Cruise Ship
A successful online travel portal has a steady stream of traffic and focuses on turning visitors into converted sales. The goal for your travel portal should be to evolve beyond mere price comparisons into a hub for learning, advice and multiple travel options. Through effective advertising and creative marketing techniques, your travel portal can turn clicks into cash.
Information
Provide useful destination information and travel articles on your website. Update this information regularly. It will bring new customers to your travel portal and keep existing customers coming back to read new information. Articles should be short, direct and actionable.
Reviews
Encourage customer interaction on your travel portal through reviews and ratings of tourist sites, services and destinations. To keep customer interest high, offer discounts and coupons to active reviewers. Establish a point system that grants points based on reviews, ratings and comments. This interaction will keep customers coming back to your site. Discounts encourage the use of your service over other travel portals.
Complimentary Services
Think beyond the traditional information provided at most travel portals. Offer products and services that aren't commonly found on other sites. For example, offer complimentary services and products like airport shuttle booking services, airline approved luggage, tour guide listings and even baby-sitting services in popular tourist towns.
Up-sells
Provide as many up-sell opportunities as possible. Once you have a customer, try to sell her as many services as possible. For example, if the customer purchases a car rental through your travel portal for a specific city, offer tickets to a popular tourist attraction as well. Consider bundling services for maximum profit and customer purchases.
Niche Marketing
Competition runs high among current travel portals. Stand out from the crowd through niche marketing. Cater to a specific clientele or service market to draw clients. For example, you could focus on adventure tourism, disabled travel or family travel. Differentiation and niche marketing will help distinguish your site and generate interest in your products and services.
Support
Provide real-time support for customers during the purchase process and during their travel. Fast, effective online chat, phone and email support will win loyalty from your customers and their associates. Great service online and offline is a key to service business success.
Offline Advertising
Offline advertising through targeted mailings can drive traffic to your travel portal. Purchase targeted lists from companies like InfoUSA.com, or consider offering a discount to members of an organization like AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) that could give you access to distribution lists.
