In today’s visually-driven digital world, images are a key element of any travel website. They capture the attention of potential travelers, showcase beautiful destinations, and bring your brand to life. However, without proper image optimization and alt text, your website could be missing out on significant opportunities for improved SEO and user experience.

At Wander Women Strategies, we understand the importance of optimizing images to make your website faster, more accessible, and search engine-friendly. Let’s dive into how image optimization and alt text can give your travel company’s website an SEO boost.

What is Image Optimization and Alt Text?

Image Optimization

Image optimization refers to the process of reducing the file size of an image without compromising its quality. Optimizing images ensures that your website loads faster, provides a better user experience, and helps improve search engine rankings.

When it comes to images, speed matters. Large, unoptimized images can slow down page load times, leading to frustrated visitors and potentially higher bounce rates. Since page speed is a crucial factor in Google’s ranking algorithm, image optimization plays an important role in ensuring that your travel website ranks well.

Common Image Formats for Optimization

• JPEG: Best for photographs and images with gradients. It provides a good balance between quality and file size.
• PNG: Ideal for images with transparency or high-quality graphics, but the file size can be larger.
• WebP: A modern format that provides high-quality images with smaller file sizes, recommended for faster page loading.

Alt Text (Alternative Text)

Alt text (or alternative text) is a short description of an image that appears in place of the image if it fails to load. Alt text also describes the image for screen readers, making your website more accessible to people with visual impairments.

For SEO purposes, alt text provides context to search engines about the content of the image. Google can’t “see” images like humans, so it relies on the alt text to understand what the image is about. Well-written alt text can contribute to your site’s visibility in image searches and enhance your rankings for related keywords.

How to Optimize Images and Write Effective Alt Text

Optimizing images and writing alt text isn’t a one-step process—it requires careful planning and execution. Here’s how you can do it:

Image Optimization

1. Choose the Right File Format

As mentioned earlier, choosing the right file format is key. For travel companies, images often contain landscapes, cityscapes, and destination photos that can be large in file size. By selecting the appropriate file format, you can reduce the file size while maintaining the image quality.

• JPEG works best for photos or images with subtle color changes.
• PNG is better for logos, icons, or images requiring transparency.
• WebP is a great option if you want smaller file sizes without sacrificing quality.

2. Resize Images Appropriately

Images should be resized to fit the space in which they appear. Uploading large images that exceed the dimensions needed for your website will slow down your page. For example, if an image appears as 600px wide on the webpage, there’s no need to upload an image that’s 3000px wide.

Use image editors like Photoshop, TinyPNG, or even WordPress image compression plugins to resize your images before uploading them to your site.

3. Compress Images to Reduce File Size

Once resized, the next step is compression. Image compression reduces file size without sacrificing visible quality. Use image compression tools to strike the right balance between file size and image quality.

• JPEG-Optimizer and ImageOptim are excellent for compressing JPG and PNG files.
• For WordPress users, plugins like WP Smush or ShortPixel can automate the compression process.

4. Use Image Compression Plugins for CMS

If you’re using a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, there are plenty of image optimization plugins that can compress and optimize your images in bulk. For example:

• Smush
• Imagify
• ShortPixel Image Optimizer

These plugins can significantly reduce the load time of your website, improving both SEO and user experience.

Writing Alt Text for Images

Alt text plays a crucial role in helping search engines understand the context of your images. Well-optimized alt text can also improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

1. Be Descriptive and Accurate

The alt text should describe what is in the image as clearly and accurately as possible. Avoid keyword stuffing or using vague alt text like “image” or “photo.” Instead, focus on describing the content and context of the image, including any relevant keywords naturally.

For example:

• Not ideal: “Vacation photo”
• Optimized: “A scenic view of the Amalfi Coast in Italy, showing a cliffside village by the ocean”

2. Include Relevant Keywords

Incorporating relevant keywords in your alt text can help your images appear in image searches. For a travel website, use location-specific keywords that reflect the image content and align with your SEO goals.

For example, for a beach photo of Maldives, alt text might read:
“Pristine white sand beach in the Maldives with turquoise water and palm trees”

3. Keep it Concise

Alt text should be short and to the point, typically no more than 125 characters. Google recommends this length as it ensures that the description is readable and relevant to both search engines and users.

4. Avoid Keyword Stuffing

While it’s important to include keywords, avoid overloading the alt text with irrelevant or excessive keywords. Make sure it’s natural and descriptive. Stuffing keywords in the alt text can lead to a penalty from Google and harm your rankings.

Why Image Optimization and Alt Text Are Important for Travel Companies

1. Improve Website Speed and User Experience

One of the most important reasons to optimize images is to improve website speed. Slow websites can frustrate users, leading to higher bounce rates and lower conversions. Travelers want to browse your site quickly and efficiently, and images that take too long to load can cause them to leave. By reducing image file sizes without sacrificing quality, your travel website will load faster, providing a smoother experience for users.

2. Enhance SEO and Rankings

Search engines use the alt text to understand and index images, so it’s a powerful tool for improving your SEO. Travel companies that use well-optimized images and alt text have a better chance of ranking in both web and image search results.

• Better Indexing: Search engines can’t “see” images, so they rely on alt text to understand their content. Optimized images with detailed, keyword-rich alt text help search engines index your content.
• Improved Image Search Results: If your images are optimized properly, they have the potential to appear in Google’s image search, driving more traffic to your website.

3. Increased Accessibility

Alt text is not only beneficial for SEO but also for website accessibility. By providing alt text descriptions, you make your website more accessible to visually impaired individuals who rely on screen readers to navigate the web. For travel companies, accessibility is critical to ensuring that all travelers, regardless of their abilities, can engage with your content.

4. Better Conversion Rates

A fast, easy-to-navigate website with optimized images and alt text encourages visitors to stay longer, explore more pages, and ultimately convert. Whether it’s making a booking or signing up for your newsletter, image optimization plays an essential role in driving conversions.

Start Optimizing Your Travel Website Today

Is your travel website ready to be fully optimized for SEO and user experience? Wander Women Strategies is here to help! Contact us today to learn how we can boost your travel business’s online presence and improve your rankings. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to attract more travelers and grow your brand!

