days. In the last few years, the popularity of online videos has increased significantly — YouTube is the second largest search engine in the world and there is more than 1 hour of video content uploaded to the site every minute.

As a tour or activity operator, you will certainly want to upload video content to your business website. People will want to experience what you offer before they even reach their destination — give them a glimpse into what their own personal adventure will be like when they arrive.

When it comes down to it there are 2 reasons you should seriously consider adding videos to your tour or activity website:

1. Online Presence: You Get More Visibility

Search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies can be implemented into your video content, so when potential travelers search your relevant keywords your video content will appear in the search results. This allows people to quickly and easily find your website, check out your content and subsequently reserve their spot.

Both business travelers and leisure travelers look for excursions to do when they are traveling, and many people are beginning to rely on online videos to help them make their final decisions about which tour and activity company they will go with in the end. In fact, 62% of travelers watched an online video or commented on an online video as they were searching for activities that were available at their particular destination.

Online videos are the best way to display your product online. Whether you offer double deck bus tours of a bustling city center, or you provide travelers with an opportunity to go sailing and whale watching on the ocean, the online video is the best way to provide visual information to your customers.

Here is a good example from Manly Surf School:

Customers can quickly and easily digest the information that you have to offer, as all they have to do is sit back, relax and enjoy the video you have created. Make sure to create a video complete with high resolution images and quality audio to help make it more enticing.

2. Online Bookings: You Get More Customers

It's a proven fact that customers will be more likely to reserve a tour or book a spot for an activity when they have a video available to watch on your website. Travelers from all different walks of life who were interviewed for a survey responded that a video helped convince them to book on the spot.

Google and Ipsos MediaCT did a great report last year called The Traveler's Road to Decision.

Of all those surveyed, 45% of leisure travelers booked instantly after watching a video of the travel activity while 72% of business travelers and 74% of affluent travelers booked upon watching a video as well.

When you take the time to create a quality video that truly showcases how much fun a person will have and shows them everything they will get to see and experience, your customers will be more interested in your business and what you have to offer.

Now that you know how important it is to create and include online videos on your tour or activity website, it's time to create content that will work for you. The following guideline can help you decide what type of video you should create first.

62% of travelers want to watch videos of tours, sightseeing and cruises (as well as hotel rooms and properties, airlines).
58% of travelers want to watch a video of a trip review from an experienced traveler.
58% of tourists enjoy checking out videos from travel channels.
56% like watching trip reviews from like travelers. For example, leisure travelers like to watch reviews from other leisure travelers as opposed to trip reviews from business travelers.
48% enjoy watching user-generated content as opposed to business-created content.

As a business owner, you should note that travelers do not seem to care about whether a video was created professionally or if it was just created on a mobile phone. Since a lot of people are watching these videos on their mobiles anyway, the important thing is that your videos are able to stream fast so your audience does not lose patience.

Perhaps encourage your customers to create videos while they are on your tour, and ask them to do testimonials. Potential clients will be more apt to trust your customers versus you, and it might be just the thing you need to enhance the multimedia content on your website.

For more information on online marketing for your tour or activity, please download our eBook:

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

Why Should Tour & Activity Operators Offer Online Bookings?

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 22:01:00 GMT

As everyone continues to tell you that the Internet is the way of the world now, you might be wondering why exactly it is so important for you to offer online booking options for your customers.

As a travel company that offers tours and activities to visitors, you know that it is important to provide your customers with a fun and relaxing experience on their vacation. Well, the same is true for the reservations process.

When it comes down to it, this is why you should offer this service to your customers:

#1 Your Customers Want The Option To Book Online

Travelers from across the globe have come to expect online bookings from the tour companies that they are working with as they plan a vacation. It is believed that more than 60 percent of travelers book their entire trips online themselves, so it is almost essential that every travel company has an online booking system in place. Your business will quickly be overlooked if you don't allow your customers to quickly and easily book online.
It allows your customers to see availability at a glance, making it easy for them to map out their trip. Real-time booking is one of the best features available, as it allows customers to view your true availability at any point in the day. If someone books a tour, all of your calendars are updated simultaneously and instantly.
They can pay for their excursion and receive an instant confirmation of their reservation. All with the click of a button. This means they don't have to worry about writing a check or swiping their credit card while they are on vacation. When the instant confirmation is delivered, your customers will only have to worry about how much fun they are going to have on your tour or activity.

