 |
 2.4 Web Logs (Blogging)
The word "blog" seems to be everywhere, and although it doesn't sound too inviting! Short for "web log," a blog is a Web page made up of typically short, frequently updated postings that are listed chronologically. It's similar to an online journal. Bloggers have different types of content and objectives, just like e-zine publishers do.
For your tourism business, blogging is an exceptionally valuable marketing device as well as a customer relationship building technique. Content can vary greatly, but generally blogs are used to share news about your establishment, projects, people, or ideas. Most blogs feature "here's what's on my mind" type entries written by only one person, but if you can get your staff blogging you can address the needs of a variety of keyword combinations.
Guests like to read blogs to stay in touch with their favourite vacation spot, and will check in occasionally to see what’s new.
Blogging is a very non-invasive, soft sell that keeps the illusion of the utopist northern lifestyle we all enjoy, alive and well with our southern visitors. Coupled with a digital camera, words and images help seed the dream of previous guests next visit, as well as introduce ourselves to new potential visitors who read our blog to learn more about the owners or staff that they may meet during their visit.
In terms of marketing value, taking the keyword strategies you develop and transposing them to blogging will result in your web content getting very favourable treatment by search engines.
Blogs rely on web visitors coming to YOU instead of your coming to them as is the case with e-zines or newsletters which are mailed. This soft sell approach can be very attractive to the northern way of relating to our guests.
Blogs can also be used to exchange information between service provider and their clients. Consider offering commenting privileges to your guests.
When you begin blogging, take the following tips into consideration:
- Keep each blog short.
- Give each blog its own page as well as include a page that shows all or recent blogs in a list, as a sort of chronology of life in the north.
- Don’t sell, tell…. Stories. Share pictures and images. Check your text to ensure there is NO overt call to action.
- Treat your blog, like an online journal, not an advertising medium.
- Create hyperlinks to other content on your web site that supports what you are talking about.
- Allow people to sign up for updates of your blog.
- Register your blog with the search engines. The spiders will visit very frequently and update your blog’s ranking on the search engines almost right away.
- Blog about one topic at a time and use your keywords!
- Establish your expertise in niche area by writing about things that you are interested in.
- Blog just for the joy of it. Take time to just write without always focusing on content that search engines like.
- Create multiple blogs if you want to address the needs of a variety of niche target markets.
Blogging helps establish a non-threatening (non sales oriented) relationship with people. As well, it's an opportunity to score with search engines for fresh and relevent content. Use some of the tools below to establish your own blog in minutes.
|
|
See one: