Marketing is not only about targeting and marketing to the right audience, it's also crucial to maintain a steady flow of leads to get conversions and sales. The Hotel industry is no different. To generate hotel leads for free, you need to attract, inform and capture the customer’s attention. Marketing is a process wherein you have to follow steps for conversions.
You need to understand that the market is unpredictable and you need to keep on modifying and adjusting your marketing to maintain a steady flow of leads. Without leads, there can be no conversions and without conversions, one cannot generate revenue and ultimately profits. Waiting for leads can be nerve-wracking and not getting free hotel leads is heartbreaking.
The Hotel industry is dynamic and to get leads, you need to understand to identify, engage and attract your audience. The best part is that you can get free leads for your hotels.
We have identified some of the strategies on how to generate hotel leads for free in 2022.
How To Generate Hotel Leads For Free In 2022
There are many ways by which you can generate free hotel leads. Some of the popular ways to do are as follows:
1. Video Content
Gone are those days when video content was merely an add-on in the marketing strategy. It has now emerged as an essential part. Videos are the most consumed form of media due to their versatility and better relatability. Attraction is the step before lead generation, and videos do a great job at that.
You can use videos to flaunt your property. You can make your videos in such a manner at the customer is tempted to make an enquiry, and ultimately book a stay. You can post these videos on your website, social media handles and even OTA platforms. You will surely generate free hotel leads when you use attractive content.
2. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
If you want your property to be noticed, you need to be visible online. To be visible online, you need to be on the first page amongst Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). If not, then your property is as good as invisible.
Search Engine Optimization involves optimizing your content, using the right keywords, linking your website property to different pages, using proper headings, publishing blogs etc. The higher you rank in the search results, the more free hotel leads you will get.
3. Website Optimization
Your website is your identity. A well-designed website can entice the customer to enquire about your property. You should make your hotel website responsive, mobile-friendly, and snappy. Including customer testimonials, property images, and ample information can be a lead generator.
Your website also needs to have content regarding your property so that you will be able to get more free hotel leads. You need to have a contact box, and a booking engine to make it easier for hotel lead generation and conversion.
4. Blogging
Customers want something more than being a profit driver. They want to be engaged, understood and informed. This is where blogs come into play. You need to write blogs on your hotel website which provide information to your audience. It includes telling them about the various places nearby, how to get the best experience out of the property, and new offers.
This is the era of content marketing. When you produce the right content on a topic, people will think about you vis-a-vis the topic. Blogging will help you in your SEO as well since Google wants relevant content with the right keywords. Your website will rank higher, which will help in generating free hotel leads.
5. Social Media
If you are missing on Social Media, then you are missing out on leads. Almost all internet users are on Social Media, be it Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Hotels should make good use of Instagram and Facebook because this is where the audience is. Social Media has integrated business tools as well, such as an option to call and book on the page itself. This is the best source to generate leads for your hotel.
6. Influencer Marketing
In the era of social media, having influencers to promote your hotel is essential. Having the right product is not enough, you need to have the right people to promote it to the young generation. Consider influencers to be mini-celebrities. The insta-savvy youth will take the review of the influencer as gospel truth.
If you want to generate more leads from this segment, you need to approach influencers, that in turn will approach the audience to promote your hotel. For influencer marketing, you need to first understand what your property is all about, the kind of people who visit the properties and approach the influencers accordingly.
7. Mobile Optimization
Most internet users surf the net on their mobile phones. Most hoteliers forget mobile optimization. This is a fatal mistake since it leads to missing out on hotel lead generation opportunities.
You need to ensure that the content on the mobile website is crisp, attractive and readable. Your website also needs to have quicker loading speeds and linking to make the user experience seamless and enjoyable. Your mobile website also needs to be organized in such a way that it leads to more website visits. This will you gain more free hotel leads.
8. Quora
This social media platform is often underrated. But this is a great place to get valuable hotel leads. Quora’s Q&A often comes first in the Google search results. You can start answering questions on the platform and build trust. This helps in building relationships with the customer.
Referrals
Word of mouth remains the best way to generate leads. People will always trust the words of their friends, family, partner, and social circle. You need to provide great service if you want to get positive word of mouth for your hotel. You need to also make up for any goof-ups in the guest experience so that negative word of mouth is avoided.
In Short…
Generating leads is not easy, and it's a time-consuming process. A hotelier needs to use all the avenues for free lead generation for hotels to gain more customers. It requires time, patience and the willingness to learn. With these platforms, you will be able to generate hotel leads for free and will be able to convert those leads better.
To learn more about the hospitality industry, you should check out our blog page. Bigfoot Hospitality is here for your hotel marketing and hotel management needs.