Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Perfecting your environment

Hi

This is an interesting video about perfecting the holiday environment and something everyone can consider, whether it be in your own home to increase your own comfort but more importantly, in your holiday home for your rental guests.

http://www.holidayhomerentalsite.com/2011/05/19/perfecting-the-holiday-environment/



Video posted on Tots to Travel Owners website.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Are you using social media? If not, you should be, see this for why.

Do you use social media, eg facebook, twitter etc, WHO DOESNT?  See this video, for why you should, especially for business, it is the way forward.  Amazing

http://youtu.be/omSKo1OW6CU

If you need help, just ask.

What is niche marketing and how can it help you?

What is niche marketing and how can it help you?

Niche marketing means developing and marketing your product or service at a specific sector of the market, thereby satisfying your target markets specific customer needs.  Marketing by companies generally falls into two categories, mass marketing or niche marketing.  Mass marketing is normally used for a general everyday product and the sources of marketing are mass media such as, TV, billboards and newspapers.  With niche marketing the marketing sources are much more targetted at their specific customer base using methods such as, social media, emailing and traditional mail-outs to their client base.  Niche marketing is particularly used by smaller businesses who understand they cannot compete with the big brands or multi-nationals, but can on a smaller, specific market base.

How can niche marketing help you?

Well depending on your product and size of your company and resources, such as marketing budget, niche marketing may be a much more effective way to reach your customers.  But you need to know how to do and especially, what your customers want. 

Do you know what is your target market specifics?
Do you understand your customers needs and wants and buying behaviours?

The problem for many holiday rental home owners is that they do not understand the need for effective marketing or have the skills to do it.  They use mass marketing, such as holiday listing websites and find themselves lost amongst 1000's of other homes all the same as theirs, unable to make themselves stand out and therefore sell and improve their rentals.  Having a marketing mix and niche marketing is the way forward.  It doesnt need to take too much time, but a little effort and some information could go a long way.

If I can help you in this way, please contact me and I will be happy to help.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Friday, May 6, 2011

Are you ready?

So now we are into May and the summer peak season is just around the corner.  Are you ready? 

Is your property all prepared for your guests, any replacements or maintenance work done?

More importantly have you sold the weeks you need, is your property getting the interest it deserves.  In these tough times, market positioning is so much more important.  In the past, you could almost sell a holiday rental in the algarve with minimal effort. Not so easy these days, with fewer customers looking for a lot of value.  So what do you do?

There are several things you can do

1. Assess your marketing, are you targeting the right customers?
2. Is your property appealing to the customers you want?
3. Are you offering value and quality against your competition?

Be aware, lowering your prices, will not necessarily bring more customers!

If you need any further advice, please contact me and I can help.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Tots to Travel

Tots to Travel is multi-award winning family travel company. They specialise in family-friendly self-catering accommodation with all the equipment you need. All properties are vetted for child safety and suitability.

On the other side, Tots agents are trained to provide advice and support to home owners on how to market their property more effectively, therefore increasing their bookings and profits.

Wendy Shand started Tots to Travel in 2005, after on a 'family' holiday her two year old son fell into an unenclosed swimming pool. She realised their was a vital need for a service that offered safe, genuinely family friendly holiday accommodation. The company has gone from strength to strength and is growing at a high rate, this year they look to turnover £1 million. Not to mention the array of awards and nominations and almost constant coverage in the media.

Tots to Travel started with properties in France, nowadays the business has expanded into Spain, Italy, Portugal and the UK.

So if you are looking for a truly family-friendly holiday with all the equipment you need, look no further. If on the other hand you are a homeowner looking to enter into this growing, lucrative market, they can help you.

Wendy Shand has also written a book, 'Empty Weeks: How to get more bookings and make money from your holiday home'. She has a limited number of FREE copies, go to http://www.freeholidayletsbook.com/ to get yours while stocks

http://www.totstotravel.co.uk/
http://www.holidayhomerentalsite.com/