Villadays.com

OTA = Online Travel Agency, which means those sites that sell the booking and take the payment for you.
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Giddy Goat
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Villadays.com

Post by Giddy Goat »

Anyone else heard from these guys? Their email was sitting in my inbox this morning. I haven't tested it out on Google etc, but there are some criticisms I've just emailed to the people concerned, (Patrick, for a change, not another Ross!) including a typo in his email - 8). I'll list them here to see if you agree or not.

* It is an extremely good-looking site, though the colours come up a little wishy-washy on my Mac.

* I think that after the thumbnail of a property which comes up in a search, there should be more than one photo displayed on the next click, if that is possible. People tend to be a bit lazy sometimes, don't they!

* There was a frequent attempt (on property searches) by the computer to download a file, but the process couldn't complete.

* apart from the news that the first 100 (read couple of thousand?) applicants receive 4 free months of advertising, the information re pricing is deeply buried within a long 'legal' section, which is mentioned in small print at the foot of the home page. One books (and is billed) on a monthly basis. A year's subscription ranges from £153 to £204 approx, exclusive of VAT, and as far as I can see, there is no provision for an owner website link. Expensive! I guess they will argue that you can make a saving by dipping in and out - ie choosing to market at certain times of year and not others.

* I would also want to know something about the company before committing. Only an address is given, again, buried in the legal bumf.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be
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marcus
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Post by marcus »

Never heard of them but had a quick look.

They almost don't exist in google (only one or two pages listed) and have not done any SEO so unless they are spending a lot on marketing nothing much will happen in terms of results

It is a nice looking site however, and could go places I guess - but with only 18 properties showing for France they need to be a free (or very cheap) site for a year or two first I think, then worry about charging the same as the big sites.

And Jane, it doesn't look like they will give me one of my coveted links either.
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

Does look a good site.

Why not tell them about LMH and get them to allow links?

A new listing site owner normally goes quite a way to get listings (buenos dias, Canary)

MountainG
Last edited by Mountain Goat on Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Big Sis..
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Post by Big Sis.. »

Buenos Dias Canary :?: ,


Is this a clue Mountain or something more cryptic...

Can someone please tell me what happened to that thread....you know the one I mean........ :? :wink: pss if its a secret maybe a pm..... :wink:
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Giddy Goat
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Post by Giddy Goat »

I guess it was zapped by the mods Ros. :( Perhaps his last response was unprintable! Silly, arrogant, short-sighted fellow.

Buenos dias Canary! :D
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Big Sis..
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Post by Big Sis.. »

I Know my Spanish isnt great but that is Good Morning, :?

now if it was Goodbye..Hasta Luego Id understand I think :? :wink:

So is mountain saying hes still about
and connected to another website that was mentioned..... :?:
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Giddy Goat
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Post by Giddy Goat »

Ros, CIS (aka Jason) may be blocked from posting one, but can still read our posts I think.

Don't believe my cuz was meaning to suggest a link with dear Jason to this website.
Last edited by Giddy Goat on Sat Sep 30, 2006 9:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Big Sis..
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Post by Big Sis.. »

Thanks Gascony

Is that why you called him silly, arrogant ,short sighted fellow

Trus,True & True again its because you think hes watching us :roll:

Surely not :shock: as he will be to busy living his Millionare lifestyle to worry about minnions like us.
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

And looking after his sprog, much to be admired; imagine, at the tender age of 32....and he's got a job.

Goat
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Giddy Goat
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Post by Giddy Goat »

Incredible MG, just incredible. And all those websites as well.

Moving back for a mo to Villadays - I have had a reply, and here is an extract - I thought he might have been watching us! Hullo Patrick!

" As for google search rank, we are most certainly doing all we can. I've seen the post on laymyhat, mentioning the poor search engine optimisation (SEO). There's a major update in final throws of testing and this including SEO for property adverts. Location searching SEO will follow in a few weeks. Our website has only been live for just under 5 months now. Improving search engine ranking will take time and we will monitor it closely over the next few months with the new SEO update."
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

Really interested in that SEO stuff from Patrick, GG.

I do find it a dilemma - support the bargain deals and suffer the low SEO or.....

go with HR, HL and OD et al and one can be page 1 on the engines in 24-48 hours.

Actually, what's the dilemma?

I've heard this 5-6 months thing for SEO before, and I just don't see why - and therefore willing to be educated.

Now, let's work on the links....over to you, P.

MG
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Post by Hells Bells »

MG, I'm confused enough this evening, now I'm 'talking' to you on two forums/fora at the same time!!! :? I know nothing about SEO, but I seem to be doing OK.
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Mountain Goat
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Post by Mountain Goat »

HelenB
Yes, it is a bit confusing, maybe I ought to change my name. Shall we shift to j2ski next? Or there's some seriously geeky SEO fora....

Is that ref. SEO on your own site, or VillaDays?

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Post by Hells Bells »

My own. Sorry.
J2ski's a bit quiet for me. In Ian's Saturday night bar in the Apres Zone on SnowHeads for me tonight.
:D
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Giddy Goat
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Post by Giddy Goat »

Sounds fun Helen - do they admit snow goaties?
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