Accommodation Guru Continues to Conquer the World! More Licenses Purchased Across the Globe
And our worldwide expansion goes on! Accommodation Guru is thrilled to announce the purchase of licences in the following countries:
Mexico
Bermuda
Luxembourg
Andorra
Spain
France
Portugal
USA
We'd also like to extend a hearty "congratulations" to Marcus & Janet Hooper at GrampiansVictoria.com.au. Based on their considerable success over the last year, they have decided to purchase another licence for Tasmania. Well done, guys! Read their inspiring story below.
I've been running a successful holiday property in Halls Gap, The Grampians, Victoria for three years called Halls Gap Escape www.hallsgapaccommodation.com.au. Back in January 2008, I was looking for some booking software to integrate into my website. I came across Accommodation Guru and Dave Upton. After reading about this unique business opportunity, I thought it might be "too good to be true." But I decided that I may as well complete the enquiry form and see if I would actually be contacted as was promised.
To my surprise, I received a phone call the following day from Dave, who was on leave and travelling in the remote outback of Australia at the time. After speaking with him at length, I analysed Dave's presentation and offer and worked through the pros and cons. I concluded that a larger opportunity had presented itself, beyond my original intent. That opportunity was to provide an online gateway for not only my property-but for all the properties in Halls Gap - the Grampians.
With some apprehension mixed with excitement, I decided to take the next step and purchase an Accommodation Guru licence for the Grampians area. By May 2008, www.grampiansvictoria.com.au was launched. I started by just listing my own property and developed a "hit-list" of target properties that I wanted to feature on the site. Slowly but surely, I worked my way through the list, trying to persuade other property owners to subscribe.
Whilst waiting for Google to index my new website, I focused both on driving traffic to the site and ensuring that I had great properties to offer visitors. I executed this approach by complementing the launch with a Google AdWords campaign. But to my delight, Google quickly recognized www.grampiansvictoria.com.au based on the SEO recommendations of Dave and ItByUs. By June, the site was fully indexed on Google and receiving significant traffic.
I can recall the first day that the Grampians site took a booking. The feeling of success brought a smile to my face. After that, I was able to confidently approach more establishments, knowing the great potential the system offered suppliers.
The momentum of www.grampiansvictoria.com.au continued to build, with more properties listing and more booking requests flowing in. I began modestly with one or two requests a week. Now, twelve months down the track, that rate has grown exponentially to far exceed my expectations. The site is indexed on page one of Google for all keyword search phrases.
I now have over 35 suppliers in what was a very well-established market and I am competing with the "big guys" of online accommodation. My suppliers that keep their availability up-to-date agree that I have been instrumental in their business growth.
Not one to rest on my laurels, I still look to improve the content on my site, grow my supplier portfolio and work with existing suppliers to maximize the site's output. I really love the fact that I can watch my favourite football team play and come home to see that my site has generated revenue (it feels even better if my team has won!). I now only need to spend a couple of hours a week on my website to maintain its current momentum.
Having been so successful with the launch of the Grampians site, I began talking to Dave about further opportunities in other tourist areas. Assessing different options, I took on the larger project of the entire state of Tasmania. www.booktasmaniaaccommodation.com.au was registered at the beginning of June 2009.
A few late nights later, I had shaped the content and look of the site using the simple CMS software. Within 7 days, I was approaching suppliers and offering them the opportunity to list on the newly-created site. On night one, I sent out a little over one hundred emails and the following day, the phone did not stop ringing with suppliers interested in listing. Four weeks into the project and forty suppliers later, the booking requests have already begun.
My "success story" is not yet over. In fact, it has only just begun. With some strategic planning and focus and by following the steps and principals provided by Dave and Accommodation Guru, I am confident that the www.booktasmaniaaccommodation.com.au site will replicate and hopefully exceed the success that I have had with the www.grampiansvictoria.com.au site.
To anybody looking for a home-based business with genuine income potential, I suggest you stop and take a look at what can be achieved from an Accommodation Guru licence. Like everything in life, you get out what you put in. But with some hard work, the rewards are there. I am proof!
Alexandros Argyris Tells All to Franchise Deal Magazine Read the Exclusive Interview!
In last month’s issue of Franchise Deal magazine, Alexandros Argyris talks about the unique marketing concept behind Accommodation Guru, what makes a successful licencee, and what he’s doing to fuel the growth of this unprecedented franchise opportunity throughout Greece. Alexandros calls Accommodation Guru “an ultramodern reservations tool which, in combination with persistence and great care, is transformed into a profitable business with almost no risk – one which indeed can be managed from the licensee’s computer.”
