What is Optimization?

March 24, 2006 by Blizzard Associate

Optimization has a simple goal: improved search engine results. Typically, optimization means keywords are strategically placed on your travel website in places like the text, metatags, headers, title, etc. It can also involve other unseen activities like CSS, html re-coding, alt tags, hosting configuration etc. It is typically an ongoing (and even iterative) process process with evolving techniques and changing standards. Check out Search Engine Optimization at Wikipedia for more details and history.

Blizzard Associate – Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.

Filed Under: SEO

Online Marketing Makes a Difference

March 24, 2006 by 1BlizzAdmin

According to a recent Yahoo! study, eighty-seven percent of vacationers who had stayed at a luxury resort at least two times within the past two years used the Internet to plan their trip. What does this mean for you? The greater exposure your travel destination webite has on the Internet, and the more information you have available on your website, the more likely you are to get traffic from travelers and potential guests. Effectively optimizing and promoting your website is key in targeting potential guests, as your resort or hotel website is essentially what is going to convince them to stay with you or go elsewhere.

Erin Blank – Blizzard Internet Marketing, Inc.

Filed Under: SEM, Travel Marketing

You Can Benefit from Girlfriend Getaways

March 24, 2006 by 1BlizzAdmin

“Girlfriend Getaways” are a growing trend in the travel and tourism industry. In a survey of 1,500 women recently featured in USA Today, 50% had taken an all-female trip in the past three years, and 88% either currently had plans for a “no-men allowed” vacation, or would be interested in participating in one if presented with the opportunity.

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Filed Under: Featured Articles, SEM

Blizzard Toolbox – Alexa.com

March 23, 2006 by 1BlizzAdmin

RANK CHECK TOOL

Use the website ranking checker at www.alexa.com to see where Alexa positions your travel website in the realm of online popularity. It uses a formula that considers traffic numbers and page views to deliver an “Alexa Ranking”. The website with the number 1 ranking is the most popular website, so the lower the number, the better the ranking.

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Filed Under: How To: Tips & Tools

Blizzard Toolbox Full of Marketing Ideas

March 23, 2006 by 1BlizzAdmin

Announcing a new Blizzard Internet Marketing newsletter blog category – the Blizzard Toolbox. Whether you’re a savvy Search Engine Marketer (SEM), or just someone who enjoys refining your own internet marketing efforts and strategies, the Blizzard Toolbox is for you. It will, as it grows, provide a large repertoire of special tools to construct a solid online marketing campaign for your travel and tourism business. Visit the Blizzard Toolbox each week to learn how to use the free online tools the pros rely on to stay ahead of the competition.

The Blizzard Internet Marketing Staff

Filed Under: Breaking News, How To: Tips & Tools, SEO

Q&A with Trent Blizzard – A Snowstorm of Info for Custom Promotion I and II Clients

March 22, 2006 by Blizzard Associate

I sat down recently with Trent Blizzard, CEO of Blizzard Internet Marketing, to get some information to share with our Custom I and II Promotion clients. Here’s what we discussed:

1) What’s the best advice you can give to Custom Promotion I and II clients to help them understand where their promotion funds are going?

I tell Custom II clients that their money is pretty much split into thirds:

1/3 is PPC setup and management
1/3 is Organic search engine and niche directories
1/3 is administrative: reporting, marketing plans, research, phone consulting

Custom Promotion I clients receive a different mix:

2/3 of their budget is spent on PPC setup and management
1/3 is spent on site optimization and reporting

2) Why have prices gone up so much?

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Filed Under: SEM

Google Updates Keyword Tool

March 22, 2006 by Blizzard Associate

Have you ever wondered how the words that are used to promote your travel website are chosen? It is definitely not just a random selection. Your promotion account manager has many tools available to help determine the best keywords for your website. One of the tools we use is the Google Keyword tool. Google has just added a new feature called Global Traffic Trends, and explains this new addition:

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Filed Under: SEM