But are you using your video to its full potential?

Today, 94% of travel is researched online so when marketing your tourism business it’s important to bear in mind where your customers are spending their time online and how they consume the information they find.

Recent studies reveal the continuing rise of online video. More and more people are using YouTube to search for content; it’s now the second largest search engine after Google with their video views exceeds 4 million globally every day… and that number is growing every day. Sources: YouTube, comScore and neilson: Global Video Report.

This means it’s time to ensure that your video is found – you wouldn’t invest in printing a brochure and not distribute it where potential customers would find it, right?

To help you get your video seen out in the big online world here are four easy little tips that help in a big way:

OPTIMSE – Think of your video as an engaging snapshot of your business which – like your website – can be optimised.  Make the video title relevant and search engine friendly to encourage good Google results.

If you call your video “My Awesome Milford Manor Video!” then you need people searching for that exact phrase, which isn’t a great help for what you are actually selling.  Calling your video “Accommodation in Milford at Milford Manor” is a huge improvement, and now you’ll broaden your exposure online and be able attract relevant traffic.

LINK BUILDING – Link your video back to your website (just copy and paste the full URL of your website, http://www.milfordmanor.co.nz into the description field), and include a description that is relevant to what you provide.  This means a powerful incoming link and just one click to your site.

CALL TO ACTION – Include a call to action in your video, and tell your customers what to do – visit your website, book online – whatever the purpose of your video is, be sure to reinforce the point.

DISTRIBUTE IT ON YOUR NETWORKS – Add your video to your Facebook page, upload it to TripAdvisor and Google Places, get it well optimised on YouTube and Vimeo.

Find out more about AV Clips and video

Trip Advisor is brilliant and simultaneously annoying – we live in a time when the consumer holds the power to help your business or tarnish it.

Take solace in knowing that even the world’s most exclusive 5 Star hotels receive silly complaints about inane things like – “the banana’s in our fruit basket had bruises.” People reading the comments can usually identify the ‘never happy’ guests.

Travel purchase is an emotional and often large purchase decision so people will often turn – right or wrong – to Trip Advisor.

Whether you participate with Trip Advisor by commenting on both your guests’ good and bad reviews is your choice but like it or not, the travelling public is posting about you so like taxes, you best participate.

For a giggle on how ridiculous Trip Advisor can be see:

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

Be one of the first to book and experience Pitches Store in its new identity as a six room, historic accommodation and restaurant. Opening March, in Ophir, Central Otago, this unique accommodation allows you to step back in time but with all the comforts of a luxury accommodation.

Certain to become one of those must experience destinations, the Pitches Store transformation has been a six year project for owners Colleen and David Hurd who purchased the run-down heritage building in 2006 with the dream of returning it to its former glory, yet offering a unique blend of history, luxury and culinary excellence.

During the extensive restoration project, Colleen has been based in Ophir running the Ophir Bridge B&B which adds to her existing experience in the Hospitality Industry; before moving South she ran a successful café in Auckland.

David spends most of his time in Auckland, practicing as a barrister but commutes to Ophir regularly to help ensure every detail in the restoration project is kept authentic.

Although the historic building has seen many changes in its 130 year life-span – from a general store/butchery, to a garage and a woodworking business – this transformation has been the most impressive and returns its street frontage and the exterior of the original structure as close as possible to the original Pitches Store.

The transformation can be followed on the Pitches Store Blog – http://www.pitches-store.co.nz/

The nationally-recognised historic township of Ophir still has the ambience, charm and personality that has drawn visitors from New Zealand and overseas for well over a hundred years.

Now guests can enjoy the magnetism and beauty of the region in comfort with great food and wine whether staying as part of the Rail Trail experience or drawn to the region for some of the famous winter activities like curling or ice skating.

Nearby, guests can experience 4WD driving, fishing, hunting or simply relax enjoying this unique part of the world; as a stopping point en-route to or from the region’s many other attractions or as a rest day from the ski fields.

Pitches Store is taking bookings for accommodation, dining, and for special occasions. It will be open for business from March 19^th.

Fairy tales are reality at this luxury Blenheim accommodation

Exciting news for our wonderful clients – Old St Mary’s Convent – the 5 star Qualmark Blenheim accommodation, Old St Mary’s Convent Vineyard Estate, have just announced the appointment of a new Marketing & Sales Manager, Hannah Lavender.

Bringing plenty of creativity and strategy to the already captivating accommodation, Hannah and Tomahawk have already used their sassy Tourism Marketing skills to create exciting and inticing holiday packages, and improve bookings.

The two packages promise to inspire guests and capture the essence of Marlborough, including a very indulgent Romance Package and a Marlborough Art, Wine and Gardens tour.

Hannah Lavender is equally excited about the launch of two holiday packages “creating imaginative and enticing packages really does take the hassle out of booking special experiences for our agents and valued customers.  We’re also really excited to help promote the Marlborough region and local businesses through combining their organised private tours or restaurants and a luxury stay at Old St Mary’s. ”

Old St Mary’s Convent Vineyard Estate is a luxury, boutique vineyard set amidst rows of grape vines and 60 acres of park like gardens.  2012 promises to be an exciting year for the “Old Girl” with plenty of new offerings on the horizon.

Watch Old St Mary’s on Youtube – be warned, you’ll fall for it too!

The best part of Tourism Marketing is experiencing our client's businesses first hand!

Team Tomahawk escaped the city and hectic pace of life with Discovery River Cruises’ new range of short luxury getaways, letting us discover the unexpected serenity of the Riverlands.

Discovery have combined a luxury river boat with the smooth cruising, stunning landscapes and adventure opportunities – producing the perfect family getaway, couples retreat or corporate function opportunity.

“The look of surprise when guests experience how tranquil and beautiful the waters we travel are is just a buzz for us each time we cruise. I think it is the solitude and vastness of the delta with its islands, bird life and total escape from everyday life that really amazes people” explains owner Ian Simpson who accompanied us on our river cruise.

The unique experience is enhanced by the purpose built, luxury river boat; featuring four bedrooms with en-suites, a gourmet granite kitchen, huge lounging deck with barbeque and 8 person Jacuzzi no expense has been spared.

By providing three new options including lunch cruises, over night cruise and a two night cruise, the new range caters to individual preferences from special birthday celebrations, an ideal activity for your visiting guests,  or corporate product launches to bird watching weekends or family reunions.

We’ll be back for sure!

Take a cruise with Discovery River Cruises - www.discoveryrivercruises.co.nz

When marketing a tourism business, when it comes to piquing the interest of a potential guest or customer, the visual will always work better than the verbal.  This is why the new Social Media site, Pinterest, should be of interest to you.

With Pinterest, you can organise images on your own online inspiration board, or pinboard – then engage with your social networks, link back to your website and let people share your images with the world.

Pinterest offers many creative marketing opportunities for your Tourism Business. You can showcase the various details or experiences your accommodation or activity offers in a visually arresting way. Using photos  share the details of your business –  like the freshly harvested veggies from your garden for your signature dish or create an album highlighting the anticipate of your guests prior to your adventure activity.

For users, Pinterest is like the travel scrapbook of decades past – letting users organise travel boards of inspiration and share them with their networks.

Pinterest just hit 11.7 million unique monthly U.S. visitors, crossing the 10 million mark faster than any other standalone site in history. (Source TechCrunch).  At that rate, it’s going to get huge – so go for it and start sharing and grow your tourism business through this great marketing opportunity!

Read more about Social Media Marketing for Your Tourism Business here

SPCA's CEO Christine Kalin, Gina Paladini and Tom Steward from Tomahawk

In December 2012, Tomahawk auctioned a website and marketing package as a donation to the Auckland SPCA.

Using TradeMe to connect with the generosity of New Zealand businesses, Tomahawk was able to raise $6500 through the auction to help the Auckland SPCA during the time of year they need support most.

Although the auction closed at $6130.00, in the spirit of giving, the winner of the auction offered to increase his donation by nearly another $500 – to the auto bid that they had set before the auction closed.

TradeMe was so impressed with Tomahawk’s creative fundraiser and the generosity of their donation that they too helped by waiving their auction fee to assist in the cause to help the Auckland SPCA.

SPCA Marketing Manager Rona Booth expresses her gratitude for the generosity of the donation – “Our work rescuing, rehabilitating and preventing cruelty to animals is made possible through the support of the community and businesses that believe in what we do.  When Tomahawk came to us with their idea we were overwhelmed by their creativity and compassion – their generosity will make a huge difference.”

And the winner of the auction? He has asked to remain anonymous “I am just a shy bloke who wanted to support your auction and help the animals”.

Kiwis do it again; they have invented a clever new app that allows travellers to use their smart phone to find coupon deals within a radius of their position.

The same company that brought us coupons on the back of our grocery receipts have developed Ezypeezy – a clever new smart phone app that lets user view coupon offers by category, location and business name and even use GPS to locate offers nearby!  Coupon offers are a tried and true way of motivating people to try your product, activity or accommodation through a great offer that, unlike the popular one-day vouchers, requires no prior spend or commitment.

These “coupons on the run” are perfectly suited for people travelling in New Zealand, and for Tourism Businesses this is a great way to get your business in front of potential customers and visitors to your area.

Ezypeezy is free to download and gives users direct access to coupons through their iPhone or Android phone.  For businesses, a subscription cost is required to post coupons on the app.

To take couponing to an even higher level, Ezypeezy are soon to bring video to the app – businesses will be able to upload video and showcase their offering in a way that engages with technology savvy travelers of today.

Find out more: http://www.ezypeezy.com/

The Auction will run until December 20th, and although the website is valued at $10,000 we hope that the auction will raise as much money as possible for the SPCA.

Every dollar raised by the auction will be given to the SPCA Auckland to help them care for the disadvantaged animals this Christmas.

“We have always been passionate about getting involved with projects where we can use our skills and expertise to help non-profit and community organisations. This Christmas we wanted to reach out to help the SPCA and have created a way that others can join in by helping both their business and a great cause”, said Gina Paladini, marketing manager of Tomahawk.

We hope that by auctioning a website that it not only raises money but increases awareness; and in the spirit of Christmas encourages other people and businesses to find creative ways to use their skills to give back to their community.

To Visit Auction: www.tomahawk.co.nz/visitauction

Although Affiliate programs have been around for a long time, many people don’t understand how easy they are to set up so they are missing out on helping their guests with an added serve and capturing that little bit of extra revenue we can all use.

An affiliate program or affiliate marketing is when you use your website to promote other suppliers services or products that compliment your own. For example, an accommodation provider can offer an affiliate program that allows visitors to their website to book activities in their region or a tour operator can offer a way to search and book accommodation in their area on their website.

Joining a tourism affiliate program is a techno trick that can help you and your customers – it adds value to your website through offering an additional service that your customers might need which you cannot provide and generates revenue that goes straight to your bank-account.

Two super affiliate programs that are easy to start, and earn you 5% on every booking made through your site are:

1. Travelbug’s affiliate program allows visitors to your website to browse and book accommodations and activities via the Bookit booking engine www.travelbug.co.nz/affiliate/register

2. Great Sights affiliate program which allows visitors to your website to book an Inner City coach and their sight-seeing activities all over the country. www.greatsights.co.nz/affiliate

So go ahead and check them out – your customers and bank account will thank you.