Our hotel search widget was upgraded today with a “splash” image that loads before the main widget. The splash image explains what the widget does and because it’s just an image loads very quickly. We anticipate these benefits:

  • Increased search volume as the user knows what the widget can do.
  • Faster loading web pages for our partners as the full widget is only when the user actually wants to search.

We have also improved the inner workings of the widget and the way it displays hotel search results. Each hotel is displayed with a thumbnail image and description, map link and guest review score.  The result list can be sorted and filtered down to meet the users exact requirements.

Feedback is welcome on this change – please add a comment below.

 

Widget or White Label Website?

We are considering increasing the width of the widget by between 100 and 400 pixels:

  • A 100 pixel increase will keep the widget as a plugin for individual pages.
  • A 400 pixel increase would take total width to 950 pixels which is the width of a normal web page. The widget wouldn’t really be a widget any moreand would become a full white label hotel comparison site that can be plugged into affiliate sites. 950 pixels would allow for better results display with the search form and filters in a fixed position to the left of the hotel results list. The layout would mirror main website pages like this one.

Would affiliate partners welcome such a change?