#2 An Online Booking System Makes Your Life Easier

Your company is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so you never miss a customer. Previously, travel companies were limited by their business hours and also their time zones. If you are an Australian company that wants to attract more American tourists, you no longer have to worry about the time change. Your customers can still make reservations no matter what time of day it is in their home or yours.
You get your money quicker. With instant and secure payment options, you receive the money faster than you would if customers were mailing a check or paying when they came to your location. This allows you to better budget your business expenses and affords you the opportunity to reinvest and grow your company.
It simplifies the reservation process. As long as you have a channel manager feature, there is no risk of over-booking your tours and activities. Also, because customers can view your calendar at a glance, you will receive less tedious inquiries.
You can implement a cancellation policy with an automatic penalty. This means that your business needs are still met even if a client cancels a tour at the last minute. You can decide what your cancellation policy will be, depending on the type of tour and activity business you operate.
At the end of the day, you are happier and your staff is happier. A better work environment means a more rewarding career. You will find that because the daily tasks are streamlined, your employees will have much more time to devote to more important tasks. They can take better care of the customers who are currently enjoying their vacations, and at the same time they will be able to plan ahead and make improvements for the future.

There are many different software options for online booking systems. You will want to assess your needs as a tour company before deciding on the various features you want in your system. Some features you might be interested in include language and currency options, credit card storage options, channel managers, social media integration and cloud computing capabilities.

Figure out what will work best for your business (many booking systems are more suited to other businesses, such as accommodation). Do a free trial of the software first, just to see if it will work for you, then make the switch. You will be amazed how quickly your business grows when you open it up to the wide expanse of the Internet.

As a starting point, why not try out Rezdy for free? No set-up or upfront fee, no installation, and no credit card is required:

Or if you're interested in learning about growing your business through your tour or activity website, please download our eBook:

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net

What Are Your Online Booking Options?

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 02:40:00 GMT

Gone are the days where a tour company operator can be satisfied with answering their phone, scribbling down a reservation in their planner and accepting a payment via check or cash.

You might think that you do not need an online reservation system, but most travelers in today's world are looking to book their reservations online, whether they are planning on a nice dinner in your area or they want to take an excursion while they stop through town.

It is easier and more convenient for guests to book online, as they can pay instantly with their credit card as well as receive an immediate confirmation of their reservation.

As more and more people book their entire trips online, tourism professionals need to know what their options are when it comes to online booking systems.

Option #1: Custom Built Software

Custom built software can be created specifically for your company by a development professional. This is the most expensive option, but if your tour company is large enough it might be worth the investment.

Pros:

The software can be designed to your exact needs. This means you have complete and total control over the project.
You decide how you want the back end to look, and you help to make sure the portal for the customers is as straight forward and easy as possible.
You decide which functions are best for you, and you can create features that work best for your company. For instance, if you are a bicycle rental facility you can include features that allow customers to choose a specific bike.

Cons:

First and foremost, this is a very expensive route to go. While you will have complete control, you also are responsible for the entirety of the costs.
You will take on the responsibility for maintaining the software. It's important to recognize that there won't be a 24/7 customer support line that you can call when things go wrong. You will have to contact the developer.
Implementing this software as well as fixing any bugs that crop up can be time consuming, so don't expect to get it all up and running quickly. Many businesses consider it all worth it in the end, but it definitely has to be considered when thinking about the type of online booking system that you want.

Option #2: Ready-made Online Booking Software

Software that is already designed and ready to go is often the easiest way to implement an online booking system. This software is designed to address the general needs of most tour company operators, so it is often a convenient choice that is very functional at the same time.

Pros:

This type of software can be implemented and put to use in a very short period of time. It takes you minutes instead of months to get going.
It provides a variety of features that tour companies can decide to use if they wish, including options for different languages and currencies if you attract international travelers.
It is a more affordable option, but at the same time does not inconvenience the customer. The customer still gets a professional and convenient booking experience, and you usually only pay a set monthly fee.
One of the huge benefits is the fact that there is customer support available whenever a manager needs it, so no one is left hanging when they want to book a reservation with you.

Cons:

You won't be able to custom create features that sound cool to you, but you are able to suggest them to software developers. These vendors will take suggestions from all their customers, and add them to their system. Because of this it can be very practical for the small business owner.
It is important to note that some software programs ask for a percentage of the commission that is earned from the tours, but other programs, such as Rezdy, do not ask for this surcharge.

