Why gather the materials before the website
One common reason a website is delayed is missing materials, not missing technology. When the photos, facts and contacts are gathered in advance, the person building the website does not come back to you with questions, and you do not write texts under pressure. This list is arranged so that you can go through it step by step.
Photos
- Show what the guest will really find: the rooms as they are, the entrance, the courtyard, the breakfast, the view, the common areas. A real photo leads to fewer disappointments than a beautiful but misleading one.
- For each room, at least three shots: the general view, the bed, the bathroom. Add a detail or the view from the window.
- Shoot in daylight, with clean surfaces, horizontally, with your phone at its best quality. You do not need filters; keep the original files, not copies from Facebook or from a chat.
- Make sure you have the right to use each photo. Your own are the safest. Photos from stock websites or from someone else's profile are not yours.
- If there are people in a photo, ask for their consent or choose shots without recognisable faces.
Description of the property and of each room
For the property: a short introduction in three or four sentences about who you are, where you are and what is special about you. For each room, write down facts:
- the name of the room type and how many people it sleeps;
- the type and number of beds;
- the area, if you know it;
- amenities: air conditioning, bathroom, balcony, TV, internet;
- what is included and what is not.
Facts are more useful than adjectives. The sentence “Double room for two with its own bathroom and a balcony facing the courtyard” says more than “a cosy and stylish room”.
Services and rules
Breakfast, parking, pets, check-in and check-out time, cot, transfer, a restaurant at the property, payment method, cancellation conditions. Write them down the way you tell the guest on the phone.
Location and how to get there
Exact address, landmarks, distance to the centre, the bus stop or the lift, where to park and how to get there by car and by public transport. Add what is nearby that guests often ask about.
Contacts and working hours
Phone, email, address, when the reception is open and when you reply. Decide which email the enquiries should go to. If you have social media profiles, prepare their addresses.
Prices
You have two honest options: a “from” price for each room type (stating what it depends on) or a policy without numbers, for example “prices depend on the season and the number of nights, write to us for an exact quote”. Both are better than an outdated price. How to present them clearly is described in the guide on rooms and offers.
Frequently asked questions
Write down the ten questions that guests ask most often by phone and in messages. The answers are one or two sentences each. These are also the most useful texts on the website.
Languages
Decide which language the website is in. The main one is Bulgarian. If you accept foreign guests, choose one additional language and, before publishing, have the translation checked by someone who speaks it.
Logo and colours
The logo in the best possible file you have (with a transparent background, if possible), and the brand's main colour. If you do not have a logo, write down the name of the property and say that you do not have one.
Folder and file names
One folder, with subfolders inside: property, room 1, room 2, services, surroundings, logo. Name the files meaningfully, for example dvoyna-staya-1.jpg, not IMG_4821.jpg. Put the texts in one document with headings in the same order.
Who approves
Choose one person who says “this is correct, publish”. When three people approve, the deadline gets longer and the texts diverge.
What does not need to be ready
- You do not need perfect text: the facts are enough, and editing is easy.
- You do not need a professional photographer. It is optional and worth it if you want a stronger first impression, but good phone photos are enough to start.
- Not everything has to be on every page. The website can start with the essentials and be added to later.
How it works with ISKA Website
ISKA Website is offered as an individual quote, depending on the property. When you place a request, you send information about the property: the rooms, the photos, the services and the contacts. The photos and texts are yours and are entered once; after that you make the changes yourself through ISKA. ISKA Website accepts photos in JPG, PNG or WebP format up to 5 MB each (up to 24 photos in the gallery of one room or offer); if a file is larger or is in HEIC format, convert it before uploading. No completion time is promised.