With the staggering growth of smartphones and tablets, it has become essential for your Guest House website to be mobile friendly.  Travellers are constantly using their mobile devices, before and during their travels, making use of mobile apps like Booking.com,...

Right, we now have a brand new, optimised and working website. Next up we need to start managing our online exposure and make sure it reaches maximum potential and gets you the best possible results. First up, the all important reviews! Gone are the days of your...

Now that we’ve covered getting your new website and your beautifully designed, responsive site is live, we’re now moving on to Search Engine Optimisation or SEO. There is absolutely no point in having a website if it doesn’t appear in related searches on Google, so...

There’ll come a time when you decide you want to take bookings on your own website. Even if you use a third party site for this it’s not as smooth for the guest as having the entire ordering process on your own website. But beware, there’s a wide range of hotel...

Having a website developed for your establishment can be a costly affair, but cheaper options are available. Just always remember, you get what you pay for! This is especially true when it comes to a website. There are quite a few “free” website services out there...

Guest Houses are quickly becoming the accommodation of choice for travelers looking for economical establishments that provide a great experience. As Guest House owners you know, that there's a lot of hard work involved in ensuring that the establishment will meet the...

With the ever growing hotel industry in South Africa, there is often concern expressed by smaller establishments like boutique hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts, about competing with the larger hotels and international hotel groups. So, how does the web...

In a flood of information and the invasion of new technological developments, it’s not easy to recognize what will have the most impact on business. With this in mind, we’ve compiled our top 5 predictions of what we think will impact the tourism marketing field most...

As you all know we here at Tourism Marketing SA just love sharing new and exciting information regarding the online marketing world, providing tips for improving your online presence and just lending a helping hand wherever we can in all matters tourism and marketing....

AirBnB is an online marketplace where travellers can go to find accommodation from mostly private property owners. It is very much like booking a hotel, but guests have the option of staying in a AirBnB Hosts' home or even a Guest House, giving the visitor a more...

Online Marketing is no longer something for small establishments to just consider anymore - it is a MUST DO! Yet, far too many small establishment owners and managers neglect how important online marketing is for their business success. The main reasons seem to be...

You’ve been told at least a million times to claim your business online, but why? What’s so important about being listed on the Internet? To truly let the world know you’re open for business, it’s necessary to claim it online and receive these benefits. 1. It Builds...

By now you would have heard of the all important “content marketing”. It isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a necessity in today’s digital marketing landscape. If you haven't invested in it yet, it might be because you're skeptical of the long-term benefits; reluctant to...

Every gain comes along with a certain payment; it can be hard work, intelligence, power, or investment. The phrase applies completely to Google AdWords, as it is a tool Google offers users to gain traffic through clicks against payment per click. As the Google AdWords...

Most marketers and business owners know that SEO is a critical factor for driving website traffic. If your site and content aren’t properly optimized, both for desktop and mobile users, you’ll have a very difficult time attracting traffic from organic searches. What...

Much research has been done to indicate the benefits of e-newsletters. Obviously it is more cost effective to grow your business by increasing revenue and referrals from existing clients than in pursuing new clients. And a subscriber list of your business...

As most of us already know, Facebook continues to be the best social media network to set up camp on as a business. It’s an absolute no-brainer to be on there. What exactly are the benefits of having a Facebook page? Let’s have a look at the points below: Increased...

To some of us, Social Media Marketing is the “next big thing”, a powerful fad that we must take advantage of while it’s still in the spotlight. To others, it’s an empty buzzword with no practical advantages and a steep, complicated learning curve. Because it appeared...

We all know that quality web design is a valuable investment, but what are the real benefits of hiring a professional designer? Is the price tag worth it? Will a website that looks good bring in business? Yes, and here’s why: 1)  Consistent Brand Identity:...

You might ask, “Why should a small guest house or business like mine either develop or strengthen its presence online?” Well clearly the world of technology, digital marketing and social media is having a huge impact on how we behave socially, act as consumers and how...

Tourism Marketing SA has partnered with 5 star photography company Lodge Shots.  The partnerships will provide Tourism Marketing SA clients with access to 5 star photography services that are world-class in the Hospitality industry. CEO of Tourism Marketing SA,...

"Le Volcan has been erupting all night”, our driver Patrice says nonchalantly in his strong French accent as he pulls our mini-bus into yet another hairpin bend up the narrow winding pass.  We have just started making our way up the Piton de la Fournaise volcano on...

TMSA has been asked by Adventure Travel specialist ATR, to assist in the testing and promotion of their new Mountain Biking adventure holiday to the island of Reunion. ATR has recently started working with the Reunion Tourism Board to assist in promoting of the island...

Social Media is a powerful tool for marketing, brand awareness and creating conversations to build loyalty, but it can also be utilised by hotels as a path for direct bookings. You may ask yourself, why are direct bookings important? Online Travel Agencies (OTA’s)...

In the past few years, so many of us have become dependent on trusting in OTA’s for bringing in business, and yes, some of us might have had some success with it. But wouldn’t it be great if we could do away with all that nasty commissions, double bookings,...

It's important to first clarify exactly what a brand is, how do we define it? A brand is a product, service, person, cause or organization with perceived intangible attributes, a product or service, which a customer perceives to have distinctive benefits beyond price...

Our series of articles sent over the past few months have sparked quite some interest and the one or other discussion. As promised, as this series continues, we will focus entirely on online marketing that will help your establishment to build your brand, increase...

In today’s competitive hospitality industry, establishment owners are struggling to get direct bookings with online travel agencies (OTAs) taking such a large chunk of their business. Establishments – especially small establishments – need to have a multichannel...

Your "Book Now" button is just waiting to be clicked! So what can you do to create a sense of booking urgency? When people purchase airline tickets and especially tickets to an event, they are well aware that seats are limited. No one wants to make a decision to buy...

Do you manage a guest house, B&B, lodge, boutique hotel or other tourism business and want to get more visitors to click the "Book Now" button on your site? We have put together a list of best practices to make it much more likely that visitors planning a trip...

Hotel remarketing is the proactive way to get people who are interested in your hotel to return and make a direct booking. The effective way to remarket and do it for free is to allow your website visitors to opt-in to your follow-up "Book Later" message. To connect...

It would be wonderful if all bookings could happen instantly, with no human interaction. You could just sit back and let the guest bookings arrive as a notification on your computer. The reality is that so many trip planners need to contact you to ask a question or...

Learn how to quickly increase site visits, keeping visitors engaged and convert lookers into bookers. If you do the right things, your website can be your establishment's best marketing and sales representative - it doesn't call in sick, it doesn't need to rest and it...