As a content marketing agency, we create content for dozens of different companies in practically any industry you can think of, and we have a real knack for creating engaging content for even the driest sectors. We’ve previously shared our thoughts on writing content for a ‘boring’ business – and today we’re here to offer more tips, this time for a specific sector: hotels. We’ve noticed that content marketing is a rather underused marketing tactic in this sector, despite the fact that there’s a rich source of potential content just waiting to be tapped into. Short of content ideas for your hotel? Here’s where to start.
Touristy content
You’re not just drawing attention to your hotel, you’re also selling the city, region or country. That means that you can (and should) post and share content that talks about all the great stuff near your hotel – tourist attractions, landmarks, history, natural wonders, pubs, restaurants, cafes, independent shops, and so on. Not only does this provide value to your readers, but it also has great shareability. For example, if you share an article on the hidden gems of your city, you can Tweet the tourist attractions that you mentioned and perhaps secure a retweet or two by the tourist attractions themselves. There’s practically no end to this type of content, and generally, as long as it’s interesting to write, it will be interesting to read. If you can, try to create pieces that even locals would be interested in reading.
Practical content
What else will visitors to your hotel want to know? All the boring practical stuff. Is it easy to reach by train or plane? How many minutes’ walk is it to the nearest supermarket or Starbucks? You could just list this content on a tucked away page on your website, but you can make much more of it. How about ‘three day trip ideas within walking distance of your hotel’ or ‘five cities within two hours from your hotel’? You may also wish to talk about the typical weather a traveller would expect in different months of the year, and how to prepare for it.
Behind the scenes
Behind the scenes content works for practically any industry, and hotels are no exception. Did you or your staff witness an impressive sunrise or sunset? Tweet the photo, or post an album on your website. Use Vine and Instagram to post short video content to show snippets of events, celebrations, and occasions.
Target specific groups
Is your hotel more of a romantic getaway or more suited for families? What about businesspeople or hikers? No doubt you’ll be aware of what your typical guests are like, so create content that’s aimed at those groups. For example, family friendly activities near your hotel, five tourist attractions to keep your kids occupied, or perhaps more general content such as ‘suitcase essentials for families with toddlers’.
General holiday content
Intersperse your local content with more general content about taking holidays. What are the benefits? Why should you choose an independent hotel? Tackle hot topics and useful issues such as how to fully switch off from work, or how to keep the kids quiet in the car.
If you’d like to try out content marketing but aren’t sure how to begin, give Crowdbait a call. We’re a content marketing agency based in York – and one of the leading agencies in the UK.