How did Bookster come into existence?

Simon and Robin discuss the history of how Bookster started.

1. Introduction:

2. Bookster’s Origin Story:

3. Early Diversification:

4. Shift to Product Focus:

5. Reacquisition and Growth:

6. Impact of COVID-19:

7. SaaS Explanation:

8. Leadership and Team Dynamics:

9. Global Client Base:

10. Naming Bookster:

• www.booksterhq.com

Robin and Simon talk about Caravan Sitefinder and the four pillars on which Bookster was founded.

The Four Pillars are:

1) Low Barrier to Entry

2) Easy to use

3) High Quality Support

4) Vertical Integration

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.caravansitefinder.co.uk

Simon, Robin and Adam discuss one of Bookster's key pillars - a low barrier to entry.

We discuss how important it is to Bookster to have a low barrier of entry for our clients to get on to Bookster.

This has been a core principle since starting Bookster in 2009 - trying to make it as easy as possible for a holiday rental business to get up and running inside Bookster.

Methods to achieve this include self sign up, monthly contracts, self set up (including payment gateways) and easy to use user interfaces.

Being on hand with high quality support also makes it easier for Bookster clients to get up and running.

The important bits

● [00:00] - Intro to Robin, Adam Aaron our Support Lead and the podcast

● [01:02] - What is Adam's role as a Support Lead?

● [02:50] - Providing a low Barrier to Entry

Key takeaways

● How Adam moved to the Support Team

● What is a Low Barrier to Entry and some examples of these?

● What are disadvantages of having low Barriers of Entry?

● How does Bookster achieve the low Barrier of Entry for its' clients?

● Does a low Barrier to entry create a higher support burden?

● How does this build trust with clients?

● How does the size of the team impact how Bookster runs?

Next Episode

In the next episode will be looking further at how high quality support is at the heart of how Bookster provides its service.

• www.booksterhq.com
• www.booksterhq.com/features/136937-self-sign-up
• Smashing Your Holiday Rental Goals Podcast

High quality support is at the heart of how Bookster provides it's service

• www.booksterhq.com/faqs

Another of Bookster's key pillars - Ease of Use

Reaching out to prospective Bookster clients

• www.booksterhq.com/smashing-your-holiday-rental-goals

There are bad people on the internet. As Bookster is an online application it is exposed to bad people who try to do bad things. Here's our thoughts and how we cope with them.

Welcome back to the Bookster podcast, hosted by Simon from inside the SaaS holiday rental software company Bookster, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

In this insightful episode, we are joined by CEO and Co-founder Robin Morris, as well as Technical Director Colin Guthrie, to delve into the crucial topic of cybersecurity.

As Bookster grows, so do the cybersecurity threats it faces. Learn how the team tackles these challenges, the common types of attacks they encounter, and the strategies they implement to protect their clients and their data.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just curious about the behind-the-scenes workings of a SaaS company, this conversation promises to be both informative and engaging.

The Important Bits:

● [02:00] - Cybersecurity Overview: An introduction to the topic of cybersecurity, its importance, and how it impacts Bookster.

● [04:00] - Cyber Attacks: Colin discusses cyber threats, such as automated tools and phishing attempts, and how these affect both small and large businesses.

● [08:00] - Protective Measures: Strategies implemented by Bookster, such as two-factor authentication, email security measures, and limiting data storage to necessary information only.

● [16:00] - Tools & Services: Stay ahead in the cybersecurity arms race, including static & dynamic analysis tools.

Key Takeaways:

● The growing profile of a company like Bookster increases its visibility to cyber attackers.

● Common cyber threats include automated hacking tools and sophisticated phishing attempts.

● Implementing two-factor authentication and other protective measures is crucial for safeguarding data.

● Limiting stored data to what is necessary reduces risk.

● Continuous monitoring and adapting to new threats are essential in maintaining cybersecurity.

Call to Action: Stay tuned for more episodes as we continue to explore the inner workings and challenges faced by Bookster. Don't forget to follow us for more insightful conversations and tips on navigating the tech landscape.

• https://www.booksterhq.com/smashing-your-holiday-rental-goals

How does Bookster ship software and work on projects? What are some alternative ways to work, and why do we do it like we do?

We explore our ongoing processes, what are the upsides and downsides of working the way we do.

The important bits

● [00:00] - Intro to Colin and the podcast

● [02:55] - What do we mean by Agile?

Key takeaways

● We start with an introduction to Colin, our technical director.

● What do we mean by Agile?

● What is an alternative way of working?

● Why is it important to keep a feedback loop with customers?

● How do we unpick your customers' problems?

● How to meet clients' needs?

● How to manage the different terminology of customers and Bookster

● How to choose what features to kill off, or should they stay forever?

● What is Astro-turfing?

● What are our Agile processes?

● What is technical debt?

• Smashing your goals with holiday rental software