The days of looking up to friends and family’s tour recommendations are over as the present-age traveler is blessed with a wide array of options and resources to help them plan their ideal tour package.
As a travel agent, it is your job to get the word out about the many memories and experiences you have helped your clients attain during your tenure, and what better way to do it than to use digital marketing to your advantage?
With winter just around the corner, here are a few tips to help you start your digital marketing strategy to boost your winter tour packages.
List yourself on Google’s things to do
Using online travel agencies will only get you so far and can also be heavy on the pockets. A good and friendly alternative is to use Google’s “things to do” listings to help you get a head start on your competition.
Start by setting up your business profile on Google Business and be open to online listings and bookings. Google helps market you and your tour services constantly as it markets certain activities to tourists in your area.
You will not only be able to ditch the intermediaries and save some bucks but also have SEO-friendly content that will give your posts an instant boost in Google’s search rankings.
Utilize video marketing
Vlogging and video marketing are all the rage in today’s digital marketing world, and they can also help you get the right kind of attention when done right. Create stunning videos covering various landscapes (if applicable), your clients’ activities on their tours, services you provide, customer reviews, and anything that can help potential tourists consider your services this winter season.
By showcasing the unique experiences and attractions your destination offers, you can effectively capture the interest of potential tourists. Additionally, incorporating personal narratives and testimonials from satisfied customers can further enhance the credibility and appeal of your services.
Encourage positive reviews
Online reviews can convert consideration into sales; most customers would agree that online reviews play a significant role in buying decisions. It is an undoubted fact that reviews, especially positive ones, can help a business attract the right audience and market its services in an enhanced manner.
You can apply the same strategy to your winter tours marketing campaign and encourage your customers to leave positive reviews of their time with you and your tours on your website or social media handles.
Positive reviews on your social profiles will increase your credibility and reputation and present your company more positively. Positive reviews have the potential to convert into powerful testimonials that can persuade others to choose your winter tours over competitors, ultimately leading to higher sales and business growth.
Additionally, showcasing these positive reviews on your website or social media platforms can serve as valuable social proof, further strengthening your marketing efforts.
Develop engaging content for your online persona
Since you are venturing into the digital marketing world and aiming to get your winter tour package’s attention and interest from your audiences, you must develop an online persona matching your tours’ vibe.
Create content, videos, posts, and all other content that can help not only pique the interest of your viewers but also enable them to gain insight into what potential your tours have. However, your content should not be all fun and no game and should be informative to help answer any queries or questions your audience might have.
It would be best if you curated digital posters to publish on your website and social media profiles about different packages, highlighting various details like the duration of the tour, attractions, services offered, prices, contact details, and any other relevant information your target audience can benefit from before making the decision.
Remember to match the aesthetic of your posters to the vibe your company wishes to establish. Opt for available travel poster templates online to develop engaging yet appealing posters to grab onlookers’ attention.
Hire travel influencers
To gain the right traction online, you must create alliances with the right people who can guide you to help you attain your goals. In this pursuit, travel influencers can be your best bet to market your winter tour packages successfully and hassle-free.
You must consider what you are willing to offer in this SMM barter: can you offer them a free trip to create content? Can you pay them to market your tours? Can you offer them referrals and discount codes to share with their followers? Develop a thorough SMM strategy and choose influencers who target the niche that has the potential to convert into your potential clients.
However, it is essential to establish clear goals and objectives for your SMM strategy and determine what specific outcomes you hope to achieve, such as increased brand awareness or higher booking rates.
By selecting influencers who align with your target audience and have a solid online presence, you can maximize the effectiveness of your winter tour marketing campaign.
Get personal
To make your target audience feel that your winter tours fit them, you must make your marketing feel personalized. While all of the strategies mentioned above have massive potential in converting potential clients into actual clients, if your audience does not feel you are tailoring your content to their needs in your marketing practices, they may deviate to another travel service provider.
So, consider sending personalized emails to your audience. Use their browsing history on your website, whatever information you have available, and send them personalized, targeted emails to keep them interested in your services.
You can even send customized emails and tour updates to previous customers and offer them early bird discounts or premium packages to let them know you care for them and prioritize them. A little effort is bound to go a long way when trying to ensure your retention rate in such tough competition.
Get creative, amp up your winter tours marketing plan, and have fun with digital marketing if you keep your audience’s preferences in mind. It is essential to be mindful of your client’s needs and develop tours and content catering to the gaps in your client base.
Mix up your style and see what works best for you. Good luck!
Written by: Raahim Jamshed