Public Relations as an SEO Strategy
Public relations can yield great results for your search engine optimization (SEO) efforts through cultivating back links.
Public relations is an important component of business development. Getting your company publicity is a great way to connect with new customers and increase brand awareness. But, many businesses fail to realize its importance for search engine optimization (SEO).
Distributing press releases that includes links back to your website can help create back links, one of the most crucial components of how Google and other search engines rank your website in search results. The quality, quantity and relevance of sites linking to your website (called back links) help determine your own site’s authority in the eyes of Google and other major search engines.
News websites tend to have a lot of authority in the eyes of Google. A link to your website from an article on a major news website could give your SEO efforts a big boost. For example, if you’re a vacation rental business and you manage to score a mention in an article in USA Today’s Travel section, the back link you receive from the article would be rated highly by Google in terms of both authority and relevance.
But, getting into major newspapers is not easy. It requires great news judgment, solid news monitoring and the formation of working relationships with journalists. The good news is that you can start doing all of this for free, and get back links in the process.
Miss Our Webinar on Guerrilla Marketing?
Information presented in LiveRez.com's Guerrilla Marketing webinar is now available for download as a white paper.
On Wednesday, Aug. 31, LiveRez.com hosted a webinar entitled “Guerrilla Marketing: 5 Tactics to Grow Your Vacation Rental Business Now.” Nearly 180 vacation rental managers from across the nation signed up for the free educational presentation.
If for some reason you missed the webinar or want to brush up on some of the things the LiveRez marketing team went over, you can download the webinar as a white paper.
Download the white paper here >>>
During the webinar we received numerous questions, and many people were sharing their ideas for how to implement these Guerrilla Marketing tactics to help their individual businesses. If you have questions or want to share your ideas and brainstorm with other vacation rental managers, check out the discussion on our Facebook Page.
SEO Case Study: Cocoa Beach Best Condominium Rentals
Cocoa Beach Best Condominium Rentals experienced dramatic increases in search engine placement, website traffic and web bookings in just its first few months with LiveRez.com
When Sheila Hobart of Cocoa Beach Best Condominium Rentals signed up for LiveRez.com’s SEO/SEM service, she had a clear plan in front of her for the customer demographic she wanted to reach – she just wanted a little helping getting her company in front of them.
After working with LiveRez.com SEO/SEM Manager Sam Martin to nail down her target audience, Hobart let LiveRez.com’s SEO/SEM service design and execute a custom plan.
And, in just a matter of weeks, Cocoa Beach Best is starting to see results.
“Our website is hitting its targets, and our numbers look good,” Hobart said.
In just over one month with LiveRez.com’s SEO/SEM service, Cocoa Beach Best’s search engine placement for seven strategic keyword phrases increased by 316 percent. On May 19, Cocoa Beach Best had an average search engine ranking of 75 among those seven keyword phrases. But, as of July 1, its average ranking has increased to 18.
How Did Victoria Smith of Alpenglow Vacation Rentals Get Her Free Time Back with LiveRez.com?
LiveRez.com let Victoria Smith of Alpenglow Vacation Rentals worry less about her day-to-day business and gave her more time to spend enjoying the amazing outdoor activities in Bend, Oregon.
Alpenglow Vacation Rentals
Location: Bend, Oregon
Website: http://www.alpenglowvacationrentals.com/
Quick Quote: “It (LiveRez.com) gave me my life back.”
Time is an important commodity for Victoria Smith of Alpenglow Vacation Rentals in Bend, Oregon.
As a professional vacation property manager, a hair stylist and an outdoor enthusiast in beautiful Central Oregon, Smith doesn’t have a second to waste.
So, as her vacation rental business started to grow, she turned to LiveRez.com.
So far, Smith’s recipe for success is a combination of price, quality, location and customer service. She offers quality homes at competitive prices, and specializes in the west side of Bend, which, she says, is the most desirable location in the area, due to its great scenery and close proximately to both the mountain and the town.
Meet Rebecca Alexander of Casas de Santa Fe in Santa Fe, New Mexico
The LiveRez-designed Casas de Santa Fe website reflects all the beauty of Santa Fe that keeps guests returning year after year.
Casas de Santa Fe
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Website: CasasDeSantaFe.com
Quick Quote: “Being the bookkeeper in the office, my biggest thing is that it attaches to QuickBooks. That’s my favorite part.”
For Rebecca Alexander of Casas de Santa Fe, integration is important.
Just like how the town of Santa Fe blends rich history with modern-day luxury, Casas de Santa Fe offers a mix of old-school customer service and the convenience of a cutting-edge website with online booking. Integrating those things is something the business does exceptionally well.
You see, Alexander and the staff at Casas de Santa Fe go the extra mile in offering their customers a personal touch. It’s a traditional approach that not all businesses apply these days.
