8 Best Digital Marketing Strategies For Hotels

“The global market for online travel booking services achieved a significant valuation of USD 519.1 billion in 2021, with projections indicating a robust compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.0% between 2022 and 2030.”

If you want to expand your hotel business, robust digital marketing strategy for hotels can’t be overstated. The strategy can help you have a global reach and connect with your audience on a larger scale. But what are the best digital marketing strategy for hotels that can help you make a special place in the hearts of travelers? Here, we will share the best digital marketing strategy for hotels to help you outrun your competition and maximize profit.

What is Digital Marketing for Hotels?

Digital marketing in the hotel industry entails employing online channels and digital communication to connect with prospective customers. When travelers search for accommodations on the internet, your hotel should emerge as a prominent choice, even if they were previously unaware of its existence. The ultimate objective is to increase hotel bookings significantly and enhance return on investment (ROI).

Why is Digital Marketing Important for Hotels?

Embracing a smart digital marketing strategy for hotels is a no-brainer. It puts you in control, enabling you to reach a broader audience at the perfect moment and maximize your profits. With a staggering 4.6 billion active Internet users globally, representing 59.5% of the world’s population, the online realm provides unmatched potential for hotels to engage with a diverse range of audiences. So, if you haven’t already taken it seriously, it’s time to reconsider.

8 Best Digital Marketing Strategy for Hotels

Here are 8 best digital marketing strategy to level up your online presence game for hotels.

• Website Optimization: If you think a direct booking website is all that would work, the answer is no. You should have a website that’s attractive and stands out from the rest. Your website should be user-friendly, it should cover interesting topics that your audience would want to know and read about, and most importantly, it should be SEO optimized.
• Create Listing on Popular OTAs: Creating listings on popular Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) is an effective strategy to enhance visibility for hotels. OTAs attract a significant number of monthly visitors, making them an effective marketing tool. Around 74% of international travelers use OTAs to research and book various aspects of their journey. To reach a global audience, hotels should create listings on well-known OTAs like Expedia, Booking.com, and Hotels.com. Always consider the market coverage of each OTA as some may be more prevalent in specific locations.
• Master Search Engine Optimization: SEO helps in ranking your website, and the higher your ranking, the more people are seeing your advertisement at the right time and at the right place. Backlinks here can be super beneficial. The more backlinks you have, the better your chances of ranking higher and being recognized as an authoritative website.
• E-Mail Marketing: There’s a popular misconception that e-mail marketing doesn’t work anymore. The reality is, users still engage with emails, and 49% of the users also said that they prefer receiving emails from their favorite brand. Therefore, make a relevant hotel email strategy and it can be a game-changer for your business.
  
  Here are some potential elements to incorporate into your email marketing communication:
  1- Monthly Newsletters
  2- Promoting Special Offers
  3- Loyalty Program Incentives
  4- Updates and Enhancements
  
  Remember, personalization and segmentation based on guest preferences and past behaviors can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your email marketing efforts.
• Hotel Blogging: Travel blogging is currently a highly popular topic, attracting audiences worldwide. It presents an excellent opportunity to engage with individuals passionate about travel, many of whom could become your potential customers. Through blogging, you can offer comprehensive insights on various subjects, catering to those eager to expand their knowledge about destinations, journeys, and related topics.
• Partner With Influencers: In the contemporary digital landscape, one of the most potent strategies is undoubtedly influencer marketing. Influencers, boasting substantial social media followings, offer a prime platform for promoting your hotels and services. This practice has recently demonstrated remarkable efficacy in expanding your visibility to a broader audience. Moreover, these influencers often provide referral links or codes, facilitating travelers’ hotel bookings and consequently enhancing your sales.
• Word Of Mouth: “According to Nielsen’s research, 84% of consumers say they “completely or somewhat trust product recommendations from those around them like friends, family, and coworkers.” Around 80% of the customers read reviews, which also works like word of mouth for your business. Therefore, there’s no best digital marketing strategy for hotels like words of mouth for your business. Encourage your guests to leave reviews.
• Harness the Power of Google Hotel Ads for Effective Marketing: Incorporating Google Hotel Ads into your Digital Marketing Strategy for hotels can give amazing results. Unlike traditional Google Ads, Google Hotel Ads eliminate the need for keywords or ad copy. These ads are strategically designed for the bottom-of-the-funnel users who are actively seeking to book accommodations for their upcoming trips. With Google Hotel Ads, your property will only appear to users whose search queries match your offerings and availability. This targeted approach ensures that you’re investing your advertising budget efficiently, reaching potential guests who are highly likely to convert into bookings.

Conclusion

Digital Marketing Strategy for hotels plays a very important role in generating revenue. Of course, there is endless competition in the market when it comes to hotel business, but guests today rely heavily on online means, and staying relevant and visible there can be a game changer. Catering to your guests needs right from creating a user-friendly website, easy booking options, to quality services, leaves no chance of you lacking behind from your counterparts.

Therefore, use these Digital Marketing Strategy for hotels in the best of their capabilities and come out a winner. Take a step further in the industry above your competition.