As cottage owners ourselves, we appreciate the importance of effective advertising. There are so many holiday rental websites out there that it can be a minefield deciding which one to advertise on; our advice is to advertise on more than one! If you are keen to gain a good level of bookings throughout the peak summer months which are easier to let, and also when it is quieter in the winter, we strongly recommend advertising on three to four good websites.
We pride ourselves on providing excellent customer service. But don't take our word for it, read what our customers say...
There are many things to consider when choosing where to advertise, with value for money being a key factor. Our advice is to spend a little time doing some research online. There’s no better recommendation than one directly from an owner who has first-hand experience of dealing with an advertiser, so ask around and seek recommendations from friends and others in the industry. Follow the process a holiday maker would take and search online to see who ranks well for popular search terms. If you have found the website, holiday makers are also likely to as well!
Once you’ve found a website you like the look of, spend some time searching on it to see if it is user-friendly, providing the information that is likely to convert lookers to bookers. Check advertising rates carefully to establish if there are any hidden charges you will face throughout the year for updates to the advert, additional photos or the use of facilities such as adding last minute offers (all included in the price with Independent Cottages). Many large websites have also started to charge additional booking fees to holiday makers. You may be fine with this model but many holiday makers aren’t, and it can put pressure on owners to reduce rates to compensate and retain competitive edge.
Another useful piece of advice is to make contact with the website before you take out a subscription. This will help you establish who you are dealing with, and judge the level of personal service and professionalism you are likely to receive should you need assistance in the future.
As a husband and wife team, we may be small in terms of size but we can assure you that our enthusiasm and passion for the self-catering industry is huge. We pride ourselves on personal, friendly and professional customer service, but don’t just take our word for it, read some comments our customers have made about us in recent reviews.
If you would like to list a property with us, or have a question not covered in our frequently asked questions, you can contact us directly using the enquiry form below:
