When is it Time for a NEW Design?

Mary C. | 21 May 2005 |

When is it Time for a NEW Design?
Bethany Kaufman, Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.

How many times have you heard this: "Your website is awful! Your property is sooo… much nicer than what we had imagined." If your web site was created before 2000 and you’re not hearing this, you’re probably losing money.

We hear it daily: "But everyone says how nice my web site is. Why should I change it?" Yes, I’m sure there are many people that like the animated stars and marble looking background, but are the people that don’t telling you so? Probably not. And the number one reason that they’re not telling you how antiquated your web site is, is because they left your web site the second they landed there. Your web site statistics can tell you if that’s true or not. Take a look at your bounce rate. How many people are finding your site (maybe even through traffic that you have purchased!) only to immediately leave? If your homepage is the number one entry & exit page, this is a strong indicator that your web site needs some work.

When was the last time you updated your lobby or refurbished your parlor? I’m sure that if you thought the curtains or carpets were out of date, you would replace them. You wouldn’t wait until someone pointed out the worn spots or stains. Your web site is much the same as your lobby, except that your web site is open 24/7, around the world. You have less than 10 seconds to make a good first impression with your home page. There has never been a more effective and measurable source of advertising for your property than a web site. Take advantage of the incredible exposure that the internet gives you by keeping your site fresh and up to date; this will encourage past & future guests to visit your web site, and hopefully your property, often!

*The following are some warning signs that may indicate that your web site could use a face lift:
Your site has three pages, but if you were to print it out, you’d have 20 pages on paper.
Long pages that require endlessly scrolling are frustrating for visitors and search engines.

*Your web site has frames.
Meaning, the left & the top of the page stay in one spot while the content scrolls. This will greatly hinder search engine performance because frames make it difficult for a search engine to index a web site properly.

*The pictures of your rooms are artist’s renderings, rather than photos, or your photo quality is visibly poor.
Remember: A picture is worth a thousand words.

*There is a lot of movement on your site, specifically with animation from the ’90s.
While some animation is good, it can be distracting if there is more than one aspect of your site is moving. Flash is great way to add movement to a web site while maintaining an elegant feel.

*There are more than three fonts on your homepage and they’re all in different colors.
Less is more in web site design. Different fonts in different colors & sizes are very distracting and make your page difficult to read. They also present an amateur look and impression of your property.

If any of these apply to your web site, don’t despair; Blizzard can create a new look for it that conveys the elegance and sophistication of your property. Don’t let your hard earned traffic "walk" in and then directly out again. For a complete review of your web site, please contact Blizzard’s Sales Department at: info@blizzardinternet.com.
Read another good article close to this topic in this month’s "Innkeeper News" from BedandBreakfast.com. The article is titled "Does Your Image Represent Your Inn?"