Top 10 Accommodation Website Checklist for Success in 2012

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2012 is quickly getting into gear with lots of easy things you can do to your website for better promotion of your accommodations across Ontario. I work in the travel and tourism industry and constantly try to put myself in the shoes of target markets that surf my vacation solution websites. Take this Top 10 Where to Stay Website Checklist into consideration and always consult your web designer to implement. Understanding that the better you define your accommodation website as the perfect vacation spot, the greater the chances will be that the people seeing your website will stay with you!

Accommodation Website Top 10 Checklist

  1. A visible Phone number, email address and Contact Us page.
  2. A photo gallery clearly showing your accommodations (inside and out).
  3. Testimonials somewhere on your website (it’s value add to show photos of past visitors enjoying themselves).
  4. Start a page with list of Things to Do in the area with Downloadable Guides & Maps. It’s all about making it easy for people to see your accommodation spot as the solution to a Place to Stay, Things to Do, Where to Eat and, Where to Shop.
  5. Price List of each accommodation. IE: 2 Bdrm Cottage = $900/week
  6. Buttons on ever page for Social Sharing: Facebook Like, Tweet this, Email This & Print This. I will even recommend adding the new hit Social Media Network Pinterest “Pin It” Button, but make sure to add a great photo to the page that can be “pinned”.
  7. Add all Social Network “Connect with me” buttons so people can follow your facebook, twitter, youtube, flickr, accounts.
  8. Create a Tripadvisor and/or, Google Places business listing rating printout that people can be reminded to share what kind of experience they had with you. If your not already on Tripadvisor or Google Places. This is something you must do. Because if your not, I guarantee your competitor is.
  9. Start a blog on your website or externally on wordpress.com, blogger or posterous. Blogging is one of the easiest ways to get your website found by your target markets.
  10. Make sure to Search Engine Optimize each of your pages for 2-3 different keywords that gets you found in your geographic area and accommodation type. Tip: Add a few pages on your website around top things to do topics on your website like “all about the Bruce Trail”. People may be looking to visit the Bruce Trail and do some hiking, find your website, then book with you. Makes sense doesn’t it?!

BONUS TIP: Install Google Translate widget to help people read your accommodation website in another language. I created a link to it for you so that you can ask your web designer to install it for you.

If you have any other suggestions that you think I might of missed please leave them in the comments below. I hope this Top 10 Accommodation website Checklist helps give you direction for action steps in 2012 prior to the upcoming busy seasons of spring and summer.

13 Tourism Regions of Ontario, who’s using Social Media?

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Ontario’s 13 new Tourism Regions have entered the rapidly evolving Social Media arena! Since tourism is a top economic driving factor, I believe this is a great advantage to local businesses that are operating in the Tourism Cake, as Chris Hughes of BCHughes calls it. By nurturing communities on facebook, youtube, flickr and twitter, I believe sustainability will be an outcome with increased awareness and exposure for each region and will generate more economic activity.
Ontario Tourism Regions Social Media map

Yet, who are the Regions with Social Media accounts and how are they doing? I did a little research to share the ones who are already out the gate. In time, I’m sure each region will have accounts in every social media network. This is my January 2012 regional tourism baseline marker to track growth of social media account in tourism. I’ll be following up this post in the coming year with more research into performance of each regions accounts.

Region 1: Southwest Ontario
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://swotc.ca
TWITTER:  N/A
FACEBOOK: N/A

Region 2: Niagara Falls and Wine Country
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://niagarasrto.com/index.php
TOURISM WEBSITE: www.niagaraseasons.com
TWITTER (659 followers): http://twitter.com/#!/visit_niagara
FACEBOOK (3342 fans): http://www.facebook.com/visitniagara

Region 3: Hamilton, Halton and Brant
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.region3tourism.ca
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.theheartofontario.com/
TWITTER (359 followers): http://twitter.com/#!/heartofontario
FACEBOOK (1625 fans): http://www.facebook.com/TheHeartofOntario

Region 4: Huron, Perth, Waterloo and Wellington
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.rto4.ca/
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.timeout.travel/
TWITTER:  N/A
FACEBOOK:  N/A

Region 5: Greater Toronto Area
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.seetorontonow.com/Members.aspx
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.seetorontonow.com
TWITTER (4151 followers): http://twitter.com/#!/seetorontonow
FACEBOOK: N/A

Region 6: York, Durham and Hills of Headwaters
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.rto6.biz/
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.centralcounties.ca/
TWITTER (306 followers): http://twitter.com/centralcounties
FACEBOOK (5654 fans): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Counties/108488642544187

