I would only need to charge a nominal amount per entry to cover costs. Each entry would continue to include an image and summary copy on the ‘Where to Stay’ page, with a link to a more detailed, individual page featuring a comprehensive description of the property, a gallery of images, plus booking and content links. I am suggesting £75 per year for one entry and an additional £25 for a second property.
Suggested rates for entries
Visitors to the website have grown over the years and it has become an important tourist site for Portmahomack (being ranked 1st with Google). The site provides not only ‘where to stay’ content but also helpful guidance regarding events, where to eat, attractions, crafts and things to do in the area. I have also added new sections so that the Community Council, the Carnegie Hall and the annual Port Gala are able to post regular, pertinent news and information. I would like to develop the site further whilst keeping it up-to-date and relevant going forward.
12,000 unique visitors per year with over 6,500 searching for accommodation in the village and close by.
My name is Robert Punter and I have been developing and managing the Portmahomack website over the course of the last 16 years, alongside operating my business from the village. I am, however, now retiring and this means a decision will have to be made about the future of the site.
Although the Community Council, Carnegie Hall Committee and Port Gala Committee have kindly contributed to the hosting charges relating to the site for the last 3 years, I have been covering the rest of the costs (for example, software licences, design software and various other IT services) within my overall business expenses for all this time. In winding down my company, however, this cannot continue and it is too much to incur such charges personally.
This is where you come in.
To date, we have only made a nominal, one-off entry fee to those owners with holiday accommodation in and around the village who wished to promote their property on the site. To be honest the intention was always to charge an annual listing but, shortly after the site went live, Covid and various lockdowns came along, the moment was lost and, because it was feasible, we decided to manage the expenses on our own! Now, though, if the website is to survive and develop, we will need your support.