Webinar No. 2: How to close bookings over the phone
Put this one on your calendar: On Wednesday, March 2, LiveRez is hosting its second webinar of 2011 and you're invited. Because we are always looking to share strategies to help you drive your bookings, this brief meeting will teach you how to close more of them over the phone. This is a critical skill that will help you bring more guests to your properties.
Registration for the meeting is simple. Visit us here to sign up, or call us at 1-800-343-2891 to make your reservation.
The meeting is slated to start at noon (MST) and should run for about an hour.
Three-click bookings: How LiveRez can help you drive more bookings
With things on the information superhighway speeding up each day, it's more important than ever for companies to be fast and efficient in turning prospective customers into solid guests. This is especially true in the vacation property arena, where clients have a myriad of choices before them.
LiveRez.com websites employ a three-click booking procedure which makes it easier for potential guests to make reservations on your site.
Here's how it works: Potential guests come to your website looking for a vacation rental for a family trip. In your site's simple format, they decide what kind of property they are looking for, how many people it must fit, and the dates and location of the trip. Then with the first click, potential guests are one-third of the way through the entire booking process.
Next: Guests are treated to all your property listings matching desired specifications. They don't have to search over your site to find what they need; it's all in front of them in an eye-pleasing configuration. Properties are shown with clear, detailed images and easy-to-understand descriptions, outlining various amenities.
Finally: In the last step, potential bookers are converted into solid guests, achieving your ultimate objectives: full properties. Before purchasing, guests may read longer descriptions of homes or condos so they know exactly what they getting for their money. LiveRez partners can also embed videos and virtual tours into these pages, allowing guests to experience homes or condos in vivid detail.
The process is simple, clear, and easy for guests to understand. The Easier the process the more booking the property managers will get.
Three-click booking is just another reason LiveRez is an emerging-leader in the vacation rental software industry. We continually strive for easy-to-use platforms that drive customers to your website and turn them into additional revenue for you and your properties. To see what LiveRez can do for you, visit our website here or call us at toll-free at 1-800-343-2891.
Repeat Guests – Keep them Coming Back
At last week's VRMA East event, there was a wonderful discussion on Repeat Guests. In a recent industry study, it was determined that it costs 6x to acquire a new guest vs. booking a repeat guest.
That is some serious money. I can add from experience, that the multiplier is much higher in the general eCommerce industry.......more like 10-15x.
Holding on to your guests and keeping them coming back is not rocket-science according to the recent discussion at the VRMA conference. It is about making it a priority, and starting the sales process for the next visit, the moment they book with you for the first visit.
The guest experience was broken into several stages, with ideas on each stage.
- Pre-Arrival - find out why they are coming, who they are bringing
- Arrival - 'welcome home', let them know how happy you are to see them
- Stay - treat them like family
- Check-out - provide special offers
- Post-Stay - stay in touch with emails, newsletters, offers
In my April Webinar, I will cover each of these areas in detail. Please join us for this event on Thursday, April 23. See details and chance to sign-up below.
Webinar: Repeat Guests - 9 Ways to Make the Most of Guest Relationships
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VRMA (Vacation Rental Managers Assoc.) & Discover Vacation Homes to Promote Vacation Homes
I am excited. Very excited. VRMA, the Vacation Rental Manager's Association, is reinventing itself and bringing together our industry like never before. VRMA has launched a new website at www.vrma.com - check it out. It is a great source of info about the industry.
VRMA has also launched Discover Vacation Homes as a national public awareness initiative for our industry and to make vacation homes a primary vacation option for travelers.
Be a part of it! Vacation Managers have the opportunity to become a part of VRMA - check it our at www.vrma.com. In addition, Discover Vacation Homes offers vacation managers a position at the leading edge of marketing and positioning the vacation home rental industry. Don't sit on the sideline, be a part of the goings on. Check it out:
WATCH Video For More DetailsCreate more business for YOUR company, YOUR owners, and YOUR destination. Don't miss out on the many benefits of this national campaign!
Join the Cause!
Now THAT is TARGETED Marketing – Travelocity pops my trip up on a Music Site
Earlier this week I was researching some travel information on Travelocity for my trip to Charlotte, NC for the Eastern VRMA show at the end of this month. I got some flight and hotel information for my budgeting plans. I will make the actual reservation a bit closer to the travel date.
The next moring, while I was spinning on my trainer in my garage and listening to music on songza......SURPRISE!!!......up pops a Travelocity ad about going from Boise to Charlotte.
Personalized Travel Ad Based on a Previous Search
This is truly amazing marketing.
Targeted marketing from Travelocity on a completely different website, on a different day, and at a different time.
- Trip is Based on a Search I did a Day Earlier
This is amazing stuff and is setting the expectations of travelers as to how they will interact with their vacation provider.
Kudos to Travelocity.
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