I feel like I’m repeating myself here, but I’m ok with that because people still aren’t getting it. Do you know what is the number one reason that most small tourism businesses fail to find success with their online marketing strategy (apart from the fact that most don’t have a strategy – do you)?
A Failure to Act. Often enough.
A Failure To Act…
It feels like one of those things that is so simple, it is profound – and it is. Many businesses struggle with their online activities because they don’t start.
- Nobody is going to hear about you from Twitter unless you put yourself out there.
- Nobody is going to understand your side of the story if you don’t respond to those Tripadvisor reviews.
- Nobody is going to find you in Google unless you some optimization work.
Often Enough
Unfortunately, in the world of small business, there are no awards for just showing up. That applies to pretty much everything.
- You don’t get a massive following after your first tweet, nor your second or third.
- You don’t get hundreds of comments on your first blog post. Nobody might even read it.
- You don’t optimize a page and expect thousands of Google searches to come swooping in. Not even close.
To be successful online, you have to decide what are you going to do, then you have to do it and do it well. And keep doing it.
The hard part is deciding whether a) you haven’t done it often enough, b) you haven’t done it right, or c) you’re doing the wrong thing. Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to keep doing. Doing, doing, doing.
So, what are you doing right now to help promote your business online?
Photo by andronicusmax
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{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
I agree with all the words said above.
It is true with every business, but especially online, where you are connected with the whole world, no matter how small your business is. I think than besides the courage to act and do the new things in the abstract cloud, the people need to be persistant in their efforts.
One of the most discouraging things is to not see any results for the long months, but when the finally came they reward all the waiting time.
Acting and Persistance.
“Acting and Persistance” – I love it, Andrew!
I tell clients all the time that they need to be engaged with Social Media..I try to give a weekly homework assignment to my clients, and I don’t beat them up if they don’t get it done. More often than not tiny steps in the right direction are made. Like checking their @responses on twitter and responding.
Sometimes the only thing blocking you from success is a few tiny steps.
Well said, agree completely.
I think one of the reasons people fail to act is since they don’t feel comfortable to start promote something that is not “perfect”. But small business in a start up phase by definition will never be perfect, it’s the continious small improvements over time that might get you closer…
I agree, Hans. Fortunately I think most of us who have started now know that perfect is very overrated.