Let’s step into your customer’s shoes for a moment. They are planning a weekend getaway with their friends and family. Of course, they wouldn’t just pick any random Hotel, right? So, the next thing they would do is take out their phone and type in “best hotels near [town name]” usually going for the top one. Did you know that the #1 result on Google gets 31.7% of all clicks? But what if your hotel isn’t even on the list?
Local SEO can fix that for you, making your hotel the most inviting option in town! (and the first in Google search results). In this blog, we cover SEO strategies for hotels that are not only easy but also effective.
Table of contents
- 5 Reasons Why Hotel SEO is Important?
- 12 Strategies that Work for Hotel’s Local SEO
- In Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
5 Reasons Why Hotel SEO is Important?
It’s important to know why you’re doing something to understand its significance. This helps avoid confusion about whether what you’re doing is necessary or not. Now, let’s explore 5 reasons ‘why’ hotel SEO is important.
Increased visibility in local searches
Boosting your hotel’s visibility in local searches means you’re not just an option; you’re the go-to choice for potential guests in your area. When someone types “best hotels near me,” your hotel takes the lead, capturing the attention of those actively looking for accommodation.
Attracting local guests
Imagine drawing in more guests from your neighbourhood effortlessly. Local Hotel SEO acts like a magnetic pull, ensuring that when people nearby search for a place to stay, your hotel stands out. By tailoring your online content to local preferences, you become the preferred choice for those seeking a comfortable stay close to home. The benefit? A steady influx of local guests.
Drives bookings and revenue
Practically speaking, greater visibility and local attractiveness means increased bookings and revenue. A noticeable effect on your bottom line can be achieved by having your hotel prominently displayed in local searches, which increases the likelihood that potential customers will select it.
Build trust and credibility
When people see your hotel popping up in local searches and read glowing reviews, it builds trust and credibility. They’re more likely to choose you over an unknown competitor.
Enhances uses experience
Local Hotel SEO isn’t just about attracting attention; it’s about creating a seamless user experience. An easy-to-navigate website, transparent booking processes and relevant local information contribute to a positive guest experience, setting the stage for customer loyalty and positive word-of-mouth.
Hence SEO should undeniably be a part of a hotel’s digital marketing strategy.
12 Strategies that Work for Hotel’s Local SEO
Now, you don’t need to be a tech master to implement this strategy. It’s simple. Let’s break down the 12 local SEO strategies for hotels:
1. Optimise website for local SEO ranking factors
There are three key factors your website should be optimised for Relevance, Prominence and Distance
Relevancy
How well does the customer’s search fit your business profile? Does your hotel satisfy the needs of the searcher? Choosing your specialisation and concentrating your digital marketing efforts on your target market is one of the best ways to use local SEO to your hotel’s advantage. An SEO company in Ahmedabad can build an effective strategy for you that will make your website appear in relevant searches.
Prominence
In what ways is your hotel well-known both online and off? Keep up a great offline reputation and position your hotel as an industry authority by making sure Google has accurate, up-to-date information about your website. Develop a review portfolio on websites such as Google, Yelp, Yahoo, and Bing.
Distance
One important aspect of local search engine optimisation is the distance between your hotel and the customer’s search location. By adding links to nearby attractions, you can make sure that your hotel’s SEO is successful in your community. Local keywords should appear on every page of your website.
2. Create a GBP and optimise it
The advanced hotel search feature on Google is a fantastic way to drive more visitors to your hotel website.
You must have a Google Business Profil (GBP) listing for your hotel to benefit from this.
The actions to take are as follows:
- Verify whether you currently hold a GBP listing. If not, claim for it right away.
- By including your hotel’s name, address, and phone number (NAP), you can improve your listing.
- Make sure the location of your Google Maps marker is clear and precise.
- Add any other information that would be of interest to visitors, such as the availability of Wi-Fi, accessible parking, pet-friendly etc.
- Use the same account to generate and validate a GMB listing for each hotel you own or manage.
3. Verify a GBP for each hotel location
Verifying a GBP listing is crucial for every location of your hotel. Google’s algorithms give verified locations more weight and rank them higher than unverified companies. Just conduct a Google search for your hotel, choose “Own this business?”, and follow to the verification guidelines. Even if a hotel location is owned by the same company, it should have its listing with information that can be found on the Internet.
