tour operators

Why Your Tourism Website Needs to Be Mobile Responsive

by t@aamp.agency | May 21, 2021 | Web Development

Did you know that mobile devices make up two-thirds of all web usage? With the rapid advancement of smartphone technology, surfing the web on your cell is becoming more and more commonplace than doing so on a desktop. But what does that mean for you and your tourism business? It means that in order to amplify your visibility and to start reaching your clients on the devices they use, it’s imperative your company start shifting more focus onto the quality of your customers’ mobile experience.

For business owners, the goal is to always create an excellent user experience. A first-rate online user experience often leads to lower bounce rates and stronger customer loyalty, while a negative experience can easily turn off otherwise interested customers. Components such as slow loading speed, difficulty navigating or finding information, and unresponsiveness are all factors that are oftentimes neglected when thinking about a site’s mobile experience. Could you unknowingly be turning away potential clients simply because of how your mobile site is built?

Here are 8 reasons why you should invest in making your tourism website more mobile friendly:

1) Google likes mobile friendly content.

As the most popular search engine in the world, Google knows that most people use their smartphones and other mobile devices to look up their day-to-day information, and will prioritize its search results to match the needs of the user. Optimizing your tourism website and formatting your content to be more mobile friendly will improve your SEO, and in turn, may cause your website to rank higher – expanding your visibility and widening your potential audience.

2) A well-built mobile website helps to build trust.

Approximately 57% of online users won’t recommend a business with a poorly designed mobile website. Making your tourism website more mobile friendly will help to increase your brand’s credibility with new customers and to further legitimize your brand.

3) It makes it easier than ever for potential customers to contact you.

There are many studies that prove convenience impacts consumer behavior. Today, consumers’ lives are busier than ever. Due to this, 83% of participants in a recent study decided convenience was more important now than it was five years ago when considering which companies to give their business to.

People tend to pursue the option that will save them time and effort, meaning the more convenient it is for customers to contact you, the more likely they are to do it. Why miss out on this simple way to improve your lead generation?

4) It will give you a competitive edge.

It’s easy to put off making your website more mobile friendly, but consider this –
chances are your top competitors have already made their website mobile friendly. And as we just discussed, new customers have a tendency to choose the more convenient option. If it’s easier to book a rental, contact a representative, or find more information on your competitor’s mobile site than it is on your own, you may lose out on that client even if you provide the better service. Don’t give your competitors the advantage – make the wise choice and give your business an equal chance.

5) It may help increase your sales.

With each passing year, more and more consumers are relying on their smartphones to perform everyday tasks, such as communicating, socializing, and, of course, shopping. Did you know about 79% of smartphone users have made a purchase online using their mobile device in the last 6 months? You may be missing out on dozens of potential clients everyday solely because it’s difficult to operate your site on the device they’re using.

6) Mobile friendly websites tend to garner more page views per visit and lower bounce rates.

Like with anything else related to your business, an easy and responsive user experience is the ultimate key to a higher conversion rate. If most users are looking you up on their smartphones, it’s a no-brainer to optimize your site to be as accessible as possible for them. Mobile websites that load fast, are easy to navigate, and are legible without needing to zoom in are huge deciding factors in getting a visitor to stay longer on your site and to explore more of its pages.

7) A better mobile experience contributes to customer retention.

It goes without saying that if a customer is satisfied, the higher the chances are they may return or recommend you to others. However, this works both ways – if a customer is unhappy with their experience, it becomes equally likely they’ll never work with you again and may even warn others from working with you too.

Studies show that about 62% of online consumers are unlikely to work with a company again in the future if they had a negative mobile experience. Don’t lose the chance to gain a repeat client, as it’s well known that loyal customers tend to bring in more revenue over the long run than new customers.

8) Mobile devices are typically used to research a service before purchasing.

Did you know that before purchasing from a company, approximately 69% of users (ages 18-39) will research a product or service from their mobile device? This is usually done to compare prices, to contact the company for more information, or to learn more information about a service.

While studies show that most people will complete their purchase on their desktop, they will usually do a mobile search first to help make up their mind – but if your website isn’t mobile friendly, you may lose the opportunity to win them over. How many times have you exited out of a website because it was unresponsive or difficult to use? Don’t miss out on the hundreds of potential customers who visit your website on their mobile device simply because you didn’t invest in a better mobile experience.

