CVB, DMO, Tourism & Destination Marketing - Online Marketing and SEO for Travel and Tourism Sites » Boutique Travel

What You Can Learn From BP’s Mistakes

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 21:01:57 +0000

Of all the lessons learned from the BP debacle, the most important was the first one BP learned. The internet is a powerful PR tool that can crush you quickly. Bad news gushed across the internet like…well, like a broken pipe. In the days, and now weeks, following the initial report, BP continued to make one bumbling decision after the next. It didn’t take long for every move that that BP made (many of them sluggish and poorly executed) to be scrutinized and commented upon by everyone who had an internet connection. BP quickly learned that they weren’t just managing an environmental disaster, they were managing a PR disaster – one they still haven’t grasped.

It’ll be years before the victims of this disaster recover, if at all. But, as we can’t unring that bell (or in this case, put the oil back in the pipe), we have to focus on what we can do to facilitate recovery for the lovely coastal towns whose beaches and reputations were stained by this disaster.

If you’ve got marketing dollars, now is the time to spend them.

Your tourism, visitor’s bureau, local or regional website needs to be addressing all the wonderful features of your town and reminding vacationers that you’re still open for business. If you’ve got local photographers, invite them to submit new photos and then get those photos out through Flickr, Facebook and Twitter.

Build a social media campaign, like this one run by the Jamestown Foundation that encourages past visitors to talk about their vacations and events. If you’ve got a YouTube channel, so much the better. Link to vacation videos that show your sparkling beaches, your lovely shops, your friendly locals and fantastic restaurants. Need some inspiration? Check out Currituck County, North Carolina. Now is an excellent time to invest in a pay-per-click campaign that helps users reconnect with your town or find you for the first time.

Family vacations, reunions, honeymoons and holidays are all still happening. Make sure these people know that good things are still happening at your place, too.

Melissa Baumann is a Search Marketing and Tourism Specialist as well as a seasoned world traveler.

Top Disney Vacation Experts to Follow on Twitter

admin — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:00:24 +0000

No doubt about it, a trip to any of the amazing Disney theme parks is an event to remember. One might argue, too, that the planning involved in such a vacation is an event in itself. Having spent a long weekend at the Animal Kingdom Lodge in Orlando and enjoying all the amenities of a practically inclusive Disney World trip, I can attest to the amount of preparation – the time invested could support a part-time job! Thirty or so years ago, when only the Magic Kingdom reigned over Lake Buena Vista and visitors sought out coveted E-Tickets, one could simply make Disney a spontaneous day of fun. These days, if you want to eat at one particular restaurant, you better make sure you’ve called weeks, maybe months, in advance. It’s a whole new world indeed.

You can be certain that as more people turn to social media content for tips on travel, a multitude of mouse-eared Tweeters are on hand to dispense insider info on where the lines are longest and what specials are available on food and accommodations. Having browsed Twitter search for updated information on the four Orlando parks in particular, I’ve found some helpful advice, lovely pictures, and have developed a yearning to head back to Florida. If you’re thinking of visiting the Mouse and friends this winter, or even next summer, now’s as good a time as any to check out these regular theme park Tweeters.

@DisneyParks: Of course, there is an official Twitter for the Disney destinations. Here you’ll find information on all the resorts, the cruise lines, and non-park vacation properties owned by the company. You’ll find news on in-park events and tips for good prices on packages.

@Rick_Howard: To read Rick’s Twitter feed, one might think he lives at Disney World. Seems everyday he’s tweeting from a different location within the multi-park complex. Actually, Rick maintains a video travel blog of the different sights and sounds of the Orlando attractions, and updates his Twitter feed with breaking news of interest to Disney-philes (for one, WDW no longer sells all-beef hot dogs, remember that around lunch time).

@wdwfan – This very interactive Twitter feed is maintained by Orlando area travel agents who post specials and updated park information for Disney as well as other parks in the region. Newcomers to central Florida can gain a good sense of the entire area reading the tweets on this feed.

@AllEarsDeb – The founder of popular Disney travel site AllEars.net tweets regular updates and ride reviews, Disney news and travel tips.

@MiceChat – Billed as a “different look” at the Disney properties, MiceChat’s Twitter is fed by the site of the same name, offering detailed updates on park events and issues. This is a great, thorough site for the Disney fan and traveler.

Honorable Mentions

@mousemisers – Primarily fed by the Mouse Misers blog, which offers news on discounts for Disney-themed attractions and vacations.

@DatelineDisney – Specifically covers the Disneyland park and Disney-related news.

When you’re ready to plan that unforgettable Disney vacation, don’t forget to check out the more popular Disney tweeters for inside tips and savings, and don’t forget to tweet from the park and let everybody know how much fun you’re having!

How Hotels and Inns are Using Social Media

admin — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:43:14 +0000

As an innkeeper or marketing manager of a boutique hotel or bed and breakfast, you may not be aware of the potential traffic increase to your Web site via social networking. You may have a Facebook page or a Twitter account connected to your business, but you may also wonder what more can you do with your social pages other than announce room specials. With a bit of creativity and investment in communicating with those who follow you online – past and future patrons – you can build trust with Web users who look to the Internet for travel accommodations.

How can hotels, inns, and B&B’s boost visibility through social networks? Here are few ideas to implement next time you want to Twitter about something more than fresh sheets and free wifi.

Talk Up Your Destination -What’s going on around town – festivals, college football games, concerts? Even in the smallest of hamlets there is a reason for people to enjoy a weekend getaway, so why not suggest itineraries for travelers still on the fence about where to stay.

Entice Travelers with Last Minute Deals – Have a Friday night vacancy at your B&B? Get viral with Twitter or Facebook and offer a deep discount to the first reservation you receive. Get friends and family online to “retweet” your sale and watch the news spread. You just might find somebody interested in a spontaneous trip.

Sing the Praises of Those Who Praise You – Ultimately guests will rate their visits at your inn on travel social networks like TripAdvisor, Expedia, and Travelocity. As you receive the good news of enjoyed vacations, let others know what they’re missing. Post links to five-star reviews, use social bookmark sites like Digg and Mixx to further promote the good wishes. Word of mouth remains the best method of promotion, and with a bit of online socializing you can give it a push in the right direction.

Add a bit of variety to your social posts, while keeping the info related to your business, creates awareness not only of your hotel or inn but also of your destination. Especially if you are close to a popular area or attraction, where visitors might normally not think to contact you, you have the opportunity to widen travel opportunities, and raise your business.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Gainesville bed and breakfast inns, professional social media services, and professional travel SEO services.

Camellia Rose Inn – Bed and Breakfast Site Design

admin — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 18:24:09 +0000

In 2006, Pat and Tom McCants opened the doors to the Camellia Rose Inn, a beautifully restored Queen Anne home in the historic district of Gainesville, Florida. Soon afterward, the innkeepers realized they needed a Web site to showcase their inn to travelers coming to the northern Florida town for UF football games, graduation, and long-term appointments at Shands. Though their budget was limited, Simple Tourism helped set up a user-friendly CMS and blog system that allows them to update their site with vacation specials and newsletters.

Camellia Rose Inn - Gainesville, FL

As part of an initial SEO package, Simple Tourism targeted geographical keywords and utilized article marketing to assist the inn’s visibility in search. Though the Camellia Rose Inn is one of the newer B&Bs in the area, it maintains page one rankings on the major engines over longer established inns.

Want a Web site for your inn, but are worried about cost? Simple Tourism can work within your budget to give you attractive design that looks like you spent thousands! Contact us today to learn more.