SEO for Hotels: 8 Tips To Boost Your Success

In March 2024, Google generated approximately 85.5 billion visits worldwide, highlighting the intensity of online competition.

So, if you’re managing a hotel, you can’t afford to sit back and hope guests will find you. You need to take proactive steps to shine in the digital landscape.

In this guide, we’ll explore simple and effective SEO for hotels tips that you can use to get more bookings and make your hotel more visible.

Why is Hotel SEO Important?

SEO helps you get your website to show up at the top on Google.

Boost Your Visibility: SEO gets your hotel noticed on Google, bringing more visitors to your website.
Increase Your Bookings: Attract potential guests directly, increasing those vital direct booking rates.
Save Money: Research shows that brands implementing SEO save up to 400% on ad spending while still achieving the same level of traffic.

For hotels, SEO is about making their online presence better to attract guests and get more direct bookings.

Top Keywords Potential Hotel Guests Use

Popular keywords people use when looking for hotels on Google:

Keyword Example	Search Intent Description
Hotels in [local city]	Trying to find places to stay in a certain city.
Best hotels in [local city]	Looking for highly-rated hotels nearby.
Hotel deals in [local city]	Searching for discounts and special offers.
Boutique hotels in [local city]	Interested in unique and stylish hotel options.
Hotel reviews [local city]	Checking what guests say about hotels in the area.
Luxury hotels in [local city]	Seeking fancy, top-notch places to stay.
Family-friendly hotels in [local city]	Needing hotels with amenities for families.
Pet-friendly hotels in [local city]	Looking for hotels that welcome pets.
Last-minute hotel deals [local city]	Finding quick and cheap stays right away.
Hotels near [local landmark]	Want a hotel close to attractions and sites.

8 Easy Hotel SEO Tips to Get More Clients

1. Understand Keyword Research and Choose the Best SEO Keywords for Your Hotel

Keyword research is a key part of digital marketing, and it should be the main focus of your hotel’s SEO work.

People will search for the exact words and phrases they want to find, and you need to include those on your website.

Here are three types of keywords you should pay attention to, with examples for each.

Primary Keywords: These are your main keywords, the main terms that show Google what your page is about. For instance, if your hotel is in Chicago, “Chicago hotel” is what you want to rank for. This is like your headline – it’s got to be clear and direct.
Secondary Keywords: Now, these add a layer of detail. If your hotel offers a luxurious experience, a “luxury Chicago hotel” would be a good fit. It’s a bit more refined, helping you stand out to guests wanting a luxury stay.
Long-Tail Keywords: These are more detailed and can match the specific questions your potential guests might have, like “luxury Chicago hotel Magnificent Mile.” These help you connect with people who know what they want.

Incorporate Tools To Make Your Work Easier

Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you find the best keywords for your needs. You can look at past data, sort by average monthly searches, check how competitive certain keywords are, and more. Tools like this one are great for deciding which keywords to focus on.

Here’s how to search on Google Keyword Planner tool:

Open Google Keyword Planner and click on “Discover new keywords” to start exploring relevant terms for your hotel.
Type in words or phrases that are related to your hotel, like “luxury hotels” or “family-friendly accommodations.”
Review the list of suggested keywords and check their average monthly searches to understand how popular they are.
Look at the competition level for each keyword to find ones that aren’t too difficult to rank for but still bring valuable traffic.

Video Source: Meltix Media X

2. Boost Your SEO for Hotels with Quality Links

There are two kinds of links that matter for SEO:

Internal Links: These are links within your own website, like connecting one of your blog posts to another. It’s like creating a web of information that helps guests easily find what they’re looking for.
External Links: These come from other websites leading back to yours. When you’ve got a bunch of reputable sites linking to you, search engines see your site as more valuable and trustworthy.

Tips on SEO for hotels link building:

Connect to other pages on your website, like blogs, landing pages, a contact page, or a booking page.
Contact local travel websites and tourism experts to ask them to link to your property. Links from related sources are more valuable than random ones.
List your business on Google, TripAdvisor, and Yelp, along with other well-known directories in your area.
Explore social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Join the places where your guests spend time, and let those links do their job.

Video Source: SiteMinder

3. Create SEO Hotel Content

If your hotel website doesn’t have a blog section or engaging content, it’s time to create it. Writing about your local area, hotel events, or visitor tips isn’t just for fun—it’s for getting Google to notice you!

Why? Because the more useful, quality content you have, the better your hotel looks to search engines.

Think of your website as a helpful guide. If you’re providing the answers people are searching for, they’ll be ready to book with you.

It’s important to use keywords naturally. Don’t fill a page with keywords just to have them there – make sure they fit in and make sense!

Here’s how you can get started:

Start a Blog: Write about local events, hidden gems, or how to pack for a stay at your hotel.
Use Videos and Images: A virtual tour of your hotel or a day in the life of a guest could be a hit.
Be Helpful: Share packing tips or best times to visit. Be their guide!
Avoid Keyword Stuffing: Place keywords where they fit naturally—like they belong!

4. Improve User Experience On Your Hotel Website

Your hotel website should be easy to use and mobile-friendly. If people find your site frustrating, they might leave and never book.

Check your website for any broken pages—these create a poor experience for users. Keep your guest booking journey smooth and straightforward, ensuring they don’t jump ship to other booking sites.

