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In today’s climate, a business can’t exist without technology. Every business is expected to have a website(opens in a new tab) and be on TripAdvisor or Yelp. And, by nature, technology is evolving every day. That means, as a business owner, staying current with the latest technologies is almost as important as using them. After all, it’s now one of the defining factors of how businesses are operated.

As technology continues to make more data available, there are numerous additional opportunities for tourism businesses. Applying online marketing tools in the right way can significantly bolster your business growth strategies since you can gather more relevant data about your potential customers. With more online marketing tools available, there are almost infinite ways to boost the customer’s experience and your productivity at the same time. Check out our five tips to help you get started.

1. Create experiences and market them.

Customers value their experiences as much as material things. Holidays where guests can create meaningful connections with cultures and other people(opens in a new tab) are what many are looking to create. They want to learn new things, create lasting memories, and find fulfillment.

Social media(opens in a new tab) plays a crucial role in showcasing these experiences in real-time via video and images. Nowadays, travelers have a platform to tell their stories and share their experiences in your area and ideally, about your business.

Search algorithms are evolving every day, making it easier for consumers to find holiday options that appeal to specific interests or requirements. That’s why your potential guests deserve to know the whole story—the who, what, why, and how. Tell them about the unique experience of the scenery, the food, and the ambiance. This level of detail could be what convinces them that this is the tour for them. Tourism is about storytelling, and the best way to tell a story is not only with words, but also through photos, blogs, podcasts, and videos as well.

2. Personalize your marketing strategy.

Customers want to have a personalized experience, not a cookie-cutter tour. Search engine and social media algorithms are evolving to showcase customized news feeds and results. By identifying your ideal guest(opens in a new tab), you can then design a marketing strategy that appeals to that individual, rather than a wide range of people. Every aspect of your guests’ persona should inform the content you create. This way, you’re more likely to pop up in their social media feeds.

3. Incorporate guest content.

The majority of the most effective digital marketing today is user-generated content. Use this to your advantage to showcase your brand’s authenticity(opens in a new tab). With real people sharing their experiences using social media, influencer blogs, guest reviews, and social content, potential guests will be more inclined to book with you. Encourage guests to leave a review and learn about working with influencers—you’ll be enjoying authentic, varied content in no time.

4. Start using videos more!

Videos are one of the best ways to tell stories. Not only are they entertaining, but they also help your audience retain information. Original video content(opens in a new tab) with hashtags, geotags, and engaging captions is much more likely to get shared. Videos contribute enormously to an effective marketing strategy, and with the newest technology on social media today, you have a variety of options. Instagram stories are quite popular and offer fun peeks into a tour or a business update, and even a Facebook live video can be helpful to answer questions or share more about your company and region. These tools are ripe for taking your marketing to the next level.

5. Activate Facebook messages.

The Facebook Messenger function is a win-win situation—it’s easy to set up, and it can also be highly beneficial for both you and your customers. With millions of messages exchanged between businesses and customers every month, not using Facebook Messenger is a big mistake. If you don’t have a Facebook page yet, it’s time to create one, activate the messaging function, and start providing your clients with answers today.

You could also include the Messenger widget on your website to promote further engagement (don’t worry, this is an easy set-up as well). Using an online chat function is one of the best ways to understand how your customers feel and attend to their needs in real time.

Conclusion

Start growing your travel and tourism business even more today by jumping on these online marketing trends. Don’t be left behind by your competitors.

Travel and tourism businesses that have a strong need to grow should take steps to address the opportunities presented by online marketing trends. So, what online marketing trends are you thinking of at the moment? This is one of the key marketing questions and answers(opens in a new tab) for businesses in the 21st century.


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