Google Tools for Direct Bookings.

Direct bookings are essential for vacation rentals because they typically earn a higher commission than bookings made through OTAs. They also give vacation rentals more control over the booking process and the guest experience. Several Google tools can help you drive direct bookings to your website. In this blog post, we will discuss some of these tools:

Google Tools for Direct Bookings to your website

Google Tools for Direct Bookings to your website

Google Ads

This tool is a paid advertising program for which you must pay per click. When a potential guest searches for vacation rentals in your area, your ad may appear at the top of the search results page, giving you an excellent opportunity to capture their attention and drive them to your website to book directly. In addition, Google Ads allows you to set the time and location of displaying the ads.  To get started, you will need to create an account and set a budget. You will also need to create ad campaigns and choose your keywords.

Google Free Booking Links

Google Free Booking Links is a free program that allows you to add a simple booking button to your website. When potential guests click the button, they will be taken to a dedicated page on Google Hotel Search to view your rates and availability and book directly.  Your direct booking website will appear across Google, and visitors will be redirected to your landing page by clicking on your link. This free Google tool for direct booking websites ranks links based on consumer preference, the value offered to the user, landing page experience, etc. 

Google My Business

Google My Business is a free tool that allows you to create a listing for your vacation rental on Google Maps and other Google properties. This listing can include your hotel’s address, phone number, website, photos, and reviews. It’s a great way to improve your online visibility and make it easier for potential guests to find you. 

Google Analytics

Google Analytics is a powerful tool that can help you track the performance of your vacation rental website, including traffic sources, bounce rate, and conversion rate. This information can help you identify areas to improve your website to drive more direct bookings. To start with Google Analytics, you must create a Google Analytics account and add your website’s tracking code. These insights enable you to optimise the pages that aren’t functioning well – driving traffic or converting.

Google Search Console

Google Search Console is a tool that can help you monitor your website’s performance in Google Search. In addition, the tool identifies and fixes issues such as broken links, enables you to check your website’s indexing status and visibility and displays which sites link to your website. This makes Google Search Console an essential Search Engine optimisation tool (SEO).

Google Vacation Rentals 

A Vacation Rentals listing feed contains the physical attributes of the property. This includes name, address, locations, image URLs, website URLs, and amenities. This tool allows travellers to discover and book vacation rental properties directly through Google’s search and travel services. It displays vacation rental listings from various partners, providing users with a convenient way to find and compare accommodations for their travel needs.

Conclusion

These are just a few Google tools that can help you drive direct bookings to your vacation rental website. By using these tools effectively, you can increase your online visibility, improve your website’s performance, and capture more bookings directly from your website.

In addition to using these Google tools, there are a few other things you can do to drive direct bookings to your website:

J-Wanjiru@Huku Kwetu

Written by Karibu Qwetu • September 6, 2023
Share Article: twitter Facebook

Related Articles