13.06.11 – I think word might be spreading!

Well, that was quite a weekend! I was in Cork yesterday and we were totally booked out with my coach and Chris was at The Cliffs with a respectable load on her coach so business is picking up slowly and I honestly think it is little more than word is starting to spread about our little business. Whenever we finish a tour we always try to remind everyone to help to promote us by spreading the word if they have enjoyed our tour either by a Tripadvisor review or simply telling someone else and it really seems to be working, I love the fact that people are choosing us despite the fact we don’t make silly claims or spend a fortune on advertising or indeed commissions to booking agents. I have often said this but I believe that the internet has been the greatest “leveler” for small businesses like ourselves, no matter how large a company you are if your product and attitude is not right it seems the truth will out and one unhappy customer can do a world of damage! I also believe that the current practice of some of our larger competitors paying huge commissions on bookings to hotel receptions, hostels etc has a very limited shelf life, we are finding people have much more savvy now and do their own research on review sites and forums and making up their own mind well before the hard sell at reception! So, in conclusion I hope that we can continue to compete and that all our hard and honest work will continue to bring rewards by people taking a more informed choice when it comings to booking tours, I honestly don’t believe any of you to be as stupid as some companies clearly think you are!