Facebook bookings?

[Kitty thomas]

Evening all. I've become a member of dog friendly holiday page on fb and in ten days it has brought me two paid in full bookings already. However, the downside is loads of enquiries for just those two definite ones. I seem to have spent hours replying to peoples questions which are all answered on my own website. So my questions are - does anyone find they get much success posting on fb pages? Do you generally get loads of enquiries for a small quantity of bookings? Can anyone recommend any Facebook sites where one can advertise their properties? I've searched but am struggling to find any others. Thanks in advance.

[jenboyle1959]

Hello! Wow, that's great to get two firm bookings already from the page. I have tried to join the Dog Friendly holidays UK, but my status still says pending....
I have my own Facebook page, and like you seem to spend a lot of time fielding " speculative " enquiries, and asking for info that's on my website. I have a stock reply now, where I just politely direct them via a link to my website, point out that availability etc is on there. I think you might be able to actually do a template for this- I've never tried, though...

[kevsboredagain]

Well done with the Facebook bookings as that is a fair achievement in itself. I think you'll find though that no matter where you advertise, 9 out of 10 enquiries come to nothing and many people will ask questions which are either in your advertising or website. They simply fire off the same enquiries to many places and are too lazy to look for answers themselves.

Having a few standard templates for replies will save you a lot of time and then embed your answer into these. It's something yuo get used to but it does become a bit annoying when they start asking you to almost plan an itinerary for them.

I should add, that closely monitoring your website stats is a good indication as to how serious these enquiries actually are.

[SandyBeaches]

I too am on the dog friendly fb page. I have got bookings from it, so it's been a success from that point of view. It is more time/labour intensive than other sources of bookings BUT it's free so I think you have to weigh up the time/cost scenario.

I am definitely more selective about posting/replying on there now. There seem to be a lot of bargain hunters so I think it's a good place to advertise last minute deals.

[kg1]

I too am on the dog friendly fb page. I have got bookings from it, so it's been a success from that point of view. It is more time/labour intensive than other sources of bookings BUT it's free so I think you have to weigh up the time/cost scenario.

I am definitely more selective about posting/replying on there now. There seem to be a lot of bargain hunters so I think it's a good place to advertise last minute deals.

I've not had a booking yet - but then my area is not so popular, although you would think the New Forest would be attractive to dog owners.

The problem for me is that very many of the requests say something like -

"Want dog friendly pub around the corner, want dog friendly beach across the road, want hot tub and I want it cheap"

Many posters seem to think that because it's on FB it going to be cheap.

[Kitty thomas]

Yes I've noticed that about the page. Everything needs to be gold plated but they want it for under a tenner! Tbh I'm thinking of handling all bookings/advertising myself til new year and if it's too much like hard work, I'm going with Sykes!

[greenbarn]

......if it's too much like hard work, I'm going with Sykes!

Oh god, not Sykes..............

[Kitty thomas]

I know I know. Sykes has a bad reputation? However, I have to say they have been way better than two other agents I've thought about employing and met up with. I am forewarned and forearmed as have read lots about them on here. I am giving them an ultimatum re my pricing and if they don't like that then I won't go with them.

[Kitty thomas]

Also, tho Sykes has a bad reputation , who else should I consider? OD is getting a bad rap from you all. I can't see anyone praising an agent on here! Do good ones really exist? Lol

[greenbarn]

Also, tho Sykes has a bad reputation , who else should I consider? OD is getting a bad rap from you all. I can't see anyone praising an agent on here! Do good ones really exist? Lol

There are good agents; they tend to be relatively small and local, such that they know the properties on their books really well and work with the owners. Agents can also be a very good way of easing in to the business before taking the plunge and running it yourself.
It's a big topic!

[kevsboredagain]

Also, tho Sykes has a bad reputation , who else should I consider? OD is getting a bad rap from you all. I can't see anyone praising an agent on here! Do good ones really exist? Lol

My test of Sykes a few weeks ago:
viewtopic.php?t=24484&highlight=sykes

There's a big difference between an agency who handle all your bookings and a listing site. You cannot compare the two and must decide first whether you wish to handle the enquiries and do the marketing yourself or let someone else do that for you. I reckon it's about 2-3 hours per week for one property.

Most of the complaints regarding listing sites are due to the control they try to take away from us, or practices forced upon us. If you use an agency then all of this is of little concern. An agency will simply list your property on some of these listing sites and take the bookings for you.

I recently had some communications with a listing site called Kate and Toms. I don't list there and know absolutely nothing about them but their professionalism, speed of response and helpfulness was first class. If that is anything to go by then I would say it's possible to find some good places to advertise with if you're looking for a personal touch.

[Casscat]

Anyone have any tips for attracting bookings via an individual FB page and not a specialised portal page? I have a page for the finca and have not received even one tentative enquiry. How does one go about making it attractive/visible?

[Nemo]

Just keep adding interesting info, nice pics - anything that might attract more likers. If you can find any groups to share in that really helps!

The best posts are usually completely unrelated to your holiday - a funny picture will quite often generate way more views than anything else. Just do anything (well not quite!) that builds likes and then eventually bookings may follow. It did take me a long time before the bookings started rolling in via faecbook.

[jenboyle1959]

Just keep adding interesting info, nice pics - anything that might attract more likers. If you can find any groups to share in that really helps!

The best posts are usually completely unrelated to your holiday - a funny picture will quite often generate way more views than anything else. Just do anything (well not quite!) that builds likes and then eventually bookings may follow. It did take me a long time before the bookings started rolling in via faecbook.

Agree wholeheartedly. I often take photos when I'm there, and have also shared(with permission obv) photos from other holiday makers/ amateur photographers, who seem delighted to have their photo of Fido enjoying the beach shared on my page
I also post items of interest- new cafes, festivals in nearby towns, etc etc. It can be worth "boosting " a post to get more likes. I've got close to 1,400, and this has taken me a bout two years to build up.

[Casscat]

I just worry that people who have liked my page will get peed off if they have too many new post notifications & unlike me