SpareFoot Inc., provider of an online self-storage finder at SpareFoot.com, has publicly released its new SpareFoot Booking Widget, a free Web application that allows self-storage operators to accept real-time reservations on their own websites and generate more tenants. The widget installs on a self-storage operations website in minutes, and instantly gives operators the ability to accept reservations and convert online visitors into customers.
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SpareFoot estimates more than 95 percent of visitors to a typical self-storage website do not rent a unit, and that a major factor in this low conversion rate is the absence of a simple online reservation mechanism. The booking widget solves this problem, allowing consumers to view unit-by-unit inventory and pricing and make a reservation in three easy steps. The widget also helps operators analyze the effectiveness of different online marketing channels by automatically identifying how each new tenant found their website.
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John Williamson of 1st Choice Storage in Austin, Texas, claimed to have experienced a 500 percent increase in his online conversion rate by using the widget on his website at 1stchoicestorage.net. We had been using the reservation system that came with our inventory-management software, but no one ever reserved a unit with it, Williamson said. The booking widget's simple, intuitive interface offers a much improved user experience and helps us convert more customers on our site.
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The booking widget is completely free to all self-storage operatorsthere are no monthly, setup or per-reservation fees involved. Users of facility-management software by Centershift Inc., Domico, SMD Software and QuikStor Security & Software can display real-time pricing and inventory from their software on the booking widget. Operators using other management software can also use the widget through SpareFoots simple account-management interface.
Founded in 2008, SpareFoot compares itself with Expedia.com, making it possible for self-storage customers to find and compare the best U.S. deal on self-storage via the Web. SpareFoot has 5,000 storage listings nationwide. The company generates revenue from transaction fees paid by those who list their space.
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