Introduction

In today’s digital-first world, having a strong online presence is essential for hotels and resorts to attract guests and increase bookings. Travelers increasingly rely on search engines like Google to find the perfect place to stay, making Search Engine Optimization (SEO) a vital tool for your hospitality business. With smart SEO strategies, you can improve your visibility, attract highly targeted visitors, and increase your direct bookings, reducing your reliance on costly third-party platforms.

This guide will walk you through simple yet effective SEO steps tailored for hotels and resorts to help you maximize your online potential and grow your business sustainably.

Understanding SEO for the Hospitality Industry

SEO is the foundation of any successful digital marketing strategy for hotels and resorts. It helps your website become more visible to travelers actively searching for accommodations that match what you offer. Understanding how SEO works in the hospitality context is the first step toward increasing organic traffic and boosting your bookings.

Why is SEO so crucial for hotels and resorts?

• Travelers often start their journey on Google, searching for terms like “beachfront hotel in Maui” or “budget resort near ski slopes.” This means your potential guests are already looking for you online.
• Higher rankings mean more visibility, leading to increased website visits and bookings. The higher you appear in search results, the more trust and authority you build with potential guests.
• Organic traffic is more cost-effective compared to paid advertising or commission-heavy OTA channels. Investing in SEO means long-term gains with minimal ongoing costs.

If a traveler searches for “luxury resort in Bali,” and your resort ranks on the first page, you’re far more likely to get a direct booking than if your website appears on page 5 or not at all.

Keyword Research – Targeting the Right Audience

Keyword research is the backbone of SEO and ensures you are targeting the exact terms your potential guests are searching for. Without the right keywords, your SEO efforts might attract the wrong audience or fail to generate meaningful traffic. This step focuses your optimization on words and phrases that convert.

How to conduct keyword research:

1. Brainstorm seed keywords:
   Start with general terms that describe your property’s location, amenities, and target audience. These basic ideas form the foundation for more detailed keyword research.
   If you run a beachfront resort in Florida, you might start with “Florida beach resort,” “family beach hotel,” or “luxury resort Florida.”
2. Use keyword tools:
   Tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs help expand your list by suggesting related keywords, showing search volumes, and indicating competition levels.
   Step-by-step for Google Keyword Planner:
   • Log into Google Ads and navigate to Keyword Planner.
   • Choose “Discover new keywords.”
   • Enter your seed keywords (e.g., “beach resort Florida”).
   • Review the suggested keywords with their average monthly searches and competition scores.
   • Select keywords that have a good balance of volume and lower competition for your content.
3. Focus on long-tail keywords:
   These are longer, more specific phrases that travelers use when closer to booking. Targeting long-tail keywords means you attract guests with clear intent and fewer competitors. Instead of “hotel in Paris,” optimize for “romantic boutique hotel near Eiffel Tower with breakfast included.”

You might be interested in our post: How to choose the right keywords.

Optimizing Your Website Content

Content optimization helps search engines understand what your website offers and makes your pages attractive to potential guests. By carefully incorporating keywords and presenting valuable information, you can improve your rankings and increase user engagement.

Key areas to optimize:

• Page Titles & Meta Descriptions:
  Your page titles and meta descriptions are the first thing users see on search engine results pages (SERPs). Craft these to include your main keywords and entice clicks by highlighting unique benefits.
  Title: “Luxury Beach Resort in Maui | Oceanfront Paradise” Meta Description: “Experience a luxury beach resort in Maui with stunning ocean views, spa treatments, and family-friendly amenities. Book now for exclusive deals!”
• Headers (H1, H2, H3):
  Headers help structure your content, making it easier to read and giving search engines clues about your page’s topics. Use your keywords naturally within headers to improve relevance.
  Use “Family-Friendly Amenities” as an H2 header to target families searching for kid-friendly hotels.
• High-Quality, Engaging Copy:
  Write detailed and enticing descriptions of your rooms, services, and nearby attractions. Engaged visitors are more likely to book, and well-written content improves SEO rankings.
  “Our ocean-view suites offer private balconies and luxurious furnishings, perfect for a relaxing getaway.”
• Images:
  Optimizing your images by using descriptive filenames and alt text helps search engines index your visuals and improves your chances in image search results.
  Filename: “maui-beach-resort-pool.jpg” Alt text: “Swimming pool at luxury beach resort in Maui.”
• Additional Content:
  Regularly add blog posts, travel guides, and FAQs to keep your site fresh and expand keyword reach. This also positions your property as an expert in the local area.
  Blog post titled “Top 10 Things to Do Near Our Maui Beach Resort” attracts visitors planning activities.

For more about on-page optimization, you might like to read: Meta Title & Description Optimization.

Technical SEO for Hotels and Resorts

Technical SEO ensures that your website operates efficiently and provides a seamless experience for users and search engines alike. It’s crucial because even the best content can struggle to rank if your site is slow, unsecure, or not mobile-friendly.

Key technical SEO factors:

• Website Speed:
  Fast-loading pages reduce bounce rates and improve user satisfaction. Compress images, enable browser caching, and minimize JavaScript to speed up your site.
  Example: Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyze your site speed and follow recommended fixes.
• Mobile-Friendly Design:
  With many bookings made on smartphones, your site must display correctly on all screen sizes. Responsive design adapts your layout for mobile, tablet, and desktop.
  Example: Test your website using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool and make adjustments as needed.
• Secure HTTPS Protocol:
  HTTPS encrypts data and protects users during their booking journey. Google also gives a ranking boost to secure sites.
  Example: Install an SSL certificate on your website to switch from HTTP to HTTPS.
• Structured Data & Schema Markup:
  Adding schema markup helps search engines better understand your content and display enhanced results with rich snippets such as pricing, availability, and reviews.
  Example: Use Google’s Structured Data Markup Helper to generate hotel schema and implement it on your booking pages.

Building Local SEO to Attract Nearby Guests

Local SEO focuses on optimizing your online presence to attract travelers searching for accommodations in your specific geographic area. This strategy is especially important for hotels and resorts because many bookings come from people already in or near your destination.