Region 7: Bruce Peninsula, Southern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.rto7.ca/
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://brucegreysimcoe.com/
TWITTER (137 followers): http://twitter.com/#!/BruceGreySimcoe
FACEBOOK (506 fans): http://www.facebook.com/pages/BruceGreySimcoe/249999411707396
YOUTUBE (1253 video views, 4 subscribers): Region 7 Youtube channel

Region 8: Kawartha and Northumberland
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://rto8.com/
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.ourfavouriteplace.ca/
TWITTER (729 followers): http://twitter.com/ourfavplace
FACEBOOK (248 fans): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Our-Favourite-Place/171324532923226

Region 9: South Eastern Ontario
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.region9tourism.ca
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.thegreatwaterway.com
TWITTER (223 followers): http://twitter.com/#!/GreatWaterway
FACEBOOK (98 fans): https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Great-Waterway/216818685015479

Region 10: Ottawa and Countryside
REGIONAL WEBSITE: N/A
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.ottawatourism.ca/
TWITTER (4,120 followers): http://www.twitter.com/Ottawa_Tourism
FACEBOOK (5382 fans): http://www.facebook.com/visitottawa
YOUTUBE (111,120 video views | 133 subscribers): http://www.youtube.com/OttawaTourism
FLICKR: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottawatourism/sets
GOOGLE+ (within 10 circles | 14 +1s): https://plus.google.com/109133176580444665951

Region 11: Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.ohto.ca
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.ontarioshighlands.ca
TWITTER (842 followers): http://twitter.com/OnHighlands
FACEBOOK (383 fans): http://www.facebook.com/ontarioshighlands
YOUTUBE (4,750 video views | 34 subscribers): http://www.youtube.com/ontarioshighlands

Region 12: Muskoka, Parry Sound and Algonquin Park
REGIONAL WEBSITE: N/A
TOURISM WEBSITE: http://www.explorersedge.ca
TWITTER (624 followers): http://twitter.com/Explorers_Edge
FACEBOOK (6,665 fans): http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rto12/187091378001214

Region 13a, b, c : Northern Ontario Tourism Region
REGIONAL WEBSITE: http://www.rto13.com
TOURISM WEBSITE: N/A
TWITTER (257 followers): http://www.twitter.com/RTO13
FACEBOOK: N/A

This list represents regions at the top level.  Region 1 and 4 also have tourism based city websites that are doing very well with Social Media.  Remember also that the large numbers attached to accounts are not definitive of a successful social media account.  Successful Social Media accounts are successful based on their ROI which is defined in the Social Media Marketing world as “Return On Influence”.  This subject of ROI and social media measurement of success will be covered in another blog post this year.   Lastly, but definitely not least, I must also mention Ontario Tourism’s main website which is doing excellent with all four Social Media accounts!

I created the image above from the Ontario regional map sourced from: http://www.mtc.gov.on.ca/en/regions/regions.shtml. Visit For more information on the 13 Regional Tourism Organizations across Ontario.   If I have missed your social media account please email me at ( info -AT- geminimarketing.ca ) so that I may make this the most accurate list available for the beginning of Jan, 2012.




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Tourism-Marketing Performance Metrics and Usefulness Auditing of Destination Websites (Hardcover)

By (author) Woodside
List Price: CDN$ 117.50 CAD
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Looking for clarity in social networking?

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Looking for clarity in social networking? Try CTC’s just published social media guidelines. The Canadian Tourism Commission is helping the tourism sector with this PDF download document. Social Media Guidelines by the Canadian Tourism Commission.  Thanks so much!

social media guidelines - CTC




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Social Media Marketing: An Hour a Day (Paperback)

By (author) Dave Evans
List Price: CDN$ 35.99 CAD
New From: CDN$ 9.99 In Stock
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Send Social Media Smoke Signals to Google

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What are Social Media Signals, is it important and, how do you use Search Engine Optimization to give you more exposure online?  First, I like to check with Matt Cutts, Google search engine spokesperson, and what he has to say about things.  Matt confirms Google is using it!  He sometimes is vague yet tends to give great little morsels of food for thought that Google “could be” using to rank your website.  Basically, Social Media Signals are influential signs to help your regular Search Engine Ranking Page (SERP) results of your website by Google, bing and, Yahoo.  And when it comes to Search Engine Optimization “SEO” which at its most basic form is the task of using specific keywords on your website pages to get ranked properly by search engines.  So when you mix SEO together with Social Signals, it could look like this Social Signal diagram below.
social media signals search engine optimization
To start getting used to this, I like to think like an inbound link building marketer:

“You should link and drive traffic to pages using your tweets and facebook posts that are relevant to what your linking to (talking about).  It only makes sense…”

The more often you do this, the more you become an authority on the subject matter and more active traffic possibly gets sent to by Google along with ranking your website higher in the SERP’s.   Matt Cutts recommended this article on Social Media Signals by that covers the topic more in depth.  http://searchengineland.com/what-social-signals-do-google-bing-really-count-5…

Here is the Matt Cutts youtube video confirming Social Media signals are used by Google.

