Marketing tips
Above the fold
Here's an easy way to make your website more effective. It can help with search engine optimisation as well.
Make sure you have all the essential information above the fold.
What's the fold?
When someone looks at a website, especially on a laptop or desktop, they don't see the full page - they have to scroll down, below the fold to see all the information.
Many people will only scroll and get all that information if the first part is compelling and relevant.
When someone first …
Use a tomato timer
Do you sometimes have days when you faff about or lack focus? When you find it hard to settle and get things done?
Pomodoro is the answer!
The Pomodoro technique was created by a man called Francesco Cirillo and named after the tomato-shaped kitchen timer he first used (Pomodoro = tomato)
It's a really simple idea. You set a timer for a short period of time, typically 25 minutes. Focus on one task and stop when the timer goes off. Then you have a five minute break before re-setting. …
Make full use of your Google Business Profile
Are you making the most of your Google Business Profile? (if you don't have one, get one now!).
It's a free, easy and very powerful way to raise the profile of your business. They've now added an extra feature - a QR code you can use to get more reviews - read to the end for details.
92% of search engine searches are on Google so it's really important to claim and update your Google Business Profile. You want your business to show up as high in the results pages as possible. You don't nee…
Should you advertise or boost a facebook post?
I'm often asked about facebook advertising and boosting posts. Is it worth it?
Interestingly, the question is often posed by businesses with limited engagement and followers, probably thinking it's a shortcut to growing a little faster.
Does it work?
First of all. let's look at the different between the two:
Facebook ads are a way to create an online ad which targets a very specific group of people, determined by who they are, where they are, or what they're interested in. To use these, yo…
What's your one question?
Every business has one.
A question you're asked, again and again.
'Are you suitable for children?' 'Do you accept dogs?', 'Where are you?' (that often really means - 'what are you near that I've heard of')... or something equally simple.
Or there's something that visitors get wrong, again and again. It could be something like not realising you're close to/or a long way from a place, or not realising how much there is to do. Or maybe your visitors often regret not booking in advance for…
A lesson from bananas
40 years ago this week a small crowd gathered outside my window to watch a couple of bananas ripen. It was one of my first tourism marketing lessons, gained on the other side of the Iron Curtain.
I'd gone to Magdeburg in the former East Germany/GDR to work as a translator/interpreter. It was a long time ago when only the most naive, foolhardy and stubborn (i.e me) from Western Europe stepped into the country ruled by Russians, under a very strict regime.
When I left Yorkshire my mum did what…
What makes a successful tourism business now?
What makes a successful tourism business right now?
I've been thinking about this a lot recently, especially at a time when many are struggling.
These are some of the things that make businesses more successful:
1. Its instantly obvious
- what the business does,
- where it is and
- who it's for - through the business' description, imagery, website, and other marketing. Visitors don't have to work hard to fathom this out. If you think this is obvious - look at the majority of tourism business…
Small isn't just beautiful
Small is beautiful, better – and bigger than you might think
I’ve always been drawn to small businesses rather than corporate chains. I like the direct link between customers and business owners, between business owners and their local communities and their suppliers.
Most of the businesses I help are small, usually independently owned. Their owners frequently say things like, ‘it’s just a small business’ or ‘it’s just me/us’.
But… small businesses are almost always mightier than their owners…
Don't leave money on the table
Are you leaving money on the table? Or maybe just not attracting people who want to spend money with you?
There are reasons why you may not be attracting visitors or making as much money as you'd like.
Once you've considered each of these, small actions can have a big impact.
1. You don't make it clear who/what kind of people can benefit from your business. People often think something isn't for them, for example they may like the look of a holiday cottage but just not know what they'd…
Talk about your values
As money becomes tighter, visitors think more about how they spend their precious income.
Some visitors will turn to chain businesses because they think they’re trustworthy, and offer a standardised product.
Many others are turning their back on faceless chains, away from corporate giants, and businesses that might not really care.
They could turn to your business.
There's a real trend toward supporting 'purpose-driven' businesses - those with a strong ethical focus or aligned to the s…