In the internet age, nearly all businesses need to have an online presence to reach a wide audience. This is especially true for accommodation businesses, which can use their website and other online platforms to reach potential guests from all over the world. However, with so many businesses competing for attention online, simply having a website is not enough. You need to actively market your business to stand out from the crowd.

And there’s no doubt that marketing your accommodation business online is a great way to reach new customers. But how do you make sure you’re doing it right?

What is the Accommodation Industry?

Industry veterans from Happy Days Moreton Island define it as those that provide various types of lodging, such as hotels, motels, bed and breakfast establishments, and island accommodation rentals. This industry also includes campgrounds and RV parks. 

These businesses generally provide their guests with basic amenities, such as a place to sleep, a bathroom, and sometimes a kitchen. Many also offer additional services, such as laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and breakfast. The accommodation industry is a vital part of the hospitality sector and plays a significant role in many economies around the world. In the United States alone, the accommodation industry is worth an estimated $250 billion. 

These businesses provide a place for people to stay when travelling, whether for business or pleasure. In addition to the basics, many accommodation businesses also offer additional services and amenities, such as swimming pools, laundry facilities, restaurants and bars. Some even provide activities and entertainment, such as golf courses, tennis courts and spa services. Many accommodation businesses also offer package deals that include activities and meals. Ultimately, the goal of most accommodation businesses is to provide customers with a memorable and enjoyable experience.

How do you stand out from the rest?

With all these services and amenities they can offer, do they still need to up their marketing strategy to the online arena? It’s no secret that the hospitality industry is competitive. Not only are there a lot of businesses to choose from, but there’s also a lot of noise online. So how can you make sure your accommodation business stands out from the rest? By utilizing SEO, that’s how. 

SEO, or search engine optimization, is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of your websites on search engines like Google and Bing. A strong SEO strategy can help put your business in front of more potential customers, which in turn can lead to more bookings. But how do you go about optimizing your website for search engines?

Start with Keyword Research

Many accommodation businesses rely on word-of-mouth marketing and online reviews to attract new guests. However, in today’s increasingly digital world, it is also important to have a strong online presence. One way to do this is by ensuring that your website appears high in search engine results. This can be achieved through search engine optimization (SEO), which involves using relevant keywords throughout your website. 

Keyword research is an essential first step in any SEO journey, as it allows you to identify the terms that potential guests are most likely to use when searching for accommodation. Once you have a list of relevant keywords, you can start incorporating them into your online content. What are people searching for when they’re looking for businesses like yours? Make a list of these keywords and include them throughout your website, from titles and headings to blog posts and product descriptions.

Boost it with Reviews and Testimonials

Good reviews are essential for any business, but they are especially important for accommodation businesses. After all, potential guests are likely to base their decision on whether or not to book a room on the opinions of previous guests. 

Online reviews are becoming increasingly important, especially in the accommodation sector. Properties with positive reviews are more likely to appear higher in search results than those without any reviews, so it’s worth putting some time and effort into getting them. You can encourage guests to leave reviews by adding links to popular review sites on your website and even sending follow-up emails after they’ve stayed with you. Just make sure you’re monitoring what’s being said about you online and responding to both positive and negative reviews professionally.

Unfortunately, getting people to leave reviews can be difficult. One way to encourage guests to leave feedback is by offering a discount on their next stay. Another is to simply ask them at check-out if they enjoyed their stay and if they would be willing to leave a review. However, the most effective way to get reviews is by making it easy for guests to leave feedback. This can be done by providing a link to an online review site or by setting up a tablet in the lobby where guests can give their thoughts. 

Regardless of how you do it, encouraging guests to leave reviews is an important part of boosting your business’s SEO ranking. And at the end of the day, no guest will give good reviews if their experience is terrible so be sure to make their stay memorable with your excellent service.

Invest in Paid Advertising

Organic traffic from SEO can take time to build up, so in the meantime, you might want to consider investing in paid advertising. Paid ads can help you quickly get in front of potential customers who are actively searching for businesses like yours. Google Ads is a popular option for accommodation businesses as it allows you to target users based on their location and even their booking history.

SEO can often be a complex and time-consuming process, and it can be difficult to achieve significant results without a dedicated team of experts working on it. For businesses that want to see immediate results, investing in paid advertising may be the best option. Paid ads appear at the top of search results and can help to build brand awareness and drive traffic to your website. In addition, paid advertising can provide an immediate boost to your business’s visibility if you’re looking at a quick return on investment. 

Conclusion 

As an accommodation business owner, it’s essential to have an effective online marketing strategy if you want to reach a wide audience of potential guests. Luckily, there are many things you can do to market your business effectively online. From keyword research to paid advertising investment, there are many ways you can get exposure for your business online. The most important thing is to get started and keep at it—with a little bit of effort, you’ll be surprised at how far you can go!