4. Local keyword research for the website
Look into local SEO terms that are relevant to the area and your hotel. Add geographical phrases, localities and tourist destinations. Your website should have appropriate search terms on each page. While overuse of keywords can be troubling, using natural keyword flow inside your content will improve search engine optimisation. An SEO company in Ahmedabad can help you find relevant and specific keywords for your hotels.
Some of the best keywords for hotels in Ahmedabad are:
- Hotels in Ahmedabad
- Cheap hotels in Ahmedabad
- Best hotels in Ahmedabad
- Hotels near Isckon
- Hotels near Ahmedabad airport
5. Optimise for local voice search
Want your hotel to be the answer when guests ask their phones, “Where’s a great place to stay near here?” Voice search is how many people find things now, so use it in your SEO strategy. Use longer phrases like “best family hotels near [landmark]” and update your Google Business profile listing with all the details. Answer common questions like “What amenities do you have?” on your website. Speak naturally and team up with other websites to get your name out there. Keep an eye on how you’re doing and adjust as you go. By speaking the language of voice search, your hotel can become the local favourite, even when guests don’t type a word!
6. Add local content to your site
It takes more than just a well-designed website to place your hotel on the first page of search results. By incorporating guides and local material, your hotel’s website can become an authority in the area. Do you have any enjoyable activities, historic sites, festivals or walking tours in your area? Post articles on your website to provide useful details about the nearby sights. A digital marketing agency for hospitality can help you with storytelling and SEO in your content marketing strategy.
The majority of travellers use the internet to plan their journeys and the more frequently you show up in search results, the more probable it is that someone looking to book a room will choose to stay at your hotel.
7. Utilise the power of social media
Promote your website content on social media to create excitement. If you’re hosting festivals or offering discounts, share the details on Facebook and Instagram. Utilise stories to share your blogs and articles, reaching a wider audience. Nowadays, social media plays a crucial role in decision-making. Engaging content, like reels or stories, encourages people to share and explore your hotel on the website. If juggling both SEO and social media is a challenge, consider teaming up with a digital marketing company in Ahmedabad to handle both aspects for you
8. Check your website’s mobile friendliness
In today’s world, nearly 60% of Google searches happen on mobile phones. Ensure your website looks and functions flawlessly on all devices. This means you need to make your hotel website responsive as a part of SEO for hotels. You can take Google’s mobile-friendly test to check.
- Head over to “Mobile-Friendly Test”
- Enter your website URL and hit the enter key or “Test URL” button.
9. Add alt text to images
This might sound simple, but it’s very effective. The purpose of alt text is to enhance accessibility by describing what an image is showing, especially for visitors who cannot see it. Additionally, it also helps search engine crawlers understand contextual information about the content on the page, thereby improving SEO.
Some points to remember while writing SEO-friendly image alt text
- Specifically, describe the image or a topic.
- Add your keywords
- Your alt text should be no more than 125 characters.
- Avoid beginning alt text with “picture of” or “Image of.”
10. Optimise the website’s loading speed
Another crucial element for the SEO of your hotel website is loading speed. The fact that your audience is impatient must be acknowledged. Although a little technical, this will help you understand what questions to ask your SEO company in Ahmedabad.
To check your website’s speed you can
- Go to Google Page Speed Insight.
- Enter your website URL and click on analyse.
11. Link building
The practice of getting links to your website from other websites is known as link building. A hyperlink, which is commonly referred to as a link, allows visitors to move between web pages.
Thus, obtaining backlinks to your hotel website from other websites, like those run by OTAs, hotel associations, and more, is known as link building for hotels. Two categories of links exist: 1. Internal and 2. External. You can show search engines your website’s structure by using internal links.
Search engines can better identify the main pages on your website and the connections between them by following links from one page to another. The external or backlinks instil confidence in your reader.
12. Track SEO performance
SEO requires continuous efforts. Observe the market to help you predict trends in hotel marketing. Make sure all of your UNAP information is current and consistently accurate. Regularly add new stuff to your insight page or blog. Develop connections with other businesses in your sector to expand your backlink profile. A key component of your business’s digital marketing plan should be local SEO for hotels.
Conclusion
By following these simple, local SEO-friendly tips, you’ll be well on your way to attracting more guests and filling those empty rooms. Remember, SEO is an ongoing journey, not a one-time fix, so stay patient. And if you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to reach out to a digital marketing company in Ahmedabad like us. Contact us at [email protected] and watch your hotel’s online presence boost.
Frequently Asked Questions
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