Chambers of Commerce, visitor bureaus and other membership-based organizations need member dues to thrive. To recruit more members and keep the ones you already have, you need to offer perks. One great way to highlight existing members and win new ones is your annual print directory.
Here are a few strategies to consider:
1 | Feature a prominent member on the cover.
If one of your members is a major local employer or a significant supporter of your organization (e.g. via event sponsorships), you may want to consider giving them prime placement on the cover of your directory. The cover photo provides great exposure to the member, especially when paired with an article about the member inside the publication. It also elevates ...
Search engine marketing, often referred to by its acronym SEM, is a way for businesses to appear higher in search engine results.
While search engine optimization (SEO) is an organic digital marketing strategy (meaning it creates traffic to your business over time rather than using paid methods), SEM is a “pay-per-click” (PPC) method of advertising in search engines. PPC means that a business will pay anytime a consumer clicks on their search engine listing.
SEM involves identifying keyword phrases and trends in a target market and utilizing those keywords to show your advertisements on search engine results pages via Google Ads, Bing Ads, etc. It’s important to understand your audience and use pertinent keywords so that the most relevant consumers are ...
While consumers do turn to the internet for much of their information about travel destinations, printed guides remain relevant in the digital age.
For example, a Destination Analysts study has found that more than 50% of U.S. travelers consult printed materials before making travel decisions.
That said, you still need to find a way to help your publication (and destination) stand out from the pack. Here are three tips for doing just that.
Embrace Magazine-Style Writing
While newspapers have been losing readers, magazine readership has held strong, with the total number of magazine readers in the U.S. remaining above 220 million every year between 2016 and 2020. And when it comes to travel, research by the University of Massachusetts Amherst demonstrates that travel ...
It seems like every day there is a huge tech breakthrough of some sort — whether it’s artificial intelligence, medicine, space exploration, energy or any other number of areas. It should come as no surprise that things are the same with digital marketing.
As a brand in search of new customers, you’re always looking for new and better ways to generate brand awareness, establish yourself in your market and capitalize on consumer shopping habits. Ways to reach your target audience digitally have been around for decades now, but the old ways are fading. That’s where CTV and OTT come into play.
What are CTV and OTT?
In short, CTV and OTT are internet-connected devices and platforms that allow a user to ...
Having a well-designed website and an active social media presence is a great start. But if you really want to keep customers interested, you’ll need to get creative — and interactive.
Here are some tips to get you started.
1 | Get Your Name Out on TikTok
TikTok is having a major moment as the place to be for brands, but getting it right and getting noticed can be a challenge. Luckily, TikTok itself has put together a guide to success, with tips on how to come across as authentic and creative.
2 | Launch a Customer Loyalty Program
One of the simplest ways to reward loyal customers is with a points program. Let customers earn points for actions like following you on social, ...
With the world adjusting to COVID as a fact of life, travel is making a roaring comeback in 2023. And that comeback entails several new consumer trends that visitor bureaus and hospitality businesses should be aware of.
1 | Vacationers are looking for ways to “travel light.”
More and more, travelers have been looking to slim down their luggage. Destinations that hope to lure the clutter-conscious should highlight hotels offering bulky items (such as exercise equipment) for rent, or introduce potential visitors to local businesses that can supply travel essentials.
2 | The off-season is becoming more popular.
One side-effect of a global pandemic: many people have become less comfortable with crowds. So if your area is a popular one with summer travelers, ...
Maybe you can’t meet your customers face to face these days, but that doesn’t mean you have to be disconnected.
Now is the time to take a look at your digital marketing toolbox and add a few new arrows to your quiver. (Yes, it’s a mixed metaphor, but you know what we mean.)
Consider these steps to keep your customers engaged and grow your pool of prospects:
1 | Send out email updates about your operations.What are you doing right now to keep serving customers? Let them know with an email blast that includes a link to your website. Once you’ve got their eyeballs on the page, they just might browse and discover new services they didn’t even know you offered.
2 | ...
