Well shello there, and welcome to a new perspective on growing your business! In the dynamic world of travel and hospitality, marketing isn't just about selling; it's about embarking on an exciting journey towards success, a journey that can transform your business in ways you've never imagined!
I'm going to spill the tea while we're on this rocky boat about why marketing is important for travel and hotel businesses. I want to provide you with some useful takeaways for your business voyage as you sail into choppy, deep, and even calm waters; it's easy to get caught in the net of trends, tips, and imposter syndrome that it's common to stray from the path you were on initially. I'm always here as your pocket travel marketer to help you stay true to your vision, your mission, and your goals in the world of marketing.
So let's dive into the power of travel marketing, shell we?
Contents
The Power of Travel Marketing
At its core, the most significant benefit of tourism marketing lies in its ability to expand your brand far and wide. It's not just about catching the eye of travellers passing through; it's also about captivating those already in your area, eagerly searching for their next adventure. With travel marketing, you're not limited to those just coming in; you're embracing everyone around, ready to experience what you offer.
The Magical Ingredients of Travel Marketing
Travel marketing is a mosaic of various strategies, each adding its unique colour to your brand's story. Let's snorkel through these magical ingredients that'll help you level up your marketing strategy:
Social Media Marketing
It's about being where the buzz is and engaging with travellers where they spend most of their time online, whether that's Pinterest, Instagram, or TikTok, for example. Focus on who your audience is (personas, age demographics, gender, for example, combined with what you specialise in; for example, luxury travel or sustainable travel). Then, source the platforms where your target audience is "hanging out", are most active, engaging with you the most, and place your time and energy into those specific platforms.
Content Marketing
Spend time outsourcing or creating compelling stories that resonate with your audience's wanderlust through the art of content marketing! You want to create content that sparks wanderlust, provides value, and entertains your community so that they'll want to come back for more, and better yet, get in touch with you to book their next travel adventure with you, shellrific!
Influencer Marketing and Collaborating
Collaborating with influencers, affiliates, partners, or associates is imperative. Influencers and affiliates are marketing tools that can sway the travel decisions of many as a form of referral marketing to a huge crowd in just one post or recommendation. According to a blog by True List, referred customers are proven to be 18% more loyal and have a 16% higher lifetime value rate. This highlights the importance of focusing on client retention and "shoutouts" for travel businesses as well as enhancing your reputation to prospective clients. Now you're talking!
Community Engagement
Community engagement has never been more important for travel businesses. People online want a more human approach; whether that's in the form of customer service, the way we market ourselves, and providing a space where travellers feel heard, valued, and part of your brand's journey. That's why it's important to spend some time engaging with your community - replying to messages, comments on your posts, reaching out, email marketing, these are all great forms of community engagement that'll keep your loyal customers close and connected with you.
Travel Blogs
Ahoy there! Blogs are a treasure trove of insights, tips, and stories that inspire and inform. They help to tell stories, share customer tales, highlight specific travel destinations, provide travel inspiration, and so much more. Travel blogs are not only a great resource for your current and prospective customers, but they're also great for driving organic website traffic! You can see your website traffic soar with on-trend blog topics that help to answer popular FAQs. So blog away or outsource your blog marketing to someone like myself, who'll write blogs to mirror your tone of voice and deliver fashionable travel topics of conversation.
Email Marketing
Oh now you're talking! Email marketing is still one of the direct communications that keeps your audience engaged and excited. In a recent study by SEMRush, 54% of leads were generated through email marketing that included "How To" guides. For example, you could create a "How To" travel blog, tease it in your email marketing, and link it to the full blog post. This is just one example of how email marketing can drive website traffic, boost conversion rates, and maintain customer loyalty. If email marketing is just not your thing, you can outsource this aspect of your marketing or brainstorm ideas with a travel marketer to help you save time and maximise the impact of your email marketing.
I use Flodesk, which is a user-friendly email marketing tool that is perfect if you're looking for a more personalised and trendy tool for your email marketing. Receive 50% off your Flodesk with my discount link here.
TripAdvisor Listing
Now, this is a must-have for credibility and visibility in the travel industry, especially if you're a hotel or leisure business. TripAdvisor has become a go-to resource for travellers around the world, seeking honest reviews and personal experiences before making their choices. By maintaining a strong presence on this platform, you not only enhance your brand's trustworthiness but also gain invaluable insights from customer feedback - just the plane ticket!
It's a platform where your reputation is built and showcased, allowing potential guests to see the real experiences of others and choose your services with confidence. Engaging actively on TripAdvisor, responding to reviews, and updating your listing with the latest information and attractive photos, can significantly boost your appeal to travellers seeking authentic and memorable experiences.
Remember, in the world of travel, a strong TripAdvisor presence can be the difference between being a hidden gem and a renowned destination.
In the realm of travel, marketing is far more than a business necessity; it's the fun, creative outlet that breathes life into your brand. It's about crafting a narrative that resonates, builds connections, and turns every interaction into a step towards success.
As you navigate the vibrant world of travel marketing, remember, that it's not just a journey for your business, but also for every traveller you touch along the way.
If you're looking to take your travel business far and wide, don't hesitate to book a free call with me to explore my travel marketing services. From blogs to social media marketing, I've got your travel world covered.
Here's to your journey towards success 🍹