Tourism businesses can use blogging very effectively to target tourists and show them exactly what they offer. By writing a blog, it provides you with a tool to show visitors the personality behind the business, tell them all about your area and answer any queries they may have. It also provides you with articles to share on other social media platforms, thereby encouraging people to visit your blog (and your website) to find out more. It’s usually just one click away then to your booking page.
However, blogging is not just about sharing your latest good deal. It’s about creating content that your target market will find interesting, useful and engaging. Here’s some tips for finding inspiration for your writing your blog posts.
#1. Share Secrets
By making your content intriguing, suggesting that you are sharing little known secrets about the area, this will compel people to read on if they are contemplating visiting your area. People often love knowing the best places to visit particularly if they are ‘off the beaten track’ too.
Carlow Tours ‘hooks’ readers in with the title 5 things you probably didn’t know about Co. Carlow and then proceeds to share them with us. Even as a Carlow native, I was intrigued to read – in case there was something I hadn’t come across as yet!
#2. Historical Information
Even if your hotel or pub is a relatively new building, attract those interested in history and heritage by including blog posts on local historical monuments, ancient buildings, local museums and much more.
If you have any hotel bedrooms or areas of your building that hold a particular provenance (or even an alleged ghost!), this could make a very popular blog post.
What about if a famous celebrity (from the past or present) stayed in one of your rooms? You can create a sense of modern history too. These Fort Worth hotels both embrace their sense of history within their structure and stories.
#3. Share Sneak Peeks
If you are renovating or re-decorating any aspect of the hotel, pub or other building, provide some early photographs as sneak peeks into the progress as well as completion, particularly if they are hotel or B&B rooms.
People love feeling they are one of the first to see something and it can make them feel part of the story too. This hotel shares pictures of renovated bedrooms, lobby and reception area.
#4. Behind the Scenes
Provide visitors with insight into ‘a day in the life of your business’ showing what goes on front of house as well as behind the scenes. Sharing pictures of the busy kitchen will add atmosphere and don’t forget to share achievements by any staff too – particularly if any have won awards or competitions. If you have an adventure playground, Santa’s kingdom or animals, share pictures of visitors playing or the feeding of the animals (always remember to ask people’s permission if you are going to be using photographs of them).
#5. News of Upcoming Events
Don’t just tell potential visitors about the upcoming events, make them sound intriguing and interesting by putting a particular spin on them. In this post by Russborough House, we are told that we’ll be let into the secrets of telling a fake from a real painting.
It promises insight, information, interest and some fun too. Definitely an excursion that sounds attractive.
#6. Target A Niche Market
Denmark Farm in Wales targets people who are interested in environmental issues, who want to spend their holidays exploring the countryside, wish to stay in eco-friendly accommodation and are interested in learning more about their environment.
Hence, their post on the discovery of kestrels and the installation of a box on their farm to encourage a breeding pair will encourage visitors. Wouldn’t you love to visit to find out if they succeeded in a breeding pair of kestrels breeding there?
#7. Show Specialist Facilities
Is your business especially equipped for access for those with disabilities? Can you promise those with special needs an extraordinary holiday? There are plenty of families looking for holidays where every member of the family can enjoy the whole experience.
HoeGrange Farm not only shows their facilities for those with disabilities but makes it clear that there’s plenty on offer in this area of the Peak District.
#8. Gardens & Golf
Visitors love to know about the amenities of your establishment so if the gardens are particularly beautiful, or you have a golf course or if the spa is particularly luxurious, do highlight them at their best.
This country house in Wales show off their gardens at their best in high summer – doesn’t that image just make you want to visit?
#9. Answer Questions
And above all, the best blogging tip I can give is to write down the questions you and your staff are asked. If a number of people are asking you similar questions, it is time to write a blog post on the topic. If some people are phoning to ask a question, it’s a safe assumption to make that others will ask that question in a search engine. Bingo! Your answer within blog posts become popular and result in more business. My most popular blog posts have all resulted from writing answers to questions I’ve been asked.
If you have a restaurant, B&B, hotel, gardens, golf course, adventure experience or any other tourism business and you would like to avail of training in blogging, do take one of our online elearning blogging courses. Alternatively, if you would like to outsource that work, that is one of the services offered here at Write on Track so do get in touch.