How to optimize local SEO:

• Google My Business (GMB):
  Claiming and optimizing your GMB profile helps your hotel appear in local map packs and Google searches. Keep your info accurate and regularly update photos and posts.
  Example: Upload high-quality images of your property and update your holiday hours to attract local searchers.
• Guest Reviews:
  Positive reviews improve your online reputation and can boost rankings in local search results. Encourage guests to leave feedback and respond professionally to all reviews.
  Example: Send a follow-up email after checkout asking guests to review their stay on Google or TripAdvisor.
• Local Citations and Directories:
  Listing your hotel consistently on local directories, tourism boards, and business listings helps improve your local search authority. Ensure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent everywhere.
  Example: List your resort on the local chamber of commerce website with exact contact details.
• Local Content:
  Creating blog posts or guides about local attractions, events, or festivals attracts travelers looking to explore the area.
  Example: Publish a guide titled “The Best Wine Tasting Events Near Our Napa Valley Resort.”

Read our post: The Ultimate Guide to Local SEO.

Leveraging OTAs and Encouraging Direct Bookings

While OTAs provide valuable exposure, they come at a cost. SEO-driven direct bookings mean higher profit margins and more control over your guest relationship. Use SEO to attract visitors directly to your website and persuade them to book there.

How to encourage direct bookings through SEO:

• Create SEO-Optimized Landing Pages:
  Develop pages targeting high-intent keywords with exclusive offers to entice direct bookings.
  Example: A landing page for “Winter ski packages at Lake Tahoe resort” with clear calls to action and pricing.
• Highlight Direct Booking Perks:
  Promote special benefits only available on your website, such as discounts, free upgrades, or loyalty points.
  Example: Use a banner stating, “Book Direct & Save 15% + Complimentary Breakfast!”
• Use Retargeting and Email Campaigns:
  Combine your SEO efforts with remarketing ads and email newsletters to recapture visitors who didn’t book on their first visit.
  Example: Send an email with a limited-time offer to website visitors who browsed but didn’t book.

Tracking Performance and Continuous Improvement

SEO requires regular monitoring to understand what’s working and what needs improvement. By tracking key metrics and performance, you can optimize your strategy and stay ahead of competitors.

Tools to track your SEO efforts:

• Google Analytics:
  Analyze visitor behavior, traffic sources, and conversions. Identify which pages drive bookings and where users drop off.
  Example: See that your blog post about local attractions generates lots of traffic but few bookings, prompting a redesign of the call-to-action.
• Google Search Console:
  Monitor keyword rankings, impressions, click-through rates, and site health. Fix crawl errors and optimize underperforming pages.
  Example: Use Search Console to find that your “family suites” page has a high bounce rate and optimize content and layout.
• Booking and Conversion Data:
  Compare traffic data with booking records to measure SEO’s impact on actual revenue. Use insights to prioritize high-performing pages.
  Example: Notice a spike in bookings after adding a “Special Offers” landing page and plan similar pages for other seasons.

Continuous optimization:

SEO is dynamic. Update content, add new keywords, fix technical issues, and adjust based on industry trends and traveler behavior.

Conclusion

By understanding and implementing these tailored SEO strategies, your hotel or resort can significantly boost its online visibility, attract more qualified traffic, and increase direct bookings. Start by researching the right keywords, optimize your content, and ensure your website is both user- and search-engine-friendly. Combine this with strong local SEO and ongoing performance tracking to build a sustainable digital presence.

The results? A growing stream of guests discovering your property organically, reduced dependency on OTAs, and a healthier bottom line.

Need help to boost bookings? Contact us today to see how we can help.

When it comes to Technical SEO, one of the most fundamental components for any website is ensuring that search engines can find, crawl, and index your content. For travel companies, this is especially crucial, as a significant portion of the business relies on organic search traffic. Without proper crawlability and indexability, even the most well-optimized content and marketing efforts could go unnoticed by search engines.

At Wander Women Strategies, we understand the importance of these technical elements for travel businesses. In this article, we’ll explore what crawlability and indexability mean, how you can perform an audit to ensure both are functioning optimally, and why this is so important for travel websites.

What is Crawlability and Indexability Review?

Before diving into how to assess these elements, it’s essential to understand what crawlability and indexability mean in the context of SEO.

Crawlability

Crawlability refers to a website’s ability to be discovered by search engine bots (such as Googlebot). These bots are responsible for exploring the internet, gathering content, and storing it in search engine databases. If a search engine can’t crawl your website, it won’t be able to retrieve your content to show in the search results.

For a travel website, ensuring crawlability is critical for getting your pages indexed and showing up for relevant search queries, whether for hotel bookings, flight comparisons, or travel experiences.

Indexability

Indexability is closely tied to crawlability but takes it one step further. Once search engine bots crawl a website, they analyze the content and decide whether to include it in the search engine’s index. The index is essentially the database of all content that search engines display in their results pages. A page may be crawled but not indexed if it’s deemed irrelevant, duplicated, or otherwise not suitable for indexing.

For travel companies, it’s essential that all key pages—like booking forms, destination pages, and hotel listings—are not just crawled but also indexed properly, so potential customers can find them via search engines.

How to Perform a Crawlability and Indexability Review

Performing a crawlability and indexability review involves using several tools and techniques to ensure that search engine bots can easily crawl and index your website. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to conduct this review:

1. Use Google Search Console

Google Search Console is one of the most valuable tools for reviewing crawlability and indexability. It provides direct insight from Google on how they view your website.

How to Use Google Search Console:

• Crawl Errors: Go to the “pages” section in Google Search Console to see any crawl errors. These errors may include pages that Googlebot can’t reach due to issues like broken links, server errors, or issues with your site’s robots.txt file.
• Sitemap Submission: Ensure that your sitemap is submitted to Google Search Console and includes all important pages. This makes it easier for Googlebot to crawl your site efficiently.
• URL Inspection Tool: Use this tool to inspect the status of specific pages. You can check whether the page is crawled and indexed and diagnose any potential issues preventing indexing.

