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I think I can help you out, because I just took my first-ever trip to Vegas last year, and most of my research on selecting a hotel came from sites like yours!
If I was looking again, here's what I would want:
1. Rank the Hotels -
Not all hotels are created equal, so provide lists of hotels according to price and star rating. When viewing the sidebar menu of hotels, I would like to just roll my mouse over each hotel and see how many stars it has (and maybe "pool" or "no pool")
2. Pictures, pictures, pictures -
For the undecideds out there, images are a must for each hotel. And beyond that, your Home page needs lots of images of vegas to get viewers in the "Vegas mood".
3. User Reviews -
If possible, I really love hearing from others' experiences, good and bad. It'll give you credibility and provide a valuable service.
4. Amenities Comparisons -
It would be great to feature a window on your Home page that allows the User to "Pick Your Perfect Hotel", followed by a series of buttons allowing the User to sort hotel lists by amenities, price, luxury, reviews, etc. (Ex. - "Hotels w/ Pools", "Hotels with A-List Shows", "Hotels with Rooms Under $XXX per night", "Hotels for Kids", etc.)
5. Highlight the Specials Better -
On the pages describing the highlights, make the inclusions look more exciting: Bullet-point them with green check marks, make the dates of availability easy to find, and for Pete's sake - make it look Vegasy! Lots of dice, Elvii, and cocktail imagery.
On the home page, you should also create some categories of deals (so many different customers looking for different types of deals) -
-Romantic/honeymoon packages,
-Family packages,
-Nightlife packages,
-Shopping packages,
-Relaxation packages,
-Business packages,
-Site-seeing packages
etc.
6. Separate your ads from your deals and descriptions-
The identical color and font make them look like they're all bleeding together. So your whole site looks like one big ad. Separation and clarity will help that.
7. Interactive Calendar -
Let guests pick their dates of desired travel to see what will be available. An interactive, clickable calendar will help a lot with that!
8. Organize that sidebar! -
Ok, you're probably already doing that. But you seem to have an idea for featuring specials by categories, but they're all scattered and unorganized. Consolidate them, and either lump them all together on one sidebar menu, or move those options to the main page.
9. Draw some attention -
Feature a "Deal of the Day", or a "Hotel of the Week". Include extra photos, and more detailed descriptions.
OTHER TIPS - When designing the site, pretend your a little old lady. And then a drunk college student. If you can happily, easily navigate the site, while getting yourself excited for a trip to Vegas, then you're on the right track!
Good luck, and may the spirit of Vegas move you to make a site that just hauls people in!
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wdawe
silvos1988
morriss003
gno
Boy, do I love Vegas. The action, the lights, the class and excitement - well, I love it.
I think that your website should reflect what people love about Las Vegas. Think deeply about what you love about Vegas and ask the design firm that you have hired to integrate those themes into the design as they see fit.
I would not add too many new features, Miku. You already have a solid amount of traffic coming to your blog. The redesign and (hopefully) improved posts will be a big change to your regular users. If you do want to add new features... brainstorm and slowly introduce them in additional design revisions a couple of months down the road. It will significantly impact your conversions (revenue) if you change too many things at once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx_3lRGGTm0
0)
Your design is being worked on by a pro. Good Job!
I will omit all of the design and layout recommendations that I have. Really, good on 'ya for realizing that you need a pro designer. Far too many folks think that they can create a great design by themselves. It's an odd thing because if created properly, a good design will pay for itself in no time.
1)
Drop the google advertising. You don't have enough control over it. There are alternatives!
It looks like you're making money (affiliate or other sponsorship) from the reviews and articles that you're writing.
Check this out:
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6121/picture5oyc.png
You can see the article that you have wrote with the white background and the google alternative below in purple.
Google contextual ads are great for blogs and other types of websites but when you're making money this way, Google can have a negative effect on your bottom line. Quite simply, the Google ads that are displayed give people somewhere else to go and something else to do.
2)
Display real ads - even if you have to do it for free.
There are a variety of ad networks that will provide you with ads. However, make sure that you have interesting, creative ads displayed on your site. A good percentage of each page is comprised of ads and as a result, they strongly effect your content. Make sure that you have the most attractive ads displayed even if you have to do them yourself or pay to have them done.
To display ads on your site, look into the (open source free) OpenX ad server: http://www.openx.org/
3)
It looks like you have a good volume, but erratic traffic.
http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/4672/trafficgraph.png
Your drastic ups and downs are likely because you're buying traffic. Review and promo sites like yours need to be very careful with traffic buys. You should have a clearly planned bank of posts and special features that will draw people in and keep them there. Keep a close eye on bounce rate times in your analytics. Your goal with traffic buys really is a steady increasing growth line.
4)
I think that your "Strip Hotel Matcher" is a real competitive advantage. Make sure that developing it into an "application" through improved graphics is included in your redesign.
