5 Ways to Encourage Traveler Online Engagement

In tourism marketing today, the interaction between traveler and travel company is key to building a relationship of trust. By having an online presence and encouraging two-way communication, your prospects are more likely to leave the laptop and reach your destination. An engaged traveler not only takes the leap more, but also spreads the word about your destination to future loyal visitors.

Here are 5 ways to encourage customer engagement online:

1. Non-Promotional Content: Travelers don’t want to be sold to constantly, and you want them to stick with you even if they aren’t ready to book that trip. In addition to promoting your destination, use SEO to create related content that would interest your clients, such as helpful how-to blogs and videos.

2. Calls-to-Action: Provide buttons or links that encourage your online visitors to do something active with that content, such as download a free e-book or attend a webinar. These not only encourage engagement, but also act as incentives for the visitor to subscribe, like, follow or provide an email address, opening more avenues for further communication. 

3. Social Media: Social media is a familiar and personal channel between you and your traveler. Use social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn to promote your non-promotional content and call-to-action incentives. Here, your travelers have the opportunity to have a voice through comments, likes, shares, and more.

4. Email: The goal of all these interactions of course is to turn unknown prospects into loyal visitors. Not every like on Facebook equates a future trip. Once a prospect has willingly provided an email address through a call-to-action, you can send them relevant content to make things more personal and continue to gain their trust. Email also gives the traveler opportunity to reply.

5. Surveys & Feedback: Making space for your travelers to truly have a voice means being open to negative feedback as well as positive. Use surveys or questionnaires to ask for input. This reminds the traveler that you care what they think and wish to improve your destination for their sake.