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

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.

Target Your Tourism Advertising To Golfers

admin — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:13:31 +0000

For some travelers, golf is a perfect relaxation getaway. If your destination includes or is close to golf courses, country clubs or golf trails, don’t let your CVB or tourism bureau miss out on an important traveler coming to your neck of the woods: the golfer. Reach out to these tourists by adding a link to your CVB or tourism Web page to give golfers a reason to visit your destination. Here are a few bits of information the link can provide:

How to pack their gear. With constant updates in FAA regulations, it isn’t uncommon to get to the airport and realize you’ve done something wrong, or something needs to be rearranged. Information geared towards golfers would consist of letting them know: clubs must be checked and secured in a hard case (which can be purchased at most golf shops), golf balls may be carried on the plane, play it safe and check the golf tees, which clubs to bring to keep the checked bag weight light, etc. Links to different airlines and the FAA’s Web site would also be helpful resources.
What threads to pack. Different golf clubs have different dress codes. Hard spikes might need to be left at home, but collared shirts are almost always a must. Be sure to know what different clubs in your area require to cater to your golfing tourist’s needs.
Proximity to the greens. How close are your hotel and convention centers are to golf destinations? Be sure to list directions and maps to and from each of your lodging facilities.
Weather expectations. Golfers check the forecast dozens of times a day to make sure their tee times are sunny and clear. Make sure your golfer tourists know how light/heavy to pack, and if they should bring an umbrella.

Targeting your tourism destination towards different travelers is a simple, foolproof way of increasing traffic to your area. Even if your destination doesn’t have its own greens, giving golfer tourists a friendly place to lay their heads will keep them coming back.

Jessica Swink is a freelance writer specializing in articles about SEO for travel Web sites and professional SEO and Internet marketing services.