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Archive for the ‘Tourism Marketing’ Category
Social Media Help is Available for Tourism Operators and Niche Marketers
Study Shows Time Pays With Social Media Marketing
<2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report, authored by Michael Stelzner.>
Does your own experience match up with the results of this study? Make no mistake about it: a true investment of time and resources is necessary to see significant social media marketing success.
* 12.5% of marketers spend more than 20 hours each week on social media.
* The time spent on social sites is not as important as the actual results. What we really should be looking at is what kind of results are you getting for that 1 hour, 4 hours, even 12 hours per week.
* Increased traffic, lead generation and happy, connected customers all are factors in deciding which social media strategies are working best for your business.
* Where we’re seeing the outsourcing trend is in the larger organizations. According to the report, “the larger the organization, the more likely outsourcing is taking place. For example, 25.7% of large businesses and 25% of mid-sized businesses are currently outsourcing, compared to only 10.6% of sole proprietors.” Like many marketing trends, what starts with the “big guys” tends to make its way to the smaller businesses—therefore, we may be seeing more outsourcing overall in the coming year.
Did you know…
- Almost 10 million Australians visit a social media site each month (March 2010 Voyeur).
- Facebook users spend an average of 55 minutes on the site per day
- 73% of bloggers also use Twitter
How many of these social media networkers are your potential customers and guests?
More than you think.
Australia-based Peacock Online Partners (POP) provides services to smaller tourism operators who want to make the most of online technology – especially in reaching niche markets like
- gay travel
- regional tourism and
- blossoming travel destinations
The tools and knowledge to make your digital marketing program a success story.
- Sage advice and good-value-for money.
- Lateral Thinking and creative solutions.
- Plain language and roll up our sleeves consulting.
- Tips on how you can implement your online strategy quickly and cost effectively.
- Ready help when you take over the reins.
Spreading the word about your name
What are some tools that create conversations and help turn a casual customer into an evangelist.
Besides responding personally to their comments on your fan page and following them on their blogs, we’re talking about lateral thinking – something outside the box.
Here are 3 simple, easy ideas that won’t cost much, either.
1. amazing welcome kits for new customers (emailed)
2. cool demos fans can share with friends (burn a CD)
3. simple hand-out that make it easy to introduce you (attach a PDF or digital postcard)
For dee-tails on these tactics, consult with Dee at Peacock Tourism Marketing, specializing in digital media strategies and customer interactions.
The rules of effective marketing are the same for personal networking and social media networking.
My two rules for Blogger/Facebook/Twitter/You Tube/Linked In channels are:
1. Host a big event. Make it an event that supercharges your fans’ enthusiasm and gives them something to talk about.
2. Share exclusive content. Give your fans a sneak peek, an early sample, or access to private updates to help make them feel like a real group of insiders.
Commit. There are thousands of new Facebook groups and fan pages started every day. To stand out, you’ve got to earn new fans and repeat visitors with great content regularly.
Besides Linked In and this new-ish website, Peacock Tourism is now active on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
Follow us for news and thoughts on social media marketing in the digital age for operators who know they need to be in that space but aren’t yet…We can help you strut your stuff online.
Proud as a Peacock
Been working too hard to blog often, but when you look at our hours, you’ll understand!
We work…
| At your place | or | At our place (Sydney) |
| Business hours | or | After hours & weekends |
| Autonomously | or | As part of your team |
| On hourly rates | or | On a periodic retainer |
The Birds-of-a-Feather team at Peacock Tourism is relied upon by operators and suppliers of lodging, attractions, tours and travel services for online marketing services and target communications to gay and lesbian travelers.
We are experts at uncovering what drives gay travelers to choose where they go on holidays – and at building integrated marketing programs to attract them to your destination or property by using the internet, social networks, gay media and direct marketing.
The principals have nearly 30 years’ experience in gay tourism and travel technology; one is a founder and the other is an ambassador of the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association. Along with its affiliates, they represent clients in Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, United States and Canada .
Utilizing Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Photos and Video to Market a Destination to Locals and Gay & Lesbian Visitors By Matt Skallerud, Pink Banana Media
Traditionally, destination marketing has been divided into two distinct market groups – travelers coming INTO a destination and locals (or natives) already LIVING IN a destination. With the continued shift of online marketing to social media and Web 2.0, the distinction between these two groups is becoming blurred.
Traditionally, when targeting a consumer using banner ads or direct e-mail, a destination worked with specific media either targeting the inbound gay traveler or the person living in that city or region. The two media were very different, and yet crossover existed even then in the form of local event listings, restaurant specials and bar and club updates, all of interest to both locals and travelers alike.
Today, when promoting a destination on Facebook, a blog, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube, that crossover works to a destination marketer’s advantage, as a more single and unified message can be delivered that appeals to both markets. This advantage makes it even easier to work with a wider variety of local and travel media from which to share content with and partner with for an even more comprehensive and stronger destination marketing campaign targeting the gay and lesbian traveller and local community.
Colleagues through IGLTA
Matt, Mr. Pink Banana, and Dee, Chief Bird at Peacock Tourism, met through their work with the International Gay and Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA.org). They are collaborating on bringing a how-to seminar to Australia so Rainbow Tourism Accredited and IGLTA operators can learn how to implement savvy digital marketing to their target campaigns.
The workshops will be held in Sydney and the Gold Coast in 2010. ”Take our strategy outline, modify to best suit your destination’s unique needs, and adopt social network marketing as one of your top growth areas for marketing in the next decade. You’ll be pleasantly surprised with the results!”
So preach Dee & Matt in conjunction with Mark at Rainbow Tourism.com, the sponsor of the operator workshops.
Gay Marketing Exercise Shoes
1. Learn to SUCCEED on the social networks – Linked In, Facebook Fan Page, You Tube, Twitter
Make this your top marketing activity and your #1 source of new bookings.
2. Blog for new business – Blog software is free and easy to use, and you can invite guest bloggers to get you in front of even more followers.
Build photo and video albums, especially with gay and lesbian images, and do frequent postings about fun things related to life at your accommodation or the interesting guests you’ve had on tour.
3. Seek hospitality training for events and hotels – Going the extra step so staff make gay and lesbian visitors feel comfortable.
4. Set up a profile and monitor your reviews –
Use Pink Choice, Trip Advisor, Out Advisor and GayCities.
5. Fine tune your keywords and labels –
Critical for improving your web positioning in search results.
6. Review Case Study 1: USA – NYC Hotel Twitter Specials
7. Review Case Study 2: GER –My Germany branding via social media
8. Review Case Study 3 : AUS- Very Gay Very Gold Coast
9. Use Google Analytics – Free and easy yet often overlooked.
10. Hire a Consultant – Get started on the right foot with expert help.
