GuideGecko launches online platform

• GuideGecko unveils new website
• Sells online travel guides
• Offers a publishing platform

Singapore - Singapore based start-up GuideGecko has launched its flagship website for travel, lifestyle and entertainment guides - a part online shop and part publishing platform - and is using a range of marketing strategies to promote the new site.

guidegecko.com/ will offer a variety of all major guidebooks as well as unique guides by independent authors unavailable elsewhere. Customers can choose from over 1600 low price guidebooks on 167 countries and 227 cities and regions around the world, with 21 guides on Singapore alone, while Singapore residents enjoy free delivery.

All well known series are available, including DK Eyewitness, Insight Guides and Lonely Planet, along with a large variety of less conventional titles such as Hedonist's Guides and Trailblazer, amongst many others.

Customers can also search the 68 categories from diving to dining, shopping to sightseeing, trekking to travelling with children. All guides are currently in English but guides in other languages will be added in the near future. GuideGecko is also seeking to become the largest worldwide publishing platform for independent guides.

Budding guidebook authors can upload their guides at www.GuideGecko.com/publish. Publishing is free and authors/publishers can offer their guides for download and as printed books. Authors earn 50 to 75% on every sale and all they need to do is write and upload their guide - everything else from secure payment collection to printing and shipping is handled by GuideGecko.

In terms of marketing and advertising the new website, Daniel Quadt, the founder and managing director of GuideGecko, said there will be different strategies for the publishing platform and the online shop.

"For the publishing part, our key focus is on direct marketing. We have already established contacts with travel writers and travel communities/bloggers around the world, and we encourage them to publish their guides. We will also look into social communities such as Facebook and others," Quadt said.

"Marketing for our shopping platform is also worldwide, with an initial focus on Singapore. The first stage for this part will be mainly through online marketing such as Google AdWords and on community outreach through word of mouth with bloggers, forums and social networks.

"We also plan to build up an affiliate system in the future. With respect to offline marketing, we are looking for partners in the travel industry - online and offline travel agencies or airlines."