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OTAs – Rise of the Giants
Rise of the giants A huge amount of internet change is currently impacting independent accommodation providers. Online travel agent (OTA) consolidation puts the vast majority of bookings into the hands...
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Does Your Website Tell Customers WHY They Should Book Directly ?
Does Your Website Tell Customers WHY They Should Book Directly ? We were chatting with one freetobook customer this week who was alarmed at the growing number of rooms sold via booking.com rather than...
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Great, Gratis and Glorious digital marketing ideas to boost direct sales
Gonzo Marketing Our guest blog and interview is with Frederic Gonzalo, founder of Gonzo Marketing. With over 19 years of experience in the travel and tourism sphere, he is passionate about marketing...
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Spread your OTA bookings
Select more than one OTA Are all your eggs in one Online Travel Agent’s (OTA) basket? We see a number of independent accommodation owners who rely on just one OTA. Business wisdom and common sense...
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Planning ahead for your promotions
This week’s guest blog is from US based social media and marketing expert Heather Turner, “Chief Logroller” at Forfeng Media. Here Heather helps you plan your social media calendar for holiday events...
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Direct Bookings vs OTA Bookings
Grow your direct bookings whilst using the OTAs Direct Bookings vs OTA Bookings How much more of the “booking cake” can the OTAs (Online Travel Agents) take and how much bigger is the online booking...
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TripAdvisor at 12 percent
Own the bookings on your TripAdvisor page Twelve Percent commission on TripAdvsior More and more bookings are being made on TripAdvisor, we have some information and friendly advice to help ensure you...
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Back to Basics
Well done, you’ve made it to the end of the busy summer season. Take a breath but then start planning for next year. Guests are already thinking ahead to next year’s holidays so you must too. If you...
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Reduce your commission bill with promo codes
On the phones we hear the pain many accommodation owners feel when they get the monthly commission bill from their OTAs. Particularly annoying is finding repeat or regular customers who somehow end up...
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Interns at freetobook
Just back from a round table meeting with Nathan Bostock (CEO Santander UK Plc), Prof. Anton Muscatelli (Principal of Glasgow Uni) and a few other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We...
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What’s your digital footprint?
As a property owner, what’s your digital footprint? US based marketing guru Heather Turner, Forfeng Media provides some great tips and cautionary tales. Facebook Posts: Make sure your posts are locked...
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TripAdvisor’s Number 1 B&B In the World
Sue Burrell, owner of the Millgate B&B in Masham, recalls the excitement and media frenzy and tells us why she will always be indebted to her local dentist and freetobook. “Sometime in January...
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3 Tips for Special Offers
special offer We all love the feel of getting a great deal and the same goes for potential bookers on your website. The truth is Special Offers drive direct bookings, that’s why we make it super easy...
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Accommodation photography
As the old saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words…. It only takes a quick glance for someone to evaluate what they see and form a positive or negative judgement. In fact, studies have shown...
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Why it pays to sleep around for B&B owners
A Guest Blog by Heather Turner at Forfeng Media. I wrote a post a while back about Viewing your restaurant from a customers perspective, and it occurred to me after spending a weekend away at a very...
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6 ways hotels can use social media to attract more guests
A guest blog from Juste Semetaite To thousands of holiday seekers, the planning phase may seem like a time-eating disaster. With so many options where to stay and what to do, the majority find...
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Promo Codes upgraded for more direct bookings
Promo Codes for Direct Bookings Thousands of properties have already benefited from freetobook’s promo codes so we have made them even better. You can set up as many promo codes as you like to target...
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Booking extras now even better
Booking Extras no limit Freetobook properties have always been able to offer their very own extras enabling customers to choose items that will make their stay special, whilst adding to to property’s...
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Spread your booking sources
World’s Biggest OTAs Increasing direct bookings is the priority and we certainly help thousands of businesses grow theirs. The next priority is to ensure you have a good mix of other booking sources so...
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TripAdvisor lower commission
Booking by TripAdvisor At 12% TripAdvisor’s Instant Booking connection has a lower commission than big online travel agents. Is it time you looked into how to get your share ? Why not start by checking...
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