Internet Marketing Tycoon

**j-weezy** · 07-18-2006, 12:29 PM

I am getting ready to launch a hotel booking site in about 2 weeks... Any good ideas on what I can do to gain some quick interest and start off with a bang?

Also any ideas on high quality, relevant link building are welcome too!

Thanks!

**imported_Bas** · 07-18-2006, 01:05 PM

If your visitors can book a hotel from your site, perhaps give the 100th order their money back.

**imported_Regal** · 07-18-2006, 03:56 PM

One of the traditional ways for a booking site to generate interest was to offer some of those "free vacation" coupons that are kicking around the net. I doubt they work as well anymore though...

I'd suggest making a contest of some kind...think of things that would be useful to your type of user. Some great prizes could be luggage, rental car vouchers, ect. Or think of things that would make they're trip easier (while not busting your budget!).

Another option is a viral campaign, because I believe travel is a great subject for this. Think up a hilarious situation, something gimicky that you feel would spread online, shoot it in a weekend with some friends, and then youtube/googlevideo/fark/digg/ebaums/collegehumor/ect it.

I'd also highly suggesting adding a "review" style section to your site (quarter main), where you do small profiles on different hot spots around the world. Having these feature write-ups give other people a reason to link to you (blogs ect), and gives you many more opportunities for exposure then if you were just a straight booking site. It makes you a little bit more of a travel-as-a-lifestyle site.

good luck man! booking sites can be great :thumbup:

**j-weezy** · 07-18-2006, 04:14 PM

Thanks for the great ideas guys! Keep em' coming

**handsome rob** · 07-18-2006, 04:57 PM

Press release via PRWeb or PRNewswire.

**oslocal** · 07-19-2006, 06:54 PM

Like handsome rob said. Release a PR before you launch the site. Get some ads on travel sites/forums.

**Mr. Websites** · 07-19-2006, 07:06 PM

It largely depends on your budget. Perhaps you could offer incentives to random new members, such as paid hotel accommodations for a day or two, in return for them posting reviews about the hotel(s). The best way you can gain customers, however, is by promoting it extensively in your local market. People you know, such as your neighbors and friends, are bound to visit your website first if traveling when they know it actually exists! Perhaps even offer discounts to customers while signing up only if they recommend your website to five or so friends. Also promote it on forums, while offering discounts, and you should be a success in next to no time.

**j-weezy** · 07-20-2006, 01:16 PM

Thanks again for the great ideas!

What do you think about offering this...

"Book with us and receive $10 off your next hotel booking anywhere in the world with our Customer Loyalty program!"

Let me know what you all think... thanks!

**coop** · 07-21-2006, 03:16 PM

Do press releases really work well? (Obviously it depends on the product / site and how well it's written.. but I've never heard any 'mind blowing' success stories relating to press releases as I have with other methods)