Winter Website Checklist!
Winter is coming, and with it comes a fresh wave of holiday planners looking for their perfect getaway. Now’s the ideal time to ensure your accommodation website is ready to convert these browsers into bookers. Let’s walk through everything you need to know to make your website shine this winter season.
First Things First: Let’s Check Your Website’s Health
Before diving into seasonal updates, it’s worth taking a moment to ensure everything on your site is working as it should. Start by testing your contact forms – you’d be surprised how many enquiries can get lost in spam folders! Send yourself a test message to make sure everything’s coming through correctly.
While you’re at it, go ahead and make a test booking. Walk through the process just as your guests would. Is the reservation system smooth and intuitive? Are confirmation emails arriving promptly? These small checks can make the difference between securing a booking and losing it to a competitor.
Don’t forget to click through every link on your site. Nothing frustrates potential guests more than dead ends or broken navigation. A quick check now can save you from missing out on bookings later.
Refreshing Your Content for the Season
Your website’s content needs to tell a compelling story about winter stays at your property. Think about your photo gallery – while those sunny summer shots are great (and worth keeping for early summer bookers), adding some seasonal images can really help guests envision their winter stay. A photo of your property with a dusting of frost, or an interior shot of a cosy fireplace can work wonders.
When it comes to your property descriptions, winter is the perfect time to highlight those features that make your accommodation special during the colder months. Do you have a fireplace that creates the perfect atmosphere for chilly evenings? A hot tub under the stars? Perhaps you’re close to winter walking routes or seasonal attractions? Make sure these features take center stage in your descriptions.
Don’t forget to showcase any special winter offerings you have. Whether it’s a seasonal package, a winter discount, or special experiences you can provide, make sure these are prominently featured on your site.
Making Your Marketing Work Harder
Social media becomes even more valuable during the winter season. Share those winter scenes from your property – maybe a shot of fresh snow, or the warm glow of your accommodation at twilight. Tell stories about local winter events and activities. Engage with potential guests by showing them what makes a winter stay at your property special.
Speaking of visibility, have you considered listing your property on British Holidays Direct? Not only will you benefit from a high-authority backlink, but you’ll also join our growing community of accommodation owners. It’s a fantastic way to increase your online presence during the crucial winter booking period.
Need a Helping Hand?
We understand that managing your website can feel overwhelming, which is why we offer several ways to support you:
If you’re comfortable making changes yourself but just need some guidance, our accommodation website owners find our DIY approach is ideal. We create custom video tutorials for our customers to show them exactly how to make updates on their website.
Prefer to have someone else handle it all? We can make website changes for our customers and take care of everything leaving them to focus on running their property.
And if you’re feeling like your website could use more than just seasonal updates, we’d be happy to discuss how we can give it a complete refresh to attract even more bookings.
The quieter winter period is the perfect opportunity to focus on these improvements. They’ll help ensure your website is working as hard as possible to secure those valuable winter bookings.
Ready to get started? We’d love to help you make your website winter-ready. Get in touch today, and let’s discuss how we can help you maximise your winter bookings.
