The internet is a very powerful marketing medium.   It can appear more complicated than it really is.   With a basic understanding of how the internet works, you will be more able to take advantage of the features which make it different from other marketing tools.

Effective websites have four essential components:

• a good domain name and reliable hosting company; 
• content which is relevant, consistent and comprehensive in terms of images and words, and which is regularly updated; 
• attractive and appropriate design and navigation 
• extensive promotion and good search engine rankings  

Planning the site and its content

• Who is the website aimed at? 
• List all the information you think you need 
• Check out your competition 
• Develop a spider diagram 
• Start writing and collecting images  

Make your customer buy

If you are trying to make people buy, as well as informing them, try to follow the basic process outlined below.

Step 1 – Make an offer or a promise, or tell your reader what you can do for them

Step 2 – Give a little more information about what you can do and the services you offer

Step 3 – Offer some reassurance

Step 4 – Offer more information

Step 5 – Push your customer into action

This is an extract taken from the book, How to be a web-savvy accommodation business