Looking Across the Fence: VisitBritain goes Mobile

There is a growing demand of travelers to research and discover destination information on-the-go. They want access to the information now and wherever they are, directly on their mobile phone. What better way is there than to engage your visitors by delivering your destination content to their pocket.

VisitBritain, for example, rolled-out a mobile site, offering UK maps including street maps and London Underground map, access local ‘what’s-on’ guides and lists of the best local restaurants and hotels, real time weather reports, discount vouchers and much more.

Interested in exploring mobile marketing strategies? We can help.

Five Steps to a Dynamic Mobile Marketing Campaign

Mobile marketing is really starting to hit the radar screens of businesses and marketing professionals in the U.S. now. But not many businesses know where to start. Here is a quick run down of the five steps to creating a dynamic mobile marketing campaign.

Step One
Figure out what your target market wants and provide it to them.

Because mobile marketing is permission based (you have to get the customers’ to decide to opt in to participate in your campaign) it is critical that you have a mobile campaign that is something your customers want…

Step Two
Align what your target market wants with your desired outcome.

Just because you have to provide value to your customers doesn’t mean it won’t give you the return on investment you require…

Step Three
Choose the right mobile marketing tool for this campaign.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is what tool to use to reach out to your customers with mobile…

Step Four
Launch your mobile marketing campaign and market it.

Just because you have a mobile marketing campaign going doesn’t mean anyone will participate. You will need to proactively promote…

Step Five
Track what is working and make any necessary adjustments.

Mobile is highly trackable and there are tools available that will help you analyze your data to ensure your campaign is working…

Read entire article on FastCompany.com

Example of Columbus, GA Convention & Visitors Bureau mobile visitor’s guide/ CityGuide2Go.

Contact us to learn more about this highly customizable marketing tool.

Affluent Travelers Remain Active Travelers

According to a post by Peter Yesawich, affluent travelers, too, have been adversely affected by the financial turmoil that has emerged in recent months (particularly as it relates to the degradation of the value of their investment portfolios), but they remain rather sanguine with respect to their future travel intentions for both leisure and business as revealed below:

This survey was taken in August 2008. Even though it is barely 5 months old, it would be interesting to see if the sentiments have changed dramatically since then.

One thing’s for sure: there is a market out there, even if shrinking. It is an absolute necessity for destination marketing organizations to stay present in the marketplace!

Go here and visit Peter’s blog for more stats.

Google Rallies Embattled Travel Marketers

More than a hundred travel marketing executives meet at Google’s TravelThink 2008 to offer strategies for boosting business. Here are some of the findings:

• travel has become a key business category for Google
• 94% of travel executives said online advertising would provide the strongest return on investment compared to other media in the next 12 months
• Some 20% of travel advertisers will spend more than $10 million in online marketing this year
• 50% will spend $1 million dollar or more
• Google to discuss improving online marketing efforts using Google tools

Among the software that Google is rolling out to help travel advertisers is a tool that suggests appropriate keywords based on spikes in certain search terms. By spotting a rising search term early such as “staycation,” a travel company can develop marketing programs suited to emerging industry trends.

Read the article here.