Top Tips for Being Successful with Accommodation Guru
A Licensee’s Perspective from Kim Michelmore & Malinda Melbourne
As Accommodation Guru reservation system “pioneers,” Malinda and I went through a lot of trial-and-error as we discovered the very best ways to utilise its powerful attributes. So we’ve come up with some proven pointers for fast-tracking your success:
Focus on local marketing and developing relationships: Niche marketing is what will allow you to grow. There are plenty of big guys with huge budgets and years of experience who have established sites that cover huge states or countries. But ask any accommodation operator how they get along with these gigantic businesses and they’ll probably tell you that they’ve never developed a personal relationship with them. Suppliers will get the best results out of Accommodation Guru if they are on the Instant Sell (“green”) program. If they do well, so will you. To be on Instant Sell requires their utmost commitment. And unless you have developed that personal relationship with your suppliers, it is going to be hard to get that commitment.
Showcase those suppliers that use Instant Sell. Put them on your front page as Featured Properties or include them in your Newsletter with Hot Links to their Specials.
Reward suppliers that help you. Identify those who regularly refer their phone callers to your site or refer their email inquiries to your site when they are full. You can reward them with prime location on your front page or even a reduced commission for a period of time on any bookings for their property.
Keep ongoing communication with your suppliers. Send them a regular Newsletter - include who's new, software updates, promotional updates, industry-relevant news, and new products that may help them. But don't send out a newsletter just for the sake of it. Better to skip one than send out a newsletter without any real news!
Do some hand-holding. As suppliers come on board, you will need to coach them (unless they are very familiar with online systems). Keep in regular contact with them. Check to make sure they are keeping their bookings from other sources up-to-date. Call them when they get their first couple of requests so they feel comfortable accepting them by SMS or email.
Be available to talk to your suppliers. But set hours during which you are happy talking. Don't let them call you at unsociable hours when you cannot give them the attention they desire.
Keep your customers up-to-date. Build a list of opt-in customers that you can keep informed of the latest developments in your region. Let them know about new properties, new listings, events, new attractions, specials and discounts available by booking through your network. Provide hints for great travel escapes. But don't flood them with email correspondence—a quarterly newsletter is sufficient.
Keep abreast of promotional activities in your region. Work with your Regional Tourism Marketing body; know where they are investing and go along with them (you can often get huge subsidies by working with them). While Accommodation Guru websites get good rankings on the search engines, you cannot rely on just one source of hits. If your domain name is mentioned in other promotions, then you will get direct hits on your site (and these are often customers who book). Try wherever possible to get editorial to back up any paid promotions. DO NOT advertise in a publication that does not get you a reasonable mention in editorial.
Network with the industry in your area. Attend gatherings where suppliers are likely to be in attendance. Be visible: in the early days, people may not know who you are, so do your part to stand out from the crowd. This may include asking if you can say a few words at a conference, or delivering a paper on an aspect of the industry that you might be familiar with. Request to set up a display to promote your network.
Remember, at the end of the day, the most important thing is to look after your suppliers. They, after all, are the driving force behind your success.
Kim Michelmore & Malinda Melbourne are the owners of:
Need Help Getting Started with Accommodation Guru?
A Road Map for Establishing Your Online Booking Business
Need a helping hand getting started with your Accommodation Guru online booking website? No fear—we’ve created an intuitive, step-by-step roadmap that will assist you in prioritising what you have to do to set up your business:
What’s All This Business About Blogging? How You Can Use a Blog to Your Advantage
Blogging Your Way to the Top By Scott Van Achte (c) 2009
It is no real secret that a well-written topical blog can significantly help out your website - so why aren't you doing it?
The most common reasons I hear for not starting a blog involve a lack of time to write posts, and limited ideas to write about, but taking that extra time to get some useful content out there can do wonders for your search rankings, among other things.
An established blog that is updated regularly gets spidered by Google often, and increases the chances of new search rankings considerably. I have seen multiple situations where regularly updated blogs wind up ranking #1 in Google for relevant phrases literally within a couple hours of posting. It usually takes a well-established website and blog to make this happen, but there is big potential if you do things the right way.
While blogs work best if updated multiple times per week, even those with a new post every week or two have advantages. Blogs don't have to be a major undertaking, spending only an hour or so a week on posting can have you seeing results in no time.
There are many advantages to adding a blog to your website, including Increased Rankings,Increased Traffic, Credibility, Links and Blog Post Ideas. If after reading this you are sitting there thinking, "What should I write about?" here are some ideas to help you get going:
• New product launches • Press releases • Industry relevant news • How tos related to your product or service • Answers to reader comments • Posts revolving around relevant long tailed phrases • In depth product descriptions or tutorials • Company history or interesting stories • Reviews of related products, services or online tools
If you've been putting off the blogging idea for some time, consider getting started now. There is much to gain and very little to lose.
About The Author Scott Van Achte is the Senior SEO at StepForth Web Marketing Inc.; based in Victoria, BC, Canada and founded in 1997.
Here’s an Even BETTER Reason to Start Blogging!
If you’re interested in setting up a blog on your own accommodation site, Accommodation Guru will make a blog available for your site at no cost. That’s right – FREE!
