Local SEO Strategies for Hotels and Local Travel and Tourism Businesses
In a world that is becoming increasingly digital, having a strong online presence is critical for attracting guests and driving more bookings for hotels and local travel and tourism businesses. When it comes to online visibility, SEO, short for search engine optimization, should be a top priority in your overall digital marketing strategy. In this article, we’ll guide you through some effective and easy-to-implement SEO strategies that will help your hotel or tourism business climb the ranks in local searches.
1. Understand The Goal of Local SEO:
Before looking at what action you can take, we first need to take a step back to understand what local SEO is all about. Local SEO focuses on optimizing your online presence to appear in relevant local search results on search engines like Google and Bing. It’s like putting a spotlight on your hotel or local tourism business when potential guests are searching for accommodations or activities in your area. When you optimize your SEO, you’re making it easier for Google to recognize that your business fits what potential guests are searching for, and therefore pushes your business closer to the top of their search results!
2. Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business):
If you haven’t already, it’s time to create your Google Business Profile. If that name isn’t familiar to you, you may recognize it by its former name, Google My Business. This free tool from Google allows you to showcase important details like your business name, address, phone number, and website. Make sure to provide accurate and up-to-date information. Once your profile is created, stay consistent with sharing eye-catching photos and updates to entice potential guests. And don’t forget about reviews! Encouraging guests and customers to leave reviews (and taking the time to respond to those who provide reviews) can be highly impactful for your online reputation for your hotel or local tourism business.
3. Target Local Keywords:
If search rankings were seats on a flight, keywords would be your boarding pass. And when you prioritize SEO, that boarding pass is upgraded to first class! It is important to know what keywords are representative of your business so that you can be intentional about incorporating them into your SEO strategy. Start by brainstorming a list of relevant keywords that guests or customers might use when searching for hotels or local activities in your area. For example, if your hotel or tourism business is in Minneapolis, Minnesota, consider keywords like “downtown hotel in Minneapolis” or “best hotels near Minneapolis-St Paul Airport.” Thoughtfully incorporate these keywords throughout your website’s content, including page titles, headings, and descriptions. Remember, be strategic, but don’t overstuff keywords like a suitcase before a vacation! Make sure the experience of reading your content still flows naturally.
Bonus SEO Tip: Use Google’s free Keyword Planner tool to research search volume for various search terms in your area!
4. Create Engaging and Informative Content:
We are officially in the creator economy – but that applies to more than just influencers creating content for Instagram. Content plays an important role in your SEO efforts. How can you produce content for your hotel or local tourism business that supports your local SEO strategy? Consider options such as crafting engaging blog posts, travel guides, or local event updates that provide value to your target market. Share interesting stories, insider tips and tricks, and local recommendations that tourists may not know about. By creating informative and shareable content, you can establish your hotel or tourism business as a trusted resource for travelers that they will come back to and start recommending to others. In addition, search engines love fresh, relevant content, so you’re making Google happy, too!
5. Get Listed in Local Directories:
Listing your business in local directories, such as TripAdvisor, Yelp, and local tourism websites is one of the most underutilized local SEO strategies for hotels and local tourism businesses. These directories help serve multiple purposes when it comes to improving your SEO. First, they help to create backlinks to your website, which helps boost your credibility with Google. A backlink is a link from an external website that leads back to your own. Second, it helps with visibility and awareness by giving your business additional opportunities to show up in local search results! The more paths you create that lead to your business, the easier it is for potential guests to find you, and the more you’ll begin pushing your business top of mind during their research.
It’s time to take these local SEO strategies for hotels and local tourism businesses and apply them to your own brand!
By taking these tools and implementing effective local SEO strategies for hotels and local tourism brands into your business, you’ll be on the right path to boost your hotel or tourism business’s online visibility and drive more bookings. Remember, SEO does take time, and the digital world is constantly evolving. Keep an eye on the latest SEO trends and adapt your strategies accordingly in order to keep your business on track. By embracing local SEO and infusing it with your brand’s unique persona, you’ll start boosting your rankings and creating a natural stream of business in the long run!
Bring In Added Support For Your SEO Strategies
Jetpass Media works with travel and hospitality brands to develop and implement effective SEO strategies to drive more organic visibility and awareness. Reach out to learn more about our services and how we can support you.
