If you run a big hotel, you belong to the amazing hospitality industry. The thing about the industry is that you have to entice people to keep doing business with you. In short, this is the type of business where there are no breaks. Talk about busy days of the year or holidays, hotels have to make sure to have their rooms are full or nearly full. The thing about hotels and restaurants is that they target an international audience. In the past, there was no good way of doing that but things have changed today.
Today, you have good internet that allows you to reach every potential customer in any corner of the world. You could even use the services of a hospitality digital marketing agency and they will also use internet to their advantage. Now, what are those things that you need to do in order to have a successful digital marketing strategy? While this task is for you to research and find the best options, here are some ways to use digital marketing to get traffic coming at any time of the year.
The Right Website
If you look at the websites of the best lodging facilities and hotels you will find out that their websites look awesome. There is something unique about hospitality website (i.e. they look awesome and have a premium feel to them). You will have to maintain the standards and get a website done by a professional company. This website should carry the images and colors of your brand and make the experience of visitors memorable. A big image of the most beautiful area of your hotel in the background of your website would be great. Highlight your best features and make images available too.
Local Approach
A hotel is a type of business that needs a lot of local presence on the internet. A great number of your guests come from local regions and cities nearby. You have to make sure to include some local elements on your website (i.e. put pictures of some local festival that you just celebrated at your hotel). Furthermore, you will have to make yourself available to all the online platforms that list businesses, such as online directories, reviewers, trip advising websites etc. The more locally present you are, the more customers you will get.
Mobile Website
Call it fortunate or unfortunate but you can’t do without a mobile website today. In fact, a mobile website is more important for hospitality businesses than a desktop website. People like to search for hotels on the go on their mobile phones. Furthermore, the conversion rate of local searches performed on mobile phones leaves behind the conversion rate of customers searching on desktop computers by miles. You can even make a mobile application available that allows people to book and reserve their rooms and stays at your hotel easy. Get a mobile friendly website by either having a dedicated mobile website or going for a responsive one.
Social Media
Hospitality industry can use social media like no other industry in the world. A lot of what you do as part of hospitality business has a great effect on people through images. Post images of your pool, spas, transportation facilities, and other luxuries to attract the attention of people. Also post pictures of events and festivals you are holding at your hotel. Interact with people as much as you can through your social networking profiles and you will be loved by them. Always ask for their feedback and do listen and act on the good pieces of advice given.
Offer Discounts And Special Rates
You could make a huge difference with this approach. There are hundreds and thousands of websites on the internet dedicated to getting all the great deals from hotels and transportation companies in one place and offer them to their visitors. Make sure you have some great deals that can be hosted on those websites. Seasonal discounts are great but you have to keep some special discounted rates available for every customer that comes from the particular website that is hosting your hotel’s great deals. This is one of the best ways of keeping your hotel rooms full.
You have to understand the unlimited possibilities that arise with the use of such websites. You could join hands with some transportation and tourism companies and consolidate your services to create all-inclusive packages for your guests. In addition to that, in the peak seasons people are mostly looking for “deals” rather than just looking for good accommodations. In this way, you will be taking advantage of all the traffic that comes on those websites in addition to the visitors who directly land on your website.
Get Reviewed
Restaurants, hotels, tour companies and theme parks are some of the businesses that get huge advantage from online reviews. People often like to see the views of other customers before deciding a hotel to stay. No matter how great your marketing is and how good of a business you are, their choices will be influenced greatly by what online reviewers and customers have to say. Offer great services and get reviewed to build people’s trust in your services. Respond to any customer complaints that you see on the reviewing websites because those responses can greatly improve the image of your business in the eyes of other customers.
Create Content
Content is important for every online business. You can focus on content through SEO – search engine optimization. SEO professionals can help you create useful content not only on your website but other web platforms as well. For example, you could use your blog to provide useful information to your guests coming from other areas. A blog post about “best things to do in XYZ” can help you greatly in getting people’s attention. In a similar way, make content about your luxuries, the attractions in the areas, best things to do in your area etc. available to people so they can get directed to your website eventually.
