Roamfree Disabled Property Page – Let’s Make It Better

Here are some suggestions to improve the page that appears when a Roamfree AP link has been disabled.

The disabled AP page has always erked me. It really sucks, and I know I lose user confidence and bookings everytime one of these bad boys pops up.

Current Page In Use

• There is no attempt to “upsell” this situation. It just errors.
• The link to “see more properties” is tiny and useless.
• I think this is some sort of javascript popup? Is this accessible?
• The private branding DOES NOT show underneath.

A Very Quick Upgrade

• Private branding remains intact
• A friendly message explaining what has happened
• A big button which the user can click to see similar properties in that same region
• A link BACK to the referring affiliate website
• An automatic redirection to similar properties in that region in 5 seconds with a feedback indicator

Email Alerts ( Current )

It is important that the affiliate is alerted when a property is disabled. So they can remove the listing. No user wants to see broken links. You are supposed to receive an email alert, I believe this is triggered only once when a user loads this page. That may be wrong, but it doesnt matter. The email alert system is broken. I often ring Roamfree and tell them this, my email alerts work for about 2 days, then they stop forever.

Email Alerts ( Improved )

• Alert the affiliate via email. Optionally alert the affiliate via rss or twitter.
• Make sure the email alerts work.
• Add an option in the control panel to A) send me alerts everytime a user reaches a disabled AP B) send me alerts only the first time a user reaches a disabled AP.

5 Things The Roamfree Affiliate Program Needs To Fix

My ongoing love hate relationship with the Roamfree affiliate program continues.

Here are 5 things they need to fix. These are all items I have discussed with the Affiliate support team several times over the years.

1. Enable AdWords Conversion Tracking: Can I get a “hell yeah”
2. Properties With No Availability: Properties with NO availability, that NEVER ADD availability but are still listed as ready to be sold.
3. Duplicate Properties: The same property that has multiple affiliate links… Which one am I supposed to use?
4. Incompetant Handling Of Disabled Properties: When properties are disabled, a really useless popup error is displayed to the user. NO ALERT is sent to the affiliate. The Email ALERTS DO NOT WORK. They RANDOMLY BREAK.
5. We Hear You, But We Don’t Care: Feedback is never, ever implemented.

In my mind, these are not difficult issues to fix, and they would make my life as a Roamfree affiliate so much easier. I have no doubt that sales would also increase.

Roamfree “The supplier of this accommodation is temporarily off-line, please try again later.”

Recently while checking my affiliate booking pages with Roamfree i’ve seen this error.

This is not the first time.

After calling Roamfree, I was told this error was effective for over 3 days.

Awesome.

Roamfrees Inventory Improving, Apparently.

Roamfree appears to actually be doing something to get it’s declining inventory back on track.

I mentioned last month that Mantra had come back on board, and the recent affiliate newsletter listed a lot of good independent Queensland hotels who have rejoined the program.

Good stuff, keep it up.

Roamfree Affiliate API

Version 1.0 of the Roamfree affiliate API has been released.

The API is essentially a data feed providing you with access to all data held in Roamfree.com. It will allow you to integrate pages into your website rather then relying on the use of ‘links’.

Some of the obvious possibilities are adding “from prices” and basic availability to individual hotel pages, rather then sending the user to the skinned roamfree engine.

While I’m no expert in API programming it is my understanding that using the Roamfree API you could pretty much build a fully custom website and just pull the data from Roamfree. Prices, Availability, Hotel Info, Photos, Map, Features etc.. all could be pulled down and displayed as your own content, with your own design.

Roamfree Affiliate API Login

Testing: http://testapi.roamfree.com/affiliate/1.0/documentation/
Live: http://api.roamfree.com/affiliate/1.0/documentation/

Stella Affiliate Program Reopened

Stella Resorts, Stella Affiliate program has re-opened. Stella Resorts affiliate signup

Stella Affiliates was publicly closed during most of 2008. So time to celebrate, get your hands on some Mantra & Breakfree inventory baby.

Looks like the have instigated a manual ( snail mail ) application process. Tiresome? for sure.

No doubt this is an attempt at quality control, I imagine application screening will be tougher then a regular program. The snail mail application will put off lots of small time spammers and dabblers so it’s probably in their best interest.

Never understood why their affiliate program was closed for most of 2008, I suspect it was about re-asserting control of their online presence in conjunction with the new site launch. Alternatively it could have been technical / development related.

I have just finished the application, so I’ll let you know how that goes.