I think that your promotional wording "which las vegas strip hotel is best for you?" and "Try our new Strip Hotel Matcher" both need to be reworked.
I highly suggest that you read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Powerlines-Brands-Sometimes-Change-History/dp/1576603040/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243562343&sr=1-2
It will help you to develop strong copy for this exact type of thing. Basically, you need a catchier, stronger call to action.
5)
Last, I think that you need to improve your posts.
Your headlines need to be catchier. Check out these 2 articles from Copyblogger:
http://www.copyblogger.com/images/magnetic_headlines.gif
http://www.copyblogger.com/10-sure-fire-headline-formulas-that-work/
http://www.copyblogger.com/headline-swipe-file/
Images are good, video is great.
If you can add your own professional photos of the exact locations and highlights that you mention in your reviews, your posts will be much more compelling. If that can be done with video, you'll be even further ahead.
Links are your friend.
SItes like yours do very well as the "go to" source of information. When I read your articles, I become interested in the location that you're talking about, but before I book... I'm going to search out reviews, photo galleries, testimonials, etc. Can you add those to your posts?
0)
I sincerely hope that this helps you Miku.
Permalink | Report
My dream hotel site would be:
Anyone that allows me to spend has little time as possible choosing my hotel, and prices...
Just a simple, 3 step process:
WHAT HOTEL | HOW LONG | BOOK ONLINE
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
M$10
May 28, 2009 10:23 PM
We need some ideas to help us redesign our Las Vegas hotel deals site.
We are about to undergo a major redesign of our website that offers deals for Las Vegas hotels -
www.VegasHotelSpecial.com We would love to get some ideas on how to redesign it.
We are looking for any useful information about general design, navigation ideas, or anything else that may make the site more useful and user friendly for our visitors.
Best answer will get M$10 Thanks for you help.
(No need to comment on our current ugly design - we realize how bad it is and that's why we are redoing it.)
www.VegasHotelSpecial.com We would love to get some ideas on how to redesign it.
We are looking for any useful information about general design, navigation ideas, or anything else that may make the site more useful and user friendly for our visitors.
Best answer will get M$10 Thanks for you help.
(No need to comment on our current ugly design - we realize how bad it is and that's why we are redoing it.)
RSS
Best Answer Chosen by Asker
| May 28, 2009 11:22 PM |
If I was looking again, here's what I would want:
1. Rank the Hotels -
Not all hotels are created equal, so provide lists of hotels according to price and star rating. When viewing the sidebar menu of hotels, I would like to just roll my mouse over each hotel and see how many stars it has (and maybe "pool" or "no pool")
2. Pictures, pictures, pictures -
For the undecideds out there, images are a must for each hotel. And beyond that, your Home page needs lots of images of vegas to get viewers in the "Vegas mood".
3. User Reviews -
If possible, I really love hearing from others' experiences, good and bad. It'll give you credibility and provide a valuable service.
4. Amenities Comparisons -
It would be great to feature a window on your Home page that allows the User to "Pick Your Perfect Hotel", followed by a series of buttons allowing the User to sort hotel lists by amenities, price, luxury, reviews, etc. (Ex. - "Hotels w/ Pools", "Hotels with A-List Shows", "Hotels with Rooms Under $XXX per night", "Hotels for Kids", etc.)
5. Highlight the Specials Better -
On the pages describing the highlights, make the inclusions look more exciting: Bullet-point them with green check marks, make the dates of availability easy to find, and for Pete's sake - make it look Vegasy! Lots of dice, Elvii, and cocktail imagery.
On the home page, you should also create some categories of deals (so many different customers looking for different types of deals) -
-Romantic/honeymoon packages,
-Family packages,
-Nightlife packages,
-Shopping packages,
-Relaxation packages,
-Business packages,
-Site-seeing packages
etc.
6. Separate your ads from your deals and descriptions-
The identical color and font make them look like they're all bleeding together. So your whole site looks like one big ad. Separation and clarity will help that.
7. Interactive Calendar -
Let guests pick their dates of desired travel to see what will be available. An interactive, clickable calendar will help a lot with that!
8. Organize that sidebar! -
Ok, you're probably already doing that. But you seem to have an idea for featuring specials by categories, but they're all scattered and unorganized. Consolidate them, and either lump them all together on one sidebar menu, or move those options to the main page.
9. Draw some attention -
Feature a "Deal of the Day", or a "Hotel of the Week". Include extra photos, and more detailed descriptions.
OTHER TIPS - When designing the site, pretend your a little old lady. And then a drunk college student. If you can happily, easily navigate the site, while getting yourself excited for a trip to Vegas, then you're on the right track!
Good luck, and may the spirit of Vegas move you to make a site that just hauls people in!
| Asker's Rating: |
• Thanks for the great, thoughtful answer to our question. You have some excellent ideas.
Helpful Answer?
