Everyone knows the basics of SEO: use keywords, write great content, get backlinks, keep your site speedy. But what about the less obvious stuff? Those subtle signals that can give your website a quiet nudge up the rankings while your competitors are still obsessing over meta tags and blog lengths?
Here’s a look at a few clever, lesser-known SEO 'hidden secrets' you might not have thought of, the kind that layer nicely on top of your existing efforts and can make a real difference to your digital visibility.
1. Reply to Google Reviews with Purpose
One of our clients recently asked if adding keywords into their Google review replies helps with SEO, and the short answer is yes, a little!
While Google doesn’t directly score the text in replies the way it does for your...
After a highly successful launch last year, we're is thrilled to announce the return of our November Thanks-Give-Away campaign for 2025.
Running throughout November, this month-long celebration is our way of saying a heartfelt thank you to the tourism industry that continues to inspire and support our work. The campaign reflects Tomahawk’s gratitude for the tourism professionals who make Aotearoa’s visitor economy thrive and its ongoing commitment to helping them succeed online.
More than NZD$15,000 worth of digital marketing services will be up for grabs, with four lucky winners each selecting their prize from a pool of eight marketing services. Delivered by Tomahawk’s expert team, these prizes include a range of digital growth opportunities such as a Google Ads...
Last month I had the privilege of returning to Aotearoa for the Tourism Industry Aotearoa Summit, my first time back in a year after relocating to California. It was a whirlwind week of reconnecting with industry friends, customers, and partners, and it reminded me just how special this community is. Distance hasn’t weakened those connections; if anything, it’s strengthened them. Stepping back into the room felt like coming home.
Below are my key takeaways from the Summit.
AI, AI, AI: It’s Here, It’s Staying, and It’s in Everything
If there was a theme that threaded its way through every keynote, panel, and workshop, it was AI. It didn’t matter whether the topic was marketing, workforce development, operations, or strategy,...
The Kingdom of Tonga has unveiled its new destination brand, “Kingdom of Tonga: The Friendly Islands”, developed in partnership with Tomahawk.
Drawing on Tonga’s globally recognised nickname, The Friendly Islands, the new brand celebrates the nation’s warmth, hospitality, and vibrant culture. Each letter in the TONGA logo has been carefully designed to reflect traditional tapa patterns and cultural motifs, creating a visual identity that brings the country’s rich heritage to life.
What sets this rebrand apart is its people-led approach. Over 20 months, Tomahawk conducted extensive research and workshops across four islands, including 15 workshops and over 20 consultations with tourism operators, cultural leaders, schools, community members, and government representatives....
As AI and social media has evolved, “search engine” no longer just means Google. The definition of a search engine is now about how travellers find trust, inspiration, and the confidence to book. Whether that’s through a 30-second TikTok, a Google AI summary, or an AI chat conversation that builds their itinerary - search has become more conversational and human.
Today, “search” happens everywhere. And for tourism businesses, that means you need to know where your potential guests are looking. Let's have a look at where they are searching, and the typical behaviour of different generations.
Google’s Not Gone But It's Evolving
Google still dominates much of the discovery and booking process, but how people use it has evolved. With AI...
The way people find information online is changing, and your content needs to adapt with it. AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Google’s AI Overviews, Gemini, and Perplexity are new ways for travellers to help them research travel options. Instead of scrolling through a list of links, they’re asking questions and getting neatly packaged answers, often before they’ve even seen your website. Check out more on this in our article about the Evolution of Content.
So what does this mean for your business? It means your digitial content has to work in new ways to be picked up by AI. Fortunately, the foundations are the same as good SEO, and allows you to think more like a human!
Here are 8 content tips that gets noticed in the age of AI search.
