10 Common Website SEO issues in tourism based websites. 

Summer is here! The top money making season for all tourism based business is back for the next few months. Why are people not contacting you through your website though?  Chances are pretty good that it is your website SEO that is causing most of your problems. I'll tell you the top ten reasons your tourism website is not bringing in the traffic it should be.  I am going to assume that you know you need help with your website SEO but you don't know what elements you need to fix.

Here they are:

10 Common Website SEO issues.

1. The Meta-tags across your website are identical on every page (Meta-titles, Meta-descriptions, Meta-keywords.)
2. Your description tags are not "take action" oriented. This is the Meta-tag people see in Google that motivates them to click your link!
3. Every page across your website doesn't have your keywords in the first and last sentence.
4. Every web page across your website doesn't have 3% synonyms of your keywords.
5. Your website doesn't have Google Analytics setup or is setup but you don't receive weekly/monthly reports.
6. Your website doesn't have a sitemap "page" nor an XML Google Friendly sitemap on your server.
7. Your XML sitemap hasn't been submitted to Google Webmaster Tools.
8. Your website doesn't have a contact form throughout your website.
9. Your website doesn't have your phone number properly visible on every page.
10. You didn't take the time to add keyword specific ALT Tags to every image on your website.

Note: Most of these issues occur due to outdated website designs or a lack in knowledge of the website designer in regards to SEO best practices.
 

Your one solution – Contact Me

"Let me worry about the technical aspects of your website marketing.  

You should be busy answering the phone and selling your services!"

When it comes to having fun in Ontario during 2013 I always start with my top two favorite tourism magazines, the Grey Bruce Escape and Collingwood's Mountain Life Magazine.  Each are my keys to new found yearly memories full of exploration, adventure, and a deep connection with nature.

Both have a unique style of writing that will captivate readers with different core target markets in mind sharing magical things to experience across Grey Bruce counties.  One magazine is more family and friends oriented with the other a little more outdoor adventurer with each having a splash of the wow factor! I'll let you decide which is which. With excellent articles sharing fantastic adventures you'll soon be planning where you can take others four seasons of the year. I'll warn you, it's a magical area just a few short hours from major cities like Toronto, Kitchener / Waterloo and Barrie. Here is a Google map showing Grey Bruce counties where we are in Southern Ontario and how easy a day trip can be. Make sure to grab a copy of each at a local tourism centre, request one online or, download a PDF copy from the links below.

The Grey Bruce Escape magazine

Website (mobile device friendly, provided by yours truly):
Grey Bruce Escape magazine (2013)

Facebook page:
Grey Bruce Escape facebook page

Mountain Life magazine

Website Url: Mountain Life magazine

Viewable Flipbook Mountain Life Magazine (Spring 2013)

I also have to close this blog post by giving recognition to another local magazine that I think is a fantastic read for parents.   

Grey Bruce Kids

Website: Grey Bruce Kids magazine

PDF magazine download (Spring 2013)

It's a no brainer that 2013 is time for everyone to have a website developed for mobile devices. 

Every website that I've worked with over the past three years has shown increases from 100% to 1000% in traffic arriving from mobile device users.

The main question for anyone developing for the mobile device marketplace: "Is my website mobile device friendly?" Here are my top qualifying factors that make a website mobile device friendly.

Tips to make your website mobile Friendly

1. Does your website load fast?
2. Is the main navigation simple?
3. Is your website "thumb friendly?"
4. Is the content easy to read and to the point?
5. Is your contact information visible?
6. Does your website consider Accessibility?

I've done a mobile website device test on iPhones showcasing Ontario tourism websites: BruceGreySimcoe, Bruce County Tourism, Grey County Tourism and Simcoe County Tourism (March, 2013).

Tourism Mobile Website Review on iPhone 5

Remember, this isn't about being perfect, it's about creating small changes over time that help target markets visiting your website on mobile devices to gain access more easily to your content. If you're interested in a thorough Tourism Website Mobile Friendly audit to help development in 2013, please contact me at your leisure, but dont take too long. You could be losing website visitors as your reading this.  Please leave your opinions and comments below.

If you would like more information around the importance of mobile friendly websites, please read my friend Miranda Miller's article on "72% of Consumers Want Mobile-Friendly Sites: Google Research."