As the owner of a travel business, having a strong online presence is crucial for attracting new clients. One of the most effective ways to improve your website's visibility is through SEO-optimized headlines. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is a term that refers to the ranking of your web page on search engines like Google, as well as the quality and quantity of the traffic you receive on your web pages and online material.
Organizing SEO-friendly web pages starts with a good title page or headline. As the owner of a travel agency, a strong headline can help you better appeal to those searching for specific terms and configure your content across your active channels. Here are some tips and tricks for creating compelling headlines and title pages that will help you attract new leads to your business.
Use Keywords
Keywords, the words or phrases that people use when searching for information online, are an integral part of establishing strong SEO. By including relevant keywords in your headline, you can increase the chances of your website appearing higher up in search engine results.
For example, if your travel agency specializes in Caribbean cruises and you want to provide insight into your services and recommendations for the best trips to take, you might include the keyword "Caribbean cruise season" in your headline or title page. That way, when someone interested in taking a cruise conducts research, you can increase the chances that your business will be one of the listings that appears favorably on a search engine.
Keep it Short and Sweet
When it comes to SEO headlines, less is often more. Studies have shown that headlines with fewer than 70 characters tend to perform better in search engine results. Additionally, shorter headlines are more likely to be shared on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook. When creating your headline, try your best to follow these guidelines. You should also note the structure in which proper SEO headlines are written: capitalize the first letter of every word in your headline unless it’s a preposition (for example: with, in, or from,) or an article (a, the, an).
Think also about the types of headlines that draw you in when you’re browsing the Internet, as it’s likely they follow the same rules you'll want to apply on your pages. Performing this exercise will help you step into the shoes of someone who might come across you and your business and provide a glimpse into the methods others are using to achieve good SEO.
Be Specific
The headlines on your website should be as specific as possible. Instead of using generic phrases like "Best Travel Deals," try to be more descriptive. For example, instead of “The Best Hawaiian Trips This Summer,” you might use a headline like "Discover the Best Family-Friendly Resorts in Hawaii," or “These Family-Friendly Hawaiian Resorts Provide the Ultimate Adventure.” By being specific, you’ll make your web page more search engine-friendly and attract a more targeted audience.
Use Numbers
Using numbers in your headline is another effective way to attract attention. For example, you might use a headline like "10 Romantic Getaways for Couples on a Budget." Everyone loves a good list, and this type of content has a long shelf life and is proven to be an instant attention-grabber. By using specific numbers, you create a sense of urgency and make your headline more memorable.
Take Advantage of Outside Resources
The key word in Search Engine Optimization, is, of course, “optimization.” You’ll want to make sure you take the right steps to make that optimization happen. One way to do that is to run your title or headline through an analysis tool. There are different resources out there, but one that can be effective is Sharethrough, which provides a headline score and offers predictive analysis as to its effectiveness. By using this tool and others like it, you can be sure that the headline you choose is set up to reach as many people as possible.
Test and Refine
Just as you test your headlines before sending them out into the world, you should also run analyses into how they’re performing once your piece of content and its accompanying headline is live. Use tools like Google Analytics to track the performance of your content and adjust as needed. Monitor performance over the weeks and months after you share a piece of content, and don’t be afraid to make changes.
By following effecting SEO practices, you can improve your website's visibility and reach, attract new clients, and get more people into your travel business’ virtual door.