Did You Know…?
- 57% of all travel reservations are now made online.
- Over 60% of all mobile phone users will access travel content online in 2017.
By 2020, every business needs to have embraced digital. We need to be connected, mobile enabled and online bookable. We need to be smarter at doing business online, both front and back of house, making the most of efficiency savings through the use of new technologies and innovative business solutions.
Here are some smaller questions and lots of links to help you get you started…
Is your website working for you?Digital Boost Health Check
How good are your digital skills? An easy 10 minute online survey will help you find out where technology could fit into your business and improve your performance, profits and people. Available to everyone.
How: Online survey
Provided by: Business Gateway (funded by Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership (DSBEP), budgets and procurement are owned by Scottish Enterprise).
Digital Review
Free service offered to participants of VisitScotland Quality Assurance Scheme. Following a review of your tourism website and, where possible, your website users, you will be provided with advice about the different tools available and suggestions of areas of change and improvement.
How: One-to-One advice
Provided by: VisitScotland
How to Give Your Tourism Website an MOT
Series of tourism-related videos to help you understand if your website is performing as it should? How are your customers interacting with the site, and how could it improve the performance of your business?Available to everyone.
How: Online
Provided by: Digital Tourism Scotland (partnership of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Business Gateway and Scottish Government)
Understanding the Digital Tourist
Online article and videos to help you make the most of new digital opportunities. Continue exploring the site after you’ve read the article to learn how to provide a personalised and unique experience for your visitors and engage your customers in new ways.
How: Online
Provided by: Digital Tourism Scotland (partnership of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Business Gateway and Scottish Government.
Advice, Case Studies & Webinars to Help You Improve Your Website
A wealth of videos and case studies from local tourism businesses and international experts on a range of topics and relevant to all tourism businesses. Sign up for the latest webinars too.
How: Online
Provided by: Highlands & Islands Enterprise/Digital Tourism Scotland (partnership of Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Business Gateway and Scottish Government.
Introduction to Online Marketing Guide
Marketing your business online doesn’t stop at getting your website up and running. Find out how to target a wide audience at a fraction of the cost of traditional marketingwith this free AdviceLink guide.
How: Online
Provided by: VisitScotland
Free Website Listing on VisitScotland.com
Did you know that you can be listed on VisitScotland.com for free? Click here to find out how to get your listing.
How: Online
Provided by: VisitScotland
Web Booking Engines – Some Questions to Consider
With the majority of accommodation bookings now being made online, can you afford not to have online booking for your business? This link provides some initial questions you should consider when considering which booking engine to purchase.
How: Online
Provided by: VisitScotland
Get up to Speed on Social Media
A wealth of videos and cast studies from local businesses and international experts.
How: Online
Provided by: Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Digital Boost
A Business Gateway programme aimed at improving small and medium enterprises increase their digital skills and knowledge.
How: Online, Workshops & 1-2 Support
Provided by: Business Gateway (funded by Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership (DSBEP), budgets and procurement are owned by Scottish Enterprise).
Digital Tourism Scotland
Range of support specifically aimed at tourism businesses to help you make the most of new digital opportunities. Learn how to use digital technologies to provide a personalised and unique experience for your visitors and engage customers in new ways.
How: Online, Workshops & 1-1 Support
Provided by: Partnership of Scottish, Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Business Gateway and Scottish Government.
How to Get Involved with Spirit of Scotland Campaign
Find out how you can get involved with and make the most of VisitScotland’s current Spirit of Scotland campaign.
How: Online
Provided by: VisitScotland
Tourism & Social Media
Series of videos designed to help you understand more about what you could be doing to market online.
How: Online
Provided by: Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Digitise your Business Processes – online guide
Two guides (entry and intermediate levels) which provide advice how to take advantage of back-office systems to make your business more efficient.
How: Online, Workshops & 1-2 Support
Provided by: Business Gateway (funded by Digital Scotland Business Excellence Partnership (DSBEP), budgets and procurement are owned by Scottish Enterprise).
Digital Tourism Scotland
Range of support specifically aimed at tourism businesses to help you make the most of new digital opportunities. Learn how to use digital technologies to provide a personalised and unique experience for your visitors and engage customers in new ways.
How: Online, Workshops & 1-1 Support
Provided by: Partnership of Scottish, Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland, Skills Development Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Business Gateway and Scottish Government.
Tourism Business Improvement Academy
11-day programme aimed at ambitious and growing businesses that recognise the need for sustainable continuous improvement. It combines tools and techniques to highlight areas where efficiencies can be made and incorporate these with cultural and behavioural change. Available to everyone. There is a charge of £450 + VAT per person.
How: Online, Workshops & 1-1 Support
Provided by: Scottish Enterprise
Professional Specialist Advice from Scottish Tourism Alliance Partners
Sometimes you just need to ask an expert. There is no shortage of professional support available to tourism businesses. The STA relationships with a number of leading tourism specialist companies, many of which offer STA member discounts.
How: One-to-one advice
Provided by: Scottish Tourism Alliance