Why Your Tourism Website Needs to Be Mobile Responsive

Why Your Tourism Website Needs to Be Mobile Responsive

Did you know that mobile devices make up two-thirds of all web usage? With the rapid advancement of smartphone technology, surfing the web on your cell is becoming more and more commonplace than doing so on a desktop. But what does that mean for you and your tourism business? It means that in order to amplify your visibility and to start reaching your clients on the devices they use, it’s imperative your company start shifting more focus onto the quality of your customers’ mobile experience.

For business owners, the goal is to always create an excellent user experience. A first-rate online user experience often leads to lower bounce rates and stronger customer loyalty, while a negative experience can easily turn off otherwise interested customers. Components such as slow loading speed, difficulty navigating or finding information, and unresponsiveness are all factors that are oftentimes neglected when thinking about a site’s mobile experience. Could you unknowingly be turning away potential clients simply because of how your mobile site is built?

Here are 8 reasons why you should invest in making your tourism website more mobile friendly:

1) Google likes mobile friendly content.

As the most popular search engine in the world, Google knows that most people use their smartphones and other mobile devices to look up their day-to-day information, and will prioritize its search results to match the needs of the user. Optimizing your tourism website and formatting your content to be more mobile friendly will improve your SEO, and in turn, may cause your website to rank higher – expanding your visibility and widening your potential audience.

2) A well-built mobile website helps to build trust.

Approximately 57% of online users won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website. Making your tourism website more mobile friendly will help to increase your brand’s credibility with new customers and to further legitimize your brand.

3) It makes it easier than ever for potential customers to contact you.

There are many studies that prove convenience impacts consumer behavior. Today, consumers’ lives are busier than ever. Due to this, 83% of participants in a recent study decided convenience was more important now than it was five years ago when considering which companies to give their business to.

People tend to pursue the option that will save them time and effort, meaning the more convenient it is for customers to contact you, the more likely they are to do it. Why miss out on this simple way to improve your lead generation?

4) It will give you a competitive edge.

It’s easy to put off making your website more mobile friendly, but consider this –
chances are your top competitors have already made their website mobile friendly. And as we just discussed, new customers have a tendency to choose the more convenient option. If it’s easier to book a rental, contact a representative, or find more information on your competitor’s mobile site than it is on your own, you may lose out on that client even if you provide the better service. Don’t give your competitors the advantage – make the wise choice and give your business an equal chance.

5) It may help increase your sales.

With each passing year, more and more consumers are relying on their smartphones to perform everyday tasks, such as communicating, socializing, and, of course, shopping. Did you know about 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device in the last 6 months? You may be missing out on dozens of potential clients everyday solely because it’s difficult to operate your site on the device they’re using.

6) Mobile friendly websites tend to garner more page views per visit and lower bounce rates.

Like with anything else related to your business, an easy and responsive user experience is the ultimate key to a higher conversion rate. If most users are looking you up on their smartphones, it’s a no-brainer to optimize your site to be as accessible as possible for them. Mobile websites that load fast, are easy to navigate, and are legible without needing to zoom in are huge deciding factors in getting a visitor to stay longer on your site and to explore more of its pages.

7) A better mobile experience contributes to customer retention.

It goes without saying that if a customer is satisfied, the higher the chances are they may return or recommend you to others. However, this works both ways – if a customer is unhappy with their experience, it becomes equally likely they’ll never work with you again and may even warn others from working with you too.

Studies show that about 62% of online consumers are unlikely to work with a company again in the future if they had a negative mobile experience. Don’t lose the chance to gain a repeat client, as it’s well known that loyal customers tend to bring in more revenue over the long run than new customers.

8) Mobile devices are typically used to research a service before purchasing.

Did you know that before purchasing from a company, approximately 69% of users (ages 18-39) will research a product or service from their mobile device? This is usually done to compare prices, to contact the company for more information, or to learn more information about a service.

While studies show that most people will complete their purchase on their desktop, they will usually do a mobile search first to help make up their mind – but if your website isn’t mobile friendly, you may lose the opportunity to win them over. How many times have you exited out of a website because it was unresponsive or difficult to use? Don’t miss out on the hundreds of potential customers who visit your website on their mobile device simply because you didn’t invest in a better mobile experience.

What We Can Do to Help

Our professional team of web developers know exactly what your tourism business needs so your customers have a successful mobile experience every time. Here at AAMP Agency, we offer two incredible web building options – both including an optimized, mobile friendly version of your site.

