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14/04/2008, 17:43 Sunflower Joined on 27/02/2008 Posts 7 Re: Gite Bookings!!  Quillan wrote: The thing I discovered about advertising to the Dutch is that there are quite a few websites but unfortunately they seem to want descriptions etc in Dutch, this can be helpful for the Dutch (or should I say Flemish) speaking Belgium's as well. Fortunately my neighbours are Dutch and I have been able to get them to translate the important parts of my website for me. Tthe Dutch can speak reasonable English (as RH said) and also look on English speaking websites which makes it important to have the Dutch language equivalent of Gites (well self catering to be more exact) as part of your keywords on your website and register with google.nl so they can find you.   I think I might have the solution to your problem about adversing on Dutch/Flemish websites. On this website you can advertise in 3 languages: Dutch, French and English and introduce your listing in your mothertongue. They do the translations in the 2 other languages for you. Brandnew site but very promising! See http://www.frankrijkvakantieverhuur.be/index.php?option_language=english or http://www.rentaholidayhouseinfrance.com    Report

14/04/2008, 23:07 Jo Taylor Joined on 07/03/2005 Posts 190 Re: Gite Bookings!!  Russethouse wrote: And lots of Dutch people speak English (thank goodness !) ...but they're very tall, so watch those low beams!    Report

25/04/2008, 16:06 JJ Joined on 01/01/2005 Charente Maritime Posts 240 Re: Gite Bookings!! I have just looked at the website supplied as a link by Sunflower, I thought I would see how many properties were on the site in my area, so I searched on Poitou Charentes, 2 beds, pool, and guess what, only one property came up on their database, so I would not hold your breath for lots of bookings from Dutch people if they have such a small database. The idea is good with the 3 languages, but there are loads of sites out there all after gite owners money. JJ www.gites.gb.com    Report

26/04/2008, 15:13 Ian Joined on 04/07/2007 Posts 379 Re: Gite Bookings!! JJ seems right - the site has poor traffic rates with Google PR and Alexa.  If they offer a free ad' for 12 months try them out while they build their site.  There are dozens of low-traffic but free-to-advertise-on sites out there. IMHO the best bet is to build your own site using a decent website building package (not a freebie off a magazine/download) that gets its own quality traffic from the search engines.  Get pages translated if you like - pay for it. Then search on Google using the type of words your customers might use e.g. "Gite in the Charente" or "Old Town Nice apartment" etc and see which sites come up (usually the biggies and quality "home-mades") - while you build your own decent site advertise on on the biggie- you'll need to pay - they have a business to run too. Then if you have time on your hands put free ads all over the place on the "new" sites that offer free membership for the first 6/12 months. Holiday and Property Guide for Nice and the Cote d'Azur    Report

04/05/2008, 10:19 Ritchie Cunningham Joined on 04/05/2008 Posts -1 Re: Gite Bookings!! Hi, The succesful gite owners on the whole seem to be aiming at niche markets. The days have long gone where you can let a gite that has old sofas ,old mattresses etc. A good website is essential and a competent team of people working at letting your gite. We went with xxxxxxxxx.com and were fully booked by December last year for this summer.I don't know who most people use but it does seem a bit of a lottery We also chose the classic car enthusiasts as our market for next year and are nearly booked up for next year simply by contacting Dutch,German and Belgium classic car owners clubs It is difficult now cheap flights make other destinations as appealling as France and the growing number of Gites makes it extremely competitive. People also expect nice things around them and if you don't plough back some of your profits into updating your gite then you will not get the personal recommendations that are so important. Look for some good kit for the garden or just keep an eye out for quality stuff at nice shops. If you have a rusty barbecue for guests to use they will not feel valued etc. best Ritchie Cunningham Post edited by the moderators. Please do not advertise your products or services on the message boards. Any advertising without permission will be removed.    Report

04/05/2008, 11:52 Ron Avery Joined on 29/11/2004 Posts 3,107 Re: Gite Bookings!! Apart from being an obvious advert, I thought the points raised on the removed post were very valid.  Can't it be reinstated with the links removed? Why not post a sensible answer, people will appreciate it more    Report

04/05/2008, 12:07 Clair Joined on 23/08/2004 ------- Forum Moderator ------- Lot (46) Posts 6,408 Re: Gite Bookings!!  Ron Avery wrote: Apart from being an obvious advert, I thought the points raised on the removed post were very valid.  Can't it be reinstated with the links removed? Done. Clair, a Real Virtual French Person La vérité est si obscurcie en ce temps et le mensonge si établi, qu'à moins d'aimer la vérité, on ne saurait la reconnaître. (Blaise Pascal)    Report

04/05/2008, 21:57 Ginger Joined on 04/05/2008 Posts 11 Re: Gite Bookings!! Am I just being blonde here?  Sunflower suggested a gite website and the link is still there, Ritchie Cunningham suggested one and it's taken off.  What's the difference?    Report

09/05/2008, 19:03 puppycloud Joined on 09/05/2008 Posts 16 Re: Gite Bookings!! Well don't have a Gite, we av ole int road and pice of tarpollin.  We got neigh on eighteen hundred guests, mostly frompt Yorkshire ant dales.  By ech though our guests are right appy.  I wonder how much the Director of Oxfam is paid... How many wells would that dig?    Report

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France Forum » Owning/Running ... » Gite Owners » Gite Bookings!!

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