how to market your hotel
Marketing Tips for your Hotel!
Are you a new or existing Hotel, looking to master your Marketing so you can increase revenue and expand your business? You are in the right place! At Reach Marketing we have tried and tested techniques to help from working with clients in the Hotel Industry.
Providing your customers with the highest quality services is just the first step to a successful Hotel. “Why do I need to market my Hotel?” Well, “out of sight, out of mind.” The main purpose of Digital Marketing is to get the word out about your business, who you are and what products or services you offer. It allows you to convey your message and attract customers. You don’t have to bring people to your business to experience it, like in the past. You can now show your presence on multiple platforms, via social media, and more.
In this blog post, we will teach all of the different types of Marketing you should be doing right now for your Hotel!
So, let's begin…
You Need a Professional Website for your hotel
The core of any Digital Marketing is your company’s website. If you do not already have a website for your Hotel, it’s time you get one! Having a website is one of the greatest assets for your business. Research has found that 6/10 of customers expect brands to have content online about their business. The majority of people today use the Internet to get more information on businesses, it is more than likely the first place your customers will find you. Potential customers are more likely to search online for information about your Hotel, rather than go there in person. If they like what they see on your website, there is more chance of them booking in with you.
Here are a few key points to consider for your website:
Always make sure your most important information is displayed clearly for potential customers, to get the crucial information they need quickly, and easily.
Ensure your website has lots of great pictures presenting your hotel in the best light.
Include a short introduction as well as information about the different services you offer.
It is vital that your website not only looks great on a desktop but also on mobile phones, as most people will be looking on mobile.
You can optimise your website content to rank higher on search engines and likely amongst your competition, by including relevant keywords in your meta descriptions, content, URL, image alt-texts, etc.
For example, if you’re a Hotel based in Cheshire knowing how to use search engine optimization (SEO) can make a HUGE impact on your presence online! Google uses a combination of algorithms and ranking factors to deliver web pages ranked by relevance on its search engine results pages (SERPS.)
So, if someone searches “Hotels in Cheshire” and you have a website that applies these rules, your business is more likely to show near the top of those results.
Get your Hotel on Social Media!
Promoting your Hotel on social media is probably one of the most affordable marketing ideas. But for it to be effective for your business, you will have to put in some extra time and love as social media is a long-term strategy.
Making your content shareable can be unquestionably powerful for your business! If people like your posts, they may also “share” them, giving you free advertising. For example, a competition on Instagram in which people must share, like, follow and tag their friends, pushes your business out there for many to see!
Connecting with your audience is SO important. You can do this with a Q&A on Instagram stories, this is a great way to gather feedback about your Hotel. Showing behind-the-scenes looks- when you give your audience valuable content, they feel important!
Social Media is an ever-growing, powerful way to reach new audiences with engaging content and helps your business build authority, trust, and brand identity. It is a low-cost method of connecting with customers you may already have or bringing new customers to your Hotel. Your competition is most likely already on Social Media, so don't let them take your potential customers!
Top tip: Remember to stay on top of trendy hashtags and use them in your posts!
Oh and let’s squeeze another Tip in for you - CTA’s a (Call to action) are your best friends when it comes to Social Media Marketing! CTA is a prompt that tells the user to take some specified action. Including phrases in your bios, or captions such as, “book now, share this, register for.” May seem simple, but it is very effective…
Increase Traffic with Google My Business!
Did you know Google holds more than 90% of all search queries worldwide?
Google my business (GMB) is an essential part of your Hotel’s online presence and often the first place customers look for up-to-date information about you! It is a tool that enables you to manage and optimise your business profile on Google. Creating a Google My Business profile is an important way to attract new customers to your Hotel through Google search and Maps.
One of the first things people will do when hearing about your Hotel is to Google you, to gather more information about your business. Google allows customers to easily find relevant information about you. If your search appears more easily than your competitors, then you’re more likely to be chosen instead.
If a potential customer Google’s “Hotels near me” you want to be at the top of that list. GMB allows you to add things about your Hotel, such as location, contact number, opening hours, services, photos, and much more.
Up your game with Email Marketing!
Customers that receive email marketing spend up to 83% more! This shows how much of a powerful impact this can be on your business!
Email Marketing is the use of email to promote products or services while connecting with former and future customers. It gives you the possibility to talk to your customers, has a relatively low cost, and is easy to track.
Email Marketing is an amazing tool for your business as it helps you to stay in contact with your audience, it’s easy to measure, reach customers in real-time, it’s affordable, and you can target specific emails to certain customers.
Personalising your emails can make clients feel more special, and studies have shown that people are more likely to read the email. Just adding a personal hint for example your (customer’s name) can be influential for your customer’s booking with you! You can add a personal touch by utilising the merge tag function in MailChimp, this can identify special dates such as birthdays. Sending newsletter emails is a great way to stay connected with customers and allows you to reach out regularly- you could add a call to action on your social media pages, for your customers to sign up for your newsletter. Always make sure the emails you are sending out provide value and purpose, ensuring that you are solving a customer’s pain point, need or desire so they find benefit from the email you are sending out.
Here are some ideas to help you carve your Email Marketing for your Hotel:
Arrival email filled with what to do
Welcome back corporate guests
Package Deals
An after-visit survey
A complimentary drink on a guests birthday
Whether you’re newly opening a Hotel, expanding your existing business, or simply looking to get more diligent about your Marketing skills there’s something for everyone in this blog. So, what are you waiting for? Start applying these powerful tips and watch your hard work turn into solid relationships, paying (happy) customers, and increased revenue. Remember to continue offering excellent services to existing and new customers.
Good luck!
If you need a hand with effectively marketing your hotel, get in touch: hello@reachmarketingandsocial.com
