1) Get Your Company Listed on Tripadvisor
Despite the Advertising Standards Authority giving Tripadvsior a massive smackdown earlier this year; the site remains a key influencer of travel-related decision making. Being a top ranked tour or attraction on Tripadvisor carries a lot of weight, and can drive beaucoup traffic to your website. More importantly, however, being listed on Tripadvisor allows you to receive valuable, honest feedback from customers–the type of feedback that helps you improve your business.
Unfortunately, getting listed on Tripadvisor can be a rather confusing process for some businesses. Companies can list themselves under the attractions section or resources section of Tripadvisor. Companies qualify for listing under the attractions section if they offer private day tours (not overnight or multi-day). Travel resources include companies that do offer overnight services. The problem is, of course, that some companies will fall under both categories as they offer day tours and overnight tours. In this case it’s best to submit your company under attractions and hope your listing will be approved. It takes approximately four weeks to get a new listing approved (or rejected) and it’s not uncommon to have to make multiple attempts before getting approved. If at first you don’t succeed . . .
2) Build Relationships with Concierges
Many businesses struggle with how to get concierges to promote their services, but it’s a pretty simple formula. All you have to do is talk to them. Smart business owners regularly bring by brochures and coupons for hotels and take a little time to chat. You need to convince concierges that you are professional and that your services meet their standards. Consider setting up an event or presentation for hotels in your area. Research to find if there is a concierge association in your area that you can go talk to. Above all else: be nice, be clean and be seen. Oh, and one more thing—offering commission and incentives isn’t as effective as you think it is.
3) Encourage Customers to Talk About You Online
This can be as simple as just asking people at the end of a tour to make a comment on your Facebook page, or post a review on Tripadvisor. Do some post-trip follow-up with your customers too! Send out an email thank you and gently ask them to tell their friends about you if they had a good time. People like being thanked. It makes them feel special.
[box]Author Bio: Donald Kennedy works for the travel website Travergence.com. Travergence helps tour companies and activity providers connect with travellers looking for things to do on vacation.[/box]