What We Can Do to Help

Our professional team of web developers know exactly what your tourism business needs so your customers have a successful mobile experience every time. Here at AAMP Agency, we offer two incredible web building options – both including an optimized, mobile friendly version of your site.

Our AAMPsite Template Website is available for only $750 down, with a $199/mo managed service subscription. Or for more complex sites, our AAMPsite+ Custom Website is available for $2500 down, with a $299/mo managed service subscription – an incredible deal with a great value. We provide everything your tourism business needs to create a strong online presence – from conversion focused designs to on-page search engine optimization. Whether you need 5 pages or 500, we have the skill and experience to create a site you can be proud of that will work great on both desktop and mobile. Start reaching thousands of potential customers on the devices they’re already using – schedule a call with us, and start optimizing your tourism website for mobile today!

Why & How You Should Market Your Destination or Attraction to Millennials

by t@aamp.agency | Jan 14, 2020 | destination marketing

As I reached the top of Helvellyn from the Striding Edge approach, I took a photo of my friends posing by the summit. As I smiled and checked the photo, I noticed another group. Their arms locked together, they smiled at small jokes they made as they all stared at the lakes below us. I took this photo and then approached them to ask if they would like a copy. They were three sisters with their mother. The mother is the lady in green who's glasses you can just make out. The way they face the view as she clings fondly to her daughters; this image will always remind me of family. — Photographer: Matt Heaton | Source: Unsplash

According to Pew, those born between 1981 and 1997 are now the largest generation (75.4 million people), and they travel more for both business and leisure than older generations. Traditional advertising campaigns had worked previously with older generations, but millennials are often leery of destination marketers, forcing businesses to adapt to non-traditional methods. While millennials might take more persuasion, it is not impossible. Keep reading to learn Why & How You Should Market Your Destination or Attraction to Millennials.

1. Get Social

It's no secret that millennials love social media, in fact, a study conducted by EMarketer had shown that 90% of millennials use social media. Almost every aspect of millennial's travel is shaped by social media. Whether its gathering travels inspiration from Pinterest and Instagram, to online reviews on specific spots and tours, to sharing their experiences on their own platforms. Social media is everything, and tour operators, attractions and any business tourism-related should be capitalizing on it. So how does a business get social online? Check out these examples:

• Targeted Facebook Ads
• User-Generated Content (Read more about it here)
• Sharing engaging & relatable content which includes
– Geofilters on Snapchat
– 360-degree videos
– Virtual Reality experiences
– Blogs, articles, etc

2. Make it Instagram Worthy

While sharing your own content is amazing, finding ways to encourage millennials to post and share their own experiences is even better. Again, read more about user-generated content here to understand just how useful UGC is. Also, we've written about being an insta-worthy attraction before, so check that out here. Here's the gist:

• Offer to take their photos for your customers
• Find nice spots that will provide a good looking photo
• Remind your guests to tag your account and use your hashtag

3. Look into "Bleisure"

Baby boomers are starting to retire or are so advanced in their careers that business trips are less common. Millennialls are now the driving force in business trips, and they like to take advantage of the travel opportunity. Millennials are more likely to buy flight upgrades during a business trip, and a more likely to extend their trip by a few days to turn it into a mini-vacation. Businesses in the tourism industry should encourage this behavior by inspiring them to visit your destination or attraction, and include messaging about extending business trips, adding activities to their itinerary and upgrading their experiences.

4. Encourage Loyalty

Unlike older generations, Millennials are more open to loyalty proframs in fact Expedia has said that 51% of millennials find loyalty programs important when they are booking hotel stays. Only 30% of baby boomers found loyalty programs important. By encouraging loyalty, DMO's and businesses can keep a connection with the customer and find ways to get these visitors to return. Offer a good enough loyalty program, and they'll be telling their friends and family as well.

5. Personalization

Millennials like being able to have an experience that can be catered to their interests! They are also searching for simple, and if something is already planned out for them then that is even better! To add personalization in try updating your website and content for easy booking, support, and information. Your business can also promote suggested itineraries featuring on-location & local experiences.