Is your online booking engine up and running? Make sure guests know they can book quickly and safely on your site.

Google Search Central is a great (and free) tool to see how your site is doing and get advice on enhancing user experience.

Here’s how you can do it yourself:

Check for broken links: Use Google’s tool to scan your site.
Test the booking process: Ensure it’s easy and fast for customers.
Watch demo videos: Learn from examples of top-notch booking experiences.
Ask for feedback: Get insights from real users on how to improve.

5. Get More Online Reviews on Google

For small hotels, getting good reviews is really important for success.

Here is why reviews are so important:

49% of travelers skip hotels without reviews.
81% find reviews vital for decision-making.
70% of people trust online reviews almost as much as personal recommendations.

Online reviews are the most important signals for Google rankings, so they should be a key part of any hotel SEO strategy.

Here’s how to get started:

Ask guests for a review when they check out.
Make sure your hotel is listed on TripAdvisor, Google My Business, and Facebook.
Respond to reviews promptly, showing you care.

6. Improve Your Hotel’s Visibility with Local SEO

Local SEO is about making your online presence better for searches based on location. Imagine someone looking for a hotel on Google Maps or typing “[CITY] hotel” into a search engine.

Hotel local SEO is important for hotel owners because people often search for hotels based on location. The good news is there are some easy ways to boost your local SEO.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Google My Business

Your Google My Business is your hotel’s face online. This is how you grab attention on Google Maps and in search results. Here’s how:

Make sure it’s set up right with all the details filled in.
Keep your information current—add fresh photos and updates.
Encourage guests to leave reviews and respond to them quickly.

2. Local Keywords

Using local keywords can help you reach people nearby who might want to stay with you. Here’s how:

Incorporate local keywords into your website content, blogs, and social media.
Highlight what makes your area special to rank better for local searches.
Use tools to compare your rates with competitors and find your market spot.

DIY Tips:

Audit Your Listings: Regularly check they’re accurate and lively.
Connect Locally: Make content that fits your city vibe.
Monitor and Adapt: Use analytics to see what’s working and tweak your strategy.

Our best suggestion is to understand your competition and adjust your content to stand out, compare rates, and position yourself more effectively.

Video Source: Semrush

7. Optimize Your SEO for Hotels with Metadata and Titles

To boost your hotel website’s SEO, focus on titles and headers. Search engines like Google check these first to rank your site on search results pages.

Page Titles and Headers:

Use your main keyword right on the title page. For instance, if you run a cozy B&B in northern Michigan, your title should scream: “Local Bed and Breakfast in Northern California.”
Your H1 header is like the front door to your website, make sure it impresses with your specifics: “Welcome to Northern California: Your Bed and Breakfast in Petoskey Awaits.”

Metadata:

The metadata might be unseen by your guests, but it’s visible for the search engines. Optimize it with keywords. Add some local words to your primary keywords so guests know exactly where to find you.

Keep your meta descriptions under 156 characters. Hit them with the target keyword right away and include a call-to-action (like “Book your stay today!”).
Meta keywords should be short and sweet, under 25 words. Don’t just repeat yourself—mix it up with common misspellings and variations that travelers might type in.

Check your Google Analytics account often to see which keywords are trending, and choose the ones that are most important for your bed and breakfast.

8. Focus on Technical SEO for Hotels

For a hotel, technical SEO means making sure the website loads quickly, creating a sitemap so search engines can find pages easily, and using special codes to help search engines show important information in results.

Here are some key technical parts of a website that make it good for SEO:

Mobile optimization
Secure website (HTTPS)
Canonical tags
Fast loading speed
Proper use of robots.txt
Optimized images
Structured data (schema markup)
Error-free navigation (404 pages)
XML Sitemap
Clean URL structure

Video Source: Prismic

If technical SEO feels too complicated, think about hiring a web developer or SEO experts like us. We can take care of your website’s technical stuff so you can focus on running your hotel.

How To Track Your Hotel SEO Strategy

Tracking your hotel SEO progress is crucial to knowing if you’re getting a good return on your investment. So, are your efforts paying off?

First, let’s talk about keyword ranking. Those key terms you’ve picked are your guiding stars. Check in often to see where you stand. Your ultimate goal? Hitting Google’s front page, even better, the top spot.

Next, consider your organic traffic. Is it rising? While SEO is a major player here, don’t forget that other champs like social media could boost your visits, too. Always know where your visitors are coming from.

Then, focus on conversions. Getting visitors is only half the story. What happens next defines success. Are they signing up for your blog, filling out contact forms, or booking rooms? Count and understand every conversion type.

Lastly, look at revenue. Are your SEO efforts boosting your bottom line? Use tools like Google Analytics to see if those organic clicks are turning into dollars.

Tracking these metrics will help you stay on the right track.

Take a look at this video by Five Star Content, it may help you understand SEO for hotels better if you see it visually:

Video Source: Five Star Content

Start Boosting Your Hotel SEO Today!

At the end of the day, improving SEO for hotels doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Just grab a few of the tips we outlined above, and you’ll start to see progress in your search rankings.

If you’re not sure where to begin – contact us, and we’ll make the change you deserve and get you on Google’s top list.