2. Check Robots.txt File

Your robots.txt file instructs search engine bots on which pages they are allowed to crawl and which pages to avoid. This file is critical for managing the crawlability of your website, especially for preventing search engines from crawling duplicate content or internal pages that don’t need to be indexed (like login pages or thank-you pages).

How to Review:

• Ensure Important Pages Are Accessible: Check that your robots.txt file is not blocking important pages from being crawled. For example, a travel company might want to block admin or checkout pages but should allow product or destination pages to be crawled.
• Avoid Disallowing High-Value Pages: Sometimes, poorly configured robots.txt files accidentally block key pages, which means Google can’t crawl or index them. Be careful not to block pages that could help improve your search rankings.

3. Use Site Crawlers

Several SEO tools can crawl your website and identify issues that could hinder crawlability and indexability. Tools like Screaming Frog, Semrush, and Ahrefs offer in-depth crawling functionality to identify crawl issues.

How to Use Site Crawlers:

• Crawl Your Site: Use a site crawler like Screaming Frog to identify pages that are not being crawled. It will also show you any redirects, broken links, and other issues that could affect crawlability.
• Check for Duplicates: Site crawlers also help detect duplicate content on your site, which can hurt indexability. In the travel industry, this often happens with duplicate hotel listings, destination pages, or content that is copied from other sites.

4. Analyze Your XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a file that lists all of the important pages of your website. It’s essentially a roadmap for search engines, telling them which pages are most important to crawl. It’s essential that your sitemap is complete and up-to-date to maximize crawlability.

How to Review:

• Ensure it’s Comprehensive: The XML sitemap should include all pages you want indexed by search engines, such as blog posts, service pages, and booking pages.
• Submit to Google Search Console: Submit your updated sitemap through Google Search Console to ensure search engines can crawl and index all the necessary pages.
• Remove Low-Value Pages: If you have pages with little or no SEO value (like privacy policy pages), remove them from the sitemap.

5. Inspect Meta Robots Tags

Meta robots tags are HTML elements that provide instructions to search engine crawlers about whether to index or follow a particular page. If these tags are not set correctly, it could prevent pages from being indexed.

How to Review:

• Check for “noindex” Tags: Ensure that important pages are not mistakenly set with the “noindex” directive in their meta tags. This would prevent search engines from indexing the page.
• Check for “nofollow” Tags: Similarly, check for “nofollow” tags that may prevent search engines from following valuable links on your pages.

Why is Crawlability and Indexability Important for Travel Companies?

Improve SEO Rankings

Without crawlability and indexability, search engines can’t discover and rank your pages. If your travel website’s pages aren’t being indexed, they won’t appear in search results, and potential customers won’t find you.

Increase Organic Traffic

As a travel company, your customers are most likely searching for destinations, flights, accommodations, and activities via search engines. Ensuring your pages are crawlable and indexable directly affects your organic search traffic, which is often one of the top sources of traffic for travel businesses.

Enhance User Experience

When your website is crawlable and all content is indexed properly, it ensures that users can find what they’re looking for easily and efficiently. This not only boosts SEO but also leads to higher user satisfaction, which can convert visitors into customers.

Avoid SEO Penalties

Incorrectly blocking or de-indexing important pages, or allowing search engines to crawl duplicate content, can result in penalties from Google. These penalties can significantly impact your rankings and traffic, making it harder to compete with other travel companies.

Stay Ahead of the Competition

In the travel industry, competition is fierce. By ensuring your website is fully optimized for crawlability and indexability, you can rank higher in search results, increasing your visibility and staying ahead of your competitors.

Contact Wander Women Strategies today to schedule your Crawlability and Indexability Review. Let us help your travel website soar in search rankings and attract more visitors!

Introduction

In the competitive world of travel, your website needs to stand out to potential travelers who are searching for the very services you provide. Whether you’re a luxury hotel in Paris, a local tour company in Bali, or a destination-focused travel agency, your SEO strategy is crucial for visibility and success. One of the cornerstones of an effective SEO campaign is keyword prioritization and strategy.

In this article, we will explore the concept of keyword prioritization and how travel companies can build an SEO strategy that attracts more visitors, engages potential clients, and ultimately leads to increased bookings. If you’re looking to elevate your online presence and rank higher for the most relevant searches in the travel sector, Wanderlust Keywords can guide you every step of the way.

What is Keyword Prioritization and Strategy?

At its core, keyword prioritization refers to the process of determining which keywords are the most valuable to your business and then focusing your efforts on ranking for those keywords. Keyword strategy, on the other hand, is a broader approach that involves identifying, grouping, and targeting keywords that align with your business goals. Together, keyword prioritization and keyword strategy form the foundation of an SEO campaign that is both targeted and effective.

Keyword Prioritization

Prioritizing keywords means choosing the right keywords that will deliver the highest return on investment (ROI) in terms of traffic, conversions, and brand visibility. You can’t go after every keyword out there. Instead, you should focus on keywords that:

• Have significant search volume
• Align with user intent
• Are achievable based on your website’s current authority (keyword difficulty)
• Are most relevant to your niche or specific travel services

For example, if you’re a boutique hotel in Venice, you might want to prioritize terms like “luxury hotels near Rialto Bridge” over broad terms like “Venice hotels.” The latter is highly competitive, whereas the former offers a more specific, targeted audience who is looking for exactly what you offer.

Keyword Strategy

Keyword strategy is a comprehensive plan that defines how you will use prioritized keywords throughout your website and content. Your strategy should cover:

• Keyword Research: Finding the right keywords to target based on search volume, intent, and competition.
• Keyword Mapping: Assigning specific keywords to pages of your website (e.g., homepage, blog, landing pages).
• Content Creation: Crafting blog posts, product pages, and other content pieces around these keywords.
• On-Page Optimization: Using the keywords effectively in your meta tags, headings, body content, and URLs.
• Link Building: Getting high-quality backlinks to improve your rankings for the selected keywords.

A solid keyword strategy ensures that your efforts are focused and organized, maximizing the impact of your SEO campaigns.

How to Do Keyword Prioritization and Strategy?

Now that we have a clear understanding of what keyword prioritization and strategy are, let’s dive into how to implement them effectively, especially for travel businesses.

