More Online Bookings - What's the Secret?

The most important fact first. An online booking on your own site is likely the most profitable way you can sell your inventory. But what is required prior to an online looker feeling comfortable and becoming an online booker?

• Easy and intuitive navigation from the home page
• Detailed inventory description and photos
• Clear pricing
• Clear policies & terms
• No red flags when it comes to trust and security

Preferably you can also provide additional encouragements:

• Applicable online specials
• Positive and authentic looking user reviews

Not sure if your site meets those criteria. Take our online booking engine quiz.

How to Establish Trust in Seconds

Assuming that we already have handled steps 1-3 above by making sure your new availability search is finely tuned and easy to use, how do we establish trust in seconds? Here are a few proven ways:

1. Secure all payment pages - use our shared SSL or use a custom SSL
2. Include online seal that verifies the security status
3. Include clear payment and refund terms
4. Include a prominent hotel/rental policy
5. Don't open up the booking engine in a popup or different looking window

All of this is always part of any Bookt Lodging Solution. Is it part of yours?

Extra incentives

Do you have online specials designed to increase conversion? If not, why? Most of the time it seems lodging managers are stuck with inflexible and hard to configure booking engines. Read about Bookt's special and package engine that allows you to merchandise your inventory very effectively.

Also remember the tremendous potential of positive user reviews to create trust and more bookings. More info on our social media lodging tools.