Guest interview - Mark Garwell of DoYouTravel.com
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I read about the launch a new travel social networking site, DoYouTravel.com today. I decided to have a look at the site as it’s free for travel businesses to set up a profile with direct links to their site and to upload classified ads. Mark Garwell one of the creators has very quickly taken part in guest interview for the blog.
1 What is the aim of your business?
DoYouTravel’s mission is to provide a useful Internet service that is free to all at the point of delivery for sharing, communicating, educating and promoting the world’s travel related information and media.
2 What prompted you to start your own business?
The need for a website that was focused on travel and embraced both consumers and the travel industry alike. If someone searches DYT we want them to find both information, opinion, media and suppliers related to that search. It will take some time to get all that information but we are not going to rest until we have! :)
3 What has been the hardest aspect of having your own business?
Developing the website, there have been many moments when I’ve thought the website would never be ready for people to use but I think we finally have a good basis to move forward now. I am of the opinion however that a website is never finished as it should be constantly developed and that is something we are planning to do with DoYouTravel. We have a list of 27 improvements on the development board and I’m sure by the end of the week that figure will have gone up further!
4 What is the funniest thing that has happened to you running your own business?
Everyday throws something at you that makes you smile, a good sense of humour is worth it’s weight in gold in this business. Allot of my time is spent with web developers and techies, as many of us less technically gifted people will tell you, it can often be a source of amusement and frustration in equal amounts. I’ve found good web developers are people that not only provide a solution and deliver on time, but are approachable and communicate in a comprehensible manner. Experience has shown me however, that good web developers are not as common as you might expect and definitely worth holding on to once found!
5 Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?
Maybe be a hairdresser! I always liked the idea of that and apparently they have some of the highest rates of job satisfaction! I’m not really sure with regards to DYT, I’m quite happy with the project so far, I wish we could get all of the developments we have planned done but we would need a team of 20 developers to do it, one day maybe we will but until then it’ll be one after the other.
My comments - Thanks very much Mark. I certainly like the idea that DYT is geared towards both the consumer and the travel industry and free to use. I can relate to all the traumas of setting up a website but as our son, a 3rd computing student, is my IT consultant, he’s had 5 years experience in dealing with non-techies like me so knows he has to be very patient and explain everything (repeatedly) in simple terms. If only all techies were like that!
