Hotel Marketing Online in 2012: Every Manager’s New Year’s Resolutions
Posted by Patrick Murphy on Mon, Jan 09, 2012
The competition in the hotel industry has never been as tight. The global debt crisis has most properties in dire need of extra revenue, and most potential customers are too worried about their own finances to shell out on that luxury weekend away. This means that to stay on top, hotels need to start competing at the top level. The best way to do this in 2012 will be by adopting a smart hotel marketing strategy for the web. With that in mind, here are some resolutions we believe are worth adopting in 2012.
Invest in a professional hotel website to compete with the big boys
The hotel website has become the “shop front” of the Internet world. Think about this on personal terms: when planning a trip and looking for a hotel, where do you first look? The hotel’s website is the first port of call for anyone considering a hotel booking. First impressions are important, so make sure that the hotel website is easy to navigate, is aesthetically pleasing, has the required information and includes high quality photographs of the property.
Ensure that SEO is carried out effectively across the website, and that fresh content is added regularly. The best way to do this is by business blogging for the hotel. This blogging activity could include news updates on local events, hotel events, upcoming changes and new facilities.
Invest in video facilities for the hotel website
The photographic tour is a relic of the 2000’s- now videos are mandatory! Videos are a great way to sell the hotel product and it engages the viewer more effectively than any other medium. More people are using their mobiles to surf the Internet and check for room availability, so the video is a great tool for allowing people to view your rooms on the go.
Integrated marketing for hotels is most effective
Use an integrated marketing strategy to bring all marketing efforts together. Managing email marketing, SEO, social media and website activity using just one consultancy firm or one in-house team is the best way to achieve consistency across every platform. By cross promoting across a range of difference channels, participation can be increased and so too can revenue.
With this in mind, get these three resolutions in order this New Year:
- Invest in a professional website
- Invest in video marketing
- Integrate all social media, SEO, email campaigns and content creation
Got questions about an integrated marketing strategy? Contact SiliconCloud today for advice.
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