As you are making this important decision regarding your online booking system, take the time to consider exactly what it is your business needs at this point in time. Some of the most important factors to consider are the amount of time you are willing to invest in your online booking system and also how much money you are willing to spend.

If you have no restrictions on your time or budget, the custom route may be the choice for you. But if you are a busy tour or activity operator who simply wants to be working with your customers and providing them the best experience possible, you might want to consider a ready-made software program like Rezdy, because all the software-related hassles are handled by your provider.

Why not try out Rezdy to see what option #2 would look like? No set-up or upfront fee, no installation, and no credit card required.

For more information on online marketing for your tour or activity, please download our eBook:

Top 10 Must-Have Features of Online Booking Systems

Thu, 24 Jan 2013 02:38:00 GMT

Whether you run a kayaking rental business on the island of Maui or you are a tour guide operator working in Australia, you will want to provide your customers with a state of the art online booking system.

Why? These systems allow customers to easily reserve your services for their upcoming vacation from the comfort of their own home. This is the way that travelers want to do things these days — they want to know they can head to their destination, ready and prepared for all of their excursions with a few clicks.

Here's our pick of the top 10 must-have features that tour and activity operators should look for when considering which online booking system will best suit their business:

#1 Beautiful Image Gallery

High resolution images allow customers to visualize what they will experience when they book with your company. An image gallery on the booking system allows you as the tour manager to pick the best sites that they will see along the way, and highlight those features of your tours. It's also important to put up images of your team at work, because it gives your business character.

#2 Appealing 'Book Now' Button

This bright, simple and easy-to-use button is a necessary addition to your online booking system. Make sure that...

It is eye-catching. Your site visitors are browsing and might miss it if it's bland.
It contains actionable language. Use words that tell them what to do next (eg. Make A Booking / Reserve Your Seat!)
It's easy to find. Make sure it's not hidden on any given page. Give it a prominent place so that no matter where your site visitors are, it's easilly accessible.

By the way, you can make more buttons besides 'book now', although that should be your most appealing one. You can create other 'call to action' buttons that allow you to promote certain specials and packages. They help to make the process of reserving a tour very simple for the customer so they're not left wondering where to go next on your site.

#3 Real-Time Booking

Real-time booking features allow you as an activity operator the freedom to choose when and where you will offer specific reservations. At the same time, customers can book these tours and reserve your services when it is convenient for them, and they receive immediate confirmation of their reservation. This gets rid of the hassle of answering phone-in availability enquiries.

#4 Social Media Integration

People who are looking into your services for an upcoming vacation will probably want to stay on top of your latest deals and promotions, which you likely advertise via social media. Social media integration in your booking software allows your customers to quickly link to your social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Goggle+.

#5 PayPal Payment Options

This is a safe and easy way for your customers to pay for your tours and services, and it is used across the globe. It increases your validity and proves you value customer privacy and security, and at the same time allows you to get instant, guaranteed payments from your customers. The best booking systems will allow you to use PayPal as a payment option.

#6 Credit Card Storage Options

In addition to offering safe and secure ways to pay, premium booking systems also offer credit card storage options. This allows customers to store their credit card information in a safe and secure manner, and is especially helpful if the customer is planning to book more than one tour with your company.

#7 Visual Calendar

A visual calendar allows tour and activity operators to see what their daily, weekly and monthly calendars look like at a glance. It's an easy way to plan for staffing, additional tours and refreshments that might be needed. The fact that it updates automatically means there's one source of the truth. This is much more efficient than going back and forth with other staff members to double-check.

#8 Currency and Language Settings

Most tour companies want to appeal to a global audience, so it is important to have a booking software that can be displayed in other languages and also accommodate different currencies. After all, you will most likely be catering to tourists, and you want to make it as easy as possible for them to learn more about your offering and lock in a booking.

#9 Online Support and Phone Support

As with any technological addition to your business, tour and activity operators might need support when it comes to their online booking system. When you are taking advantage of the many free trials out there, test out the helpfulness of their support team. Make sure you invest in a system that offers both online customer support and customer support over the phone.

#10 Access to the Cloud

Chances are, your days as a tour manager aren't spent sitting in front of a desktop computer all day. You probably manage your business over your smart phone or tablet as well, so ideally you will want to have a booking system that works with 'the cloud'. 'Cloud'-based software allows you to manage your business remotely, while you're on the go and working with customers at the same time.

Make Your Life Easier!

