Tourism Marketing Has Evolved: Here’s What You Need to Know

Tourism marketing has taken a big hit ever since the global lockdowns and massive regulations were introduced to the entire world. The travel and tourism industry has been feeling its negative effects ever since. This unfortunate reality is still continuing to recover and is in need of strong marketing efforts more than ever. 

It’s not easy battling the “zoom-fluence” along with the lingering fear and hesitation felt by so many trying to get back to their pre-pandemic lives. Ramping up travel and tourism marketing is more important than ever for businesses and communities that depend heavily on it for economic stability.

Make Tourism Marketing Work for You

What are some emerging trends for tourism marketing since the pandemic? What should travel marketers address in their messaging to encourage more travel? Let’s dive in!

Here are some key items travel and tourism strategists should be aware of with their marketing efforts:

1. Keep it simple and hassle-free – Tourism marketing is challenged now more than ever to keep things simple and easy to step back into for their prospective customers. It can be a difficult time for many travel businesses to motivate people who feel uncomfortable booking a trip or vacation. Simple and convincing brand messaging is always pivotal, but more so in order to experience economic recovery.

2. Highlight increased quality of life –  Since the pandemic has negatively affected the quality of life for countless individuals, tourism marketing can benefit by highlighting its self-care capabilities. One angle is focusing its message on the improved mental health experienced when taking a beach vacation or other desirable travel destination. 

People need to be reminded of how wonderful your locations are and how much they need to break the monotony of staying home or indoors so much. Influencing your potential customers through effective marketing tactics requires highlighting the most compelling benefits your travel seeker can expect to experience.

3. Market the affordability factor – Unfortunately, rising prices are everywhere and it doesn’t help when people are already having to pay higher prices for everything else, including food and gas. 

By highlighting your cost-effectiveness, you increase the likelihood of keeping or attracting new destination seekers. This is a huge part of the influential strategy for tourism marketing looking to recover financially and thrive moving forward.

Speak Straight to the Different Types of Travelers You Target

Your social media and other types of travel marketing efforts should all account for the different types of travelers you target; looking specifically at what they want and need in these unique times. For example, single Gen Z’ers are using different platforms than other types of individuals and may prioritize specific locations due to popular cultural influences. 

However, target demographics of all types can greatly benefit from knowing what’s new in your area and how it can relieve them of the stress, depression, anxiety, and fear so much of the country has been living with since 2020.

ON Advertising is One of Phoenix’s Top Advertising Agencies

ON Advertising consists of brand strategists working synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and observers blend their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional tourism marketing guidance or any other ad or marketing project, we can make it happen!
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business shine.

What Makes a Successful Creative Billboard Ad?

Billboard advertising is a competition all its own. Not only for the attention and memorability of its target audience but also to stand out among all the other billboard ads flooding the busy streets. 

How does one cut through all the noise with enticing, yet effective messaging? How do businesses avoid adding to the chaos of visual voices all vying for attention? These are good questions to ask when strategizing to launch a billboard. 

What’s more, this type of advertising does not run cheap. When you invest in creative billboard advertising, it has to be effective. Some billboard creativity hits the target, making the financial investment payoff, while others flop. Why is this?
Let’s explore these winning billboard strategies to find out.

Creative Billboard Ads and Why they Work

Simplicity

Of everything you want to say to your moving audience, narrow it down to one main message. 

If you’re trying to share too much in one billboard, even if you’re trying to make it worth the money, this could easily work against you. If you approach the billboard concept confused about what you are trying to convey, chances are your audience will be just as mixed up digesting your creative messaging efforts. 

However, approaching a creative advertising project with a specific intention helps you execute a successfully targeted billboard advertising message. People’s attention spans tend to shrink when faced with a sea of media messages, let alone the capacity to remember the brand and its benefits. 

People don’t have much time to take their eyes off the road and focus on the details of your freeway-bound message. Perhaps this is why successful billboard advertising is typically only six words max. Or one. Or none. Whatever boosts your effectiveness in establishing your point.

Bottom line: Less is more. Less clutter, less wordy text, less unclear imagery, and more sales.

Clear Goal

If you have multiple priorities, you don’t have a priority. The same goes for goals in branding efforts using billboard ads. You need to set a clear goal and never lose sight of it throughout the strategy and implementation process. 

Ask yourself:

• Who are you targeting? Why? 
• What’s the one thing you want to accomplish through your billboard? Why? 
• What is your call to action? Why?
• Asking the question ‘why?’ forces you to dig deeper every time you ask it. In doing so, it reveals more of what’s beneath the surface and will help you get crystal clear on your intentions and how you will measure success. 

Here are some examples of common goals businesses for billboard advertising:

• Raise brand awareness
• Raise awareness about a promotion or sale
• Marketing a specific product or service
• Get more customers in person or online
• Generating interest in your brand

Bottom line: Set a clear goal and know why.

Determine Effectiveness

Don’t confuse creativity with effectiveness. Unfortunately, the most elaborate and quirky, creative ads don’t always translate to sales or brand awareness, or any of the other goals you have in mind. It is why you must always keep your goals center stage. 

You need to thoughtfully consider whether or not the text and visual strategy in place is going to support your anticipated outcome. After all, what good is it to have an over-the-top billboard and people miss the point or worse — mistake it for another business.

Bottom line: Funny, punchy, and creative are nice; but does it reach your goal?

ON Advertising Is One of Phoenix’s Top Advertising Agencies

ON Advertising consists of brand strategists working synergistically to develop and support successful market influence. Our full-scale consideration of each facet of marketing and advertising operates with clear goals and objectives laid out for each client and their unique needs. 

Our team of thinkers, creatives, and observers synergize their talents to develop a brand that works for you. Whether you are seeking additional billboard advertisement guidance or any other ad or marketing project, we can make it happen!
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business shine.