How to Build a Direct Booking Website On Your Lunch Break

Today we are going to create a direct booking website on your lunch break.

I created a 19 minute step-by-step video that goes along with this article.

Complete them in any order you choose. The video is at the bottom.

Winning websites are able to say the most with the least amount of words.

Donald Miller from Storybrand says:

Here's what Don is stating:

If it's between putting effort into working with us or leaving, they'd rather leave.

It's not enough to make our website just visually welcoming. The words we use must be super easy to understand as well

Today I'm going to teach you how to do exactly that.

Let’s dive in, shall we?

Step 1: A Website Should Pass The Grunt Test in 3 Seconds

The grunt test was coined by the brilliant mind of Donald Miller and Storybrand.

The grunt test framework is simple. Viewers should be able to understand these three things:

1. What is your business?

2. How will it make my life better?

3. What do I need to do to buy?

In three seconds or less.

How you measure this is also simple. If a caveman were to visit your website, would they be able to understand what your brand can do for them?

Let me give you an example:

Imagine I own a campground with cabins in northern Wisconsin. This is what a good and bad grunt test looks like:

Bad:

1. Extended Serenity

2. Find peace in a busy world.

3. Start now.

Good:

1. A Wooded Stay Near Mountain Bike Trails

2. Enjoy a northern Wisconsin campground right off world class mountain biking trails. Stay in a cabin or tent with your friends.

3. Book now.

Step 2: Combine The Grunt Test With The ARB Formula

Use the ARB formula to answer the grunt test question, "how will it make my life better?"

The ARB Formula:

Attention: Story, statistic, question.

Reason: Context

Benefit: Solution and Summary

This formula will give the reader all the information they need to know about your stay without burning too many mental calories.

This is the content viewers will read to make sure renting from you is the right option.

This is what I wrote for my northern Wisconsin campground.

Step 3: Show Proof

The last element of a great direct booking website is showing that other people took the leap.

This includes user generated content (UGC), testimonials and reviews. Here are some simple proof points to throw on a website:

• Photos that guests took while at your property (UGC).

• The nice things people have said on Airbnb (Testimonials).

• Your rating on Airbnb (Reviews).

People just want to know that others have had a positive experience with you.

Here's what my final make-believe website looks like.

Create a Direct Booking Website Over Your Lunch Break

Create a direct booking website and make it easy for guests to book by:

• Following my 19 minute how-to video at the bottom of today's article.

• Passing the grunt test in 3 seconds or less.

• Giving a guest all the information they need to know using the ARB formula.

• Showing proof that people like you.

Learning how to build a website took me years to learn. It can be complicated. If you have any questions, please ask by going to my survey below.

Watch: How to Build a Direct Booking Website On Your Lunch Break

Have a question about today’s lesson? Ask me here.