Note:  You will of course need to have your privacy account settings very open so that you can get ranked for the content your sharing, talking about.  So, it’s a double edged sword. If you don’t want to be that open with your content, my suggestion is to use your main personal profiles for real friends and family, and start other “business pages” for your online totally open content sharing.   I hope you enjoyed this basic overview of what Social Media Signal Search Engine Optimization is and how you can start using it for your online marketing.  If you have any questions connect with me on my Social Media Marketing Teacher fanpage or, leave a comment below.

What is a Social Media Marketing Calendar?

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Here is a Social Media Marketing calendar at its most basic level.   Think of it like a workout schedule.  The more you work the different Social Media muscles, the more they will grow!   Yet, each Social Media account needs to be regularly worked, but not over worked as they can break down, just like muscles do.   And communities can become just as sore as those rarely used muscles feel after an intense workout, so getting in routine is a key to big gains.
Social Media Marketing Calendar

Ok, enough with the analogy. I think you got it.  Even though this image example above only shows a single Social Media account posting per day, it’s probably not anyone’s reality.  The truth is that you should work certain accounts multiple times through the day and others every other day.  Let’s start with twitter and facebook.  First you need to get to know what times of the day and specifically, what days your audience is around the most.  This takes time to understand how they like their content delivered.

Studies have shown that it is best to post during the first 15 minutes of the hour,  with second place being the last 15 minutes of the hour.   Wednesday at noon tends to be a high point through the week where people are around.  And Friday after work is a great time to post new content also with interest slowly declining all the way to Monday morning.  But, did you know mobile marketing / mobile device surfing and interaction increases over the weekend?  So, there in reality there is no decrease in search anymore. An easy way to gauge what your audience is doing in the mobile environment is to join them.  Start a mobile marketing account like Foursquare or start checking in with Facebook places.

So, why not try blogging a few days a week?  Give yourself a deadline day like every second or third day. Make sure you leave a day to edit and proof read (I have people help me with this one).   Content creation is a biggy with Flickr and Youtube.  You gotta go out and get some photos and video, so book that time in also.  Maybe on a weekend or simply pull over in your car and get that beautiful sunset snap shot.  Be creative and always be flexible.  Even though a schedule is there to support your content creation, it isn’t written in stone.. and since its pixels.. well you know… there’s lots of them.  -giggle-   Have fun and be creative because that’s one of the bottom lines also.  Without that, there is no manifesting good results with any sort of Social Media scheduled program.

Additionally, watch this video on Social Media Calendar posting for 2012 creation.  Oh, and they also have great marketing templates.  Enjoy!

 

How Powerful can Social Media Marketing be?

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I live, breath and eat Social Media Marketing in the “Not for Profit” tourism sector in Ontario, Canada.  This video is correct with the advantages and growth potential of Social Media Marketing.  It’s powerful and has the ability to propel your business into a position that competitors will be scratching their heads for years on how you did it.  Even if your intimidated, you can start simply by getting a username and password with any top Social Media network.   Everything takes baby steps.  Why not start today?

Social Media Manager Shares Content Secrets

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Social Media Manager Gem WebbWelcome to my new Social Media Manager “Geek” blog.  With a definite focus on the Geek.  This is due to my serious curiosity for everything technology based.   My name’s Gem Webb and this is where I’ll be giving away educational tips, techniques and reviews of how to get creative using today’s technology.

I’ve been immersed in Social Media for the past 2.5yrs working out how to reach target audiences using every kind of media like video, photo, text and even audio.   It’s has been a serious learning curve/ juggling act, yet one thing rings true, authenticity of voice.  If your going to use Social Media to reach an audience, you better be honest and genuine.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Because this is a “Trust / Thank You” economy as Gary Vaynerchuck states in his powerpoint below.

I’ll be investigating technology, social media and wrapping it up in observations around societal trends.    Maybe together we can uncover what will be next and how we can use it to our advantage.    Feel free to ask me questions and connect with me on most top social networks like Facebook, twitter, YouTube, Flickr, Qoura, Linkedin and many others.

Be well, and remember to stay fully caffeinated!
@gemwebb

 

Gary Vaynerchuk – The Thank You Economy Presentation