Just joined FareHarbor? Get started with this checklist

Welcome to FareHarbor! We’re thrilled to help you grow your business with proven best practices and strategies. As a new client, start by optimizing your Dashboard to ensure your information is accurate, consistent, and conversion-ready.

Next, take steps to improve your website and SEO so potential customers can easily find you online and feel confident booking with you.

Finally, explore the wide range of FareHarbor resources available to help you get the most out of our platform and grow your business. Follow this checklist to set yourself up for success!

Dashboard best practices

In this checklist, you’ll find links to the FareHarbor Help Center — our exclusive library of how-to articles and walkthroughs designed to help you navigate the Dashboard, customize your setup, and maximize every feature.

Set up for clarity and conversion:

• Include tour prices, durations, and age requirements in your item descriptions and headlines. These are the most important details customers look for when deciding to book.
  
• Keep your availabilities open as far in advance as possible to ensure you never miss a potential booking.

Ensure smooth operations and reporting:

• Set up your Refund Reserve so refunds are processed in 1–2 business days instead of 5–7, creating a more positive customer experience.
  
• Use Advanced Reporting to build tailored reports for your team.
  
  • Apply filters, then save them using the Saved Reports feature for easy access.
    
  • Generate a Contacts Report to download a list of past online bookers who have opted in for marketing emails—ideal for targeted campaigns.

Customize your tools:

• Build a custom booking calendar to view only the tours relevant to your daily operations.
  
• Create a custom manifest to ensure your staff sees only the information they need for each tour.

Communicate trust and professionalism:

• Add a Health & Safety Policy to your Dashboard and website. It should appear in your booking process and confirmation emails. Use our Help Center for a customizable policy template.
  
• Enable important email notifications like:
  
  • New bookings
  • Credit card disputes
  • Failed emails
  • Bank account changes
  • Staff assignment alerts

Website and Search Engine Optimization

Your website is one of the most powerful tools for attracting and converting customers. Making a few foundational improvements can boost your visibility in search results and build trust with visitors.

Enhance your visibility:

• Set up or optimize your Google Business Profile to keep your business details accurate and boost local SEO.
  
• Activate Google Things to do so your offerings appear directly in Google search with a booking option.

Improve conversion readiness:

• Avoid common website mistakes and follow FareHarbor’s best practices to create a seamless, high-converting booking experience that doesn’t lose visitors.
  
• DIY SEO — while SEO requires effort and knowledge, taking the time to implement an effective strategy can pay off by boosting your website’s visibility and driving more bookings.

Build trust and protect customer data:

• Secure your website with SSL encryption. This is separate from the FareHarbor Dashboard, which is already encrypted, but equally important for the rest of your website.
  
• Reduce phishing risks by enabling two-step verification, using a strong password, and staying alert to potential scams. 

Track performance and optimize marketing:

• Ensure your Google Analytics 4 (GA4) integration is configured correctly to track online purchases through your booking flow.

FareHarbor resources

FareHarbor offers a rich set of tools, content, and partnerships designed to support your business through every stage of growth. Use these resources to expand your reach, sharpen your skills, and stay ahead of the curve.

Stay informed and inspired:

• Visit Compass  www.fareharbor.com/blog — our blog that points your business in the right direction through educational articles and product updates. Explore by topic:
  

• • Business Essentials

• • Marketing

• • Channel Mix

• • Operations

• • Product

• • Industry

• Join the Official FareHarbor Community, our exclusive Facebook Group of 2.5K+ operators!
  

• Attend an event and discover the ways you can see us in person through:
  
  • Meetups: Connect and grow with operators in your local community.
  • Spark: Free for FareHarbor operators! Join 500+ operators and partners at our annual industry-leading conference.
  • Conferences: Don’t forget to stop by our booth and ask us your burning questions!

Keep learning at your pace:

• Join a live webinar or explore our on-demand library to learn more about powerful Dashboard features, trusted partners, and industry trends.
  
• Need a refresher or onboarding for a new team member? Schedule a live Dashboard re-train.

Leverage our partner network:

• Tap into the FareHarbor Distribution Network (FHDN) to reach new customers. You’re automatically enrolled and can easily partner with other operators to resell each other’s offerings.
  
• Explore our curated list of Software Partners for solutions like:
  
  • Online waivers
  • Review management
  • Email marketing tools
    
• Review our API Connectivity Partners to connect with major OTAs and resellers around the world.

We can’t wait to see you grow

By following these best practices, you’ll be well on your way to running a more efficient, visible, and high-converting operation. Lean on our tools, resources, and community to keep learning, growing, and making the most of everything FareHarbor has to offer. 

You’ve got this — and we’re here to help every step of the way.