A blog is a great place to write a commentary on what’s going on in your geographic area. This is something that the ‘big guys’ struggle to do as they do not have the benefit of being local.
The SEO Corner Tips and Tricks for Better Search Engine Visibility
Get Your Suppliers to Add This Cool New “Widget” to Their Website-and Reap the SEO Benefits
Accommodation Guru has created a “supa-dupa useful” widget or tool that you can ask your suppliers to add to their website. The widget will benefit their site visitors by displaying the following information:
Local Time
Local Weather
Local Climate
Local Map
What’s in it for you? By providing a link back to your site, the widget will enhance your Search Engine Optimization efforts. The more suppliers you can get to add it to their site, the better!
If you’re not using Google Stats and Analytics, shame on you! This free analytics tool is a must for Accommodation Guru website owners.
Google Analytics now makes the features that experts demand easy-to-use for everyone. Gain rich insights into your website traffic with Advanced Segmentation, Custom Reporting, Motion Charts, and more. Learn more about where your visitors come from and how they interact with your site. You'll get the information you need to write better ads, strengthen your marketing initiatives, and create higher-converting websites. Google Analytics is free to everyone, whether you are an advertiser, publisher, or site owner.
For more details on using Google Stats and Analytics, I recommend having a look at our online SEO Video Tutorials & Training Manuals:
Accommodation Guru Search Engine Optimization Update
In addition to much of the work previously done in this area, Accommodation Guru has added an abundance of additional information that will assist you with your SEO efforts:
Step 5 - Case Study
Step 6 - Role of Directories in Link Building & useful direcrories
Did you know that over half of the live Accommodation Guru sites are on the first page of Google results in their category (see a report of actual page rankings)? Those that are not are generally either new or have not been optimized. As Search Engine Optimization is very important in striving for a higher ranking on Google, we recommend the following SEO options:
Do-it-yourself – Just follow the video tutorials in the training section mentioned previously. All it costs is your time.
Accommodation Guru In-house option: Euro500 (A$990) Relax: We do all the work for you and implement the do-it-yourself strategy in Option 1. (Please allow additional for your copy to be rewritten/revised/de-duplicated on your home page by a professional copywriter.)
I do a lot of reading and research and have endeavoured to include relevant, useful articles and snippets that I believe you will find helpful in building your Accommodation Guru business. A couple of recent posts include: 5-Minute Credibility Booster for Your Site and Tales From The IMC Testing Labs: Our Experts Share Their Latest Findings.
Please visit the blog and feel free to share your comments!
PayPal’s New Split Payment Feature Getting Rave Reviews
I’m getting lots of great feedback from licensees who are excited about PayPal’s new split payment feature. Now you can send instant payments to multiple recipients instead of having to send funds individually.
What’s in it for you?
You save loads of time as a result of less administrative work
You no longer hold client funds, which prevents many licensing issues
You “score points” with your property suppliers, as they get paid instantly
The best part is that PayPal’s split payment capability incurs absolutely no additional cost to you or your suppliers.
New Hard-Copy Supplier Agreement
Currently, suppliers signing up electronically with Accommodation Guru automatically accept the agreement when adding their details to the site.
By popular demand, we have drafted a hard-copy supplier Terms and Conditions agreement that you may wish to modify to suit your local circumstances. The hard-copy version is more for new licensees that initially manually add the first 100 or so hotels themselves.
In a new version of the Accommodation Guru software, we will add some functionality that recognizes if there is a new supplier that has not agreed to your “terms and conditions” and will ask them to accept these conditions. In the meantime, please use the ‘hard copy’ agreement as required.
MailoutGuys.com combines everything you need to start and manage a successful email newsletter campaign, including list management, bounce handling, fast automated sending, forms and personalization. This powerful, all-in-one email marketing software is incredibly easy to use and offers the following benefits and features:
Benefits:
Personalize your customer relations
Send any type of email communication: Newsletters, special offers, follow-up emails, member notices, customer service announcements and more
Improve sales and increase revenue
Build trust with your subscribers
Unlimited number of subscribers and lists
Features:
On-queue autoresponders
Advanced tracking and reporting
Guaranteed "clean" subscriber lists
One-to-one personalization
Create emails in text, HTML or "multi-part" (text and HTML) formats
If you’re looking for a lightning-fast Internet browser, I highly recommend trying Google Chrome. It’s a new web browser for Windows and combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.
Would you like a sneak-peak into the near future to see how your life is going to change? Google Wave is a new tool for communication and collaboration on the web, coming later this year (possibly as early as October). Watch the demo video below, sign up for updates and learn more about how to develop with Google Wave.
Latest News - July 2009
More Licenses Purchased Across the Globe
by Marcus Hooper of 
Need a helping hand getting started with your Accommodation Guru online booking website? No fear—we’ve created an intuitive, step-by-step roadmap that will assist you in prioritising what you have to do to set up your business: 
