Is your hotel losing the popularity it once had? You need to up your branding game with these tried and tested digital marketing strategies.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted businesses globally, but the hospitality industry has taken the heaviest blow. With city-wide lockdowns happening all over the news, no wonder you have been losing customers left and right. You might be hopeless, but as the threat of the pandemic ceases, you can still turn this around. Digital marketing is perfect for your business – here are some ideas to help you get started.
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Make your first impressions count
Every hotel must have a website. If you don’t already, it’s time to build your website. That’s easier said than done because your website must be functional but easy to use, and it’s difficult to strike that balance. And more importantly, your website should leave your audience stunned and interested!
If web development is unfamiliar territory for you, you should hire a specialist for the job. Just make sure that your website’s design and user interface feels relevant to your target audience. For instance, if your hotel is for high-end customers, your website should give off a royal and majestic vibe. If it’s for business executives, keep the design simple but elegant.
Boost your online visibility
Your website is only as good as your traffic; the more people visit your site, the better. Of course, you need more than a stunning website to build traffic.
One way to do this is by optimizing your site for search engines with Search Engine Optimization. SEO involves using the right keywords and phrases in your website’s content so you can rank higher in search engine results pages. As a result, more people will be able to find your site when they search for terms related to your business.
You can also use paid advertising to promote your website and brand. This method gives you quick results, but it can also be quite costly. The key is to find the right balance between paid and organic ways to achieve the best results for your hotel.
Build up some good ol’ word-of-mouth marketing buzz
One of the most effective digital marketing strategies is good old-fashioned word-of-mouth marketing. It’s a free way to promote your business, and it’s also one of the most trusted methods among consumers.
There’s no other way to build word-of-mouth buzz around your brand except by providing top-notch service to your guests. This could be anything from a free upgrade to a complimentary breakfast. Whatever you do, make sure it’s something that will really wow your guests and leave them wanting to come back for more. You can also encourage your guests to leave reviews on your website or social media pages. Positive reviews will increase your visibility and boost your credibility.
Social media can take you a long way
Like it or not, social media is the best way you can reach out to thousands of people in a few clicks. It’s a powerful tool that can increase brand awareness for your hotel and an effective way to build relationships with potential and current guests.
The key to social media marketing is to be active and engaging. Post regularly and make sure your content is exciting and relevant to your audience. To this end, use social media templates instead of writing walls of text that will bore your audience. Also, engage with your audience as much as possible. Respond to comments, ask for feedback, and resolve customer queries.
Another way to use social media for your hotel is to run targeted ads. Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter all have advertising platforms that allow you to target a specific audience with your ads. This is a great way to reach potential guests who might not be familiar with your brand yet.
Email marketing
Email marketing is a great way to stay in touch with your guests and keep them updated on what’s going on at your hotel. You can use email to promote special offers, new services, or even remind people that you exist.
The key to email marketing is to have a substantial list of subscribers. You can build your list by getting people to sign up on your website or at the front desk of your hotel. Make sure your emails are well-designed and personalized to your subscribers – otherwise, you risk people unsubscribing from your list. You can use this nifty poster maker to send dynamic banners to your subscribers.
Some parting thoughts
So there you have it! These are some tried and tested digital marketing strategies that will bring droves of people to your hotel! You must remember that every hotel has a unique target demographic and a USP. The trick is to find the right mix of strategies that will work for your specific case. You’ll need to do some trial and error to see which combination works best for you.
