For one thing, update your website. Get a new site that makes lets you easily make your own changes, rather than relying on a code warrior to make $100/hour changes for you.
Second, add a blog and write new content at least twice a week. Talk about what’s going on at your place, announce special events, review those events after they happen, do special “Meet the Staff” profiles, talk about the history of your place, and anything else you can think of.
The reason you want to do this is because of search. Ninety percent of all web interactions begin with search, which means they’re searching for you. If they can’t find you, they won’t visit you. So blogging helps you win searches when travelers are looking for you.
Third, join Facebook. Create your own profile, but then create a page for your destination. Upload your email list of all your past visitors (you have been collecting emails, haven’t you?), and invite all of them to become fans of your page. Then you can update them about special events, new blog posts, and other news. Build a fan base of people who love your place.
Fourth, join Twitter. Upload your email list again and start following those visitors. They’ll follow you back, and you can use Twitter to broadcast new blog posts, chat with followers (like a chatroom), and keep in touch with your regulars and fan base.
By jumping in on social media and blogging, you can create a base of rabid fans who love your destination. They’ll not only come back year after year, but tell their friends about it too.
About Erik Deckers
I for one love travel. After all, how much stuff can a person buy?
Travel is about an experience or an adventure. Even bad experiences end up being part of the adventure. Last night on Jay Leno, Julie Louis-Dreyfus told a story about her trip to Peru. It was frightful at the time, but it ended up being a great story for the Leno show.
Point is, travel companies are perfect for blogging and social media. When people today are not looking for jobs, they are looking for something else to do. Problem is, most travel companies have not invested the time and energy to tap into this new potential.
Post pictures and videos of the cool things happening in your community, resort, or service. Show the seasonality of what is happening. Get people to take action. After all, travel is good for all of us.
.-= Paul Lorinczi´s last blog ..Is Cold Calling Dead? Can Social Media Fill the Void? =-.