For tourism businesses, website development and design is like a coastline full of hidden rocks.
The choices you make right at the start can make the difference between a boat wrecked on the rocks and a yacht on the open ocean with wind in its sails.
I’ve written an article about the 4 most common myths we have come across when working with small businesses - particularly tourism operators. The myths are listed below, and you can read the complete article here: Website Development and Design - 4 Common Myths.
Myth 1. The best person to create my website is a graphic designer
If you were building a hotel, would you get the interior designer to choose the location, draw up the plans, construct the building, put in the wiring and plumbing, install the telephone and Internet system? Of course you wouldn’t!
Myth 2. When someone comes to my website, I need to grab their attention
Your website isn’t a billboard attempting to attract attention by distracting viewers from other things. It doesn’t need to shout, flash or entertain with moving images. It needs to inform - easily and quickly.
Myth 3. To create an effective website, all I have to do is put my brochure online
Transferring a brochure online to make a website is often the first step in online marketing, but a website is a bit like a sailing boat. It won’t go anywhere unless you remember to give it sails.
Myth 4. The more people who visit my website, the better
If 20 people enter Arcadia Bookstore and 1 person buys a book, then another 10 people enter Zenith Books and 9 people buy books - who wins? Arcadia got more visitors, but Zenith sold more books.
Tell us about myths that you’ve come across either by commenting here or by posting on our Tourism Marketing Forum.
