The tourism industry is undoubtedly a cutthroat sector. With numerous businesses striving to stay well ahead of one another, saying that the sector is competitive is an understatement. Given the landscape, many brands and businesses in the industry are not only trying to survive and navigate an altogether new space, what with the global health crisis still going on, but also pave new ways for the travel industry to thrive together.
With almost everything being placed on a digital realm, making your tourism business well-known in the sphere will greatly help not just in bringing in customers and driving in more traffic, it will also help make your company move to the top of search rankings. Those who have yet to explore what the digital world has to offer are missing out, especially in catering to a wider audience.
For the travel and tourism sector, going with the flow and adapting to the needs of the times is essential. This is particularly vital with these companies playing a huge role not only on enhancing tourism and business, but also boosting the economy.
Businesses who are already in the know are aware of being able to pop up on the first page of Google search results. Apart from generating more leads, it can also direct more consumers your way. For those who have yet to discover how to do this, below are some aspects you should double down on.
Importance of Getting on the Front Page of Google
Before anything else, let us talk about the need to appear on the first page of the Google search results. While most businesses in the travel industry are satisfied to simply have a presence on the Internet, as mentioned, the tourism sector is uber-competitive.
One of the reasons why getting on the front page of Google, and even other search engines is that first and foremost, it provides more exposure for your company. This enables customers and a wider range of audiences to see what your company has to offer. Moreover, this also affects your brand recognition, leading your company to increased brand awareness over time.
A higher ranking on the said search engine enables companies in the same industry to remain above other competitors in the market. In turn, businesses in the travel industry can use this ranking to rake in more cash by leveraging their standing, especially for those interested in advertising with your company. After all, such rankings are reflective on how society at large views a company, and by extension, how it can benefit its sponsors and customers.
Moreover, ranking high on Google and other search engines implies a level of trust and authenticity. Searches that appear at the top signify that these are some of the most organic, and thus, trustworthy, compared to travel companies that are simply being advertised.
Companies and websites that appear on the top of the Google search page are also associated with being more reputable, despite offering a similar service to their audience. Users and audiences, however, tend to go for what is central and what seems to be inherently trustworthy. Because of this, they drive higher conversion rates.
Marketing costs are also greatly reduced over time, allowing for a more cost-effective approach when it comes to advertising. This can be attributed to effective search engine optimization strategies, especially as it brings more customers and product purchases.
Optimizing Your Tourism Website to Achieve Rankings
Reaching the top of the Google search engine can be quite tricky and challenging, particularly for those who do not know where to start or how to navigate the market. While your travel business may be providing top-notch services, your company may need more than just this to keep on track with the latest trends and happenings in the industry.
Working your way to the top is by no means a walk in the park. This takes time and careful methodologies to be successful and emerge victorious against other competitors in the field. Thankfully, there are a number of ways your travel business can drive results toward your goal.
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Make a Website
This step is already a no-brainer. After all, one way to get your company’s business known and to make a step into the right direction is entering the digital realm. This first step is no other than making a website.
A website is a representative of who you and what your company brings to the table. In the past, travel companies billeted in brick-and-mortar establishments may have flown in the physical world and pre-global health crisis. However, today, having a site is akin to making a digital presence that allows customers to know about your offerings.
These websites also contain relevant information which audiences can see right on. From the product descriptions to the contact details, people can easily find what they are looking for from the get-go.
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Have an Optimized Website
Creating a website is not enough, especially when competing with other travel companies in the field who are also doing the same thing. To set your business apart, making an optimized website is key.
One of the ways you can do this is by improving the overall loading speed on the site. After all, a website that takes too long to load may drive away customers instead of helping retain them and their interest.
An optimized website also means having a mobile-friendly website. As more and more people turn to their mobile phones with their busy and fast-paced lives, and with more traffic coming from mobile devices as of late, having a mobile-friendly site keeps up with such needs. This also greatly contributes to your site ranking well on Google and your content driving in more users as the content is easily shareable.
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Utilize SEO Strategies
An optimized website does not just bank on its usability. In order for it to do well and help rank it on Google searches, companies must employ effective search engine optimization strategies. One of the steps to make this happening is making content that appeals to users, particularly those that cater to their tourism-related interests. This stirs up more traffic as they chance upon and click on your content and be directed on your website.
For an SEO plan to be effective, conducting keyword research is vital. It allows you to gain more insight into what the public is looking for and what remains relevant for your website. One of the easiest ways of doing this is simply by going to Google and keying in phrases that people might be interested in.
However, for a more in-depth look, your company might do well to leverage a number of keyword research tools to help determine the right keywords to use and incorporate in your travel-centric content.
Bear in mind that each of these tools will yield different keywords, but make sure to focus on long-tail keywords or those phrases that contain three or more words. Long-tail keywords may be more challenging to seamlessly incorporate into your website content, but these are much easier to rank for and reach a more specific audience.
To go alongside this, make sure that your travel website makes good content. To do this, the content must be engaging, informative, and appealing, while also making these natural. This will only make for more organic content that flows and reads well.
Although optimization is the name of the game, these one should not over-optimize to prevent keyword stuffing. Simply employ relevant keywords, including them as part of page titles, meta descriptions, title tags, and even within URLs.
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Building Links
Having links on your website help Google further gain a deeper understanding of what your website is all about. After all, each tourism company is different from one another and links distinguish your offerings from others.
Links, such as backlinks and external links, greatly contribute to SEO as well, so make sure to include links in your content and your website pages. For example, including a link that directs users towards a tour package or suggested tour, a recommended packing list for a particular place, and other relevant information will drive in more people to visit such pages, and by extension, drive more organic traffic to your site.
Backlinks, in general, shine in this area. These link your company’s travel website and content from other websites, helping build your credibility and trustworthiness with people who are looking to create partnerships with your firm. Though this can be quite tedious to do and ranking may not secure you great heights right away, this is a great start as it can get your firm recognized with the help of varying platforms.
The Bottom Line
Finding your company on the first page of a Google search definitely yields numerous benefits. By utilizing an excellent search engine optimization strategy, companies in the travel sector can help their brands and offerings become more visible to the public.
With this industry being a cutthroat world, landing the number one spot is undoubtedly coveted. Not only does this hold influence and leverage against other companies in the sector, but it also fosters trust and reputation.