6. Be Authentic

Millennials do not want to feel like the stereotypical tourist. They crave authentic and local experiences. According to the Huffington Post, 86% of millennials would rather experience a new culture, compared to 44 percent who prefer to party or 28 percent who prefer shopping. Take this into consideration when trying to provide immersive experiences.

Millennials are expected to be the largest generation, surpassing even the Baby Boomers by 2028. They also have an estimated $200 billion of spending power, making their generation one to appeal to. At AAMP Agency | Adventure & Activity Marketing Pros, we are tourism & destination marketing experts. We specialize in digital marketing an understand just how important a successful marketing strategy is for your business. Contact us today for any questions or to start growing your business today.

10 Digital Marketing Trends to Expect in 2020

by t@aamp.agency | Jan 3, 2020 | Digital Marketing

2020 has arrived, and with the new decade comes new digital marketing trends that your tourism business, attraction, or destination needs to get on board with. Don’t worry, we’ve done the dirty work of finding out what trends to look for, so just keep reading to find out which Digital Marketing Trends to Expect in 2020.

1. Interactive Content Marketing

Want to spice up your content and appeal to your audience? Using content to generate sales is nothing new. We’ve been doing it for years! However, instead of static content, it’s time to embrace interacting with your audience. You can do this by including things such as the following:

• Quizzes

• Polls and Surveys

• 360-degree videos

• Infographics

• Augmented Reality Ads

Interactive content works to grab the attention of the viewer, and then provide them with a value or experience, which is why interactive content works! While it does require some persuasion on your part to get viewers to participate, it will help in boosting your conversions.

2. Personalization

Personalization can apply to every aspect of the tourist experience, and today’s consumers have come to expect experiences that closely match their preferences. If an experience can be tailored to their expectations, the more likely they are to become a returning customer. Some examples of personalization in marketing are targeted ads, product & tour recommendations based on the viewers’ previous purchases, and personalized email subject lines & text.

3. Conversational Marketing

Today’s consumers are busy and expect speedy solutions, which is why conversational marketing will be an effective strategy this new year. Conversational marketing uses customer data to drive conversions, improve engagement, build customer loyalty and more. So what are the ways that your tourism business or attraction can incorporate this strategy?

• Live support

• Chatbots

• Loyalty Programs

• Email Marketing

• Artificial Intelligence

By utilizing conversational marketing, your business can also personalize their approach and connect with the consumer. It also helps that it adds a friendly touch!

4. More “Authentic” Branding

Over the course of the past year, consumers have expressed a yearning for authentic, and genuine experiences. Consumers have also expressed that they expect brands to be transparent and authentic in their marketing efforts. So how does a tourism business like yours accomplish this? Rely more on emotion and less on the facts! Instead of writing “5 ways to enjoy this destination”, try writing “this is what it is like here, here’s why we love it, and here is how you can experience it too”.

5. Mobile As A Travel Tool

The travel industry has made great strides in creating mobile-ready information for travelers, but there is still work to be done! Tourism businesses and attractions should begin integrating their offerings onto already existing platforms, such as allowing tours to be booked through TripAdvisor.

6. Optimizing Content for Voice Search

With smartphones and AI assistants such as Alexa and Siri, the use of voice search has grown by 187 percent in 2018 and continues to grow according to Canalys reports. With the rise of users searching online using their voice, content marketers are focusing on optimizing their content to match. Most users speak differently than how they would conduct a text search, for example, instead of typing “weather Los Angeles”, a user would ask, “What’s the weather in Los Angeles today?”. Because of this, content marketers would need to optimize their content for voice search by anticipating questions their audience would ask in a conversational manner and create content based on those questions and longtail keywords!

7. Video Marketing

Video marketing has become one, if not the, most important marketing trend! We’ve written about the importance of Video Marketing before, so check it out here. Not convinced? Check out these stats:

• 70% of consumers say they have shared a brand’s video (Wyzowl)

• 72% of businesses say video improves their conversion rate (Invodo)

• 54% of consumers say that watching product videos makes them more confident in their online purchases (Forbes)

• 92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others (Mill for Business)

• Click here for 100+ video marketing stats you need to know in 2020

8. User-Generated Content (UGC)

We’ve written an ultimate guide to User-Generated Content, so be sure to check it out!
UGC is a resource for marketers who want to tap into marketing to Millenials and Gen Z. It’s a great way to source content, building brand awareness and authenticity, and so much more.

