Key Takeaways
- Your Google Business Profile needs weekly attention
- Local content brings in more bookings
- Reviews drive rankings and reservations
- Consistent business information is crucial
- Local partnerships boost visibility
Getting More Bookings Through Local Search
Hi, Frank here, I’ve helped hundreds of hotels boost their local search rankings over my 30 years in SEO. Let me share what works. If you are not a chain hotel, I can help you.
The Truth About Hotel Searches
Your potential guests aren’t just searching “hotels” they’re typing in “boutique hotel in Manchester” or “family friendly hotel near Disneyland.” If you’re not showing up for these searches, you’re missing out on bookings.
Real Results from Real Hotels
Let me share what happened with The Riverside Inn. Before working with me, they weren’t even on the first page of Google for “riverside hotel [their city].” After three months of Local SEO work:
| Metric | Before | After | Time Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Bookings | 45/month | 112/month | 90 days |
| Phone Calls | 67/month | 156/month | 90 days |
| Local Search Views | 1,200/month | 4,500/month | 90 days |
Here’s What You Need to Do:
1. Fix Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your GBP is your hotel’s digital storefront. Here’s what worked for The Grand Hotel:
- Clear, high quality photos of every room type
- Weekly posts about special offers and events
- Quick responses to every review (yes, even the bad ones)
- Local keywords in your business description
2. Get Your Website Right
When The Parkview Hotel came to me, their website wasn’t working for local search. We:
- Added their city name to every page title
- Created pages for each nearby attraction
- Made sure the site loaded fast on phones
- Put their address on every page
3. Create Content That Brings In Guests
The Mountain View Resort saw bookings jump after we wrote:
- A guide to local hiking trails
- Lists of upcoming events near the hotel
- Articles about the best times to visit
- Tips for getting the best room rates
Learn more about creating content that drives bookings.
4. Build Local Connections
Smart link building helped The City Center Hotel. We:
- Got listed on the tourism board website
- Connected with local event venues
- Partnered with nearby restaurants
- Listed the hotel in quality directories
5. Get More Reviews
Look at what happened when The Beachfront Hotel started asking for reviews:
| Review Stats | Month 1 | Month 3 | Month 6 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Reviews | 45 | 89 | 167 |
| Response Rate | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Avg. Rating | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.7 |
6. Keep Your Info Consistent
Your hotel’s name, address, and phone number must match everywhere online:
- Your website
- Google Business Profile
- Business directories
- Social media profiles
What This Means For Your Hotel
Hotels I work with see results in 3 to 6 months. The exact timeline depends on:
- Your current online presence
- Local competition
- How quickly we make changes
- Your engagement with the process
Want to see how your hotel ranks in local search? Book a FREE Local SEO Strategy Session with me.
Frank the Local SEO Guy Helping hotels get found in local search for over 30 years
