According to a recent MSNB poll, 86% of travelers check TripAdvisor and other review sites prior to booking a reservation at a property. How can you maximize this type of exposure?
1. Update your primary listing photo regularly
Guests want to see what your property looks like today, and your primary listing photo can help you make a great first impression. So, keep it current. Change it with the seasons, or showcase renovations and new features.
2. Add photos
As a general rule of thumb: the more photos, the better – travelers consume them at higher and higher rates. Make sure you have more than 20 photos for your property.
Travelers are 150% more engaged on listings with 20+ photos, than those with only a few photos.
3. Encourage guests to write reviews
While it is against TripAdvisor’s policies to offer guests incentives in exchange for positive reviews, it is perfectly acceptable to ask your guests to write a review on TripAdvisor.
There are many resources to help you do this under the “get more reviews” tab on your owner’s page.
You can download widgets, email links and other web tools, and you can also order custom cards and download flyers that offer your guests a friendly reminder to submit a review when they return home.
4. Add widgets to your own website
You are already aware that travelers want to know what other guests have said about your property and your service, so you can show your confidence in your customer service by showcasing your ranking right on your own site.
TripAdvisor offers several badges and widgets that let you add reviews on your own website and promote your TripAdvisor ratings and accolades, such as “recommended on” or “Bravo!”
5. Add videos
Google predicts that 2011 will be the year of video. You can add an unlimited number of videos to your TripAdvisor listing, and you can tag each of them with six keywords to help you get found in search results.
It’s a great way to be discovered by travelers searching in your region, so get creative.
6. Highlight key features
Once travelers have read the reviews and you’re one of a few properties they’re considering, how do you differentiate yourself to close the sale?
Fill in your Hotel Details tab with rich descriptive details that help distinguish your hotel from your competitors, making sure to include your unique offerings.
7. Monitor and respond to reviews
One come now, can't tell you everything here! You'll just have to come to our May 14 event, "Successfully Managing Your Online Reputation"