9. Influencer Marketing

Yes, influencer marketing will still be a thing in 2020 and there are no signs showing that it will slow down. What we will see in the upcoming year is that this strategy will mature and adapt. In 2020, we will see an increase in paid media budgets for influencers’ posts to better reach their audiences. Also, Instagram will continue to hold the title as the preferred influencer marketing platform, however, TikTok will start to take a part in this market.

10. Improved Security

Customer security has always been an important factor, but as technology continues to advance so does your business’s efforts to keep customer information safe. If a consumer feels that their information isn’t safe on your website, they won’t bother to complete the booking and are unlikely to become a returning customer.

Digital marketing trends and destination marketing trends can be a very tricky thing to watch and implement. That is what AAMP Agency | Adventure & Activity Marketing Pros is here for! Whether you need answers to your questions, a website built, content marketing or more, we’ve got you covered. Contact us today to start capitalizing on these upcoming digital marketing trends.

8 Photography Tips for Tour Operators

by t@aamp.agency | Jul 26, 2019 | Video Marketing & Photography

This one is from my trip to Clermont Ferrand, France that I went on about a month ago. This is a famous graffiti spot that the country funded and it’s called le Chaux. — Photographer: Miha Jan Strehovec | Source: Unsplash

A good photo helps a person be able to relive a memory, in fact it is a souvenir these days. As a tour operator, being able to capture a good photo will help you with creating content for you digital marketing, as well as provide something for your guests! Here are our 8 photography tips for tour operators, tourism businesses, and attractions.

1. Know the Place & Photo Opportunities

As a tour guide, it is your responsibility to know the place you are bringing your guests to. Know the heritage, culture, and to make things better – the best photo ops! Your guests will appreciate you knowing where to take them for the best photo, as well as taking the time to make sure they get a quality photograph.

2. Understand your device

A good photographer understands how to use its device, whether that is an iPhone, or a DSLR camera. If you're using a DSLR camera, it helps to have an understanding of the camera basics (exposure, shutter speed, aperture, etc). However, with technology these days the Auto function can get you some decent photos! If you're using a phone, sepdn some time testing out it's different camera functions.

3. Standing Still & Lighting

You want your guests to have a decent photo, so when you go to take their picture keep two things in mind – stand still and ensure good lighting. If your device has an auto function, it will compensate for the lighting as long as it's not too dark. Also, it seems obvious – but try not to move when taking a photo. Turn yourself into a human tripod, point the camera, make sure everyone is in focus, and click the button!

4. Patience Is Key

You won't get a perfect photo every time, even the worlds best professional photographers know this! Patience is key, especially as a tour guide. Sometimes it may take multiple shots to get the right one, and that's ok. Also, if your tours take guests to a famous location (for example the the Las Vegas Welcome sign) be patient with the crowd, everyone is there for their photo op!

5. Edit the Photos

Editing your photos gives it an extra wow factor. We're not saying you need to Photoshop people out of backgrounds, but adjusting the lighting or throwing a quick filter/preset on will make a huge difference! If you edit your photos the same way each time, this also helps with building your brand and its look.

6. Use Natural Lighting When Possible

Natural lighting is your best friend. As a tour operator or attraction, you can't always be dealing with flashes, soft boxes, and even more gear. A soft natural light is key when it comes to taking a quick, but good quality photo. Try to make sure there are not any harsh shadows on your guests faces when you're taking their photo, and if there is try to find a better spot or angle.

7. Frame It Right

When taking a photo of your guests, make sure to frame the photo right. Don't stand too far back to where you can barely distinguish your guests, and don't be up in their faces either. Try to aim for having at least the upper half of their bodies, with the attraction or tour site behind them in the shot.

8. Keep it Horizontal

For most purposes, hold your camera horizontally. The photos tend to look better, and will work more for a variety of platforms such as Instagram and your website. Plus, it helps capture your guests and the surrounding area that you've taken them to see.

Having good quality photos of your tours or attraction, plus photos of your guests will ensure that you have tons of content! Not only that, but your guests will appreciate the effort, and it helps encourage them to tag your business in their social posts. At AAMP Agency | Adventure & Activity Marketing Pros, we can help your tourism business or attraction with capturing high-quality photos. If you have any questions or would like us to snap some photos for you, contact us today!