Guesty’s direct booking solutions enable you to create your own booking website, where guests can book your properties directly, without you needing to pay fees for external booking channels.
Guesty offers a range of products under its direct booking solutions to help you optimize your booking experience. The core product, the Guesty Booking Engine (called Booking Website for Lite users), allows guests to browse your available properties and book reservations. This engine is set on a dedicated URL but can also be embedded as a widget on an external website. The Booking Engine is free for all Guesty users, including Lite users. Explore our demo site here!
Our upgraded solution, Guesty Websites (available for Pro users) is based on the Booking Engine. Guesty Websites enables you to create a fully customized website with zero-coding and drag-and-drop editing. Add multiple pages, utilize our wide range of customizable templates, and include pop-ups, banners, and personalization tools. You can also include advanced widgets and integrate your site with various apps. Use a domain you own, or create a new one.
We offer Basic and Advanced Website options. Explore both options for free.
Our most advanced product, Guesty Booking Engine API (Pro users), allows you to integrate an existing booking website with the Guesty platform. Use our API connection to push reservations from your website to Guesty, and pull your reservations and listings data. When using our Booking Engine API, you don’t have to create your inventory from scratch, as all the listings you added to the Booking Engine will be integrated into your website.
We've gathered our best tips to help you maximize your income and bookings using any of our booking solutions.
Website design and user experience
- Simplify your website's navigation. Use clear labels and organize content logically to make it easy for users to find what they need.
- Speed is crucial. Slow-loading websites can lead to higher bounce rates. Use web-optimized images and minimize large files to ensure quick load times.
- Add multiple language options to your website to make it more accessible to international guests.
- Creating an “About” section is a great way to establish clear branding and build some trust with the guests visiting the website, by sharing info about yourself and emphasizing your values.
- Add a blog to your Guesty Website, in which you can write about local attractions, events, and tips for travelers.
- A custom domain can make your site more memorable and easier to find, enhance branding, and increase your visitors' trust. Add a custom domain you own, or create a new one.
Properties
- Adding “Featured properties” to the Guesty Advanced Website is a great way to get traffic on newly added properties or lower-performing properties, and boost their exposure (and their occupancy rates).
- Invest in high-quality photos that showcase your properties in the best light. Photos are often the first thing potential guests notice, and they can significantly impact their decision to book.
- Ensure that your property listings are consistent across all the booking platforms you use. This includes accurate descriptions, photos, and pricing.
- Write clear, detailed descriptions of your property. Highlight unique features, amenities, and nearby attractions. Use bullet points for easy readability.
- Research and use relevant keywords in your property descriptions and titles. Focus on terms guests might search for, such as “beachfront vacation rental” or “family-friendly lodging.”
- Optimize your website for local search by including the name of the city or neighborhood in your content. This helps attract guests searching for accommodations in a specific area.
Guest reviews
- Showcase testimonials: in the Guesty Website, you can display guest testimonials prominently on your homepage or in a dedicated section. Authentic reviews can significantly boost your website’s credibility.
Pricing and promotions
- Offering competitive prices can increase your booking rate. Use Guesty’s dynamic revenue management and financial tools to adjust your rates based on demand, seasonality, and competition. Create and promote special offers, such as discounts for longer stays, coupons, and promotions. Highlight these deals on your website to attract budget-conscious travelers. Use a banner or pop-up on your homepage so visitors can’t miss it!
- Allow different payment options to attract a wider audience, such as paying by bank transfer and via credit card. Also, you can connect different payment processors to Guesty.
- Utilize special offers to encourage returning guests. For example:
- Create a coupon for your Booking Engine called “Returning Guest”, and send it to your guests after checking out.
Booking process
- Enable instant booking to make the process faster and more convenient for guests. Many travelers prefer the immediacy of booking without waiting for approval.
Social media and online marketing
- Promote your website on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Use visually appealing content and engage with your audience to build a following.
- Consider using paid advertising on platforms like Google Ads or Facebook Ads to drive targeted traffic to your website. Ensure your ads are well-targeted to reach potential guests.
- Collect your guests’ emails, and build an email list. Regularly send out newsletters with promotions, updates, and travel tips. Personalized email campaigns can encourage former guests to book again.
Analyze and adjust
- Regularly monitor your website’s performance using analytics tools. Track metrics such as the following to understand user behavior:
- Bounce rate (% of visits ending after only visiting one page.)
- Average time spent on site
- Conversion rates (% of visits that end in a booking)
- Total visits, unique visits
- New users: Ratio of new visitors compared to returning visitors
- Total pages per visit
- Traffic channels: Gives you context on how traffic arrives at your site (organic, paid advertising…)
- Revenue management can be tracked by Google Tag Manager
- Test different versions of your website’s elements, such as call-to-action buttons, headlines, or images, to see which version performs better. Change one element at a time, and track to see if traffic increases.
- Stay informed about industry trends and adjust your strategy accordingly. For example, if you notice an increase in demand for eco-friendly accommodations, consider highlighting sustainable initiatives at your property.
Customer support
- Ensure that communication with potential and current guests is prompt and helpful by using auto responses and message automations. Quick responses to inquiries can improve the likelihood of securing a booking.
- Continue providing excellent customer service once the booking is made. This can lead to positive reviews and repeat business.
- Adding a contact form (“Contact us”) to your site is a great way for guests to reach out with inquiries or questions. Note that all communication via the contact form will be sent to your business email address - not to the Guesty Inbox.
By following these best practices, you can enhance the appeal of your website, attract more visitors, and ultimately increase your bookings.