Our AAMPsite Template Website is available for only $750 down, with a $199/mo managed service subscription. Or for more complex sites, our AAMPsite+ Custom Website is available for $2500 down, with a $299/mo managed service subscription – an incredible deal with a great value. We provide everything your tourism business needs to create a strong online presence – from conversion focused designs to on-page search engine optimization. Whether you need 5 pages or 500, we have the skill and experience to create a site you can be proud of that will work great on both desktop and mobile. Start reaching thousands of potential customers on the devices they’re already using – schedule a call with us, and start optimizing your tourism website for mobile today!

Receive a $5000 Tax Credit by Improving Your Tourism Website’s Accessibility

Receive a $5000 Tax Credit by Improving Your Tourism Website’s Accessibility

Why You Should Make Your Tourism Website More Accessible

Did you know that approximately 15% of the world’s population lives with either a visual, auditory, physical, speech, cognitive, or neurological disability? Many websites, possibly even your own, aren’t built with people with disabilities in mind and are oftentimes difficult for these groups to navigate. "When a website is designed and developed with accessibility in mind, it allows all individuals the power to access the site," says Mark Shapiro, President of the Bureau of Internet Accessibility.

So what does this mean for you as a business owner? It means there’s an estimated 1 billion people in the world that your tourism business is potentially missing out on simply because of how your site is built.

What You Can Do to Improve Your Tourism Website’s Accessibility

There are many ways to improve the accessibility of your site, including alt text, heading tags, consistent information structuring, captions, and more, but are you missing anything? Here are a few simple, yet oftentimes overlooked ways to make your website more inclusive:

  • Utilize keyboard shortcuts as much as possible for motor-impaired users.
  • Avoid Flash, and adopt HTTPS.
  • Test your design with screen readers to ensure that your content is easy to navigate when read aloud.
  • Select text colors that are more legible for colorbind or visually impaired users.
  • Avoid strobing/flashing images, as these can trigger seizures in some people.

These are quick fixes you can start implementing into your site any time, but if web building is new to you, reach out to a trusted tourism website development team for help. Our skilled and knowledgeable team here at AAMP Agency can build you a website that’s not only compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but can also passively perform a variety of tasks for your tourism business – including capturing leads, communicating your company’s values, relaying important updates and announcements, and ultimately widening your exposure.

Accessibility and Tax Credits

Better yet, ADA compliant websites are eligible to receive an added perk not many businesses know about. The Bureau of Internet Accessibility states that small businesses may be eligible for up to $5,000 in tax credits simply by increasing the accessibility of their websites as well as making other minor accommodations to persons with disabilities.

According to the IRS, this credit can be subtracted from a business' tax liability. Guidelines for the tax credit assert that all efforts to improve website accessibility are eligible for a 50 percent credit for any expenditures over $250, not to exceed $10,250, for a maximum benefit of $5,000.

You can download the IRS form here.

Next Steps to Take

Reach out to us to learn more about your options, and let us help you build a more accessible website today. Here at AAMP Agency, we offer two incredible website building options. Our AAMPsite Template Website is available for only $750 down, with a $199/mo managed service subscription. Or for more complex sites, our AAMPsite+ Custom Website is available for $2500 down, with a $299/mo managed service subscription – an incredible deal with a great value. We provide everything you’ll need online for your tourism business – from high speed hosting and daily backups to plugin/database updates and malware threat detection. If there’s a vision you have in mind, we can bring it to life.

Don’t miss out on creating a new and improved website that not only works for your current audience, but for everyone – and receive a tax credit for your purchase at the same time. Schedule a call with us, and learn more about improving your site’s accessibility and reaching thousands of new clients today!

9 Must-Haves For Tour Operator Websites

9 Must-Haves For Tour Operator Websites

together now
Photographer: John Schnobrich | Source: Unsplash

Have a website but it’s not ranking well on search engines or leading to online conversions? Don’t have a website at all and you’re still using expensive mailers and billboards to promote your tour? Stop messing around, because now is the time to assess your digital presence and fix what is broken. In the digital age, consumers are looking for a trustworthy website before completing a purchase. What does your website say about your tourism business? Here are the top 9 Must-Haves For Tour Operator Websites!