Step 1: Understand Your Audience and Business Goals

Before diving into keyword research, it’s important to understand your target audience and business objectives. As a travel company, your target audience may vary widely depending on the services you offer. Are you targeting solo travelers, family vacationers, adventure seekers, or luxury travelers?

You should also define the goals of your SEO campaign. Are you trying to increase:

• Brand visibility?
• Direct bookings?
• Traffic to your blog or landing pages?
• Engagement with your social media or reviews?

By aligning your SEO strategy with business goals and customer intent, you will be able to identify keywords that are more likely to drive traffic and conversions.

Step 2: Perform Comprehensive Keyword Research

Once you’ve defined your audience and objectives, it’s time to conduct keyword research. This involves using keyword research tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs to find keywords that are relevant to your business.

Here’s how to approach it:

1. Start with seed keywords: Begin by thinking of broad terms related to your business. For example, “private tours in Rome” or “family vacations in Costa Rica.”
2. Expand your list: Use tools to generate variations, long-tail keywords, and related terms. For example, “best private tours in Rome for families” or “Rome city tours with kids.”
3. Consider user intent: Look at the search intent behind each keyword. For travel companies, user intent can be categorized into three main types:
   • Informational (e.g., “What are the best things to do in Rome?”)
   • Navigational (e.g., “Rome private tour company”)
   • Transactional (e.g., “Book private tour in Rome”)
   • Commercial (e.g., “The best private tours in Rome”)

Prioritize keywords that align with the specific action you want users to take—whether it’s booking a service or researching your offerings. For more about search intent, check out our post: Mastering Search Intent.

4. Analyze keyword difficulty and competition: You need to know how competitive a keyword is before deciding to target it. Tools like Semrush or Ahrefs give a difficulty score based on how hard it is to rank for specific terms.
5. Consider seasonality: Travel is highly seasonal, so make sure to research and track trends over time to understand which keywords peak during specific seasons. For example, “summer vacation in Paris” may be more relevant during the months leading up to the summer travel season.

Step 3: Organize and Prioritize Keywords

Now that you have a list of potential keywords, the next step is to prioritize them.

We do that based on the following criteria:

1. Search Volume: Higher volume keywords may bring more traffic, but they are also more competitive. Balancing high-volume keywords with long-tail, lower-volume keywords can yield the best results.
2. Relevance to Your Services: Choose keywords that reflect the specific services you offer. If you specialize in small group tours, prioritize terms like “small group tours to Italy” over broader terms like “Italy tours.”
3. Competition and Keyword Difficulty: Weigh the keyword difficulty against the authority of your site. If you’re just starting out or have a relatively low domain authority, it may be best to prioritize long-tail keywords or keywords with lower competition.
4. Conversion Potential: Focus on keywords that have the highest potential for conversion. For example, “luxury beach resorts in the Maldives” has a high conversion potential for someone ready to book their trip.

Step 4: Implement the Strategy Across Your Website

Now that you’ve prioritized your keywords, it’s time to implement your strategy across your site.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Create Optimized Pages: Optimize your homepage, landing pages, and blog posts with your selected keywords. Be sure to include them in title tags, headers, URLs, and meta descriptions. Make sure your content remains engaging and readable to users, rather than just being stuffed with keywords.
2. Optimize for Local SEO: For travel companies targeting specific destinations, be sure to incorporate location-based keywords into your content. For example, “family-friendly tours in London” or “best hikes in Colorado.”
3. Build Content Around Long-Tail Keywords: Long-tail keywords are less competitive and easier to rank for. Use these keywords in blog posts, FAQ pages, or resource guides. For instance, a blog post titled “10 Best Things to Do in Rome with Kids” could target long-tail phrases like “family activities in Rome.”
4. Track and Measure Performance: After implementing your strategy, use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to track your keyword rankings, organic traffic, and conversions. Be prepared to adjust your strategy based on the results.

For more about Long-Tail Keywords, check out: Mastering Long-Tail Keywords.

Why is Keyword Prioritization and Strategy Important for Travel Companies?

For travel companies, keyword prioritization and strategy play a pivotal role in driving qualified traffic and boosting conversions.

Here are a few reasons why this approach is so important:

1. Increases Visibility in Search Results

Properly prioritized keywords help your business appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs), making it easier for potential travelers to find you. When you optimize for the right keywords, you’ll show up in front of customers who are actively looking for what you offer, whether it’s a luxury resort, an adventure tour, or a cultural excursion.

2. Aligns Your Content with User Intent

Travelers use search engines to find information, plan trips, and book services. By prioritizing keywords that align with their search intent, you can craft content that answers their questions and provides valuable information. This increases your chances of driving traffic and earning trust, which can lead to conversions.

3. Attracts More Relevant, High-Converting Traffic

By targeting long-tail keywords and location-specific terms, you can attract traffic that is highly relevant to your business and services. For example, someone searching for “honeymoon packages in Bali” is more likely to convert than someone searching for “vacation packages.” The more targeted your keywords, the higher your conversion rates will be.

4. Improves ROI

Prioritizing the right keywords means you’re focusing your efforts on those that have the best chance of driving real business results. This leads to better return on investment (ROI), as you’re not wasting time or resources going after highly competitive, low-converting keywords.

Get Started with Wanderlust Keywords

If you’re ready to take your travel company’s SEO strategy to the next level with expert keyword prioritization and strategy, look no further than Wanderlust Keywords. Our team of SEO experts will help you identify, prioritize, and optimize the best keywords to boost your search engine rankings, increase visibility, and drive more bookings.

With Wanderlust Keywords, you’ll receive:

• Initial Keyword Discovery: Top 5 Current Keywords: + position in SERPs, Monthly Search Volume, Organic Traffic and Competition of these Keywords & Top 5 Rising Keywords:+ position in SERPs, Monthly Search Volume, Organic Traffic and Competition of these Keywords
• Long-Tail Keyword Identification: 20+ Long-Tail Keywords, divided into Search Intent: Informational, Navigational, Transactional, and Commercial
• Local Keyword Focus: 20-30 Local Keywords, including Search Volume and Keyword Difficulty
• Keyword Prioritization and Strategy: Local Keywords will be prioritized into Search Intent, 15 + Suggestions for new content (blogs, articles…) based on Keyword Research

If you’re ready to start attracting more travelers to your website, don’t wait—contact us today and let us help you craft an SEO strategy that works for your business!

