[Hire Boat Descriptions From The Past]

Hi Alan and Jonzo,

 

The information was published on the Google Webmaster Central blog on the 26th February here:

 

http://googlewebmastercentral.blogspot.co.uk/

 

The following is taken from the post:

"Starting April 21, we will be expanding our use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal. This change will affect mobile searches in all languages worldwide and will have a significant impact in our search results. Consequently, users will find it easier to get relevant, high quality search results that are optimized for their devices."

 

I expect Google WILL rank responsive sites above non-responsive in mobile and being as my site is not responsive yet, I am bound to lose out if I am pushed below these sites in the search results. I never meant to imply that those without responsiveness would be blacklisted - sorry!

 

Regards

David

[Hire Boat Descriptions From The Past]

"As far as responsive websites personally, I don’t agree with them and never will. David says he has got 35% coming to his website on a mobile platform - so why do you feel you need to change to accommodate those people and not the much larger 65% who arrive on a computer and who will need to and will need to deal with the changes in look and navigation far more?"

 

Robin, at the moment 100% of my visitors come from either mobile, tablet or PC. If I do not go responsive I will lose up to 35% of them because Google has decided it will not list my site as highly on mobile search and I do not want to lose a third of my audience. The remaining 65% will see very little difference because responsively they will be served the same site (or thereabouts) as they see today.

 

Perhaps I could have been clearer as to what I meant by the patience of the user to sift through the data. Take a look at the detail shown on an average Hoseasons boat description page - many images, berthage make up, features of the boat, customer reviews etc. All of this responsively will appear in one column on a smartphone. So you might not have to swipe to the right to see the rest of the page but you are going to have to scroll down and down and down just to see the details of one boat. Multiply that by all the other boats which might be of interest and it becomes a major undertaking!

 

Regards

David

(I am not an advocate of responsive - it is being forced on me!)

[Hire Boat Descriptions From The Past]

Robin,

 

On the subject of responsive websites, the sort that resize your site to avoid having to swipe to the side to see the rest of the page, you are going to see a lot more of them. Google who every webmaster tugs their forlock to, has decreed that sites which are not responsive will be adversely effect in mobile search results come the 21st April. I have to agree that some sites do not fit nicely onto a smart phone. Who has the patience to look at a long list of features referring to a long list of boats for hire? But since in my case 35% of hits come from them, I am being forced into a rapid redesign with what is a steep learning curve.

 

Regards

David

[new hoseasons logo]

Have to agree with Dan here. The denigration of Hoseasons does seem to be a little undeserved. Take a look at the attached screenshot below which shows how Hoseasons earn their boat booking commissions. It costs around 80p per click to advertise like this on Google which as Andy at Freedom has said, puts the boating holiday concept in front of the consumer. The average success rate is one booking per 100 clicks so you can see it is an expensive exercise. It allows exposure for some of the yards which otherwise would not be seen, like Summercraft, Bridgecraft, Royalls, Alpha, Swancraft Sandersons etc and also adds value for the larger yards like Richardsons and Barnes Brinkcraft.

 

 

 

Regards

David
 

  

[Richardson's 2015 Brochure]

Sorry Geoff and Wendy but that is not right. Hoseasons book all of the following boatyards backed up by their price guarantee that if you find it cheaper direct they will refund the difference - you need to read the conditions on the home page to see what they mean by this. 

 

Alphacraft of Brundall, Barnes Brinkcraft of Wroxham, Bridgecraft of Acle, Brooms of Brundall, Faircraft Loynes in Wroxham, Horizon Craft in Acle, Richardsons of Stalham, Royalls of Wroxham, Sandersons of Reedham, Silverline Marine in Brundall, Summercraft of Wroxham,  and Swancraft of Brundall

 

I was led to believe that the reason why not all of Richardson's boats were in the Hoseasons brochure was down to the boatyard. Perhaps less cost to publish and most people book on-line anyway.

 

Regards

David

[Boatyard Jobs...]

Oh I wish I lived nearer! One of those admin jobs would be great. Dealing with all things boats, welcoming the happy holidaymakers, assisting with queries etc. The smile on my face would be as wide as a mile!  Now what time would I have to leave Leeds each morning to get there for 9am?

 

Regards

David

[What's going on in Broadland public toilets]

I was wondering whether there might be another toilet in Acle town centre and if perhaps the article was referring to that one. Anyway, according to this link:

 

  http://www.broadland.gov.uk/environment/1318.asp#acle

 

there is another public loo in Acle "Located in the centre of Acle beside bus shelter outside pub". Lets hope they are referring to that one as whether your stinkie has a stinkie on board or not, landside facilties are always preferable to me for you know what!

 

Regards

David

[Lord Nelson, any news?]

I was watching the promotional video from Richardsons the other day and an "older" couple on a Broadsman stated they often stay on the boat on an evening drinking their own beers and wines as they find it pleasureable. 

 

I think the pubs need to work on grabbing the attention of the holidaymakers to get them off their boats. I have been visiting the Broads since the 70s and have bemoaned for years the lack of any entertainment in the bars. Some like the Lion at Thurne, the White Horse at Loddon, the White Horse at Upton, Broadshaven in Potter do put live events on whether that be bands, duos or even karaoke and my experience is that it does drag the punters in and keeps them there late. It must be working as these establishments are all hosting again for 2015. 

 

The prospect of a good meal out at a bar is also an attraction but in these cash strapped times it has to be said that the prices charged riverside are out of kilter with what you pay at home. The likes of Wetherspoons, Fare and Square, Sizzler pubs are all doing well because the price point matches peoples pockets at the moment. Compare their prices with the average Broads menu and you can see a disincentive to eat out more often.