The purpose of any good online booking system is for the customer to be able to reserve services with ease, and for the tour and activity operators to manage their business in the simplest way possible. An organized, cohesive and functional online booking system is essential to surviving in the ever-growing tourism market, no matter where your tour company is located.

Since it allows people from all over the globe to find your company and book your services, you will want to make sure your online booking system has all of these features at the very least, as it makes the experience better for both you and your customers.

If you are interested in trying out Rezdy's online booking system, why not do a free trial?

For more information on online marketing for your tour or activity, please download our eBook:

Tips for Expanding Into the Asian Traveler Business

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 06:20:00 GMT

During the course of the last decade, the number of Asian visitors to Australia dropped for a variety of reasons. First, there was the financial crisis in Asia which took place in 1997. Then, Asian countries including Japan and China experienced several respiratory outbreaks that caused many people to stay home instead of travel. And as if all of that weren't bad enough, the Japanese earthquake and tsunami of 2011 definitely kept more visitors at home.

But now, the tourism market in Australia is on the rebound and it is largely due to the influx of visitors from Asia, and China in particular. If you are a business owner in the tourism industry, the time is now to invest in Chinese booking software and Japanese reservation software. These programs allow you to stay ahead of the curve, offering visitors from Asia the opportunity to book a tour or reserve something for their vacation in their own language. It makes your business more welcoming and more inviting when you offer your customers a multilingual booking system.

3 Reasons to Invest in Chinese Booking Software Right Now

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Tourism Australia has taken note of the increase in travelers from Japan and China, and has invested in the market accordingly. The organization has invested $48.5 million into marketing and promoting Australia to Asian tourists abroad, so companies will want to be ready with the appropriate online tour reservation software.
A campaign has been launched to market how beautiful Australia is throughout Asia, but specifically Asia and China. Chinese areas that are being targeted in the campaign are upper-middle class families located in Qingdao, Chongqing and Chengdu. The average visitor from Japan spends about $4,100 per vacation — and they are more likely to frequent businesses with Japanese reservation software.
The number of Asian tourists heading to Australia has increased across the board, but the mostdramatic increase was found with the number of Chinese visitors heading to the land down under. That number has increased by 15 percent during the last year, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from August 2012. Taiwanese visitors are up 14 percent and Japanese visitors are up about 7 percent — and many of these visitors book their vacations online using online booking system options at the respective tourism groups in Australia.

Whether you own a travel agency that books entire vacations for people looking to visit Australia, or you are a simple bike rental company offering people an easy, relaxing ride around the Sydney Harbor, you will want to have the best online booking system on the market today. When you invest in a multilingual booking system, you reap the benefits of attracting customers from across the globe. Right now, it's most important to target the rising demographic of Asian tourists, and Chinese booking software is simply a must.

Rezdy software is a multilingual booking system that offers travelers 12 language options, including Chinese. When you provide your clients from Asia an easy way to book their excursions online in their own language, your business will quickly become known in the community. Word of mouth travels quickly, and you don't want to miss out on this boom in the tourism industry.

For more information on online marketing for your tour or activity, please download our eBook:

What is the impact of the Asian market on your business?

Why It's Time for Tour or Activity Operators to Use Social Media

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 21:09:00 GMT

Social media is increasingly popular, and you're probably wondering whether you should jump on the bandwagon or not. The one thing that's been holding you back is probably the fact that you doubt it's worth your time, thinking it won't impact your business in any significant way - and that's where you're mistaken.

Most tour or activity operators will justify their refusal to participate by saying that their prospects don't hang out there, so it would be an ineffective communication tool. But even if you think most of your customers aren’t on social media networks (and even if you're right), there are still other reasons why you should be using them:

1. Google loves social media

Cues from social media activities (like if someone shares, retweets or likes your update), are now being used by Google to help determine the relevance and authority of your site. The more relevant or authoritative your site is, the more likely it is to be closer to the top of those search results. This is called "organic search", because what's being displayed hasn't been paid for - instead, it's all according to Google's natural code, which has recently been updated to incorporate social signals.

So having social media accounts actually helps you rank on Google's search results page. There are obvious reasons why you want to be on that page for keywords related to your products or services; people trust Google, so more people will find you through it, and hopefully a large proportion of them will then make an online booking through your site.

2. More control over your online image

At the top of the search results for your brand name, would you rather have sites which you don't have control over, or those which you do? The latter is obviously a better way to go - after all, you don't have much control over what review sites and the like are saying about you, and you can achieve that through your social media accounts:

Your content is also more likely to get found by PR professionals, journalists, conference organisers, business partners, and future employees that way.

3. It helps make other marketing efforts more effective

Social media is awesome at getting the word out there. Here are some practical tips:

Include ‘follow us’ buttons
Include social sharing buttons
Include content from your social media presence eg. ‘Pin of the week’ or ‘Follower of the week’
Add links to social accounts in signatures

Publish content from your site to your social media accounts (and if you don't have any, create some). We recommend starting with Facebook, Twitter, and especially Google+ (unsurprisingly, Google favours it a lot in its code). It doesn't matter if you don't have a fan base, or if whoever shares it isn't a potential client. These things will come with time through consistency and momentum.

For more info, download our free eBook on social media for tours and activities:

Track visitors and Online Reservations with Google Analytics

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 08:43:00 GMT

Google Analytics measures the number of visitors your website gets, how they get there (direct traffic, search engines, email campaigns, referring traffic or social media) and what they do while they are there. It also gives your a geographic overview of where your visitors come from by region. Google Analytics tends to be the easiest and most widely used in the market today.

This will help you to make decisions about your strategy and follow up your existent marketing decisions. According to Google (and us), if you want to succeed, you should measure who visit your website.

Google Analytics is free to use and integrate to your website. It will usually took a few minutes only, however we recommend you to use the more advanced features to track visitors based on your business requirements.

What Google Analytics can do for your tour & activity website? To use Google Analytics you have to set up goals for your analytic project. Ask yourself “What is it I want the most? bookings, leads, subscribers, etc” it will allow you to focus on the numbers you need and to figure out which visitor profile produce the highest conversions and return on investment. Thanks to this you will be able to narrow your marketing strategy in order to target more of those visitors.

Google Analytics will help you to understand the conversion funnels. Once you have set up your goals you will be able to measure your progress through the funnel. As an e-commerce website, a converstion represents a sale. It represents the number of visitors to your website that have completed their goal and went all through the process (visit the product page, place it in the cart and make the purchase).

Therefore, your reservation system should integrate Google Analytics to help you monitoring the measures.

Analytics can calculate the most popular pages viewed on your website, how long visitors stayed on those pages, the percentage of people that come and leave your site (bounce rate) and the percentage of those who explore it more deeply. There are a million metrics you can look at and sometimes it might drive you crazy, be addicted or hopeless but you have to focus on the metrics with the highest impact on your website (depending on what goals you focused on for your website).

OZTeK2013 Conference Overview - Dive Industry Event

Sun, 08 Jul 2012 01:30:00 GMT

Whilst we’re half way through 2012, it’s time to begin thinking about the exciting things 2013 has to offer. In the world of diving, OZTeK- the Australian Diving Technologies Conference and Exhibition- is preparing for it’s biannual event, to be held on 16 and 17 March 2013 in Sydney.

OZTeK is acclaimed for its superiority in the diving world. Since its inception in 1999, OZTeK2013 is the event of all events. The conference invites everyone who has a shared interest in diving to attend; particularly store owners and operators, divers and instructors.

This two-day event is entirely devoted to all things DIVING. Produced by divers, for divers, the conference will showcase an array of latest technologies, promote the exhilaration and adventure of the sport, as well as present the most prominent world leaders in the industry.

Over two days, OZTeK highlights the essence of diving and brings to the forefront its passion, adventure, excitement and wealth of knowledge, not just to the sport, but also to the underworld. It is not about online reservation software, but at Rezdy we love all things diving.

OZTek’s abundance and wealth of knowledge is second to none. The Conference and exhibition is a great platform to stage the latest diving gear, technology as well as share advice, tips, and maybe a few tricks of the trade. Not only does OZTeK provide a wealth of knowledge and information, but it is also an avenue for you to increase your brand awareness and promote your services, your products and share your skills with others in the industry.

If you would like to meet us and discuss your diving reservation system, please contact us before the conference to make sure we can fit you in our schedule. Booking is essential.

This is a highlight event on the international dive industry calendar. Whilst it seems cliché to say "It’s a not to be missed event", according to past participants and guests, it appears to be the case!

