Digital marketing is nothing new. In fact, it has been around for more than two decades at this point. However, many people fail to make use of the platform. If you run a hotel, then you need to get with the times and start leveraging digital marketing to your benefit.
Nearly half – 48% to be exact – of modern users will plan and book an entire holiday trip on their mobile device, according to recent PhocesWright research. Moreover, 70% of US travelers continuously use their devices when traveling to search for directions, discounts, and even restaurants near their hotel.
Whether your marketing skills are starting to develop or you don’t have any marketing experience at all, you can still need some assistance. Without further ado, here are four marketing strategies that will put your hotel on the map.
1. Enhance Customer Care Through Social Media
Of course, many people use social media to find products, services, and even book trips. However, consumers mainly use social media to interact with brands and ask serious questions. As a matter of fact, according to a recent Conversocial study, around 54% of users prefer to communicate with brands via social media than over the phone.
This doesn’t mean you should take your phone number off your website and stick to social mead. It means you should make sure that each customer care agent – no matter the channel – has the correct, helpful information. In turn, you will be able to gain their trust and build valuable relationships that will last for years.
2. Attract More Guests with Content Marketing
Most hotel websites still don’t have blogs. But that doesn’t mean that is an effective tactic in the hospitality industry. If you want to ensure your potential customers are familiar with your brand and to establish yourself as an industry expert, you should definitely try hotel blogging as a marketing tactic. Blogging can drive more visitors to your website and bring them away from online travel agencies (OTAs). It’s a wide-known fact that OTAs (online travel agencies) and platforms similar to them take up to 30% commissions on each booking – something that you can avoid if you find a way to drive customers to a direct booking.
The main goal of content marketing is to inform the customers about your business. When it comes to hotels, there are lots of things you can do. For starters, you can keep the guests updated about gatherings, parties, and festivals in the area. This will show the guests you care about them and that you want to make their trip as enjoyable as possible.
3. Give a Virtual Hotel Tour to Your Future Guests
Not having high-quality images of every room on your website is simply unacceptable in 2020. A virtual tour of your hotel allows people to see the facilities without having to visit. Research has proven that when it comes to renting rooms, virtual tours are more effective than an in-depth description.
According to a study conducted by Property Week, a virtual tour can lower your website’s bounce rate significantly and reduce the number of wasted visits by up to 40%. That means a virtual tour will increase to likelihood of a visitor renting a room while visiting your website for the first time.
4. Team Up with an Influencer for More Exposure
Although it only seemed like a trend just a few years ago, it looks like influencer marketing is here to stay. A 2019 survey conducted by the Influencer Marketing Hub discovered that for every $1 spent on the influencer market, a business can make more than $5. The catch here is picking the right influencer for your business.
Companies that don’t understand the mechanics of influencer marketing often hire celebrities to spread their brand message. You just need to find an influencer that has followers in your target market that is interested in spending money on travel.
Final Thoughts: Creating Experiences
Regardless of how much time and money you plan to spend on marketing, keep in mind one thing: you’re doing all of this to enhance the experience of your guests. By making your hotel easy to find and book online, you will help your guests have a more care-free holiday.
Consecutively, they will not only tell their friends and family about your business but also talk about you on their social media platforms as well. In the end, good word of mouth will give you buzz money can’t buy, and you’ll be able to attract more guests than ever.