 

Regards

David

[new boats for 2015]

Just finished updating the hireboat database for my website and for those that like to know these things, these are the boats which have been added or deleted from the Blakes/Hoseasons stable for 2015. This was at my latest look! Sometimes odd boats get added back in so not guaranteed yet.

 

Deleted boats
Fair Courier

Fair Consort
Fair Commander

Sand Dart
Sandfly
Sand Lark
Sand Martin
Bahama
Distant Horizon 2

Shining Horizon

Glamour Girl
Petite Gem

Swan Raider

Swan Royale

 

Boats Added

Swan Romance
Silver Serenity
Brinks Rhapsody & A

Broom Skipper / Captain / Bolero (all with new boats for 2015)

Fair Chancellor
Blue Gem
Crystal Horizon
Commodore

 

If you want to see what they look like, I have made a quick mock-up page on my site here:

http://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz/New_Norfolk_Broads_Hire_Boats_for_2015.html

 

Regards

David

 

[new boats for 2015]

Silverline have Silver Serenity new for 2015 also Brooms have changed the name of their boat Cadet Coupe to Skipper according to the new Hoseasons brochure.

 

Regards

David

[Hoseasons rebrand]

Agree with Robin that if Hoseasons were to pull out of the Broads, it would be a disaster for all but the largest yards. Search on Google for Norfolk Broads Boat Hire and you will not find, Summercraft, Alpha, Swancraft, Sandersons, Bridgecraft, Silverline, Royalls or even Brooms on the first page. First page on Google makes a huge difference to how many enquiries you get. (Need to qualify that by saying that Google serves up results to you based on your previous searches. You need to type " &pws=0 " after whatever URL shows up in the address box at the top then hit the refresh circular arrow button to get an unbiased search.)

 

I find it interesting also that even with the might of it's own marketing efforts over the years, Richardsons are still a "Hoseasons" client. They must see value in the relationship.

 

Regards

David

[Hoseasons rebrand]

Cannot see why there is no much animosity towards Hoseasons here. They have decided to rebrand their logo to something more "greener" looking which is very much the thing today. (Have to say I cannot see why as the seagull looks OK but I remember that this also replaced the original bluebird a while ago) At the same time they want to look like a company which provides a better standard of acommodation which is what the market is always wanting.

 

In the 70s, the british seaside holiday as we knew it was dealt a massive blow with overseas holidays where you were always offered better value for your money in terms of facilities, standards etc. The economic downturn we experienced over the last few years forced many families to holiday at home - all expecting that same value for money. The companies which provided it are now prospering. The Broads summer school holiday period was a sell out for the first time in a number of years and everyone is reporting that business has been good this year. As Robin has said, it is the luxury boats which seem to sell out first, budget cruisers last. Look at availability for Sandersons throughout next year. They do not seem to get many repeat bookings. Compare that to the "luxury" end of the market. I notice today that both Swancraft and Silverline are investing in new boats for 2015. 

 

There is a place for both ends of the market to prosper and Hoseasons is still embracing them. They are just waiving the "aspiration" flag at prospective customers to catch their eye.

 

Regards

David

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

Hi Alan,

 

Yes, probably, don't know really what is involved.

 

Regards

David

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

I have managed to find a way of pulling individual mileage searches into one overall itinerary for those people who like to plan their journeys around the Broads. The idea is that you can now search for mileage etc details then if acceptable add it to an overall itinerary which you can either store on your computer or print out to take with you.

 

You can find it HERE

 

I have attached a specimen screenprint so you can see how it would look. You would need to register an email address to access it as each trip plan needs to be kept individual so as to stop you seeing someone elses plans. 

 

Would appreciate any comments on any faults or how it might be improved.

 

Regards

David

 

Tripplan specimen.pdf

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

Just a quick update on the site to say that I have added Reedham Bridge (which I somehow missed) and have noted facilities in the moorings sections such as electric hook ups, refuse bins, toilets and shower availability as requested.

Below is a link to a downloads page which has a packing list together with some blank cruising plan/itinerary sheets which I use for each visit. I know not everyone likes to plan their trip but I find them useful so as to ensure I get to all the points I wish to visit in my limited time afloat. The plans are available in word or pdf formats. Also included is a specimen plan.

http://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz/pl ... cruise.asp

Regards

David

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

Hi DonnyGeoff and Alan,

Thanks for the suggestions. Don't know how I missed Reedham railway bridge - it will be added shortly.

Alan, regarding Wayford Bridge - could not help but laugh at my own mistake. Actually, it should have said :

"This bridge has little headroom at high water so submarine should be taken when passing through."

Too late now, I have changed it to "care"

David

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

Hi,

Thanks for the welcome to the forum and also for taking the time to look at my new site: http://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz.

I think the suggestions to detail water points. electric hook-ups, pump-outs and refuse points are good and I will add them to the moorings pages over the next few weeks.

To save time collating can I use the information on Rob Dorlings thread?: http://www.thenorfolkbroads.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=9034&p=109370&hilit=mooring+details#p109362

Regards

David

[New automated Broads Mileage & Time Calculator]

Just wanted to highlight a new website I recently launched aimed at newcomers to the Norfolk Broads which includes an automated distance and time calculator at http://www.norfolkbroadsboathire.biz/distancecalculator.asp

If you give it a try you are presented with the mileage, estimated travel time, the amount of rise and fall at the destination and a couple of lines of cruising advice relevent to that journey which I thought would be of particular use to less experienced cruisers.

Any thoughts on how it could be improved would be useful. I have kept the comments section to two lines as I am hoping, if I can work out how to do it, to add additional from/to sectors which I think would make the basis for an itinerary planner.

Regards

David