5 Web trends that will change Hotel Internet Marketing

5 Web trends that will change Hotel Internet Marketing

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Inbound Marketing

If you have any responsibility over your company's marketing efforts or better marketing expenses, then you most likely are living in a new world where budgets have been slashed and customers have gone scarce. Over the last decade, outbound marketing (advertising, TV, radio, online sponsorships, cold calling, trade shows, even email blast) has been the common approach for targeting audiences. But with a tidal wave of media being forced on customers and their attention spans, inbound marketing has taken root as consumer preference and continues to shift the way we seek information and decide on purchases.

Inbound marketing consists of media and mediums that consumers use and in turn, chose which messages and companies they wish to know more about. For example, instead of interrupting people with TV ads, videos are created and spread virally to only those engaged and willing to participate with the social media. Other examples of Inbound Marketing are: blogs, white papers, SEO, webinars, and RSS feeds.

Although inbound marketing should not necessarily replace outbound marketing, if not practiced as part of an overall marketing strategy, companies will lose out to competitors that embrace it. Social media is here to stay and with lower costs and better targeting than outbound, even the smallest player can compete with the biggest bully in the market.

Website Development - So what are you really paying for?

Many times I'm asked to help create, build, program and promote a new website. You can really get yourself into a pickle if you quote your time or worse someone else's without truly knowing everything that's needed for a specific project. Anyone shopping around looking to create their first site should understand the different elements that make up developing a website.

To keep it simple, I'll break it down into three stages. Each incurring their own expense. First the site needs to be designed. Next, it needs to be programmed. Third, it should promoted to become visible on search engines. In designing a site, one should plan out and define the precise objective for their website: information, organizational, entertaining and/or commercial.This will dictate the site content and act as a foundation for the overall design and navigation.

Programming a site carries a large range of options and possible scenarios. Again, planning is crucial so that every desired bell and whistle as well as functionality and user experience is confirmed prior to development. Adding new features and site capabilities as you program other pages is extremely inefficient for obvious reasons.

Although some may think marketing a site comes after the site is built, this is not suggested. SEO, internal and external link strategies, and online promotions should all be considered and implemented into the master plan of the site. Like any marketing project, research and planning allows for smooth development and more importantly, a functioning product that meets expectations.

Social Media: Use it or Lose it

The concept of using user-generated content in social applications surely isn't a new topic. But how not using it can result in damaging and devastating consequences rather is. The verdict is out that consumers from all types of industries are looking and listening to what other like-minded people have to say about a specific product or service. For example, a leading OTA (Online Travel Agency) states that 40-50% of vacation condo rentals come from referrals of friends and family. With social networks and content sharing bringing together consumers like never before, companies can't ignore the power of this new influential purchase channel.

Mission successful!

We've made it. Welcome to my new marketing blog.

How many times have you thought: what if...; someday I'm gonna...; you know what I'd like to do...? I once heard that those expressions are a warped perception of reality that give you temporary satisfaction that progress is in action.

Well I remember having those same thoughts and nothing feels better than to conquer them and accomplish what you seek. With all of that behind me, now I can start on this new adventure sharing and exploring new ideas in the world of marketing, social media and innovative technologies.

See you on the playing field!

Be sure to check out my new websites: http://www.toddscholl.com/ and http://www.thegravityhouse.com/