Direct answers to the questions operators ask most about digital guidebooks. No fluff, no jargon, just the details you need.
What is a digital guidebook for experiences?
A digital guidebook is a mobile-first, interactive guide that guests open on their phone during a guided experience. There is no app to download. Guests access it through a link or QR code and follow along with stops, maps, photos, and personalized content from their guide.
How does a digital guidebook work?
The operator creates a guidebook with stops, photos, descriptions, and branding. Guests scan a QR code or tap a link to open it in their mobile browser. They enter their email and their guide's code, then follow along through each stop. Tipping, reviews, and feedback are built into the natural flow.
Do guests need to download an app?
No. Digital Guidebooks works entirely in the mobile browser. Guests tap a link or scan a QR code and they are in. No app store, no download, no friction.
How do guests access the guidebook?
Guests scan a QR code provided by the guide or tap a link shared before the experience. They enter their email and name on the access page, then the full guidebook opens in their browser. No login, no password, no account creation.
Can I send the guidebook before the experience starts?
Yes. You can include the guidebook link in your booking confirmation email. Guests can preview the stops, read descriptions, and arrive prepared. The full interactive features activate when they enter their guide's code on the day of the experience.
How does email capture work?
Every guest enters their email address before accessing the guidebook content. That email is stored in your account, segmented by whether the guest is a local or a visitor, and tied to the specific experience and guide. You own the data and can export it anytime.
What is local vs. visitor segmentation?
When guests enter their email, they indicate whether they are a local or a visitor. This gives you two distinct marketing segments from a single data point. Locals receive repeat-visit promotions and seasonal invitations. Visitors receive referral requests and travel-related follow-ups. One field, two strategies.
How does guide tipping work?
Each guide adds their preferred payment links to their profile. When guests view the guidebook, a tip button links directly to the guide's chosen payment method. Guides keep 100% of tips. Digital Guidebooks does not take a cut.
Which tipping apps does Digital Guidebooks support?
Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, QuickPay, PayPal, Apple Cash, and Google Pay. Guides choose whichever platforms they prefer, and guests see only those options.
How do multiple guides use the same guidebook?
Each guide on your team gets a unique code. When a guest enters that code, the guidebook personalizes to show that guide's photo, bio, tip links, and personal recommendations. You maintain one guidebook and it works for your entire team. No duplication needed.
What is a guide code?
A guide code is a unique identifier assigned to each guide, like SARAH123. Guests enter the code when they open the guidebook, and the content personalizes to that specific guide. It connects the guest's experience to the right person for tipping, reviews, and feedback.
Can each guide have personal recommendations?
Yes. Each guide can add their favorite local restaurants, bars, shops, and hidden gems to their profile. When a guest enters that guide's code, these personal recommendations appear in the guidebook alongside the standard stops. It makes every experience feel personal.
How does Digital Guidebooks help get more reviews?
A review page is built directly into the guidebook flow. It appears after the experience content, at the moment of peak engagement. Guests tap their preferred review platform and leave a review while the experience is still fresh. No follow-up email needed.
Which review platforms does it connect to?
Google, TripAdvisor, GetYourGuide, and Yelp. You choose which platforms appear and in what order. Guests tap once and go directly to your review page on the platform of their choice.
Can I collect guest feedback through the guidebook?
Yes. In-guidebook surveys capture guest feedback while they are still engaged. Responses are more detailed and more honest than feedback collected days later. You can customize survey questions on Growth and Scale plans.
How do I build a digital guidebook?
Sign up for a free account, click Create Guidebook, and start adding stops and photos. The editor walks you through each section: cover, welcome, stops, tips, reviews, and more. You can also paste a URL from your existing website and the AI importer will build the guidebook for you automatically.
How long does it take to set up?
Most operators go live in under 30 minutes. Add your stops, upload photos, set your brand colors, and share the link. The AI importer can build a complete guidebook from your existing website in under two minutes.
What is the AI importer?
The AI importer lets you paste the URL of your existing experience page. It automatically pulls in stops, descriptions, and photos to build a complete guidebook. You review and edit everything before publishing. It turns a 30-minute setup into a two-minute setup.
Can I update the guidebook after guests have the link?
Yes. Any changes you make in the editor are live instantly. Guests who already have the link will see the updated content the next time they open it. There is no need to redistribute a new link or QR code.
How much does Digital Guidebooks cost?
Digital Guidebooks offers a free plan with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $79/month when billed annually or $99/month when billed monthly. Each tier increases the number of guidebooks, guide seats, email captures, and media uploads available. Full pricing details are on the pricing page.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes 1 guidebook, 1 guide, 50 contacts per month, and 20 media uploads. It is a full working account, not a limited trial. You can use it as long as you like and upgrade whenever you are ready.
What is a Founding Member?
The Founding Member program is a limited offer for the first 20 operators. It includes Growth-tier access, a price lock forever, early access to new features, quarterly strategy calls, and direct input on the product roadmap. The program costs $2,500 per year. Learn more about Founding Members.
How is Digital Guidebooks different from a PDF or printed handout?
A PDF is static and one-way. You print it, hand it out, and hope guests read it. A digital guidebook is interactive: real-time updates, email capture, guide-specific tipping links, review prompts, guest surveys, and engagement analytics. You can change content instantly, track what guests interact with, and collect data that a printed handout never could.
How is Digital Guidebooks different from TripAdmit or TipDirect?
TripAdmit's TipDirect focuses on digital tipping and review collection, typically presented as a separate step at the end of the experience. Digital Guidebooks is the experience itself: the guidebook guests follow throughout, with tipping, reviews, email capture, and feedback all built in. The core difference is when the engagement happens and how many outcomes it delivers.
What experience operators is Digital Guidebooks built for?
Walking experiences, food experiences, history experiences, pub crawls, adventure experiences, cultural experiences, and any other guided experience where guests carry a phone. If you have a guide leading a group through a series of stops, Digital Guidebooks was built for you.