Introduction

For travel companies, one of the most powerful SEO strategies is the ability to target local search intent. Whether you’re a boutique hotel in Bali, a family-owned tour company in Paris, or a local travel agency offering day trips in New York City, focusing on local keywords can give your business a competitive edge. In this article, we’ll dive into local keyword focus, explain why it’s crucial for travel businesses, and provide actionable steps on how to implement it successfully with our Wanderlust Keywords package.

If you want your travel business to stand out in local searches and attract tourists who are searching for specific, location-based experiences, then it’s time to pay attention to local SEO. Let’s take a closer look at this concept and how it can skyrocket your bookings.

What is Local Keyword Focus?

Local keyword focus refers to the practice of incorporating location-specific keywords into your SEO strategy in order to attract visitors who are searching for travel services or experiences in particular geographical areas. These keywords not only include the city or region you’re based in but also add variations based on tourist attractions, destinations, and local experiences travelers are searching for.

For example, if you’re running a tour company in Rome, instead of just targeting broad terms like “Italy tours,” you would focus on specific, location-based phrases like:

• “Rome city tours”
• “Best Rome walking tours”
• “Private tours in Rome”
• “Rome sightseeing tours for families”

By using location-based keywords, you can make sure your content ranks higher in searches from people looking for services in your specific area, improving your visibility and attracting travelers who are interested in your offerings.

Why Local Keywords Matter

Local keywords are highly effective because they match the search intent of users looking for businesses, activities, or services nearby. Today, local search is a dominant force in consumer behavior, and more than 75% of mobile searchers visit a business within 24 hours of making a local search.

For travel companies, this means the potential to increase foot traffic, bookings, and brand awareness among travelers who are already in the area or planning to visit. By focusing on local keyword optimization, you can ensure that your business shows up in searches by travelers who need local services or recommendations—whether it’s hotels, guided tours, transportation, or dining experiences.

How to Do Local Keyword Focus?

To implement local keyword focus successfully, you need a well-planned approach that includes research, on-page SEO, and the use of the right tools to track and optimize local search.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started:

Step 1: Understand Your Location and Audience

The first step in local keyword focus is understanding your target location and the types of travelers who visit or plan to visit that location. Key factors to consider include:

• Geographical location: Identify the city, region, country, or specific tourist attractions where your business operates. You may even want to focus on neighborhoods or landmarks in your area to capture searchers who are specifically looking for services near those locations.
• Type of travelers: Consider the types of tourists your services attract. Are they luxury travelers, families, adventure seekers, or cultural tourists? Tailoring your keywords to these demographics will help you target the right audience.
• Seasonality: The location and the time of year also impact keyword searches. For example, “best ski resorts in Aspen” may peak in winter months, while “summer vacation spots in Florida” will be more popular in the warmer months.

Once you have a clear understanding of your location and audience, you can identify local keyword opportunities that will resonate with potential customers.

Step 2: Perform Local Keyword Research

Next, you need to conduct thorough keyword research. There are several tools you can use to find location-based keywords, and these will help you build a list of local long-tail keywords to target.

Here’s how you can conduct local keyword research:

1. Google Keyword Planner: Use Google’s Keyword Planner tool to find local keyword suggestions based on your region. Google Keyword Planner allows you to set your location and get keyword suggestions relevant to your target area.
2. Google Trends: Google Trends is a great tool to find out what’s trending in specific locations. This can help you spot seasonal shifts and tailor your content and keywords based on the most popular searches.
3. Local Listings & Google My Business: Use Google My Business (GMB) to optimize your listing and see which keywords are bringing traffic to your local page. By analyzing your GMB insights, you can identify the search terms your audience is using.
4. Competitor Research: Use tools like Ahrefs to analyze the keywords your competitors are ranking for. This will give you ideas on how to tweak your own strategy, discover new keyword opportunities, and differentiate your travel business.
5. Question-Based Keywords: Often, travelers will search using question formats like “What to do in Paris?” or “Best restaurants in Venice.” Use tools like Answer the Public to uncover these question-based keywords that your audience is asking.
6. Leverage Local Terms: Use terms that reflect the local culture, language, and landmarks. For example, if your company offers tours of Paris, consider keywords like “Eiffel Tower private tours” or “Louvre Museum guided tours.”

Step 3: Optimize Your Content for Local Search

Once you’ve identified a list of local keywords, the next step is to optimize your website content. Here’s how you can do that:

• On-Page SEO: Use local keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and body content. Make sure to include them naturally so that your content reads well, without keyword stuffing. (You might be interested in our post: On-Page Keyword Optimization).
• Google My Business (GMB): Ensure your business is listed in Google My Business with accurate location information, a detailed description, and relevant keywords. This is critical for improving local search rankings.
• Local Reviews: Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google and other platforms like TripAdvisor. Reviews with location-specific keywords will help improve your local rankings.
• Local Landing Pages: If your travel company operates in multiple locations (e.g., different cities or regions), create dedicated landing pages for each one. Use local keywords relevant to each page, and include local attractions, places to visit, and other location-based details.
• Mobile Optimization: With many travelers searching on mobile devices, ensure that your website is mobile-friendly and optimized for local search. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings, especially for local queries.

Step 4: Build Local Backlinks

One of the most powerful ways to improve your local SEO ranking is by acquiring local backlinks. These are links from other local websites, businesses, or blogs that point back to your site.

You can build local backlinks by:

• Partnering with local influencers and bloggers
• Getting listed in local directories
• Collaborating with local tourism boards, hotels, and restaurants
• Getting involved in local community events and sponsoring them

By earning backlinks from authoritative local sources, you can boost your website’s credibility and ranking in local search results.

Why is Local Keyword Focus Important for Travel Companies?

For travel businesses, local keyword focus can be a game-changer for several reasons.