1) Clear & Fixed Navigation

One of the most important things you can do for your tourism website is having clear navigation! Make sure that your navigation makes sense, not just to you but your team and anyone with an outside perspective. Before launching your website, ensure that everything in your navigation leads to the appropriate page or content. If a website visitors takes a look at your page and wants to explore further, how can you expect them to if your navigation is confusing or not set up correctly? Chances are, they’ll leave your site and head straight to your competitor.

Another feature that your site should include is a sticky menu! A sticky menu, AKA fixed navigation, is when your navigation bar is locked into place so that it does not disappear when the user scrolls down the page. By having fixed navigation, your website visitors will be able to quickly navigate through your website and find what they want.

Stars & Stripes – Sail USA 11 | San Diego, CA Sailing Charters

2) Easy Booking

Booking with your tourism business needs to be simple! If a visitor wanted to book with your business, but you require them to fill out a contact form and wait to be emailed by you, you are making a HUGE mistake. Booking online should be as easy a 1, 2, 3. One way to accomplish this is by integrating an optimized booking flow with partners such as FareHarbor, XOLA, or PeekPro. While we’re on the topic of easy booking, ensure that your website has prominent booking buttons with an engaging call to action (CTA)! Include “Book Now” buttons on your homepage, and wherever you have a tour or offer.


3) Facebook Pixel & Google Analytics

A Facebook Pixel is a short snippet of code integrated into your website. It collects data that helps you track conversions from Facebook Ads, optimize ads, build targeted audiences, and remarket your tours to website visitors.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that provides information about your website and visitors. More than 56 percent of all websites using Google Analytics, it’s also one of the most popular tools out there for digital marketers — and for good reason. The tool gives you access to tons of information regarding your site’s visitors such as the amount of overall traffic your site gets, where your leads came from, demographic information, and so much more.

By having both, a Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics, integrated into your website, your tourism business will be able to run highly-effective advertisements that will lead to a higher conversion rate!

Photographer: Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk | Source: Unsplash

4) Mobile Responsive Design

Another feature that is an absolute must-have is a mobile responsive design! This is where your site has the capability to shrink or expand to the size of whatever screen it is being viewed on. Not only will this increase your conversions, but search engines appreciate this function and will give your tourism website a better ranking.


5) WOW Factor

You’re in the tourism business – everything about it is a WOW factor! What about your tour or tourism business sets you apart from your competition? What is the most captivating and interesting part of your business? Ensure that your website reflects that by adding photos, videos, and eye-catching designs to captivate your website viewers.

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6) Testimonials

Featuring testimonials on your website helps build brand authenticity with your audience. It helps website viewers get an understanding of what your business is about, how well you treat your customers, and what they will experience if they book with you!

Gone Sailing Charters | Sailing Charters in San Diego, CA

7) Live chat support

We live in an age of instant gratification and access to information at our fingertips! By including live chat support or a chatbot, any customer with a question can quickly get their answers, and they will be more likely to book with your business.

Hoover Dam Scooter Tours | Scooter Tours in Las Vegas, NV

8) Social media integration

Adding your Instagram feed is an easy way to keep your site fresh and to avoid becoming static. By adding an Instagram integration, visitors will be able to see new pictures every time they visit (unless you’re not actively posting). By doing so, you will develop better social proof, increase your brand awareness, and potentially gain more followers.

SinCity Moto | Slingshot Tours & Rentals in Las Vegas, NV

9) Email Capture

If you do not have a section to capture emails, you are missing out on another marketing avenue. Whether you have an email pop-up with an offer, or a simple form at the bottom of your site pages, growing and utilizing your email lists will help with customer engagement, brand awareness, and customer retention. When starting your e-mail marketing campaign, avoid these top 10 mistakes!

Cooks On Main | Specialty Kitchen Store

Our Shameless Plug

When either refreshing your current site or building a new site, there are many factors and “Must Haves” to consider. Using our top 9 must-haves will ensure that your business has a website that is eye-catching, functional, and gets your tourism business more bookings.

At AAMP Agency, tourism website development and design is our specialty! We understand the tourism business because we’re in it with you. We know just what it takes to make highly-effective websites and digital marketing campaigns for businesses in the tourism industry, and just so you know we’re not lying to you – all of the websites featured on this blog were made by yours truly! So whether you have questions about making a website, or simply want to hand the dirty work to someone else, the experts at AAMP Agency are here to help. Start growing your business, contact us today!