As a content and social media marketing expert for travel and hotel businesses, this is something I get asked a lot: ‘What should we be doing to attract more hotel customers?’. Whether you run a boutique B&B by the sea or a chic city hideaway, you want those rooms to be booked and the name of your hotel to be on everyone’s lips. Luckily for you, I’ve got 8 different ways you can start attracting more guests to your hotel right now - shell yeah!
Contents:
Build Your Online Presence
We live in a world where almost everything can be found and booked online, so if you don’t have a strong presence on the web, then you’re almost certainly missing out on sales. Dive into platforms where you get the most engagement or where your target demographic is most likely to be spending time.
Instagram is great for all demographics for hotel and travel content.
TikTok appeals to Gen Z consumers.
Facebook is generally for people aged 35 and older.
Know who you’re talking to and meet them where they are, and make sure to check out the rest of my blog which is full of helpful advice to help you make a splash online!
Get Familiar With Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
That leads me nicely onto SEO, which is what you need to do if you want to be visible to your customers on Google. You’ll need to focus on long-tail phrases that your audience is likely to search for on Google, but before you think, ‘I have no idea what that means!’, I can turtley help you out. An example would be: ‘luxury dog friendly hotels in London’ or ‘family run hotels in Dorset’. Think: What is that thing you’re known for and defined by, and how would people search for that?Â
Part of SEO is also about investing time and money into blogs for your website and building a good FAQ page to answer people’s questions. I did a deep dive into blogging for hotels, which you can find here - it should be plain sailing after reading that.
Have a Content Marketing Plan
Trying to attract more hotel customers online can feel like being stuck in the middle of the ocean with no wind in your sails if you don’t have a plan. You can think about the 5 P’s of hotel marketing to get you started:
✨ Product ✨ Price ✨ Place ✨ People ✨ Promotion
Having a content strategy means you’ll never run out of ideas to post about and can even outsource your content marketing to someone else. It also ensures that your message, tone, and vibe are consistent and your audience knows what to expect from you - a big factor in them deciding whether to book or not!
Use the Power of Social Media Engagement
So, you’ve got the ball rolling with your social media content plan; now what? The next step is to dip your toes into giving something back to that lovely little community you’re building online. Engaging with your people by commenting, liking, and sharing content that resonates with your target audience is key - this could be local cafes, restaurants, and shops, helping to boost your discoverability and connect you with people looking at the same pieces of content.Â
You only need to spend about 10-30 minutes a day doing this to get a wonderful boost in growth and those feel-good vibes! #SharingIsCaring
Need some help with your social media marketing for your hotel? Let me help you attract more hotel customers with my travel marketing services.
Consider Online Advertising Campaigns
Investing in paid ads in the right places and on the right platforms can massively help fast-track your online discoverability. Using them strategically is key to getting the best results, so consulting with a specialist will help you create a campaign to suit your budget and goals and get the most bang for your buck!
Email Marketing
Take a second to think about how many promotional emails you get every day from brands you’ve signed up to…and now think about your favourites, the ones you always open. That’s what you should be aiming for to help attract more hotel customers! Emails are still a very powerful marketing strategy and serve as gentle reminders to your community that you’re still there.
If people subscribe, they do so for a reason. It’s the perfect chance to talk to a warm audience about your offers, news, events, or to give them freebies and special discounts. They want to hear about it!Â
My top tips for email marketing are:
Make them visually appealing and consistent, so it’s instantly recognisable as yours.
Make them accessible. Long paragraphs of text are offputting.
Make them valuable. Ask yourself: Why should they read to the end?
You might find my blog on marketing a hotel at Christmas useful for some ideas on what to include in those email newsletters!
Simplify Your Booking Process
I cannot stress enough how big this one is! Having a simple and easy booking system for your hotel can be the difference between a shell yeah and an ‘absolutely not!’. Just like online shopping, you want it to be as easy as swimming in crystal-clear waters, not like being thrown into a choppy ocean!
There are a variety of great booking systems for hotels of all types and scales, designed to help you simplify the process and present a sleek first impression for your guests. This sets you up for success right from the beginning, as they’re already expecting something wonderful.
Customer Loyalty Programmes
Who doesn’t love a loyalty scheme, especially when it’s for one of your favourite brands!? That little freebie or special offer always makes a day feel like your birthday, and the best part is they don’t have to be big rewards to be meaningful.
You could offer a special birthday discount for those subscribing to your mailing list (don’t forget to ask for their DOB on the sign up form!), or offer a ‘book 10 nights, get 1 free’ treat!Â
Something that shows your appreciation for your customers is always a winner, and it doesn’t need to cost your hotel a lot. It’s also a clever customer retention strategy. Seeing an offer or deal pop up from you might just be the sway they need to stay with you again rather than trying somewhere new.
Say aloha via my contact form if you need some support with attracting more hotel guests. I love working with travel and hotel brands on social media content, Pinterest marketing, TripAdvisor management, and more. Get in touch and let’s get those rooms booked out!
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