Conferences are just one small piece of the puzzle to moving your tour and activity business online. If you are interested in learning more, please download our free eBook:

Let us know in the comment section below if you are going:

How to keep your scuba diving reservations flowing in winter time

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 00:15:00 GMT

With winter in the southern hemisphere, people tend to stay away from water activities. It is usually a time of the year when activity decreases and business owners have to find creative ways of attracting people to the water!

Whether your dive centre is focused on day trips, extended diving expeditions, learning to dive courses or advanced training for certified divers, this could be the time to evaluate your business model as a tour operator, find out what’s new in the diving industry and make some new contacts.

Making new contacts is actually one of the best ways of improving your business by creating relations with other similar or complementary businesses. Professional travel events are a strong marketing platform where an unrivalled variety of opportunities are available for both industry professionals and consumers.

Going to its second year ODEX 2012 – Oceania Dive Travel & Watersports Expo is this year being held in Sydney and is one of the most important events for the industry.

If your goal is to improve your company profile, change market perceptions or generate sales, exhibitions can achieve in two days what usually could take months!

By participating in the event you will improve your network and also establish or maintain customer relations. Considering the increasing importance of the internet this is one of the few chances you have to interact physically with your customer. There you can answer questions, provide information, show your products and promote your services. Nothing beats the impact of a live demonstration!

On the other hand you can find new and innovative diving equipment at competitive prices, products, training programs and services with great discounts! But most importantly you can listen to the industry leaders and innovators who bring insightful keynotes valuable to your business and meet new people at the many networking and social events.

You can also find regional and international business partners and promote a variety of products and services relating to adventure travel, career development, commercial diving, diving medicine, dive expeditions, dive gear & gadgets, dive travel resorts, eco tourism, free diving, safety and rescue products, spearfishing, training agencies, underwater photography and video equipment.

You’ll also have access to the latest dive industry emerging and changing trends, discover new and innovative destinations, products and services.

Don’t let this powerful opportunity pass and make the most of your participation!

Where: Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre

When: September 8^th and 9th

To learn more about using your website to grow your business, download our free ebook:

Do you plan to go? Let us know in the comment section below

Web Hosting Explained for Tour Operator

Mon, 11 Jun 2012 06:49:00 GMT

If you already know what web hosting is, then you will realise the title of this post is obviously a rhetorical question. Otherwise, read on because it's not something you can afford to ignore; web hosting is a necessity for your tour business. Why? Because it's responsible for making your website ‘go live’ – that is, making it available to Internet travellers worldwide.

This means that you can build the best website in the world, but if it’s not web-hosted (uploaded to a hosting server) the world will never see it, because it’s not available online.

Due to the technical complexity (not to mention cost) that comes with web-hosting, many people choose to outsource to a web hosting company. There are three main reasons why outsourcing is a better option:

#1 It helps you manage expenses

Removes the need for big capital outlays on hardware and data centres
Allows your funds to be spent on other primary business expenses
Offers affordable and predictable monthly costs
Allows you to pay as you grow
Delivers a faster return on investment (ROI)

#2 It helps you extend your resources

Reduces your labour costs
Provides you with access to a resource of experts
Concentrates your people on core business needs
Supplies staff instantly for those ‘what-if’ scenarios
Letting you take advantage of new technologies without having to hire experts in-house

#3 It limits your business risks

Keeps capital on hand for "rainy days"
Allows you to quickly and efficiently change plans
Guarantees that you stay online
Implements the solution quickly
Places your focus back on growing your business
Allows you to pursue new revenue-generating ventures

It is important to understand that online reservation site are hosted by your provider. Reservation software companies handle the technical issues as well as security to allow you to accept online reservations securely 24/7. When choosing a tour operator software, make sure the hosting plan has no space, bandwidth, product, nor transaction limits.

Deals around web hosting are changing all the time we strongly recommend you do research once every 6 months to make sure you're getting a good deal. Google, purchase a local PC magazine from your news agent, keep an eye out if you subscribe to SMB newsletters, ask fellow networkers what they use, etc...

Web hosting is just one small piece of the puzzle to moving your tour and activity business online. If you are interested in learning more, please download our free eBook:

What challenges have you encountered when it comes to web hosting? Let us know in the comments section below.

What's an Online Reservation System and Do You Need It?

Wed, 30 May 2012 23:51:00 GMT

We now live in an era where practically everything is inextricable from the internet, including business. It's now crucial that every business - no matter the sector - has a recognisable web presence, because Google has replaced the phone book. Not only does internet technology help tour and activity operators get found online, it also helps them convert visits into money through online booking (or reservation) systems.

