To make people want to go a particular place, you have to paint them a picture that takes them there.
This is why website design is so important in the travel industry. Hundreds of companies are jostling for position in this sector in the modern day, all attempting to convince customers to fly away on a magical holiday in exchange for a fee. But simply slapping up a few pretty pictures of potential destinations won’t cut it anymore. Web users want a slick, attractive, engaging and informative experience when they visit a travel site, and design can go a long way in ensuring they stick around and end up booking.
There are all kinds of different themes and techniques being used in the travel sector right now, with companies trying to differentiate from one another in an attempt to stand out in a considerably crowded online space. For example, certain travel sites give users the option to “star” and “favorite” specific points of interest or accommodation, allowing them to return to these pages when they visit the URL at a later date instead of having to start from scratch and search for them all over again.
Other sites in the travel sector have utilized video feeds – allowing viewers to temporarily step into another part of the world and see what they have the chance to experience.
Somewhat unsurprisingly, the most common theme of all across the travel industry is consistent implementation of high-quality images. Internet audiences are too used to seeing beautiful pictures to waste their time looking at distorted, grainy imagery – and taking the time to locate some terrific pictures is well worth the long ordeal. Full-screen slideshows are a particularly popular technique. Lastly – and it should go without saying – color is also important. Bleak, cold, dull shades will simply make viewers forget they were even planning a getaway break in the first place.
Strong content and writing is essential in order to sell something to site visitors, but in the travel sector there’s currently a growing need for interactivity and visual appeal. Giving viewers the opportunity to “take a look around” a particular accommodation with a pre-made video is a fine way to get them involved in the site, as is an interactive map of the location being advertised or a click-through gallery showing off images of the location you’re trying to sell.
Vibrancy is vital.
webpage needs to be colorful, playful and engaging – but also not overwhelming or distracting. A site full of spinning icons and sudden bursts of audio will alienate visitors to the point where they scamper away to a competitor instead. Simplicity is key here. Implementing easy-to-use features such as a slider bar for three or four images is a nice way to go, and the navigation bar at the top of the page should only ever have as many as six options to choose from. check seo
A brilliant “About Us” page with images of happy employees accompanied by an exciting brand story is also a popular move in the travel sector nowadays, as is a review/testimony section where quotes, images and videos of customers commenting on their experience with the travel company are featured. Potential clients are comforted by legitimate feedback, and throwing up some of your best reviews can really entice customers who will decide your travel website really is the right one for them when it comes to booking a holiday.
One travel site worthy of consideration is World Escapes. Their Rentals in Rome for Vacation page has all the content a viewer could possibly want, coupled with a few alluring images (not too many as to distract the viewer). Above the description is a stretch of images suggesting particular places of accommodation for visitors, with a glowing Trustpilot review tucked neatly alongside to reassure the viewer they’re going to have a wonderful stay. Above this is a row of five small icons that tell the site visitor everything they need to know about World Escapes – they’re trusted, they’re fast, they’re supportive, they go the extra mile, and they provide convenience. That’s what every travel sector company ought to be.
Every travel website in the modern day needs to create an intriguing sense of place whilst simultaneously remaining easy to use. Some ‘testing the water’ procedures may be required in order to determine what works best for you, but if you keep the words “vibrancy”, “simplicity” and “picturesque” in mind, you won’t go far wrong when it comes to designing your very own travel industry website.