The Internet provides the tourism sector with a series of tools that allow it to maintain regular communication with its clients and to be discovered by new clients.
What am I going to talk about today?
- The business website
- Digital Strategy
- The company has to be active online
- Website optimized for the user
- Total transparency
- Offer a WiFi connection
- Positive social interactions
- Geolocation apps
- Online Reputation
- Product/Service Life Cycle
- User Experience
- Conclusions
Some of these tools are free, but in all cases they require time, patience, effort and a defined digital strategy if we want to obtain the maximum performance and increase the profit of our business.
1. The business website
On the Internet a website is the calling card of any company in today’s society.
Therefore, it is essential to have a professional website, where the customer can establish a first virtual contact with our business. It is the first fundamental pillar, and without the following do not make sense.
In addition, we have to register our business in vertical directories and have an active presence in social media.
2. Digital Strategy
We must have a clearly defined digital strategy, focused on achieving the objectives of our tourism business.
- Online marketing plan (content, social media)
- Web positioning strategies
- Other promotion and advertising strategies
3. The company has to be active online
It is important to have our social networks up to date, update the blog of our company, improve the descriptions, images and videos of our company in order to offer a more professional and up to date image.
4. Website optimized for the user
We must make it easier for the user to book on our website as far as possible.
If this is not possible, we must provide alternatives for the user to book and/or buy on our website.
5. Total transparency
There is nothing that generates more interaction and engagement than total transparency in the network.
With total transparency we mean that the company has to present to users and potential customers clear information, accessible and by available means to which these customers can access.
6. Offer a WiFi connection
Today, we live hyper-connected, so we must provide an Internet connection with quality WiFi access.
This will encourage our customers to comment in real time and communicate with their social environment about their experience with our company.
7. Positive social interactions
Having good opinions of your business on the Internet is very important. In addition, comments on social networks, reviews on Google MyBusiness, vertical social networks such as Trip Advisor, Booking, AirB&B, etc., are aspects that we must take care of as much as possible. A good opinion can attract many customers.
But a bad opinion can stop many customers from visiting your business as well. Social interactions must be promoted in a positive way.
8. Geolocation applications
The presence of companies from the tourism sector in mobile devices is fundamental for any business.
Google Maps, Foursquare, Yelp, Facebook, etc, allow us to geolocate our clients on the map.
It is of vital importance to dedicate the necessary time so that all the information of the hotel is available and is the correct information in these platforms.
Incorrect information can make a client unable to find our business and generate a complaint or a bad online opinion of our business.
9. Online Reputation
It is estimated that 50% of internet users would never book a hotel without internet commentary.
We need to manage comments and critiques quickly, to highlight the best comments and to be able to correctly manage the critiques.
The user must be pampered in this sense, since they are a fundamental part of generating a good online reputation.
10. Product/service life cycle
You must take care of the customer before, during and after the experience with your business or service, with the aim of loyalty and attracting other tourists by sharing their experience with our product or tourist service on the network.
We have to boost the viral effect of the Internet to publicize our business.
11. User experience
You have to connect and communicate with the client. We have to generate an optimal user experience.
Your brand must communicate with its customers in the same language used by tourist 3.0.
Have you ever heard of storytelling? Well…we tell you what storytelling is all about. It consists of telling a story to emotionally connect the client with the business and get a relationship of empathy through the narrative of the story.
12. Conclusions
These are some of the pillars of tourism that I consider most important. But of course, it is the users who have the most important role in this new stage and towards them all these actions have to be directed.
What do you think are the pillars of online tourism in 2019? Leave a comment to complete this list. Thanks!