Need Some Feedback on My Travel Blog...

11 years ago

I would do 2 things:

1. Put an Aweber form on each page (especially prominently displayed on your home page).

2. Instead of asking people to email you, encourage them to join the newsletter.

Use that newsletter to give them what they want - need - to know:

- Things to do;
- Upcoming events;
- Special offer prices;
- Reviews and links to think they might want to buy.

You will grow a far more profitable business over time.

You should also consider selling ad space on the site. Approach local offline businesses in Jamaica and seek advertising revenue.

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Krishna876

11 years ago

I agree that building an email list should be priority but what about the people that are coming to Jamaica next week (or are already here) and want to book a tour now?

Originally Posted by Victoria Stone

I would do 2 things:

1. Put an Aweber form on each page (especially prominently displayed on your home page).

2. Instead of asking people to email you, encourage them to join the newsletter.

Use that newsletter to give them what they want - need - to know:

- Things to do;
- Upcoming events;
- Special offer prices;
- Reviews and links to think they might want to buy.

You will grow a far more profitable business over time.

You should also consider selling ad space on the site. Approach local offline businesses in Jamaica and seek advertising revenue.

Thanks
1 reply

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Tom Addams

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Krishna876

I agree that building an email list should be priority but what about the people that are coming to Jamaica next week (or are already here) and want to book a tour now?

When you create your newsletter, create several follow-up pages. This will give them all the info they need to book a tour now (and whatever else they want).

Future broadcasts will be ongoing information.

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oWriter

Banned 11 years ago

pretty good website you have there. Victoria is right about aweber and approaching. local businesses to advertise. in your. site

Thanks

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Ernesto1

11 years ago

I think your blog is awesome for people that wants to find unique cool spots to visit in Jamaica man! But if it was me that went to your page, I would read the info and take notes but then I would look up the original location and transportation online and skip your transportation form. Why would I skip it? Because I wouldn't know (or trust) how reliable or updated the information is in your blog.

Personally, I would feel more confident in filling out your form if you made it clear that you are connected to reliable official updated bus/plane schedules and rates. You would need to let me know why by filling out your form would be 100 TIMES BETTER than if I looked up the bus/taxi schedules and details myself. What's in it for me? Perhaps you have better cheaper deals? Safer, reliable, on time transportation? More comfort and luxury? Etc.

Also, add logos if possible to make it feel secure (like the Greyhound bus logo or whatever logos they have in Jamaica).

Make it irresistible and comfortable to fill out the form and you'll have more signups.

One last thing, I find the "want help planning your trip to Jamaica?" email me box a little annoying at the top center of the page. I think it should be at the left side of the page, above the Facebook box. Or someplace else.

Try it for a week and see if you'll get more signups and conversions. ;-)

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Krishna876

11 years ago

Thanks for taking the time to write this response. I was thinking about doing a separate "Tour Company" website and linking to them as my recommended tour company.

Everything you said makes perfect sense...

Originally Posted by Ernesto1

I think your blog is awesome for people that wants to find unique cool spots to visit in Jamaica man! But if it was me that went to your page, I would read the info and take notes but then I would look up the original location and transportation online and skip your transportation form. Why would I skip it? Because I wouldn't know (or trust) how reliable or updated the information is in your blog.

Personally, I would feel more confident in filling out your form if you made it clear that you are connected to reliable official updated bus/plane schedules and rates. You would need to let me know why by filling out your form would be 100 TIMES BETTER than if I looked up the bus/taxi schedules and details myself. What's in it for me? Perhaps you have better cheaper deals? Safer, reliable, on time transportation? More comfort and luxury? Etc.

Also, add logos if possible to make it feel secure (like the Greyhound bus logo or whatever logos they have in Jamaica).

Make it irresistible and comfortable to fill out the form and you'll have more signups.

One last thing, I find the "want help planning your trip to Jamaica?" email me box a little annoying at the top center of the page. I think it should be at the left side of the page, above the Facebook box. Or someplace else.

Try it for a week and see if you'll get more signups and conversions. ;-)

Thanks

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sweetcrabhoney18

11 years ago

Very nice looking website. My best advice would be to add an email list. You can write a free ebook on what to pack for their trip. Maybe in the emails you send you can market some must have things they can get from amazon or other sites.