(7)
(0)
Helpful: wdawe, jbennettrv, silvos1988, folkrockfan, csandoval, nadiraziz, easyeboy
Tip gno for this answer
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wdawe
May 29, 2009 12:33 AM
That's certainly a $10 answer.
Tip wdawe for this comment
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silvos1988
May 29, 2009 12:51 AM
Definitely a 10 dollar answer here, well done gno.
Tip silvos1988 for this comment
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morriss003
May 29, 2009 04:12 AM
Great answer. I am going to disagree with one thing, though. I do think that you need an image on the home page, but I would not do more than one. This will keep the loading time very fast. If the image is nice enough, one should do. I do think that the font size on the top line needs to be larger. The other suggestions are excellent.
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gno
May 29, 2009 03:59 PM
Thanks all. @morriss003, I totally agree that multiple images on the main page could be too distracting and busy - depending on the images. One simple thumbnail image would be insufficient too. I think I was imagining more of a "theme" of Vegas (some rolling dice in the corner, feather boa draped over a header, etc.) than multiple individual images.
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Other Answers (2)
May 29, 2009 02:39 AM
It looks like I might be a bit late to this party! 4 helpful votes for gno's quick answer may knock me out of the running for the best answer on this question... but I'll give it anyway. I hope that it's at least helpful, Miku! Boy, do I love Vegas. The action, the lights, the class and excitement - well, I love it.
I think that your website should reflect what people love about Las Vegas. Think deeply about what you love about Vegas and ask the design firm that you have hired to integrate those themes into the design as they see fit.
I would not add too many new features, Miku. You already have a solid amount of traffic coming to your blog. The redesign and (hopefully) improved posts will be a big change to your regular users. If you do want to add new features... brainstorm and slowly introduce them in additional design revisions a couple of months down the road. It will significantly impact your conversions (revenue) if you change too many things at once.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx_3lRGGTm0
0)
Your design is being worked on by a pro. Good Job!
I will omit all of the design and layout recommendations that I have. Really, good on 'ya for realizing that you need a pro designer. Far too many folks think that they can create a great design by themselves. It's an odd thing because if created properly, a good design will pay for itself in no time.
1)
Drop the google advertising. You don't have enough control over it. There are alternatives!
It looks like you're making money (affiliate or other sponsorship) from the reviews and articles that you're writing.
Check this out:
You can see the article that you have wrote with the white background and the google alternative below in purple.
Google contextual ads are great for blogs and other types of websites but when you're making money this way, Google can have a negative effect on your bottom line. Quite simply, the Google ads that are displayed give people somewhere else to go and something else to do.
2)
Display real ads - even if you have to do it for free.
There are a variety of ad networks that will provide you with ads. However, make sure that you have interesting, creative ads displayed on your site. A good percentage of each page is comprised of ads and as a result, they strongly effect your content. Make sure that you have the most attractive ads displayed even if you have to do them yourself or pay to have them done.
To display ads on your site, look into the (open source free) OpenX ad server: http://www.openx.org/
3)
It looks like you have a good volume, but erratic traffic.
Your drastic ups and downs are likely because you're buying traffic. Review and promo sites like yours need to be very careful with traffic buys. You should have a clearly planned bank of posts and special features that will draw people in and keep them there. Keep a close eye on bounce rate times in your analytics. Your goal with traffic buys really is a steady increasing growth line.
4)
I think that your "Strip Hotel Matcher" is a real competitive advantage. Make sure that developing it into an "application" through improved graphics is included in your redesign.
I think that your promotional wording "which las vegas strip hotel is best for you?" and "Try our new Strip Hotel Matcher" both need to be reworked.
I highly suggest that you read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Powerlines-Brands-Sometimes-Change-History/dp/1576603040/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243562343&sr=1-2
It will help you to develop strong copy for this exact type of thing. Basically, you need a catchier, stronger call to action.
5)
Last, I think that you need to improve your posts.
Your headlines need to be catchier. Check out these 2 articles from Copyblogger:
http://www.copyblogger.com/10-sure-fire-headline-formulas-that-work/
http://www.copyblogger.com/headline-swipe-file/
Images are good, video is great.
If you can add your own professional photos of the exact locations and highlights that you mention in your reviews, your posts will be much more compelling. If that can be done with video, you'll be even further ahead.
Links are your friend.
SItes like yours do very well as the "go to" source of information. When I read your articles, I become interested in the location that you're talking about, but before I book... I'm going to search out reviews, photo galleries, testimonials, etc. Can you add those to your posts?
0)
I sincerely hope that this helps you Miku.
Permalink | Report
Reply
May 29, 2009 04:18 PM
I love it when I go to a booking site and it has as little trash as possible. My dream hotel site would be:
Anyone that allows me to spend has little time as possible choosing my hotel, and prices...
Just a simple, 3 step process:
WHAT HOTEL | HOW LONG | BOOK ONLINE
Permalink | Report
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