With spring finally here, everyone’s minds are now turning to the next season: summer. And what comes with summer? Vacations! Whether you’re a resort, a travel company, or a business person who’s desperate to get away for a week or two, we’re here to help you plan – or help your guests plan – a perfect vacation online.
And it all has to do with (can you guess?) inbound marketing.
Whether you’re a traveler or a vacation hot hot spot, consider the following:
Great Vacations Begin with Great SEO
We’re all familiar with the terrific deals that companies like Travelocity and Orbitz advertise on a regular basis. Why? Because they know how to work SEO. These companies have grown into travel giants thanks to their smart online marketing campaigns that would target the right keyword phrases entered by antsy destination seekers. Because they knew how to work SEO, they:
- Appeared (and still do appear) at the top of search page results
- Have well crafted PPC campaigns that draw in not only a lot of traffic, but a lot of customers
- Have been able to set up an optimally functioning email marketing campaign
Is your Travel Company of Choice Socially Active?
As social media grows in popularity, people are heading to sites like Twitter and Facebook to get the scoop on their favorite travel companies and check out their deals. This is why any owner of a large resort, hotel, or even a bed and breakfast should make sure that they have a social media account, and that they engage with their customers on their social media accounts.
Believe it or not, this can be a huge selling point for vacationers. If you’re a business with a social media campaign, check out our free eBook on how to do your own “Social Media Tune Up”.
If you’re a traveler, see if a travel company has a blog as well. If they do, subscribe before you book that vacation. This will help you get a good idea of what they’re about and give you other important information such as:
- Answer any questions about the destination that you may not have even thought of yet.
- Allow you to read about other travelers’ firsthand experiences with that particular travel company or at that resort/hotel/BnB/etc.
- You’ll get a general feel of what your experience with this company will be like.
See if they have a YouTube channel, too, and check out any videos that they may have posted. All of these things combined will allow you to get an unbiased take on the company and what you can expect before you set off.
How’s the Content on their Site?
Another great selling point for any travel company is the content that they offer on their site. When most of us go on a trip, we tend to choose somewhere we have never been, or are mostly unfamiliar with. If you, as a website and business owner, have a site for a particular area, why not offer a free eBook on great things to do in the area? That alone can seal the deal and bring a lot more travelers your way.
Check Reviews
Whether you’re a traveler or a business owner of a travel-related company, do a review check. See what people are saying about the company and check on their experience. For travelers, visit travel forums and ask for advice from other travelers who have been to the area or to a particular destination of interest. For companies, ask any unsatisfied reviewers what you could have done to make their experience better.
Go Mobile
Though smartphones and other mobile devices are relatively new, it will make a huge difference for you, as a travel company owner, to offer and optimize your website and other online resources for mobile devices. Think about how great it would be, as a traveler, to be able to download a guide through Venice for your iPad and then follow that as you travel the city by gondola.
As a business owner, think about the added value you are giving to your customer, and how much they appreciate the information you’re providing them. Offering such things will not only win you a customer, but it often guarantees you a repeat customer, too.
Key Takeaways:
When you hear the word “vacation”, chances are you aren’t thinking “inbound marketing”, but inbound marketing now plays a huge role in vacation planning. Whether you’re planning a vacation or are a vacation-related business, take these tips to heart and think about how you can improve your trip or your business with inbound marketing.
Need Help?
If inbound marketing is something you are interested in but are having trouble getting started, contact us today to schedule your free marketing analysis.
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