Why Recranet delivers a total solution where the website and the Search & Book system are integrated into one platform.
Using an iframe, external link, or popup to integrate a reservation system has significant drawbacks in terms of SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and user experience. Below, we elaborate on the disadvantages:
1. Limited Indexability by Search Engines
- Search engine challenges: Search engines like Google often struggle to properly index content within an iframe. The reservation system’s content is treated as a separate website, meaning it does not contribute to the visibility of your own site.
- External links: These redirect users away from your domain, reducing your site’s value and relevance in the eyes of search engines.
2. Loss of Control Over Content
- Content customization: With an iframe or external link, you cannot modify content or metadata (such as titles and descriptions), leaving you with no control over how these pages appear in search results.
- SEO optimization: You cannot optimize keywords or create strategic landing pages, which are crucial for SEO.
3. Poor User Experience
- Loading times: Iframes and external systems can increase your website’s loading time, a critical SEO factor. Slow sites rank lower in search results.
- Consistency: An iframe or popup often looks different from the rest of the website, potentially confusing users and lowering conversion rates.
- Mobile optimization: Many iframe solutions are poorly optimized for mobile devices, leading to negative experiences for mobile users and lower rankings in mobile search results.
4. Reduced Internal Linking
Internal links are a vital ranking factor. When the reservation system runs through an iframe or external link, it is treated as isolated content. This weakens the internal structure of your website, reducing your SEO signals.
5. Low Reliability and Increased Dependency
- Dependency risks: If the external party experiences technical issues, this can directly impact your website visitors, increasing bounce rates and lowering rankings.
- HTTPS mismatches: If the external link or iframe doesn’t use the same HTTPS certification, it can affect the reliability and security of your site, harming both SEO and user trust.
6. No Analytical Control
You cannot perform in-depth analyses with tools like Google Analytics to understand user behavior within the iframe. This makes it harder to measure the effectiveness of your marketing and SEO efforts.
7. Reduced Domain Authority
By sending users to an external domain or using iframe content, you do not build authority for your domain. This makes it harder to rank higher in search engines.
8. Pros and Cons of a Search & Book API Integration
When using a reservation system, you might consider developing a custom Search & Book solution through the system’s API by a third party. This has several advantages:
- You retain full control over the content.
- It enhances usability.
- It significantly improves your SEO performance.
However, there are also downsides. A major disadvantage is that the third party responsible for developing the custom solution must implement any new updates, meaning they will always lag behind improvements made to the reservation software.
At Recranet, we continuously work to improve our reservation software, Recranet Booking. Any improvements that affect the Search & Book functionality are implemented immediately. With a custom solution developed by a third party, updates need to be developed separately, leading to delays.
Additionally, at Recranet, you do not pay extra for updates to the Search & Book functionality. In contrast, hiring a third party typically involves significant costs and time investments.
Conclusie
Het gebruik van een iframe, externe link of popup voor een reserveringssysteem heeft grote nadelen voor SEO, gebruikerservaring, en controle over content. Met een volledig geïntegreerd systeem zoals Recranet Booking verbeter je vindbaarheid, gebruiksvriendelijkheid en behoud je controle zonder extra kosten voor doorontwikkelingen. Dit maakt het een efficiënte en toekomstbestendige keuze.