We’ve worked in and around the tourism sector for close to 30 years and we love to see unique destinations thrive when marketed successfully.
Here is our top tips to developing a successful development strategy for your organisation.
1. Promote ATDW Listings Among Local Businesses
- Workshops & Webinars: Organise workshops and webinars to educate local tourism operators on the benefits of ATDW and guide them through the process of creating or optimising their listings.
- One-on-One Support: Provide personalised support to help businesses with the technical aspects of setting up their ATDW profiles, ensuring that they meet quality standards and are optimised for search engines.
2. Collaborate with Regional Tourism Organisations
- Joint Marketing Campaigns: Partner with state or regional tourism organisations to create joint marketing campaigns that feature ATDW-listed businesses. This can include social media promotions, blog posts, or newsletter features that highlight the unique offerings in your area.
- Leverage STO Resources: Utilize the resources and tools provided by State Tourism Organizations (STOs) to enhance the visibility of your region’s ATDW listings. This might include co-branded content or access to STO advertising networks.
3. Integrate ATDW Content into Your Website as a Distributor
- Become a Distributor: Set up your tourism association’s website as an official ATDW distributor to automatically publish local ATDW content directly onto your site. This allows you to showcase a comprehensive range of local tourism businesses, events, and attractions without the need for manual updates.
- Custom Content Curation: As a distributor, you can curate and customize the ATDW content feed to align with your branding and target audience. Filter and display the most relevant listings, such as top attractions, accommodations, and dining options, tailored to what visitors to your region are searching for.
- Seamless User Experience: Ensure the integration of ATDW content on your website provides a seamless experience for users. Design intuitive navigation and search functions that allow visitors to easily explore the local tourism offerings sourced from ATDW.
- Leverage Interactive Features: Utilise ATDW’s rich data to enhance your website with interactive maps, itineraries, and guides. These features can dynamically pull in ATDW content, providing visitors with engaging tools to plan their trips within your region.
- Real-Time Updates: One of the significant benefits of integrating ATDW content is that your website will automatically receive real-time updates whenever local businesses update their listings on ATDW. This ensures that your site always features the most current information without requiring ongoing manual input from your team.
4. Optimise Local Listings for SEO
- Keyword Research: Assist local businesses in conducting keyword research to ensure their ATDW listings include relevant search terms that potential visitors might use. This increases the chances of these listings appearing in search results on major tourism sites.
- Regular Content Updates: Encourage businesses to regularly update their ATDW listings with fresh content, images, and seasonal offers to keep their profiles relevant and engaging.
5. Incorporate ATDW Data into Social Media
- Social Media Sharing: Share ATDW-listed content directly to your social media channels. Highlight specific businesses, events, or experiences from the ATDW database, and tag them to increase visibility.
- User-Generated Content: Encourage visitors and locals to share their experiences with ATDW-listed businesses using specific hashtags. This content can be re-shared on your platforms, driving further exposure.
6. Monitor and Analyze Performance
- Analytics Tools: Use analytics tools to track the performance of ATDW listings and the traffic they generate. Share these insights with local businesses to demonstrate the value of maintaining an active and optimized listing.
- Feedback Loops: Create a feedback loop where local businesses can share their experiences and results from ATDW, helping to continuously refine and improve strategies.
7. Highlight Success Stories
- Case Studies: Develop case studies or success stories that demonstrate how other local businesses have benefited from being on ATDW. Share these stories in your communications to encourage more businesses to participate.
- Public Recognition: Publicly recognize and celebrate local businesses that effectively use ATDW to attract visitors, perhaps through awards or mentions in association newsletters.
8. Integrate ATDW with Other Marketing Initiatives
- Cross-Promotions: Integrate ATDW listings into broader marketing initiatives, such as event promotions, regional campaigns, or tourism festivals. Make ATDW listings a key component of these efforts.
- Digital Advertising: Use digital advertising to drive traffic to a dedicated ATDW section on your website, or directly to ATDW profiles of local businesses. Target specific demographics or regions to attract the right audience.
9. Provide Ongoing Education and Updates
- Regular Newsletters: Include tips, updates, and new opportunities related to ATDW in your regular communications with local businesses. Keep them informed about the latest features, trends, and best practices for using ATDW effectively.
- Continuous Learning: Host regular training sessions or provide access to online resources that keep businesses up-to-date with how they can maximize their use of ATDW.
We can help you implement any of these strategies and help significantly enhance the visibility and success of your region’s tourism businesses through the powerful platform that ATDW provides.