Travel, Accessibility and WooCommerce

BobWP:
Hey everyone, welcome back to Do the Woo Show 29. I don’t have my co-host with me today. Brad Williams is over in Ireland, so he’s not nearby and busy. I imagine he’s not doing the Woo; he’s probably doing the pubs, knowing Brad, so he’s off enjoying himself. I’m flying solo as far as the host, but I do have the opportunity to bring in—well, I should say, an interesting new site done by our guest. I want to chat about it around WooCommerce. My guest today is Dale Reardon. How are you doing, Dale?

Dale:
Yeah, very good, thanks, Bob.

BobWP:
Dale has been doing a lot with WooCommerce over time, so why don’t we have you kind of tell us a little bit about what you do, and then we’ll dive into your new project and go from there.

Dale:
Yeah. Our story with WooCommerce started with a membership site of my wife’s, where she offers advice for people moving to Tasmania and sells eBooks and memberships. We built up our skills using WooCommerce on that platform. Then we used it with a community project interlinked with BuddyPress, selling memberships and premium add-on products there. We really like WooCommerce for its flexibility, customization, and various checkout options; it works very well for us.

BobWP:
And I know I’ve had you on my other podcast, where we talked a bit about a few things you had going on. But I think what’s very cool is this perfect timing because you have a new site coming out. You said you’re going to be using WooCommerce, and I’m sure you’re using other things in it. It’s called Travel for All, and I had a chance to look at it. You’re kind of at the phase where you’re getting ready to launch, right? Let’s start with explaining what it is, and I think it will be obvious as you talk about it why you started it, but it’s a fascinating concept.

Dale:
Yeah. I’m actually blind myself and use a guide dog, so I have some accessibility requirements when traveling within Australia. My dog always travels with me, so we need access to grass for toileting, and sometimes electronic gadgets in the rooms for accessibility. While overseas, there were issues. Earlier this year in Paris, we had major problems with an Airbnb booking where the host’s information was not only incorrect but also possibly fraudulent. Missing features they advertised and incorrect accessibility details made us realize the accessibility and inclusive travel problem extends beyond disabled people; it includes anyone with mobility or sensory issues, whether or not they identify as disabled. Travel for All will address this by helping travelers get the information they need to plan their trips and verifying the reliability of this information, whether from the owner or user reviews.

The site we’re building will include various WordPress components. BBPress will offer forums for advice and support, and we’re planning to use the WPGA Directory plugin to build accommodation listings with TripAdvisor-like features. Of course, we’ll be using WooCommerce, as it integrates well with GA Directory for checkout and subscriptions to sell listings, paid reviews, and property inspections. We’ll also be developing some eBooks to sell through Woo.

BobWP:
I find that interesting because when you’re looking at a hotel’s features, what they claim to offer can make or break your experience if it’s inaccurate. I love the idea that you’re looking beyond just “dog-friendly”—your guide dog has needs, like a grass area. Being in a big urban area won’t help if you’re stuck with a sidewalk in front of the hotel.

Dale:
That’s right. We recently stayed at a hotel on the Gold Coast for some startup training with this business, and it’s the only hotel we use there because it has grass terraces right out from the rooms. Most of the Gold Coast is a bit like Vegas—a concrete jungle. For example, the Paris property I mentioned promised air conditioning, but when we arrived, it didn’t have any. That was uncomfortable due to the heat, but for someone with medical needs, it could have been a serious issue.

BobWP:
I wonder, are you finding that inaccurate listings are more common than people think? You had this one experience, but have others added up over time?

Dale:
Yes, we actually have a survey out right now to ensure we’re assessing properties correctly before we launch. People often report hotels making blanket statements like, “We have an accessible room,” or “We have an accessible bathroom.” But accessibility needs are so individualized—things like wheelchair size, or specific mobility needs in bathrooms or bedrooms. We plan to help properties provide far more detailed information, including videos of rooms and precise measurements, so people can determine if it will work for them.

BobWP:
And I noticed on your site that it’s going to be a resource for both travelers and tourism operators, which is two-pronged. Was this part of your initial concept, or did it evolve that way?

Dale:
Yes, that’s actually how it evolved. We initially thought we’d just assess properties and help businesses market better to people with accessibility needs. But through a startup accelerator program, we got the idea to turn it into a full user-review platform, similar to TripAdvisor, catering to both sides of the travel experience.

BobWP:
Now, back to WooCommerce—given your experience using it, are there limitations you’ve found as a store owner, things that didn’t work as expected? Have you had to find alternative solutions for certain features?

Dale:
The main thing we’ve learned with WooCommerce is that it can impact your site’s performance. So we’re setting up our network on a WordPress multisite and running WooCommerce on a subsite to minimize its impact. Also, after our experience with another project, we began using a product you’ve looked at, called WP Fusion, which integrates with CRM systems. It allows for complex marketing automation, like protecting parts of the site and engaging in email transactions. It turns WooCommerce into a very powerful marketing system.

BobWP:
I know you’re hands-on with your site. Are there still parts of WooCommerce that you need help with, or are you mostly able to handle everything?

Dale:
I can handle most things, but sometimes debugging problems can be time-consuming and stressful. We learned with our last project to use a WordPress maintenance company when possible; they handle site maintenance, edits, and help with code snippets, making it much easier to run the site.

BobWP:
As a store owner, what’s still your biggest challenge with WooCommerce? Is it performance or something else?

Dale:
With WooCommerce, you can accomplish almost anything, often with an additional plugin. I wish core WooCommerce included more customization options for transaction emails. Right now, you need plugins to format emails, and relying solely on core means editing templates manually, which isn’t user-friendly.

BobWP:
Since you need accessibility, I’m curious—are you using the new editor? Any thoughts on it?

Dale:
I haven’t seriously started using it, but it had many accessibility issues, though a lot of them have been fixed. Personally, I think WordPress should have dedicated privacy, security, and accessibility teams with the power to overrule releases that compromise these areas. Gutenberg’s a good example; they need to improve its accessibility. Generally, WooCommerce and WordPress work well for accessible site creation, but more interactive customizations and things like calendars can be problematic.

BobWP:
That’s a good point. Moving forward, I wanted to get your thoughts on the Domino’s lawsuit regarding accessibility, where they argued their site wasn’t subject to the ADA. What are your thoughts?

Dale:
Essentially, Domino’s argued the ADA didn’t apply to their website and app because the act was written 25+ years ago, before the modern internet. Thankfully, the Supreme Court dismissed this argument, meaning the ADA protects accessibility online. Domino’s now has to argue in trial court about making their site accessible. The estimated cost was only around $40,000, which seems minimal compared to what they likely spent on litigation.

BobWP:
Yeah, that’s quite a perspective. Improving accessibility benefits everyone, not just those with specific needs.

Dale:
Exactly. Even good design principles can inadvertently create barriers. It’s important to keep accessibility in mind at every stage of design and development.

BobWP:
Thanks for that insight. I’d love to have you back on our other podcast to discuss accessibility further. It’s essential to stay updated on strides and setbacks in this space.

Dale:
Absolutely. Even if plugins and themes are accessible, designers can still make sites inaccessible with customizations. The challenge with Gutenberg, for instance, is ensuring accessibility with the new framework it’s built on.

BobWP:
We’ll wrap up here. Thanks for sharing your site, Travel for All. Where can people find it?

Dale:
Travel for All Guide. The site includes our survey, and you’ll find links to our social media and contact details.

BobWP:
Thanks, Dale! Follow us on Twitter at Do the Woo Podcast, and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Thanks for listening, and join us again to Do the Woo.