Giteblogger launches to help holiday property owners generate more bookings

Nov. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- A new blog is aiming to provide a source of advice and information for holiday property owners who would like to play a bigger role in directing their own marketing. Giteblogger educates owners on ways to increase visibility and awareness of their business using free and low cost online marketing tools. The advice is tailored with beginners in mind whether they wish to create their own website from scratch or to add value to their existing online marketing by joining in the giant social media conversation.

In the past owners have relied on holiday rental agencies to secure bookings for them. Whilst this remains a feasible route to market it can no longer be the entire marketing plan. Recent figures from the ABTA travel convention reveal that a whopping 45% of consumers are now booking directly with owners and gleaning much of their information from social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and holiday review sites such as Trip Advisor. So, as a small business owner, it makes complete sense to be a part of this continuing trend.

In addition the demographics have changed. Whereas previously many people moving overseas to start a new life were retired and thus generating income was perhaps not a major factor, nowadays many younger couples and families are making the move to a different lifestyle, often involving a new country. Letting part of a property (such as gites) to holidaymakers has always been one popular option and this is where Giteblogger can help by providing these fledgling businesses with low cost online marketing guidance when finances are inevitably stretched.

Karen Guttridge, creator of Giteblogger, says " People often feel that creating an online presence for their business is something of a black art and completely impossible for a non technical person to achieve. They end up spending thousands of pounds to get a website up and running when, in fact, a great deal can be done cost-free. Add to that the daily pressure to be a part of the ever-growing number of social media sites and most people end up overwhelmed. I am a self-taught, fifty year old mum of three and if I can do this, anybody can. You just need a willingness to learn and experiment plus consistency in all your efforts".

"As Giteblogger is a newly launched business I'll be putting my own advice into practice and building visibility at the same time as my followers. Small businesses have a real advantage in today's online world as they are able to react and respond much quicker that their larger competitors. A great deal of online marketing is all about relationship building; people want to connect with the real person behind the business".