Blog Layout

Your Website Design Checklist for 2023

November 14, 2023
Searching site on a computer

The market size of the U.S. tour operator industry grew to a whopping $8.44 billion in 2021. To appeal to consumers and differentiate yourself from the competition, you need to show that your service stands out from the very beginning of the customer journey.

This includes the first glance that consumers get of your tour company when they look at your website. 
Forbes suggests that personalizing content is the key to successful sales and marketing. 55% of surveyed marketers reported an increase in visitor engagement, and 87% noted a measurable lift of 10% in business results.

But how do you design your website so it is successful in achieving all your KPIs? Keep reading to find out.

Design

Taking care of the visual elements on your website means considering the font, graphics, color, layout, and content. Research by the Annals of Tourism Research looked into color and user engagement in touristic pictures, noting that photos featuring natural scenery and high-end gastronomy focus on blue, while photographs featuring cityscapes and interior design use violet and warm colors.

Analyzing the broader market allows
marketers to promote tourism activities through aesthetic philosophy and color psychology. This eventually helps you maximize website design, and increase the impact your brand has on customers.


Nature website on computer

Say Goodbye to your costly, ineffective, hard-to-maintain website. Reach more customers with a beautiful and affordable website. 


[ LEARN MORE ]

 

Functionality

Functionality in website design means maximizing navigation, speed, compatibility, and user interaction. Travelers move with a certain urgency and ensuring that your site consistently offers optimal usability will help your business keep up with the demands of potential customers.


Fortunately, sites like Software Testing Help offer a functionality test where all of the links in the web pages, database connections, and forms are checked. It also tests Cookies while checking for data integrity and errors in any DB-related functionality.


Data Security

Tour operators’ websites need to be able to handle sensitive information like client personal identification, addresses, or even payment methods. At the very minimum, business owners can do this by keeping software and plugins up-to-date while adding HTTPS and an SSL Certificate.

However, research by Google Registry shows that despite the increasing number of people creating websites, the majority of Americans still have a significant knowledge gap regarding online security safety.

Hiring an expert adds another layer of security. 
Maryville University notes that database administrators are able to evaluate, monitor, maintain, and optimize computer systems to protect information from emerging threats. This enables your site to collect sensitive data inputted by your clientele who expect a safe online experience when planning their travels.

This may seem like an additional step, but in an era of advancing technology, safety is the standard. Addressing security concerns like these allows tour operators to ensure a partnership built on trust. Be sure to find an expert who will consider security when designing your new website or updating your current site.

SEO

Optimizing your website can help your site to rank higher in search engines such as Google, Bing, or Yahoo. Standing out from the online crowd like this guarantees websites more user engagement.

SEJ advises that small business SEO prioritizes what to address and why it’s important. This means understanding how people search: consider statistics by sites like TripAdvisor that show how 66% of travelers spend more time reading reviews on destinations, and how 70% of travelers spend more time finding things to do.

These will affect the language that clients use to find your business online, allowing you to place relevant keywords strategically throughout your website.


Online Booking System

Setting up calls-to-action or online sign-up services allows visitors to inquire, explore, and purchase your services without the need to consult other sources or your competition. Offering an online booking system seals the deal from beginning to end, as our previous article on Choosing an Online Booking Software notes.

At the same time, this benefits your tour business beyond sales by optimizing productivity and streamlining efforts so that employees have more time and energy for other important tasks.

All of these factors must be considered in your checklist to create a seamless client experience, much like your promises of a smooth and relaxing vacation. Fortunately, with Resmark’s online booking software, clients are only one click away from the tour of their dreams.


Find out how you can get a brand new website in 6 easy steps. Learn more about the web development and design process

Devices showing Resmark systems

Share This Post

black background with booking software infront and white text in front of that
By Nikki DeSantis January 17, 2025
Resmark Booking Software offers transparent pricing for tour operators, starting at $15/month. Includes unlimited bookings, users, premium support, and advanced features to grow your business.
blog thumbnail with text how to start a tour business insights from the pros
By Nikki DeSantis January 8, 2025
Learn how to start a successful tour business with expert tips on niche selection, business planning, tools, marketing, and more. Ready to launch? Let us help with your website and SEO strategy!
a blog thumbnail with white text and on the background is an image of a tour operator booking system
By Nikki DeSantis December 23, 2024
Discover 13 proven strategies to reduce no-shows for your tours, from crafting flexible policies to leveraging automated reminders. Learn how to maximize revenue, enhance efficiency, and boost customer satisfaction!
webinar thumbnail with text and behind people backpacking
By Nikki DeSantis December 16, 2024
Discover top 7 tour operator trends for 2025, from AI and personalization to eco-tourism and niche experiences. Stay ahead of the competition with insights into emerging industry shifts and growth opportunities.
black and orange thumbnail with text ai made simple and a headshot of kelsey tonner
December 4, 2024
Watch the 'AI Made Simple for Tour Operators' webinar replay with Kelsey Toner of Guest Focus. Learn how to craft personalized AI prompts, target your ideal guests, develop a winning content strategy, and use AI to save time and drive bookings—all while keeping the human touch.
thumbnail with brandon lakes headshot and text that says increase direct bookings
October 9, 2024
Watch the webinar replay: '9 Proven Strategies to Increase Direct Bookings.' Learn how to simplify your marketing, create a repeatable sales system, attract profitable customers, boost online sales, and leverage existing customers to drive more bookings
More Posts
Share by: