Hostels: Optimize your booking button to boost your direct bookings

Use these rules to increase how frequently your booking button is clicked

Josh Ziman
Aug 23, 2017 · 3 min read

Also called the call-to-action button, the booking button takes visitors from their current page to the next step in the booking process. It is the single most important and, if designed correctly, most visible thing on your hostel’s landing page.

Make it big, bright, and actionable.

The best buttons begin with action words: book, select, search, save, get send etc. It’s big and bright so the visitor knows which action you want them to take. It jumps from the page!

Pro-tip: One way to test this on your own website is to stare at your landing page. “Defocus” your eyes the best you can, into a blur. Can you immediately, spot your booking button? If not, then it may be too subtle.

Include a value proposition

Give your visitor a reason to click on that button. Often, they just need that extra push to get them to act according to your preference.

Value propositions should include differentiators — reasons to pick you rather than the alternative. As you know, good value propositions for travelers generally include:

  • Best price available
  • $x discount or y% off
  • Free transportation, drinks or other amenities
  • Earlier checkin, later checkout

And the best value propositions combine multiple or feature unique benefits that are primary interests for your customers.

Tip: Place the value proposition next to the booking button, and reference the value proposition inside the booking button.

Avoid lingo

Try not to use phrases such as “Book Direct”. That’s meaningless to many visitors and will cause confusion. Instead, use the ELI5 technique (explain it like I’m five). Try:

  • For the best price, book on this page; Book · Best Price
  • For discounts, book using our website; Book · 5% Discount
  • Free transportation is only available on this site; Book & Get Free Transfer

Appear in plain site, always

The booking button should be placed in the landing page and all other pages without having to scroll — ideally dead center of the page or in a corner. That’s where visitors expect to find and are most likely to click actionable buttons.

Stick while scrolling

The booking button should be “sticky”. When the user scrolls the button should stick to a particular part of the page — at the header, footer or floating in the corner. If the user has to look for the button (requiring extra movements), then they are less likely to find and click it.

Personal, free help.

If you need help diagnosing your website’s problems, I am right here offering that help for free. and I’ll take a look. Typically I can find a couple glaring issues right away and point you in the right direction. I’m happy to do so.

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Josh Ziman

Written by

Tourism · UX Designer · Solutionist

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