Online Booking: Is Your Business Missing Out?

“Book Now” in a Click

I work closely with several different businesses that provide lodging to guests from all around the United States. These are guests who are excited to escape their everyday work life and chill by the lake with a few brews. Who knows where these potential guests are located when they’re shopping for a place to stay?! What we do know is they’re probably sitting on a couch in a pair of sweats with their credit card in hand, ready and willing to compare prices, compare amenities, and click “Book Now” the minute they’ve found their pick.

Going Down the Road

Plain and simple, if you don’t allow online booking, your business is missing out! Let me put it in terms that you’ll understand—do you spend hours or even days filling your shopping cart on Amazon with the perfect summer wardrobe, only to exit out and call to place your order the next morning during business hours? NO WAY! How many guests do you think go down the road because it’s 10:00 at night, and they can’t find a “Book Now” button? At 8:00 am the next day, when you’re back in the office to take their call, they’re at work themselves. Instead, they find a place that they can book and immediately receive an emailed confirmation with driving directions and links to area attractions, dining, and shopping, so they can start planning the rest of their vacation!

Taking Baby Steps

Now that you’re absolutely freaked out, and your wheels are spinning, you’re probably asking yourself, “What will I possibly do without the paper calendar that I’ve been using since Jesus was a baby?” The answer is nothing. Keep using it until you’ve found a great booking engine that will integrate with your current website and know that things are running smoothly. Just take baby steps. Don’t let accepting online reservations scare the pants off of you. Instead, think of this step as moving your business forward, and into 2026, with the goal of more reservations, automated invoices, immediate deposits, less paperwork, and increased efficiency! What are you afraid of?

Need help integrating a booking engine with your website? Just give me a shout at maplewood.carrie@gmail.com to start the conversation!

Talk to you soon!