Listing and managing your directory entry
Joining The Self Catering Guide directory only takes a few minutes to complete. The steps you will go through are as follows:
Setting up your account
Either select the 'submit listing' button in the menu or click on the relevant submit button on the 'membership comparison' page
Complete the form to set up your own user account and submit
With in a few minutes we will e-mail you your user name and password. This e-mail will also contain a link that you should click to make your account live
Submit your listing
Login using your user name and password. There are login buttons on the menu and in the top right hand corner.
Click on add listing.
Select the type of membership you would like
In the category field please select whether your accommodation is a cottage, farmhouse or an apartment. Further categories can be added later.
Complete the rest of the form including the security code (this is case sensitive) and acknowledging the Terms and Conditions. Then submit.
You will then be given the payment options. You can pay via PayPal (the World's leading online payment specialists) which accepts all major debit and credit cards. Alternatively you can pay by cheque. Complete the payment details and submit.
Once your payment has cleared and we have approved your listing (normally within 24 hours) your listing will be put live in the directory.
Adding additional categories
Your first category selection is for cottage/farm/apartment and this is set up when first submitting a listing.
Your second category will be the location. As this may require adding a town/city we will do this for you when approving your listing.
To add additional categories, when logged in, click on view/edit listing
Click on edit categories and add as many as your membership allows making sure, of course, you have the facilities you are adding!
Updating your listing
To update your listing login to your account.
Click on view/edit listing.
Click on edit listing, make amends and submit.
Any problems?
If you experience any problems or difficulties please contact us at info@helpmeinsure.co.uk.
Below we have tried to answer your questions about The Self Catering Guide.
Who uses The Self Catering Guide?
The Self Catering Guide is a directory website which helps its users find the right self catering accommodation for them. The directory is not only a list of accommodation from cottages, farms and apartments but also aims to provide details of the accommodation and pictures to enable them to make a fair comparison and make the best decidion for them.
How do visitors find The Self Catering Guide?
This site will benefit from strong links from our other tourism related website which ensures growing traffic volumes and good search engine positioning.
The Self Catering Guide does not expect, and does not try, to be top of the search engines as this can be expensive and hard to achieve. However, The Self Catering Guide website is designed to be search engine friendly and content rich so that it will achieve good search engine rankings that will attract a regular and growing number of visitors.
How will I benefit as a member - business leads AND search engine ranking
The Self Catering Guide members benefit from business leads generated from the visitors to the site. These leads may be in phone calls/visits direct to members offices and/or click throughs to your own website.
As The Self Catering Guide becomes a well ranked website on the major search engines, links from The Self Catering Guide to your own website will be beneficial to your websites search engine ranking.
Does it work?
In a word, YES. Beach Hut Studio has successfully developed and continues to maintain a number of directory based websites including The Bed and Breakfast Guide and The Quality Hotel Guide. We are pleased to say that members of our directories do receive regular business from our websites and continue to renew with us on a regular basis.
How do I get high visibility on The Self Catering Guide?
As an Advanced Member of The Self Catering Guide you will have the highest visibility on the site as you are able to appear in as many categories as you would like. The more categories you appear in, as long as they are facilities you have, the greater the opportunity for the accommodation to be seen by our visitors.
What are the categories?
This is the way we categorise your accommodation on our site from the more obvious cottage, farmhouse or apartment to whether you have a disabled accessibility, an open fire or a swimming pool. Obviously the more of these features you have and register on the site the more searches your accommodation will appear in.
I would like other categories added to the directory
No problem, simply e-mail us at info@theselfcateringguide.co.uk and let us know what categories you would like to see on our directory and we will consider adding them.
Can I have a link to my website?
Yes, as an Advanced or Basic Member you can have a direct link from your entry to your website.
Why are there different levels of membership?
We have 4 levels of membership for owners which provide differing levels of visibility to potential customers. Advanced Membership provides the best chance of being seen by our visitors as this allows you to register in all the categories, include up to 8 pictures and links to your website. A free membership allows a simple listing and appearance in just one category with no web link.
What helps sales conversion on the website?
A picture says ore about your accommodation than anything else. So the most successful owners on this site take full advantage of up to 8 pictures as an Advanced member and the longer descriptions about the facilities.
Why do I have to pay for membership?
The Self Catering Guide is a directory website that generates business leads for its members. The membership fees help to support the development of the site and enable further development of it.
6 months Free if you join now as a Basic or Advanced member
To thank you for your support we will extend the normal period of membership from 12 months to 18 months - so 6 months FREE if you sign up now.
How do I join?
Simple, go to the membership screen, select the appropriate level and then register your details. Following payment (if required) you will be e-mailed your login details and then you will be able to set up your listing.
Any other questions?
If you have a question that is not covered here please just e-mail us at info@theselfcateringguide.co.uk.
