Business Website Advice

Being easy to navigate always earns my applause. Travelbug floats my boat when it comes to homepage navigation.  The two big needs of accommodation directories are satisfied immediately: location and availability.

The designers show they know about usability. Should do, Travelbug is the new venture into accommodation directory business from the folks at TradeMe.

I was so happy when I first laid eyes on that beautiful map of New Zealand smack dab in the middle of the homepage.  

Travelbug visitors get a map and an availability checker from the getgo.

Whew, I was relieved that at least this accommodation directory got it right.  Too many travel directories just provide a list of towns. No good.  Even native New Zealanders may not know their geography, surely overseas travelers don’t. 

Using a map based navigation framework the site designers recognise this is how most accommodation seekers want their information served up, by location first, then by a specific place within that geographical area. From there users drill down into the depths of the site.

If these are new concepts for you, read my other Sticky Websites articles or specifically on maps and navigation.

How people search for accommodation.  Most travelers know what region they are going to first and foremost.  The second largest group search for something to do in an area and then look for accommodation around the activity. 

We don’t just say let’s go to a bed and breakfast somewhere. We say, let’s go to central Otago and perhaps we can find a B and B to stay in.  Or, let’s go snowboarding, thus we need snow country.

It’s smart customer service, wise usability practice to enable EASY access to the information the users want and need to solve their problem: where can I stay in xville.

BTW to my accommodation provider readers. Travelbug is competing well against the other travel directories so since it is free to list, get on it.  The main consideration is the commission fee etc. Check it out.

User needs are satisfied.  Thus my applause goes to Travelbug designers who have kept their customers’ needs in mind when designing the navigation. Well done.

I tend to agree with NZ internet commentator Tony Hughes when he blogged “In my opinion (Travelbug will) dominate the accommodation booking scene in New Zealand, and relegate every other site into minority status.”

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