According to Wikipedia, an online booking system is "used to store and retrieve information about tour product, tour product options or lodging facility and conduct transactions for booking it."

That's a fancy way to say that an online reservation system will let you accept bookings for your services online. There are three main reasons why you should at the very least consider putting an online booking system in place:

#1 It puts you a step ahead of your competition.

There's a multitude of tour and activity operators out there who have a website and enlist on Google Places, but very few already have an online booking system in place. By having an online reservation system, you're one step ahead of the game, tipping the scales in your favour when prospects research and compare your capabilities against your competitors.

Of course, the presence of an online booking system itself is not enough to make or break the sale. You still need to make sure the other aspects of your site (like imagery, for example) are in the best shape to minimise the amount of visitors that bounce off it.

#2 It's convenient and fast - for you and your customers.

Location is not an issue, and neither is time. The virtual set-up means you won't need to wake up at unholy hours to take booking calls from potential clients halfway around the world. While you dream of being the best damn tour or activity operator there is, people are going through the process of finding your site, browsing through its content, and making a booking.

Travellers veer towards tour and activity sites that support online bookings because not only is it easy, but they usually find some great discount deals, too. They can read up on your business, look at your options, and finally make a booking without being hassled by a pushy sales representative.

#3 It speeds up your cash flow.

The old barrier in the way of online payment systems was trust, but this is no longer an issue. The risk of credit card fraud or scam is extremely low for online payment gateways. The online booking system you choose should have an "SSL certificate" on its payment page to ensure users that you are legitimate.

Online reservation systems speed up your cash flow just by being there. There's less capital outlay on your end because you don't have to hire staff to manage customers or pay rent for a physical space. Also, once customers book through it, money goes straight into your account - no lag time here.

They're also more accurate than you probably are when it comes to mathematical calculations. You can set up coupon codes and discount offers without triple-checking whether you got the maths right.

Should you have an online reservation system?

Small tour or activity operators wonder whether an online booking system is needed badly enough to invest some money in. Take time to make your decision, because it will completely change your business processes. Even though this change is for the better, it will take time to train everyone to adapt to it. Make sure you free trial a few of them, and that free trial conditions include the four "no's" (no lock in contract, no credit card required, no commission, and no set up fee) like Rezdy's does.

Then you should be able to make a decision, backed up by analytics data, on whether it will benefit your business. We recommend trying it out for a quarter at the very least - otherwise it's just not long enough to be able to catch a trend.

To learn more about growing your tour or activity business through your website, please download our free ebook:

Do you have an online reservation system? If so, how has it changed the way you run your business?

8 Ways to Get Your Tour or Activity Website to Rank on Google

Wed, 23 May 2012 23:19:00 GMT

As a tour or activity business who's just set up their website online, your number one job is to get your site found by your target audience. After all, does it really matter how great the content on your site is if no one's going to see it in the first place? The key term here is to 'get found', meaning you want them to come to you, instead of shouting at a bought list.

But how does Google decide that something is relevant to your site?

Besides technical on-page SEO, off-page SEO is probably the most valuable way of improving your search ranking. By off-page, we mean links that are going into your site, from outside your site. The more credible and relevant sites you have linking to you, the easier it will be for you to increase your search engine ranking.

Here are the best things you can do to get those high quality links:

#1 Create content, and share it!

When you frequently create high quality content (whether it's educational or entertaining), then there's more opportunities for people to link to you. Think about what action you want site visitors to take, and what are the biggest road blocks to making a booking. What content can you create to mitigate that? Check out what Shark Bookings, a shark diving tour in Cape Town did here:

They were clever to create content that addresses the fear of sharks that probably causes prospects to hesitate.

#2 Blog for other websites as a guest

When you write blogs for other people, they usually let you put a link back to your site in the author’s section. This link counts as a weighty link in Google’s eyes – and odds are, they probably have their own ways of promoting it, increasing your presence online. Try to think of the most relevant sites that you can blog on – those that post topics you’re knowledgeable enough to discuss.

#3 Local directory listings

This is an absolute must, especially Google Maps! Others to submit to are Bing and Yahoo, although those aren’t used nearly as often. In Australia, there are plenty of Australian business directories online. Links from these places are just further validation that your site is a legitimate business, increasing your website’s authority.

