The course · for holiday lets, B&Bs and small hotels
Get Found, Get Booked.
Direct bookings, from the people who run the destination guides. Most book-direct courses fix your website. This one also gets guests to it.
One-off payment · self-paced
£197
- Written lessons across three parts
- Templates, checklists and worked examples
- Letting rules for England and Wales, dated and checked
- Bonus: a free Facebook post on The Whitby Guide (worth £150)
- Bonus: the Direct Bookings Audit at half price
Access details emailed straight after payment.
Written by a publisher
I’ve run The Whitby Guide for 17 years. Around a million searches a year show me what visitors look for before they book.
Built for real towns
Examples from Whitby: seasons, events and the local channels that work there.
No subscription
Pay once, keep the lessons, work at your own pace. Updates to the rules section included.
What’s inside
Three parts, in the order that works.
Part 1 · Get found
Start with your guest
Pick the guests who stay longer, pay for value and look after the place, and build everything around them.
Show up in local search
Google Business Profile, local keywords and the searches visitors make months before they book.
Get into the guides
How destination guides, newsletters and local media choose who to feature, and how to be one of them.
Social that sells stays
What to post, when, and how to turn followers into a list you own.
Partners and events
Local businesses, attractions and event calendars that send guests your way.
Part 2 · Get booked
Trust before traffic
Make a stranger confident enough to pay you directly instead of a platform they know.
A website that converts
The basics guests expect, live rates and a booking path that works on a phone.
A reason to book direct
Perks that cost you less than commission, without slashing your rate.
Price on purpose
Seasons, events, minimum stays and filling the quiet months.
Own the guest relationship
Emails, guidebooks and offers that bring guests and their friends back direct.
Make it run without you
Simple systems, automation and guest screening.
Part 3 · The rules
Letting in England and Wales
Registration, visitor levies, letting thresholds and council tax, each dated and checked.
Who it’s for
Good fit
- Holiday let and cottage owners with one to a handful of properties
- B&Bs, guest houses and small hotels
- Owners who get good reviews but give too much to the OTAs
Who it isn’t for
Not a fit
- Anyone looking for a done-for-you service (see advertising or the audit)
- Large portfolios needing a channel manager rollout (see strategy)
Questions
How do I get access?
Straight after payment you get an email with your login details for the lessons.
Does it work outside Whitby?
Yes. The method works anywhere in the UK. The examples come from Whitby because that’s where I’ve published for 17 years.
Is there coaching?
No. The course is self-paced. If you want my eyes on your business, course buyers get the Direct Bookings Audit at half price.
How do I claim the bonus Facebook post?
Email james@first10.co.uk after you buy and I’ll arrange your post on The Whitby Guide.
Refunds?
[Your refund policy]