Another idea would be to build a promotion page for companies in Jamaica. I'm sure they would love those 1500 visitors seeing their name and booking things with them. There was a book about this awhile ago ; it was about limos and the writer added a directory page and started bringing in monthly money just because of it. Might work great for you!

Super nice website -- keep up the good work.

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Krishna876

11 years ago

Thanks for those kind words. That promotion page sounds interesting. I'd love to see the book on it...

Originally Posted by sweetcrabhoney18

Very nice looking website. My best advice would be to add an email list. You can write a free ebook on what to pack for their trip. Maybe in the emails you send you can market some must have things they can get from amazon or other sites.

Another idea would be to build a promotion page for companies in Jamaica. I'm sure they would love those 1500 visitors seeing their name and booking things with them. There was a book about this awhile ago ; it was about limos and the writer added a directory page and started bringing in monthly money just because of it. Might work great for you!

Super nice website -- keep up the good work.

Thanks

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+newportone

11 years ago

I think the site is pretty good to begin with. First thing that caught my eye was the site says Copyright 2010 in the footer. I would update that, so that the it does not give the impression there has not been any updated information.
If the site had a video to see above the fold would be more interesting

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savidge4

11 years ago

I have in years past owned travel sites. You have a very good base to work with. I would try and get an Expedia affiliate program going Program Overview This will do 2 things for you.

#1 once you are accepted, they are REAL good at integrating their product with yours. They have a department, and that is what they do. Success for you is success for them.

#2 it will remove the need for the annoying advertising you have now that simply devalues your page.

Chances are better than good that you are reaching people that are passed the purchase point in their travel plans. They already know when they are coming, now they are figuring out what they are going to do.

To be honest I poked around your site a bit, and I never saw a form of any kind. I would create a page (on this site) that is about your LOCAL service, and what it is you offer. Explain that travel is included in the price, and the information is needed to give them an exact price. I would then remove the airline crud sales banners and replace them with yours. The bottom line which one is going to make you more money?

REALLY REALLY push the local factor. People don't want the standard get on a bus and get toted around here and there as much as they want the local flavor of where they are visiting. THAT is what you are providing. Your Blog is giving local advice, and your service is providing one of a kind LOCAL service. that is how you gain Large Massive. everything cook and curry after that!

Hope that Helps!

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Krishna876

11 years ago

Thanks! This is great advice. I didnt even know Expedia had an affiliate program. I recently asked about this in another thread...

I actually took the forms down because it wasn't converting into enough sales for me. People would message me for more information than bookings and it was taking too much time responding to everyone to get maybe 1 or 2 paying customers per week. But, I do think that may be where the money is and I could hire someone to do it but I would have to be getting enough bookings to warrant that expense.

This thread has been a great help though and I think a combination of everything that has been mentioned so far may be best...

Originally Posted by savidge4

I have in years past owned travel sites. You have a very good base to work with. I would try and get an Expedia affiliate program going Program Overview This will do 2 things for you.

#1 once you are accepted, they are REAL good at integrating their product with yours. They have a department, and that is what they do. Success for you is success for them.

#2 it will remove the need for the annoying advertising you have now that simply devalues your page.

Chances are better than good that you are reaching people that are passed the purchase point in their travel plans. They already know when they are coming, now they are figuring out what they are going to do.

To be honest I poked around your site a bit, and I never saw a form of any kind. I would create a page (on this site) that is about your LOCAL service, and what it is you offer. Explain that travel is included in the price, and the information is needed to give them an exact price. I would then remove the airline crud sales banners and replace them with yours. The bottom line which one is going to make you more money?

REALLY REALLY push the local factor. People don't want the standard get on a bus and get toted around here and there as much as they want the local flavor of where they are visiting. THAT is what you are providing. Your Blog is giving local advice, and your service is providing one of a kind LOCAL service. that is how you gain Large Massive. everything cook and curry after that!

Hope that Helps!

Thanks

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Chrisb720

11 years ago

Having the reservation form at the bottom will likely be a problem if people are not scrolling all the way down. You should have the reservation form above the fold.

