‘Get Smart’ or ‘Get Thinking’
Quite a long time ago we began to encourage our customers to embrace the influence of mobile technology, predominantly starting with their websites. For the last 10 years, the laptop has been our favourite way to browse the web. As of last week, communications watchdog Ofcom, reported that for the first time since 2005, the smartphone had overtaken the laptop as our preferred way to get online.
With the current momentum of innovation within the UK’s smartphone market, some argued that it was inevitable that mobile was to become our favourite means of getting online.
But what has caused the rapid change?
- Firstly, with the smartphone market picking up pace since the release of the iPhone in 2007, some would argue its continued development has allowed us more sufficient access to the web.
- Secondly, it can be argued that the rise in social media and our participation within online communities has driven us to fill every conceivable spare moment of our lives accessing new media.
- And thirdly, a huge push on content driven marketing and engagement has given consumers the opportunity to connect with their favourite brands, in exchange generating leads for companies and their campaigns.
But what does this mean for hotels?
For those who have a website optimised for mobile booking then essentially you are ahead of the game. For those who do not, it isn’t the end of the road as it is probable that many of your booking partners will have their websites optimised for mobile. In order to move forward, paying your website a visit and taking a read of one of our previous blog posts will help you along your way.
But is that it?
Not quite. Take a step back and look over the resources you have available to you. Are you utilising your social media channels to their full potential? Are you regularly informing potential guests using interesting and engaging content to tempt them between your crisp white bed sheets for a few nights? Do you have an ever expanding photo gallery of food, drinks and rooms you have on offer?
If you have answered yes to all of the above, well done, you are superstars and we are sure business is ticking over a treat. But if you’ve answered no, to all or some of them make it one of your key focuses this fall and 2015 might turn out to be your big year after all.