1. Increase Visibility Among Nearby Travelers

Local keywords ensure your business ranks well when tourists or travelers search for services in your area. For example, a search for “best day trips from Edinburgh” will lead travelers to your business if you optimize your content accordingly. This helps you attract nearby customers who are actively looking for things to do in the local area.

2. Appeal to Visitors and Locals Alike

Local keyword focus doesn’t just cater to tourists; it can also help you attract local customers who may be seeking weekend getaways, day trips, or local tours. Optimizing for “local experiences” makes your business appealing to both tourists and residents who might be looking for experiences they can enjoy close to home.

3. Higher Conversion Potential

Local searchers are often further along in the decision-making process, which means they are more likely to book or purchase. When someone searches for “private tours in New York,” they are likely looking to book a tour for the very next day or week. Ranking for location-specific keywords can help you capture these high-intent customers.

4. Stay Competitive in Your Region

For travel businesses, local keyword focus gives you a competitive advantage by helping you rank higher in local search results. As more businesses adopt local SEO, it’s important to stay ahead by optimizing for local keywords to avoid getting lost in the shuffle.

Get Started with Wanderlust Keywords

We created our mini keyword package with travel companies in mind. With Wanderlust Keywords, you’ll receive:

• Initial Keyword Discovery: Top 5 Current Keywords & position in SERPs, Monthly Search Volume, Organic Traffic and Competition of these Keywords & Top 5 Rising Keywords & position in SERPs, Monthly Search Volume, Organic Traffic and Competition of these Keywords
• Long-Tail Keyword Identification: 20+ Long-Tail Keywords, divided into Search Intent
• Local Keyword Focus: 20+ Local Keywords, including Search Volume and Keyword Difficulty
• Keyword Prioritization and Strategy: Local Keywords prioritized, 15 + Suggestions for new content based on Keyword Research

If you’re ready to take your travel company to the next level with local SEO, Wanderlust Keywords is the perfect solution to drive more bookings, higher traffic, and stronger visibility for your business. Contact us today to get started!

Introduction

As the travel industry continues to rebound and evolve post-pandemic, so does the world of SEO. The landscape is no longer just about ranking for “best beaches in Europe” — it’s about understanding user intent, leveraging AI, optimizing for voice and local search, and adapting to how travelers search today. If you’re a travel brand or tour operator, the ability to stay ahead of SEO trends could mean the difference between a page-one ranking and being invisible.

Here are 10 key SEO shifts travel businesses must embrace, complete with current data, real-life examples, and actionable insights.

1. AI-Generated Search Results (Generative AI in SERPs)

• Stat: By 2026, traditional search engine volume will drop by 25%
• Example: Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE) now delivers full travel summaries before organic results, answering queries like “best solo travel destinations for women in 2025” directly.
• Insight: Traditional blue links are getting pushed lower. Travel brands must focus on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trust) and optimize content for AI-generated snapshots. Structured data, FAQs, and authoritative content are key.

Generative AI is reshaping how search engines display results, favoring AI-generated summaries over traditional listings. This has a profound impact on how travel companies need to craft content. Real-time answers to search queries reduce visibility for traditional SEO tactics, making it essential for travel websites to focus on E-E-A-T principles and structured markup. For instance, Google SGE might display a complete answer about “safe solo destinations for women” before any blog or booking site appears.

For travel companies, this means investing in highly informative and trustworthy content written by subject-matter experts, enriched with structured data to improve discoverability. Consider embedding FAQs, location-specific schema, and expert interviews to strengthen your content’s authority. Companies that adapt will continue to show up in AI summaries and featured results.

Responsible Travel revamped their destination pages with expert content and schema markup, helping them stay visible even as AI reshaped the SERPs. They now consistently appear in AI-generated answers for queries like “small group eco tours in South America.”

For more about AI, read our post: AI overviews SERP integration.

2. Voice Search Is Changing Keywords

• Stat: 71% of users now prefer voice search over typing when planning travel
• Example: Users are now asking “Where can I go on a beach vacation under $1000 with kids?” instead of typing “cheap beach vacations family.”
• Insight: Optimize for natural language and question-based keywords. Tools like AnswerThePublic and Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool can help capture long-tail, conversational phrases.

Voice search has fundamentally altered how people look for travel information. Instead of fragmented keywords, travelers now speak in full, natural sentences when using digital assistants. This means your SEO strategy should pivot to accommodate question-based content and long-tail keyword phrases that reflect conversational search patterns.

For example, instead of optimizing solely for “Italy family vacation,” travel sites should include headers like “What are the best family-friendly destinations in Italy?” and answer them in a conversational tone. Including FAQs on your pages is a simple but powerful tactic to capture this traffic.

Kayak launched a voice search integration with Amazon Alexa, allowing users to inquire about travel information such as hotel bookings and flight statuses. This integration aimed to provide users with a hands-free way to access travel information.

3. Local & GEO SEO Are Rising in Value

• Stat: “Near me” travel-related searches have grown over 900% in the last two years
• Example: “Hidden beaches near Barcelona” or “best hikes near Innsbruck” are outperforming generic queries.
• Insight: Travel businesses must optimize Google Business Profiles, add geo-specific landing pages, and focus on hyperlocal keywords to attract spontaneous and mobile travelers.

Location-based SEO has seen explosive growth, especially with mobile and last-minute travelers looking for options near their current location. Search phrases such as “best cafes near Eiffel Tower” or “affordable hotels near Grand Canal Venice” are increasingly common.

To take advantage, travel businesses should create location-specific content and landing pages that target hyperlocal keywords. Complete and maintain your Google Business Profile, encourage reviews, and use local schema markup to improve your visibility in local search results.

Pilote Consulting implemented a comprehensive SEO strategy for a hotel client, working on location-based and experience-based keywords resulting in a 38% increase in booking volume.

Read more in our ultimate guide to local SEO.

4. Search Intent Drives Content Strategy

• Stat: 80% of consumers rely on AI-generated summaries that interpret search intent to answer queries.
• Example: Queries like “family-friendly resorts in Mallorca” imply transactional intent, while “things to do in Mallorca with kids” is informational.
• Insight: Travel companies must match content to intent—creating blog posts for informational searches and optimized landing pages for transactional ones.