Thanks

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seonutshell

11 years ago

Great looking site, love the feel of it. But travel blogs need more of a personal touch. Sometimes an OTT personality will make or break a site. For example, my favourite travel blog in the world (which i found in a warriorforum sig link) is "A farang abroad" google it (it has sitelinks which is cool"

The style of the writing is super colloquial and honest. I think your content comes across as "Articles" rather than "blog posts" Put some personality into it, and i think it can go far.

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brettb

11 years ago

Wow, at last somebody here is asking for feedback and their site is actually great.

Just keep doing what you're doing I guess.

In the longer term try to move from running a blog to running an actual business.

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Krishna876 11 years ago

Originally Posted by brettb

Wow, at last somebody here is asking for feedback and their site is actually great.

Thanks bro...

Originally Posted by brettb

In the longer term try to move from running a blog to running an actual business.

This is exactly what I have in mind. I'm just looking for some direction...
- Thanks
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ThomasOMalley

11 years ago

Major problem with the website: what do you want visitors to do??

There's no effective call to action. "Read more" is a poor call to action.

Here's an info. website you should model: www.coffeedetective.com.

Thanks
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Krishna876

11 years ago

It's only like that temporarily. There was a booking form on each page before...

Originally Posted by ThomasOMalley

Major problem with the website: what do you want visitors to do??

There's no effective call to action. "Read more" is a poor call to action.

Here's an info. website you should model: CoffeeDetective - How to Make Coffee and Choose the Best Coffee Maker..

Thanks

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Ronak Shah

11 years ago

I think your positioning is very off.

You need to show some authority in what you're doing best.

Plus the layout or the design just doesn't set your blog in the right tone.

When I saw the site, the first thing that came to my mind is that: is this a travel blog?

I was shocked a bit too much.

Else, your blog is a treat to read.

Your design SHOULD be such that it is sober, clean & sophisticated.

It is always necessary for travel blogs to market themselves much better.

Your blog design must include spaces where you can very naturally include ads or sales pitches which get the most amount of clicks from your target audience.

You can STILL make money from your existing design if you know how to set your strategy to monetize your blog better. Preferably, I would go for a magazine design or some other sort of custom blog design for a travel blog which catches the reader right at their first sight.

What's most missing is the ATTENTION grabbing of the AIDCA formula (Attention, Interest, Desire, Conviction, Action).

Best of luck.

Thanks
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Krishna876

11 years ago

Thanks for your feedback. Do you have anything in mind that you could show me as an example of the kind of design you have in mind? I'd really appreciate that...

Originally Posted by Ronak Shah

I think your positioning is very off.

You need to show some authority in what you're doing best.

Plus the layout or the design just doesn't set your blog in the right tone.

When I saw the site, the first thing that came to my mind is that: is this a travel blog?

I was shocked a bit too much.

Else, your blog is a treat to read.

Your design SHOULD be such that it is sober, clean & sophisticated.

It is always necessary for travel blogs to market themselves much better.

Your blog design must include spaces where you can very naturally include ads or sales pitches which get the most amount of clicks from your target audience.

You can STILL make money from your existing design if you know how to set your strategy to monetize your blog better. Preferably, I would go for a magazine design or some other sort of custom blog design for a travel blog which catches the reader right at their first sight.

What's most missing is the ATTENTION grabbing of the AIDCA formula (Attention, Interest, Desire, Conviction, Action).

Best of luck.

Thanks
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Ronak Shah

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Krishna876

Thanks for your feedback. Do you have anything in mind that you could show me as an example of the kind of design you have in mind? I'd really appreciate that...

A travel blog is akin to a photo blog which portrays the best moments at places of exploration.

Have you searched for travel blogs & photo blogs on blogs.google.com?

Go to technorati.com and find some authority travel blogs.

Go to wordpress.com & search for authority travel blogs.

See the design of the best travel blogs & you will see why you need to get a different design better than existing one.

I would recommend you take backup of your existing design before you switch.

You don't need to be stuck by some imperfections of any design.

There is no such thing as perfect design as designs are always improvised but you need to add in the glamour to your site and make a brand.

Thanks.

Ronak.

Thanks

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Need Some Feedback on My Travel Blog...

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