FOR many gîte owners in France a website is a key part of their marketing, but they are often missing a vital ingredient.
Many of the sites I browse have great pictures of the home, the surrounding countryside and views of the villages close by.
But I rarely see any details about the people who own the house and more importantly who I might be paying my hard earned holiday cash to!
A simple About Us page should be available on your site to help interested visitors put a human face to your accommodation.
This should feature a picture of you stood by the house or a prominent feature, a passport style photograph should be avoided at all costs.
You could even change it through the seasons.
Also your accompanying written description should include how long you have been in France and what you enjoy about the country.
Maybe mention your hobbies and past employment, it gives people a reference point.
For example, if you are a keen golfer refer to it – one of your guests may enjoy playing just as much as you.
Your website should be aiming to build a relationship with the viewer because it is unlikely a person will choose your home for a holiday straight away.
They will search around the web and compare different places but your About Us page may be just that something a little different that counts.
If you can put a thought like ‘that couple looked friendly’ in your potential clients mind they are likely to come back to your site.
Then you are more than half way to getting a booking.