#4 Have corporate social profiles

Establish your corporate identity through social media networks! Google uses social signals in their code to determine rank, so Google+ is definitely a must. Other relevant social networks for tour and activity operators include LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and even Pinterest! Besides being a way of showing Google that you matter, it’s a great way to interact with your prospective and current customers.

#5 Strategic partnerships

Are there any similar companies that you can share links and content with? What about client and vendor sites? While you can flat-out ask clients for links, try telling vendors that you’ll give them a testimonial that they can put up on their site in exchange for one linking back to your site.

#6 Comment on blogs and forums

While you read up on industry tips and news, leave a comment with a link back to a relevant page on your site. Make sure your comment is adding to the discussion, because community members will let you know if it doesn’t – and they might not be very nice about it. There’s a fine line between adding value to a discussion and being spammy.

#7 Share articles

Write original articles with a link pointing back to your site, and submit them to ezinearticles.com or suite101.com. Though Google is targeting these kinds of sites by devaluing their link worth, article submissions will still give you inbound links and since you’re using original content, it should still be considered for your strategy.

#8 Get reviewed

Try giving away free products to travel bloggers in exchange for a review. Make sure that you choose a blogger with good site traffic – you want their review to be read, lest your free product go to waste. This isn’t easy though, you will probably have to spend some time conducting research, writing emails, and calling up potential link helpers.

The main task of getting found is to rank somewhere on Google. Though it takes lots of time and effort to achieve, making sure your site is optimised for search engines will give you a steady flow of traffic - and not just any old traffic, but quality traffic - because these people are searching for words that Google sees as relevant to your site.

To learn more about growing your tour or activity business with your website, please download our free ebook:

Do you have any SEO techniques you’d like to share?

3 Must-Have Elements for Tour Operators Corporate Identity

Thu, 17 May 2012 01:00:00 GMT

People want to know who they're doing business with when they book online, especially in the tour and activity sector. The fact that their decision is being based on what they find about your business online means that communicating your corporate identity is much harder to achieve than if they were to waltz into your shop in person. You essentially sell experiences, and website visitors must feel that the experience they buy is going to be worth it.

To help prove your worth, they need to get a feel for your company, and you need to put human faces behind your business. They want their operators to be professional. They want to feel safe in your hands. This is especially true for adventure operators - for example, dive centres, where most experiences involve venturing out into the deep blue sea.

The best way of achieving this is by having pages dedicated to building credibility and trust. You can separate these pages or put them under one section - it doesn't matter, as long as it's on your site and it's easy to find.

But what are the main elements you need to establish corporate identity through such pages? Here's how two dive centres have done it right:

#1 Showcase Your Staff

This is where you will put head shots of your staff members, and include any credentials or past experience they have to increase the trust between your site visitors and your tour or activity business.

Dive Centre Manly shows all their staff smiling, giving off a friendly feel:

The owner and course director is shown outdoors in scuba gear, obviously before or after a dive took place. This is effective at reassuring their viewers that they are in safe hands; Richard knows what he's doing, he's active and immersed in the business, and he created the business because he truly loves to dive.

Abyss' main image is fun, and they use this page to add a funny, personal element to it:

We particularly like how they show all their divers in gear and in action, getting them to list their favourite type of diving, favourite dive in Sydney, and favourite location. It helps you feel like you got to know them because it shows each individual's personality.

#2 Showcase Your Facilities

This is where you'll tout your awesome facilities and any additional credentials to build credibility and trust. It's important to use photos along with your description, too.

Dive Centre Manly starts off by citing a complete list of technical equipment. What we really like about it, though, is how they repeatedly tell the readers how they will benefit from it, answering the 'so what?' question.

Anyone reading instantly knows why they're telling you what they're telling you.

#3 Show Social Proof

By social proof, we mean what other people say about you. Since we've already covered the importance of user review sites, let's delve into the realm of testimonials and awards.

With testimonials, it's very important that you write the date (at least month and year) that the quote was given, and resist the urge to put a whole block of text up there! Keep it short and sweet.

For awards, we like how Dive Centre Manly has not only dedicated a page to them, but also separate them into their own sections:

There are 4 sections; Environment, Excellence, Business, and Community Recognition. All these certificates are social proof that they are trustworthy.

Building credibility and trust as part of your corporate identity is essential for any business - the trick is to learn how to do this through your tour or activity website. To learn more about using your website to grow your business, download our free ebook:

How do you communicate your corporate identity on your tour or activity website? Let us know in the comment section below.