A pretty site won’t pay the bills. Your hotel website should sell, not just sit there. Learn what turns browsers into bookers.

Before we jump in to this episode, don’t forget to subscribe and ring that bell so you never miss an episode. We’re serving up fresh strategies every week to help you run your hotel like a pro—without selling your soul to the big chains.

.

Let’s get real. You’ve poured your heart (and likely your savings) into your property. But if your website’s not pulling its weight, you might as well be whispering your offers into the wind. Today, we’re tackling the all-important question: what makes a hotel website actually convert visitors into paying guests? Because if it’s not doing that, what’s the point?

.

.

Your Website is Not a Brochure—It’s a Booking Machine

Let’s start with a myth buster: your website isn’t just there to look pretty. It’s not a digital business card. It’s your 24/7 silent salesperson. And it better be selling.

.

I once consulted with an inn whose homepage featured more photos of the owner’s cat than the actual rooms. Cute? Yes. Helpful? Not really. Your website’s job is to make someone want to stay with you—and book right now.

.

The trick? Make it fast, focused, and frictionless.

.

.

Speed Kills… Or Sells

Ever waited more than three seconds for a website to load? Neither have your guests.

.

Slow websites are like long check-in lines—no one sticks around. Google research shows 53% of users bounce if your site takes more than three seconds to load. That’s more than half your bookings, gone. Poof.

.

✅ Quick tip: Compress images, remove clunky plugins, and make sure your site works beautifully on mobile.

.

.

Show, Don’t Just Tell (And Show the Right Things)

Photos matter more than you think. People book with their eyes.

.

But here’s the kicker: stock photos are trust killers. If your “ocean view” room has a blurry shot of a pond from 1997, you’re leaving money on the table. Invest in professional photography that reflects your brand and shows your rooms in their best light—literally.

.

Think clean linens, natural light, and real guests enjoying your space. Bonus points if it shows what’s unique about your stay—local coffee? Clifftop sunsets? Dog-friendly perks?

.

.

Ditch the Jargon—Clarity Converts

“We offer a boutique experiential wellness-focused escapade.”

.

Sorry, what?

.

People want to know:

• What are your rooms like?

.

• Where are you located?

.

• How much does it cost?

.

• What’s included?

.

Your homepage should answer those in less than 10 seconds. Keep your language clear, benefit-driven, and human. Like you’re explaining it to a friend—over coffee, not in a boardroom.

.

.

A Booking Button That Shouts “Click Me!”

Ever been on a hotel website and couldn’t find the booking button? Yeah, me too. Don’t be that hotel.

.

Your “Book Now” button should be:

• Visible on every page

.

• A colour that pops (not grey-on-grey)

.

• Above the fold (no scrolling required)

.

• Connected to a real-time booking engine (not “please call to reserve”—it’s 2025)

.

And please, test it. Click it yourself. Ask your mum to try it. You’ll be amazed what you find.

.

.

Trust Elements: The Secret Sauce

Imagine arriving at a hotel and seeing no signage, no reviews, and no receptionist. Feels shady, right?

.

Your website needs trust signals:

• Guest reviews (with names, photos if possible)

.

• TripAdvisor or Google ratings

.

• Secure payment icons

.

• Real contact info

.

• A personal welcome message or owner photo

.

People don’t book with strangers. They book with hoteliers they trust.

.

.

SEO: Your Invisible Doorman

Let’s say your hotel’s in Byron Bay. If someone types “boutique hotel Byron Bay” into Google, do you show up?

.

If not, your website’s basically in witness protection.

.

Use SEO-optimised headings, keywords like “family-friendly hotel in [Your Town]”, and meta descriptions that speak to your guest’s needs. Blogging helps too (more on that in another episode).

.

.

Running a hotel without a plan? That’s like sailing without a rudder.
Romantic…
Until the storm hits.

Get the “Your Independent Hotel Blueprint”. Seven proven steps to calm the chaos.

Download it now—before the next wave hits.

You can find a link in the show notes.

.

What’s the one thing that made you book the last hotel you stayed at? Was it the photos? The price? The vibe?

Let me know in the comments.

.

Here Are Your 5 Takeaways

In Conclusion

Your hotel website is your biggest digital asset. Done right, it doesn’t just sit there—it sells, every day, every night, while you’re out meeting guests or finally taking that day off.

.

Get this right, and you’ll see fewer OTA commissions, more direct bookings, and guests arriving already in love with your brand.

.

Want a deeper dive? This is just one sliver of what we cover in “The Hotel Owner’s Roadmap: 90 Days to More Bookings, More Time, and Less Stress” course. That’s where the real transformation happens—without the fluff, with loads of real-world tools.

.

And hey, if your website is still rocking a “Coming Soon” banner from 2020—subscribe now so you never miss another tip. Next week, we’re diving into email marketing that actually gets opened (no spammy vibes allowed).

Till then, here’s hoping your “Book Now” button gets a proper workout this week.

Cheers to more bookings and fewer browser bounces!