GoBC Newsletter

Newsletter January 2009

Wednesday Jan 14, 2009

The Internet in a Low Economy
Why is it so important to keep marketing during your low season or when times are slow?

"Exposure - Do You Get It?” - what you should know about internet and marketing
There are lots of must-be spots to place your advertising but do they all target the same market place or are you diversifying your exposure? Who is your business focusing on? Are you offering packages?  Are you on any websites that are targeting visitors from overseas in their native language?

New postcards for 2009
Find out about our second adition of free marketing material.



The Internet in a Low Economy

What can you do when it gets slow this time of year?
A common mistake people make is to stop marketing when business slows down or it's their off season. Of course it might be more difficult to finance your marketing budget but without marketing there will also be less business in a couple of months from now. Now is the time of year when travelers start doing their research for the spring, summer and even the fall.
If you come from a far away place you check out your travel destination way ahead of time. Many people in Europe have up to 35 paid days for vacation. This does take some time for planning your travel itinerary. So if someone is looking through the internet to find places of interest, unique communities, festivals to attend, workshops to participate and tours and adventures to take, they have to start their research soon.

So our key message is – Market – get exposure, exposure, exposure. It is a few invested dollars now for an overall impact.

As our customer, on GoBC you are already listed on three websites, even attracting international travelers and the largest spoken language in Europe. Be sure to visit your administration area on GoBC for updates and to give authorization that your business be profiled on www.canada-travel.ca

Exposure - Do You Get It? – What is “it” you should know about internet and marketing that maybe holding back your business

Place your internet exposure in many baskets around the globe. Diversity in web sites that promote your type of business and your region in BC.  It's like managing a small financial portfolio. We suggest even starting a portfolio – an internet marketing folder, if you haven’t already. Keep track of successful sites, where phone calls for bookings are coming in from, sites your website is linked to, and a place for all your passwords.

If you are remaining busy and successful (on average) at the start of this year with sales and bookings you are most likely already doing the following:

• Keep a clean polished professional home page.
• Use sharp story telling images.
• The layout shows minimal fuss on your website with clean clear booking areas.
• Create special packages and include events. Give more exposure to your region! Tell the world why they should visit the area your business is in! Work with other local “tourism related” businesses, artists and performers to generate events and showings, or to arrange packages – in-room spa treatments, horse-riding trail packages or an art workshop in your area are just some examples.
• Feature testimonials from your guest book on your website, consider starting a guest blog.
• Work together in multiple facets of cross promotion and look busy, sound busy: Indicate group priority arrangements if available. Offer assistance to avoid disappointment: “We have great locations/ neighboring businesses that handle our overflow.”
• Market more, not less but wisely. The more exposure you offer around the globe, 24/7 about your business, the more available you are to travelers not just in your own time zone.
  

More questions on how to gain more exposure with GoBC – call us at 250.592.0546 and ask for Teresa, our sales manager.


New postcards for 2009

Have you been using our free postcards as a little “thank you” to your customers?
Consider putting your address on the back of the card for your guests to remember your services when they are back home. Use a little address sticker or stamp to customize the cards. Have your guests send them to their loved ones at home with your contact information.
See our new edition of postcards and order them for free, directly in your administration area.