There used to be a time when nearly everyone who wanted to go on a vacation booked their trip through a travel agent. Nowadays, travelers are more used to planning trips on their own. Since they don’t need an agent showing them options for accommodation, it’s up to hotels and resorts to attract tourists online. Here are some of the best tips you can use to market your resort and attract more tourists to have a busy season every year.
Identify Your Target Audience
Before you start coming up with a marketing strategy, it’s imperative that you first identify your target audience. Know who you’ll be speaking to in your ads and social media posts. Once you determine who your core audience is, use that knowledge to your advantage. If honeymooners love coming to your private island resort, make sure you offer them amenities that they’ll enjoy. Similarly, if your ski resort mostly attracts families, you’ll want to focus on that demographic.
Start a Blog
One of the best ways to market your resort online is to start a blog. Write about the exciting places tourists can visit around the world, as well as some exciting activities they can enjoy there. For instance, if you had a piece on the fantastic game reserves in KZN, you’d want to be specific and mention things like game drives, Big 5 encounters, and the like – things that will draw people in and highlight the unique aspects of that location.
Avoid sounding too promotional in your blog posts. Instead, focus on keeping the readers interested in your content. People who start reading your blog regularly will be more likely to book a room at your resort rather than somewhere else. If you connect with your readers through your content, they’ll start to trust you.
Utilize SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most effective strategies for attracting more visitors online. When people search for something on Google, they usually only check the first few results on the first page. If you’re among the top results for specific keywords, you’ll have more potential customers. You can find a lot of information on how to use SEO to your advantage online. Google even has its handbook designed to help people boost their rankings.
Be Active on Social Media
Today, it’s essential to be active on social media not just for resorts, but for every type of business. Set up profiles on some of the most prominent social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube, to attract as many followers as possible. Know that a lot of people decide to book a vacation at a particular resort only because they’ve seen great things about it on social media. Make your followers want to visit your resort by uploading photos and videos that show how your guests always have a great time when they stay here.
Invite Popular Travel Bloggers
A great way to boost your resort’s image online is to invite famous travel bloggers to visit your place. Offer them a free stay in exchange for a blog about your resort. This will surely increase interest in your resort among an audience you haven’t reached yet.
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