The internet has revolutionized the way people book their travel plans, and the hospitality industry is no exception. With the vast majority of travelers researching and booking their trips online, it’s critical for hotels to promote their business effectively on the web.
However, with more competition than ever, hoteliers need to have a strong online presence to attract guests.
In this blog, we’ll explore several ways you can promote your hotel business on the web and boost your online visibility.
Table of Contents
- How to Promote Your Hotel Business Online?
- 1. Build a user-friendly website
- 2. Leverage Social Media
- 3. Offer Online Booking
- 4. Create Quality Content
- 5. Utilize Email Marketing
- 6. Utilize Online Travel Agencies
- 7. Utilize Search Engine Marketing
- 8. Implement Search Engine Optimization
- 9. Encourage Guest Reviews
- 10. Utilize Local Listings
- 11. Create Video Content
- 12. Partner with Local Businesses
- FAQs
- Conclusion
How to Promote Your Hotel Business Online?
Let’s take it step by step.
1. Build a user-friendly website
One of the most important steps in promoting your hotel business on the web is to create a website.
Your website is the face of your hotel online, and it’s crucial that it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing.
When designing your website, ensure that it’s mobile-friendly and loads quickly, as this can affect your search engine ranking. Make sure your website includes essential information such as room rates, booking detail, amenities, and location.
Also, ensure that your website has high-quality images and videos of your hotel and its facilities to entice guests to book a stay.
2. Leverage Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool for promoting your hotel business on the web. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter allow you to showcase your hotel’s services, special offers, and discounts.
You can also use social media to engage with potential guests, respond to their queries or feedback, and promote your brand to a wider audience.
It’s also a great platform to collaborate with influencers and bloggers to reach a larger audience.
3. Offer Online Booking
Online booking is an essential feature when you want to save up on the OTA commissions.
With the majority of travelers booking their trips online, having an online booking system on your website makes the booking process convenient and straightforward for potential guests.
It also allows them to compare rates, room availability, and other features of your hotel with other options in the area.
You can also offer discounts and special packages to guests who book their stay from your hotel’s website.
4. Create Quality Content
Creating high-quality content is essential for promoting your hotel online. You can leverage blog posts, articles, and videos about your hotel’s amenities, location, and services.
You can also share local travel guides, restaurant recommendations, and other travel tips to showcase your hotel’s expertise in the area.
Quality content can also help improve your website’s search engine ranking and increase your online visibility.
5. Utilize Email Marketing
Email marketing is a cost-effective way to reach out to potential guests and promote your hotel business. With email marketing, you can send newsletters, promotional offers, and updates about your hotel’s services and amenities.
You can also segment your email list based on guest preferences, booking history, and demographics to provide personalized offers to your target audience.
For instance, if you have guests who frequently book family rooms, you can send them personalized offers for family-friendly activities in the area.
When crafting your email marketing messages, be sure to make them visually appealing, mobile-friendly and include a clear and concise call-to-action button.
6. Utilize Online Travel Agencies
Online travel agencies like Expedia, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, and more are great platforms to promote your hotel business. These platforms have a large audience of potential guests who are actively searching for hotel accommodation.
To utilize OTAs effectively, you need to create a comprehensive and appealing profile for your hotel. Provide all the necessary information about your hotel, such as room types, amenities, and services. Include high-quality photos and descriptions to make your profile stand out from the competition.
You can also offer special rates and packages to guests who book through these platforms. This can help you attract budget-conscious travelers and incentivize them.
7. Utilize Search Engine Marketing
Search engine marketing (SEM) is a form of online advertising that allows you to display ads on search engine results pages (SERPs).
SEM allows you to display ads on search engine results pages (SERPs) and target users based on their search queries.
You can use this by bidding on relevant keywords and phrases that potential guests might use to search for hotel accommodation.
For instance, if you own a hotel in Paris, you might bid on keywords such as "hotels in Paris," "Paris accommodations," or "places to stay in Paris."
SEM is a great cost-effective way to increase your website’s visibility and drive more traffic to your website.
8. Implement Search Engine Optimization
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing your website’s content and structure to rank higher in search engine results pages.
You can use SEO to increase your website’s visibility and attract more guests to your hotel business.
Some of the best SEO practices include keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and mobile optimization.
Additionally, optimizing your website for mobile devices is critical to your SEO success. With more than half of all internet traffic coming from mobile devices, search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites in their rankings.
9. Encourage Guest Reviews
Guest reviews are an essential part of promoting your hotel business on the web. Positive reviews can help attract more guests and improve your hotel’s reputation. All you need to do is encourage your guests to leave reviews.
This can be done by sending follow-up emails after their stay, offering incentives for leaving a review, and providing a simple and convenient platform for guests to leave feedback.
Besides, on your part, make sure to respond to both positive and negative reviews promptly and professionally to show that you value guest feedback and are committed to providing excellent service.
10. Utilize Local Listings
Local listings such as Google My Business, Yelp, and TripAdvisor are great ways to promote your hotel business to local and regional travelers.
These platforms allow you to create a profile, provide accurate and up-to-date information about your hotel, and interact with potential guests.
You can also use these platforms to showcase your hotel’s amenities, services, and special offers.
11. Create Video Content
Video content is becoming increasingly popular in the travel industry.
92% of video marketers reported that video gives them a positive ROI. In fact, incorporating video content on your hotel’s website can increase conversions by up to 80%.
HubSpot
Creating high-quality video content about your hotel’s amenities, location, and services can help attract more guests and increase engagement on your website and social media channels.
You can also use video content to showcase your hotel’s unique features, such as its spa or fitness center, and provide virtual tours of your hotel’s rooms and facilities.
12. Partner with Local Businesses
Collaborating with local restaurants, attractions, and tour operators can help to promote your hotel business to a wider audience.
By offering joint packages and promotions, hotels can attract guests who are interested in exploring the local area and discovering new experiences. This can also increase your hotel’s exposure and attract a more diverse clientele.
According to a survey, 67% of travelers are interested in food tourism, which presents an opportunity for hotels to partner with local restaurants to offer unique culinary experiences for their guests.
This can lead to better goodwill and positive word-of-mouth for your hotel business.
FAQs
Answering some frequently asked questions related to promoting your hotel business online.
Should I have a hotel website from day 1?
The earlier, and the faster, the better. Your website is the face of your property. Your guests will use it to get an idea of the experience they will receive once they visit. You do not want to compromise on that.
Which OTAs do you recommend to get listed on?
While there are several OTAs you can get listed on, here are the best of them to help you with your online reach and bookings.
Can I expect instant results from SEO?
No, SEO is a long term process. If you want sustainable results, you need to carry out SEO activities for your brand from time to time to promote your business online.
Conclusion
In today’s digital age, promoting your hotel business on the web has become more important than ever before.
With so many potential guests searching for hotels online, it’s essential to have a strong online presence to remain competitive, help you reach a wider audience, and stand out in the crowded hospitality industry.
By incorporating these tactics and continuously monitoring and adapting to online trends, you are a step closer to attracting more guests and ultimately growing your hotel business.