Matching content type to search intent has never been more critical. Travelers today expect highly relevant and tailored content when searching for information. Misaligned content can lead to poor user engagement and lower rankings.

To serve each user stage, travel businesses should categorize keywords as informational, navigational, transactional, or commercial and tailor content accordingly. Informational queries deserve blog-style content; transactional keywords should land on booking pages.

VisitScotland created separate landing pages for “romantic Scotland getaways” and blog articles for “best places in Scotland to propose.” As a result, their site traffic increased for both transactional and informational terms.

5. Content Velocity and Freshness Influence Rankings

• Stat: 50% Increase in click-through rates for updated content.
• Example: A blog updated monthly about “summer festivals in Europe 2025” stays more visible than a static list.
• Insight: Regularly updating and publishing content is vital. Google prioritizes fresher, regularly maintained pages.

In the fast-moving world of travel, static pages go stale quickly. Google’s freshness algorithm rewards websites that update and add content frequently, especially around seasonal topics, trending destinations, or recent travel policies. Travel businesses should create a content calendar that aligns with peak travel seasons and emerging trends.

Freshness isn’t just about publishing new posts — updating old ones can give a major SEO boost. Add new statistics, improve readability, and refresh images. This signals relevance to Google’s algorithms.

The Travel Team experienced a remarkable 7.5x increase in organic traffic over a year by implementing a comprehensive content optimization strategy. This approach focused on updating existing content and creating new, relevant articles aligned with travelers’ search intent.

6. Core Web Vitals and Page Speed Still Matter

• Stat: Sites that load in 5 seconds vs 19 seconds were observed to have 70% longer average sessions.
• Example: A slow-loading photo gallery of Bali beaches drives users to bounce before viewing tours.
• Insight: Optimize mobile performance, image sizes, and interactivity to meet Google’s Core Web Vitals standards.

Core Web Vitals continue to be a ranking factor. Fast-loading, mobile-optimized pages improve user experience and SEO. Travel websites with heavy visuals must especially ensure their image-heavy galleries don’t drag down load times.

Improvements like lazy loading, compressing images, and eliminating unused scripts can drastically improve speed. Google’s PageSpeed Insights and Semrush Site Audit are useful tools to monitor and optimize performance.

TourRadar cut homepage load time by compressing hero images and deferring non-essential scripts, which led to a rise in page views per session.

Check out our post on website speed optimization.

7. Video Content Boosts Engagement and Rankings

• Stat: Pages with videos are 53 times more likely to rank on Google’s first page
• Example: Travel vlog-style content like “A Week in the Dolomites” garners more engagement than text-only itineraries.
• Insight: Embedding optimized video content improves SEO, increases dwell time, and appeals to visual learners.

Video content resonates with modern travelers seeking immersive, real-world experiences before they book. Whether it’s a cinematic destination guide or a walkthrough of a resort, video can drastically improve engagement, boost time on page, and contribute to stronger SEO metrics.

To leverage this, travel brands should embed YouTube-hosted videos on their site with keyword-rich titles, captions, and schema markup. Platforms like Vimeo and YouTube also drive external traffic, while video snippets can appear directly in SERPs.

United Airlines used video to inspire wanderlust and in just one month noticed a 52% increase in conversions.

8. Zero-Click Searches Are on the Rise

• Stat: Over 65% of Google searches now result in no clicks
• Example: Google displays full answers to queries like “currency in Croatia” or “visa rules for Thailand.”
• Insight: Optimize for featured snippets, FAQs, and schema markup to capture attention in zero-click environments.

With more searchers getting their answers directly on the results page, traditional click-through rates are declining. This trend is especially relevant for travel companies providing quick answers on safety, weather, or visa requirements.

To remain visible, optimize your content with structured markup, concise headers, and FAQ schema. Even if users don’t click, branded exposure in zero-click boxes builds trust and authority.

Rome2Rio dominates SERPs for “Paris to Amsterdam ways to travel” with their snippet-optimized route summaries, even when users don’t click through.

Read our post: AI Overviews & SERP integration.

9. Image SEO and Visual Search Are Expanding

• Stat: 67% of users prefer visual search over text-based search.
• Example: Users search “pink beach Bali” and click directly through from Google Images.
• Insight: Use high-quality, optimized images with descriptive file names, alt tags, and geotags to increase discoverability.

Images are becoming powerful entry points to websites. Travel is inherently visual, so optimizing imagery is no longer optional—it’s foundational. Google Lens and image SERPs can now drive considerable organic traffic.

To take advantage, use original, high-res images and add alt text, descriptive filenames, and geotags. Compress without compromising quality and organize media galleries with SEO in mind.

AirBnB optimized listings with location-tagged photos and saw higher visibility in image-based searches for “treehouse stays in Tuscany.”

10. Mobile-First Indexing and UX Are Non-Negotiable

• Stat: over 70% of travelers use smartphones at some point during their travel journey.
• Example: A slow or unresponsive mobile site can tank bookings from international users on the go.
• Insight: Prioritize mobile design, streamlined UX, and cross-device compatibility to capture today’s travel planner.

Google has fully transitioned to mobile-first indexing, meaning your mobile site is the primary version used for ranking. For travel companies, this underscores the need for lightning-fast, easy-to-navigate mobile experiences.

Simplify mobile booking flows, ensure responsive design, and eliminate intrusive pop-ups. Mobile SEO is now table stakes—not a bonus.

TravelPass Group undertook a comprehensive optimization of their site, focusing on enhancing the mobile user experience. As a result of these optimizations, TravelPass Group experienced a 14% increase in phone call conversion rates from mobile users. Over the course of a year, continuous testing and refinement led to the doubling of their overall website conversion rates.

By adapting to these evolving SEO trends, travel companies can position themselves for long-term visibility and engagement. Whether you’re a boutique agency or a global OTA, understanding and implementing these tactics will future-proof your digital presence.

Need help future-proofing your travel brand’s SEO?

Contact us today to explore tailored packages designed for growth in 2025 and beyond.